I was just wondering if Helios had contacted you?

Tropical Tanning · 05-08-2003, 06:31 PM

I've been using Helios and paying for "tech support" for about 3 1/2 years. I've never been contacted (that I can remember) by Helios telling me that their is an upgrade available.

Have others been contacted?

Rich · 05-09-2003, 07:08 AM

never

Andy · 05-09-2003, 08:50 AM

I have over 400 Helios Users that I have assisted at some point during the last 5+ years.

I am aware of the following:

1. Helios do advise Users at Tradeshows that updates and/or upgrades are available

2. Last fall just prior to the Nashville Tradeshow, Tony sent an email to a number (not sure how many) of Helios Users advising them of V10 about to be available. In that email he referred to a letter that would be sent later in that month to each Helios User then on Software Maintenance with further details, I am not aware of any such letter actually being sent.

3. In 1999 a postcard was sent to all Helios Users then on Software Maintenance advising them that V8 (Y2K compliant) was available ... remember that disaster of an upgrade ... only the last versions (8.1.39 and 8.2) were in any way reliable ... but I have told that story before.

That is all I remember ...

BlueEzs007 · 05-09-2003, 10:46 PM

I was never contacted in several years of service. This past February I canceled my tech support.

Tropical Tanning · 05-15-2003, 04:17 AM

I think that it is AMAZING! We keep sending Helios money each month while they provide so little in return? I for one, will jump at the chance to use a new User Friendly POS program with REAL Tech Support.

Andy · 05-15-2003, 04:31 AM

I hear ya ... Tropical Tanning.

It is coming, with some REALLY amazing features that also address many of the operational shortcomings of Helios ... things I have been feeding to Tony for years that have never been responded too.

Now remember, I still feel that TODAY, Helios is the most secure, flexible, encompassing application available to Tanning Operators ... BUT it could be SO MUCH BETTER ... and you said it ... there Customer Service ....., well you know.

Also, we are getting close to that date that Helios stated they were going to terminate support on V9, thus forcing users on Maintenance to "upgrade" to V10 ... if they do that, our plans are to offer an alternative for Helios Tech Support, in other words ....

Making Helios the best it can be!

_________________

Andy Thompson
ACT Business Solutions
Toll-Free 877-777-6717
andy@atso.ca
ACT Help Center [ This Message was edited by: Andy @ ATSO.ca on 2003-05-15 03:32 ]

duvaltan · 05-15-2003, 12:00 PM

I discovered that a version 10 upgrade was available from the heliospos.com website. Then to my horror I checked the system requirements and discovered that the new version would require Windows XP Pro. Having no immediate need to replace two Windows 98 workstations I immediately canceled our tech support, which I agree with the consensus is expensive and slow to respond. From what little I could discern, the new version had features that we would not need or use anyway, so what is the point. Why can't someone write us a simple Access program with flexibility but few bells and whistles? I do dread the day when my version 9 dongle fails. But who wants to pay monthly "protection money" to a company that no longer supports (or soon will not) older loyal client salons?

Andy · 05-15-2003, 12:15 PM

I agree with most of what you say duvaltan, but flexibity is in fact bells and whistles.

When I first got involved in this industry, going on 6 years ago ... I look at a number of products prior to deciding which product to specialize in and market here in Canada. Helios was my choice because of a number of reason including the flexibility that it offered. Different operators have very different opinion on how a salons services should be marketed and Helios responses to most of not all of those.

The problem in my opinion with Helios is Customer Service and Quality Assurance ... two primary areas of attention that Salon Works from Solarsoft will address when released early next year.

Tropical Tanning · 05-22-2003, 12:50 AM

Andy:
Wasn't Salon Works suposed to be ready this fall?

I sure don't want to change software during the busy season.

_________________
[ This Message was edited by: Tropical Tanning on 2003-05-22 00:08 ]

Andy · 05-22-2003, 06:29 AM

The last thing Solarsoft is going to want to follow Helios on is releasing a product to the market BEFORE it has gone through the appropriate Quality Assurance.

We will advise as we move forward regarding the availability of Salon Works and you can decide if and when it is appropriate for you to convert.

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05-08-2003, 06:31 PM	#1 (permalink)
Tropical Tanning Join Date: Jul 8 2002 Location: Michigan Posts: 71 Rep Power: 0	I've been using Helios and paying for "tech support" for about 3 1/2 years. I've never been contacted (that I can remember) by Helios telling me that their is an upgrade available. Have others been contacted?

