Comments on: PalmGear Changes the Way it Pays Developers

Yep, I think that about sums it up.

Agreed. Here's one developer who is going to pull all his applications off PalmGear by the end of the week. And this doesn't prevent me from instructing my lawyers to collect the large sums still owing from PalmGear...

Also, developers might be interested to know that in the event that a bankruptcy does occur, any preferential payments that are deemed to be improper may be recoverable by the bankruptcy trustee up to a year later. They can come after money that you have already received if it is deemed that you were improperly preferentially treated. I'm not sure if this policy of paying current vendors, preferentially, is legal.

While I have sympathy for the sentiment expressed here. If you force bankrupcy, all that probably means is that you force them out of buisness, not that you will get paid.

Force the sale of assets? Used servers are a dime a dozen these days.

On the otherhand, anyone who could run a 100% market share of third party software into the ground deserves to be run out of town even if it does not serve any purpose other than to make us all feel better.

To the developer who is planning to pull his/her apps from PalmGear:

Where will you list them? At the moment, PalmGear is the only service I check. If there's an exodus, I want to know where to follow.

it has been discussed quite a bit within the developer community - but, one of the most interesting was when a bunch of developers like myself discussed setting up a palm software site. we wouldn't have these problems with real time delivery of software, we would know what the users would want to see - and, we'd be able to tailor it to the developers needs..

getting a merchant account isn't too hard these days - and, running costs surely should not be 20%-25% of the money that is received.. hosting servers doesn't cost that much - it may even be possible to offer bandwidth based on how much you sell.. many business options here.. many many many moons ago i wrote a real time fullfilment engine for PGHQ - but, it was never implemented.. it was finished, but, never integrated into their website - heck, they still run off yahoo.

maybe the bankruptcy of one, and, the emergence of another is feasible? offering 10% fee's would really push the limit on people like Handango and PGHQ - many developers are currently seeking in-house solutions such as e-sellerate, kagi etc. the only problem there is exposure - but, do you really get exposure on a site like Handango or PGHQ these days?

// az
aaron@ardiri.com
http://www.ardiri.com/
http://www.mobilewizardry.com/

As somebody who's bought a lot of Palm software (a lot from Palmgear, and some from Handango), I have an interest in making sure my money gets to the people who wrote the software I want.

Yes, I agree I like the Palmgear site much better than Handango's. It's much easier to find good stuff on Palmgear. I write software for a living and get paid for it. I don't expect people who write Palm software to work for free. If the developer doesn't get paid by Palmgear, they will find a distributor who will pay them or stop writing software. Handango may not have the best site, but if they actually pay the developers what they're owed in a somewhat timely basis....

At some point, Palmgear's plan is not just bad business practices. If I take somebody's money under contract to deliver a percentage of it to the developer, and don't, I'm breaching my contract. The developer has a variety of remedies. So do I. If I want to be able to get new, improved Palm software, I'll go to Handango, or directly to the developer's site.

I think Mr. Ardiri's idea is a reasonable one. As a user, not a developer, I am frustrated to hear that the individuals doing the hard work are being cheated out of money. I didn't realize that PalmGear practiced business this way. Running a website/server can't really be that hard. Everything is automated, so their profit margin must be relatively high. If developers do rally to create a website, I hope they will remember all the users, now registered at PalmGear with their paid software, when establishing this. One of my biggest concerns would be that I, and other registered users, would get lost in the transition to another major software distributor if PalmGear went under. Getting updates to software could become almost impossible... or certainly quite a headache.

Yes, people, let's ignore the facts presented here and help kill off PalmGear HQ. Then well only have Handango to worry about....

Oh yes, this SHOULD really help further the Palm OS cause....

While we're at it, why don't we just use the other barrel to blow our heads off and give up in defeat to M$ all together, since Handango sells to both platforms already....

What I don't understand about all you "programmers" is you entered into a verbal or written "agreement" with PGHQ - NOT a "written contract".

Basically you were letting PGHQ advertise your software so Palm OS users could go to a nicely laid out, easily searched web site offering Palm OS software in exchange that you would be paid for software sold.

While I completely understand about writing software and expecting to get paid for your (my) work, YOU tell ME (and everyone else here) where in the WWW (and world) you're going to get practically free advertisement to MILLIONS (and possibly Billions) of customers all in ONE place? Sure, there is Handango, but intrinsically people are going to gyrate toward PalmGear.com instead of Handango.com when looking for "Palm" OS based software...

