Going to cancel Helios Support...

[Andy]

Not "sort of like homeowner insurance" at all ... you get nothing from insurance unless you have a claim ... do not pay, you just risk loss. With Helios you have the use of the product and the related support.

Loan Shark ... you are kidding right.

Heavy handed ... stated policy up front, you decide ... nothing heavy handed about it

Helios has one of the lowest monthly fees in the industry for software together with no up front fee ... and as you say it is the best tanning salon program out there ... so you decide ... use it, do not use it ... like the policy, do not like the policy ... at least from this thread you understand the policy ... I leave the last word to others.

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[cbarci]

I just want to say something they may or may not be too relavent. I am the IT person for a salon, only because a friend owns the salon and I am trying to help out. I deal with companies all day in different areas. Car dealerships pay $1700 thats right one thousand seven hundred dollars a month for a spa or dongle on the back of each pc to access their programs and then they pay the company for tech support to come out and provide them with upgrades etc. So a dealership with 40 pcs is paying sixtyeight thousand dollars a month. You are getting a piece of software, that most of you decribe as the best, for FREE. 39.99 a month for updates tech support etc for running a business is awesome. Stop thinking of a penalty and think of it as paying for software that you have been using for free all those months. My friends salon is new for him and the salon business is new to both of us, so I was tasked with finding a better software product then salon explorer he is still using. Both of us are career firefighter paramedics so being able to access the product from a distance etc you all made me work easy. Helios v 11 here we come.

[MATT A]

HELIOS LIKES EFT LOL BUT WORTH IT ALSO

[MATT A]

HELIOS LIKES EFT LOL BUT WORTH IT ALSO

[tanfixr]

LOL
I forgot about this thread. I like cbarci's comparison to the 40 station $68,000.00 per months software. I guess when tanning salons start selling $30,000.00 cars in salons with 40 workstations then Helios will be able to charge what they are really worth.

But seriously, for owners that want offsite access to data, multiple store networking, and all the rest, then the monthly price is reasonable. For the single salon though that simply wants a computerized file system, control of the timer, and basic bookkeeping, and doesn't plan on expanding, etc., then the monthly fee is a waste of money that is paying for nothing.

[Andy]

tanfixr ... the monthly fee for a single salon gives them exactly what you say they need, and more ... so how is it a waste of money.

Again folks I say ... 40 dollars, the profit on ONE bottle of premium lotion, or the cost of same (if Helios helps you stop it from being stolen) ... that is the cost to have Helios in that single salon per month.

_________________

Andy Thompson
Authorized HELIOS Independent Consultant
Office: 877-777-6717
CELL: 317-529-0041
andy@myatso.com[ This Message was edited by: Andy @ MyATSO.ca on 2004-09-15 02:21 ]

[Frankie]

You wait and see what happens when your computer goes down and you lose all your data. You will need someone who knows the program. Someone that can help you find that data. Single salon or multiple salons makes no difference. It can happen. Wait unitl one of your empoyees backs up wrong and causes your computer to crash and all you have is a blank screen. You can call someone out sure you can but when it comes back up Helios is gone. OMG I need tech support. It happened to me.

[sbtanning]

I just wish there was a better manual on the software. I have had to figure things out for myself. There should be more examples, tips and tricks, etc. The manual provided on the CD is OK, a lot of screen shots, but I need to know how this works. More in-depth information is needed. I have a 12 year IT background and don't have the time to play around with it as much as I would like. I don't want to have to pay for more detailed documentation and all the benefits that Andy is talking about. Shouldn't there be an advanced book that we all can have a copy of included in that monthly fee?

[engfant]

"I deal with companies all day in different areas. Car dealerships pay $1700 thats right one thousand seven hundred dollars a month for a spa or dongle on the back of each pc to access their programs and then they pay the company for tech support to come out and provide them with upgrades etc. So a dealership with 40 pcs is paying sixtyeight thousand dollars a month."

I'm sorry but that's not standard but an option you are talking about. Some like to outsource everything, some like it to be all in house. I can PROMISE you that every dealership is NOT relying on $1700 dongles to run their business. Most have junk TIGER pcs that they bought from a dealership going out of business. Hey, free NADA programs! (from 2001)

I prefer it to all be in my head. Less chance of a crash. All depends on the situation though. If I had a bigger place I probably would have learned off the PC from the begining. Just not necessary when it fits so neatly in one big appointment book. A small independent salon that only has a piece of crap basic PC is gunna require a MUCH larger investment just to get up and running on top of $50/month. (not even an 800# for 50/month? Sketch, sketch sketchy as I do not even have long distance. That's another $50/month AT LEAST)

So let's look at the big picture.

Small salon (most of us here) should have the basics before even thinking about any data base software.
-recent PC with a EXTREMELY STABLE setup. Most will run out and get the cheapest Dell or whatever. They are good for 6months. A real PC will cost over a grand.
- DSL/broadband will run ya $50/month. Gutta keep that operating system up to date (at the very least).\
- A decent knowledge of how to operate a PC or you'll be paying OUT THE ARSE when Helios informs you that you have a memory or incompatiblilty issue that has to do with the way your motherboard is configured. I PERSONALLY can fix that. Helios for $50/month isn't going to touch it. GOOD LUCK with Dell's 3rd World Tech Support.
- LONG DISTANCE as they have no 800#. That'll cost ya $50/month if you NEVER CALL THEM.

Sorry, but when people look at the big picture (NEVER HAPPENS) it's MUCH MORE than $50/month. It's completely changing the way you run your business.

Are you ready for that?

I'm not.

[sun2go]

small minds, small thinking.

So let's look at the big picture.

Small salon (most of us here) should have the basics before even thinking about any data base software.

how much have you invested in your business to date?

-recent PC with a EXTREMELY STABLE setup. Most will run out and get the cheapest Dell or whatever. They are good for 6months. A real PC will cost over a grand.

yup, buy the cheapest lamps that will fit too, don't forget the basement bargain lotions in house also.

- DSL/broadband will run ya $50/month. Gutta keep that operating system up to date (at the very least).

don't need DSL, want it, maybe. btw you're on-line already with a computer, probably even keep it up to date too

- A decent knowledge of how to operate a PC or you'll be paying OUT THE ARSE when Helios informs you that you have a memory or incompatiblilty issue that has to do with the way your motherboard is configured. I PERSONALLY can fix that. Helios for $50/month isn't going to touch it. GOOD LUCK with Dell's 3rd World Tech Support.

really? i've run the salon on everything from emachines (power supply sucked) to custom-built systems, to off the shelf Best Buy, no biggie

- LONG DISTANCE as they have no 800#. That'll cost ya $50/month if you NEVER CALL THEM.

get a calling card. tech will return phone calls, typically within a 1/2 hour or less, on their dime now. cost = $40 a year, or less

Sorry, but when people look at the big picture (NEVER HAPPENS) it's MUCH MORE than $50/month. It's completely changing the way you run your business.

that's the first good thing you've said. any software will definitely change the way you do business, for the better.

any software will increase productivity in a salon. from package management and security, to database mailing info, and client tracking it's really a no-brainer. but just like Burger King, you can have it your way.

Are you ready for that?


_________________
[ This Message was edited by: sun2go on 2004-09-15 12:22 ]

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