05-09-2003, 07:08 AM	#2 (permalink)
Rich Join Date: Jan 27 2000 Location: Topeka Kansas Age: 52 Posts: 486 Rep Power: 9	never

05-09-2003, 08:50 AM	#3 (permalink)
Andy Join Date: Jan 25 2000 Location: CT Posts: 1,763 Rep Power: 9	I have over 400 Helios Users that I have assisted at some point during the last 5+ years. I am aware of the following: 1. Helios do advise Users at Tradeshows that updates and/or upgrades are available 2. Last fall just prior to the Nashville Tradeshow, Tony sent an email to a number (not sure how many) of Helios Users advising them of V10 about to be available. In that email he referred to a letter that would be sent later in that month to each Helios User then on Software Maintenance with further details, I am not aware of any such letter actually being sent. 3. In 1999 a postcard was sent to all Helios Users then on Software Maintenance advising them that V8 (Y2K compliant) was available ... remember that disaster of an upgrade ... only the last versions (8.1.39 and 8.2) were in any way reliable ... but I have told that story before. That is all I remember ...

05-09-2003, 10:46 PM	#4 (permalink)
BlueEzs007 Join Date: Jul 21 2002 Location: NC Posts: 147 Rep Power: 7	I was never contacted in several years of service. This past February I canceled my tech support.

05-15-2003, 04:17 AM	#5 (permalink)
Tropical Tanning Join Date: Jul 8 2002 Location: Michigan Posts: 71 Rep Power: 0	I think that it is AMAZING! We keep sending Helios money each month while they provide so little in return? I for one, will jump at the chance to use a new User Friendly POS program with REAL Tech Support.

05-15-2003, 04:31 AM	#6 (permalink)
Andy Join Date: Jan 25 2000 Location: CT Posts: 1,763 Rep Power: 9	I hear ya ... Tropical Tanning. It is coming, with some REALLY amazing features that also address many of the operational shortcomings of Helios ... things I have been feeding to Tony for years that have never been responded too. Now remember, I still feel that TODAY, Helios is the most secure, flexible, encompassing application available to Tanning Operators ... BUT it could be SO MUCH BETTER ... and you said it ... there Customer Service ....., well you know. Also, we are getting close to that date that Helios stated they were going to terminate support on V9, thus forcing users on Maintenance to "upgrade" to V10 ... if they do that, our plans are to offer an alternative for Helios Tech Support, in other words .... Making Helios the best it can be! _________________ Andy Thompson ACT Business Solutions Toll-Free 877-777-6717 andy@atso.ca ACT Help Center [ This Message was edited by: Andy @ ATSO.ca on 2003-05-15 03:32 ]

05-15-2003, 12:00 PM	#7 (permalink)
duvaltan Join Date: Apr 1 2003 Location: Key West, Florida Posts: 35 Rep Power: 0	I discovered that a version 10 upgrade was available from the heliospos.com website. Then to my horror I checked the system requirements and discovered that the new version would require Windows XP Pro. Having no immediate need to replace two Windows 98 workstations I immediately canceled our tech support, which I agree with the consensus is expensive and slow to respond. From what little I could discern, the new version had features that we would not need or use anyway, so what is the point. Why can't someone write us a simple Access program with flexibility but few bells and whistles? I do dread the day when my version 9 dongle fails. But who wants to pay monthly "protection money" to a company that no longer supports (or soon will not) older loyal client salons?

05-15-2003, 12:15 PM	#8 (permalink)
Andy Join Date: Jan 25 2000 Location: CT Posts: 1,763 Rep Power: 9	I agree with most of what you say duvaltan, but flexibity is in fact bells and whistles. When I first got involved in this industry, going on 6 years ago ... I look at a number of products prior to deciding which product to specialize in and market here in Canada. Helios was my choice because of a number of reason including the flexibility that it offered. Different operators have very different opinion on how a salons services should be marketed and Helios responses to most of not all of those. The problem in my opinion with Helios is Customer Service and Quality Assurance ... two primary areas of attention that Salon Works from Solarsoft will address when released early next year.

05-22-2003, 12:50 AM	#9 (permalink)
Tropical Tanning Join Date: Jul 8 2002 Location: Michigan Posts: 71 Rep Power: 0	Andy: Wasn't Salon Works suposed to be ready this fall? I sure don't want to change software during the busy season. _________________ [ This Message was edited by: Tropical Tanning on 2003-05-22 00:08 ]

05-22-2003, 06:29 AM	#10 (permalink)
Andy Join Date: Jan 25 2000 Location: CT Posts: 1,763 Rep Power: 9	The last thing Solarsoft is going to want to follow Helios on is releasing a product to the market BEFORE it has gone through the appropriate Quality Assurance. We will advise as we move forward regarding the availability of Salon Works and you can decide if and when it is appropriate for you to convert.

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