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Hi
My 4SEO is not working. I have v6.10.0.2656
and now it is not working anymore. For example, I cannot connect to Google Search Console. I should be able to run all versions up to Version 6.10.1 since they came within my subscription period.
I have no valid subscription anymore but I am running an old version and it should work anyway. I paid for it.
// Michael
Hi
1. As I'm sure you are aware, a subscription does get you two things: support and new versions.
2. In addition, there are also features that do not work without a subscription: connecting to Google Search Console is one of them. The connection process goes through our server (so that you do not have to create an application in Google Cloud).
Best regards,
Yannick Gaultier
https://weeblr.com | @weeblr
Didn't know that a purchase of 4SEO had a limitation like you describe.
This means that I will not use/renew your plugins in the future. This form of "forced selling" is a very ugly way to lock in your customers.
// Michael
Hi
No more than you using the extensions I develop without permanently having an active subscription. Why do you think each day there's less and less extensions and template makers for Joomla?
To each their own, I hope you comprehend that at some point but I'm also pretty sure it's going to be too late.
Best regards,
Yannick Gaultier
https://weeblr.com | @weeblr
Yes, I know that there are fewer and fewer plugin creators. I also know that fewer and fewer private Joomla users can afford to maintain their plugins because of the prices. So you could say that the creators are rationalizing themselves through high pricing and unfair terms.
I know that more and more people are therefore looking for alternatives.
That is one of the reasons why I will not buy any more "plugin subscriptions" from you.
// Michael
Hi
through high pricing and unfair terms.
I am not aware of any unfair terms I would apply. After 20 years providing extensions to the Joomla community, I think I would have been called out before on that.
The only feature in 4SEO that requires a sub is the connection to Google Search Console, because connection goes through my servers, for which I developped and maintain custom software to relay to Google and have a totally transparent connection workflow instead of a complicated one that push most users away (I know, sh404SEF had a similar process when connectin to Google Analytics, so when I did the Search Console connection, I did not want to have that terrible experience).
You still have ALL the other features of 4SEO working fine, but yes, you're forced to go and login to Google Search Console website your self.
Please don't try to pretend that 4SEO "does not work anymore", that's just not true.
So you could say that the creators are rationalizing themselves through high pricing
Joomla Extensions makers are not rich, or large companies (except the handful of larger ones such as YooTheme or JoomShaper, but they are mostly WordPress and have been for years now).
My prices are the absolute minimum I can have to still be able to work full time doing Joomla extensions. This is just me, nobody else, and again nobody is getting rich, more looking at just above minimum wages.
I nearly went broke in 2020, but decided to stick Joomla, rewrote all my extensions to modern standards and hoped that would be enough.
It was not, so in 2023, instead of increasing my prices, I introduced 2 subscriptions types, Regular and Pro, in the hope that individuals could more easily still use my extensions, while agencies could pay more and compensate the lower pricinf for individuals. That's how it is today.
I know that more and more people are therefore looking for alternatives.
Alternatives are mostly gone when it comes to the kind of extensions I do. JSitemap is still there and thriving, but then it's not really an SEO extension. RSSEO is not really being developed, and all the others are gone. There's a reason for that.
Best regards,
Yannick Gaultier
https://weeblr.com | @weeblr
I didn't say your product is bad. It's good.
Don't forget that it's the market that judges whether you have a reasonably priced product with reasonable terms, not you.
If you have that, your customers will stay, if not, they will cancel their subscriptions.
Good luck in the future
// Michael
Hi
Don't forget that it's the market that judges whether you have a reasonably priced product with reasonable terms, not you
Like I said, I've been doing this for quite some times, and I'm one of only a handful still here.
You don't like that one 4SEO feature, which involves using our servers and creating software for them, requires a subscription?
But what are you really asking for? that I run and pay servers for you to use and all that free of charge? This, I reckon, is not a reasonable ask.
You're the first person to say anything about this since september 2022, when it was introduced, so please tell me what exactly you are asking for, because I'm not sure.
Best regards,
Yannick Gaultier
https://weeblr.com | @weeblr
Free of charge! I have paid for the feature in my subscription.
I asked for:
My 4SEO is not working. I have v6.10.0.2656 which is part of the purchased subscription.
Now it is not working anymore. For example, I cannot connect to Google Search Console. I should be able to run all versions up to Version 6.10.1 since they came within my subscription period.
I have no valid subscription anymore but I am running an old version and it should work anyway. I paid for it.
So what I want is that 4SEO still works for the versions I paid for.
// Michael
Hi
Free of charge! I have paid for the feature in my subscription.
You likely now that Joomla is a GPL-licensed software and so are all extensions made for it. This means we are not allowed to charge for the software. We can only charge for access to that software (ie a download area) and support.
You have not paid for any feature and you certainly have not paid for using my servers and for the time I spend maintaining the software running on it.
For example, I cannot connect to Google Search Console
It's not an example. It's the only thing that requires an active subscription, because it uses my servers.
I should be able to run all versions up to Version 6.10.1 since they came within my subscription period.
You absolutely are. But you are not allowed to use my servers without a subscriptions.
So what I want is that 4SEO still works for the versions I paid for.
It absolutely does. But when your working copy of 4SEO tries to contact my servers to fetch some data, my servers don't grant access because your subscription has expired.
It is exactly the same when you try to upgrade to a new version for instance.
The reason you cannot download new versions after your subscription expires is not because you have to pay for the software (Jooml's GPL-licenses forbids that). The reason is that accessing my servers to download anything is what I charge for. That's the only thing I can charge for (with support) and that's the only thing all your other extensions suppliers can charge for as well (Akeeba Backup, Acymailing, whatever).
You also can think about it like this:
- you have an app for a newspaper
- while your subscription is active, your app can access all the latest news and articles in full version
- when your subscription expires, their servers only grant you access to limited versions of the news and restrict access to some content
Access to Google Search Console is the one thing that requires my servers to work for this, and so this is subject to having a subscription.
Every other features runs fully on YOUR server and keeps working as before.
Best regards,
Yannick Gaultier
https://weeblr.com | @weeblr
End of discussion.
We disagree and we have to live with that.
Good luck in the future.
// Michael
Hi,
This still goes beyond disagreeing. What I described above is the very root of Joomla and all free software, linux, drupal, etc
This is what I've been championning, promoting and living by professionally for 20 years.
Without this, there's no open-source, free software.
But I understand and agree that the discussion is not making any progress, so I'll just close this ticket now.
Best regards,
Yannick Gaultier
https://weeblr.com | @weeblr