Most people looking for "Palm" software would probably type "Palm Software" in a search engine (google in this case) and who pops ups first in the list before Handango??? Bingo! PalmGear! Ok, what does this prove - nothing other than people are (usually) automatically going to associate PalmGear.com with Palm OS software than with Handango?

Besides - "Handango"? That doesn't sound like it has ANYTHING to do with Palm OS software! On the other hand, "PalmGear" - Hmmm, I wonder what they have on their site.... Hmmm, "Palm" and "Gear”.... Hmmm, maybe "gear" for the "Palm"? (Duh!)

Lastly, as a programmer myself, and having used many, many other Palm OS software programs, we programmers could make everything EXTREMELY easy for ourselves by simply making our software SHAREWARE or NAGWARE in that after an allotted time period - the usual 15 or 30 days the software is non-functional and PROMPTS the user to CONTACT US - Not PalmGear, Not Handango, NOT etc. in order to BUY the program and REGISTER it THROUGH US!

Then, this way we don't have to complain about not being paid by some "middle man" when they get into financial dire straights when being sued by their economic rivals.

What REALLY amazes me is all the STINK everyone here is raising about what PalmGear is NOT doing when the main MONEY and LEGAL problems it had were caused by Handango frivolous lawsuit!

YOU should be PISSED at Handango for forcing PalmGear to spend essentially YOUR money in order to defend itself and to keep itself afloat in order to continue to advertise YOUR programs. Heck, ALL programmers who think PalmGear is "screwing" you out of your money should sign a petition to file a lawsuit against Handango for damages, and YOUR PAIN and SUFFERING due to not being paid while PalmGear had to defend itself from Handango frivolous lawsuit!

Why doesn't everyone rally behind PalmGear like everyone did with Pimlico? Doesn't anyone else "see" how shady actions, and frivolous lawsuits by companies such as Handango and iambic - the DIRECT competitors of PalmGear and Pimlico just to "steal" their business away???

Food for thought....

I for one am Happy with PalmGear and I HOPE and PRAY they stay around (and in business) for a very LONG LONG time! Searching for Palm OS software on their site is SO MUCH easier than any other PALM OS site.

I mean, is there really any other site out there so well know like PalmGear, that is as easy at it is to search for Palm OS programs? If so, Please enlighten others and me here! Please! (Without being sarcastic or hurtful). Thanks...

Does anyone have any truly independent information about this "lawsuit" (ie: no information from PalmGear, who just might be biased in this matter).

No smoke without fire... as the saying goes...

Oops, what I meant to write was that the "written aggreement" is, in fact, an enforcable business contract.

-Brett

Here's a thought (and that's all it is - I haven't put too much analysis into it) :

Leave your application on PGHQ, but don't allow customers to download it directly. When a customer purchases the software and you get the notification, follow up with a brief message to the effect that you are sorry, but because of PalmGear's failure to pay you will not be able to accept the order from PalmGear. You will be happy to process any order from Handango/eSellerate/etc. ASAP.

This would do the following :
1) It will keep you on the "pay quicker" list at PGHQ, if such a thing even exists.
2) It will get the customers (the ones Kenny really cares about) complaining to PGHQ.
3) It will help transition your revenue stream to a more reliable partner.

Thoughts, comments, dissenting opinions?

I am not so sure that PalmGear is the enemy yet.

When a company is sued, they get to use whatever liquid cash it has. If there is no money left, they file chapter 11 or bankruptcy.

So, which do you prefer? Palmgear to exist and slowly make up for past payments or outright bankruptcy? What they did is legal as far as I know. Otherwise, tons of other companies should be sued to death for not first paying their rebates, their debtors, etc. etc. before they use their company's money... (so they use their own employee's pocket money to pay for lawsuits?). What are you asking for? It is probably legal for all involved to sue them for past due balances too... but don't be too trigger happy. Probably you will get a bankrupt company and nothing in return except your lawyer's fees.

Anyway, I still feel very strongly against Handango. I am still convinced Palmgear is a victim of Handango, and that Palmgear is probably run by an inexperience person trying his best. Perhaps someone else can enlighten me to the real evil he has done, or if he has more experience than I thought.

Well, then, you're an idiot because to do so could run good developers out of the business if they continue not to get paid--and whatever this release says, it offers precious little guarantee that developers are going to see all their money.

Well, a website I used to frequent quite often has finally re-launched. They have a whole new layout, and have begun a software repository engine. From what I understand, listing your software is completely free! It's a nice site, which should pick up when word of mouth spreads.

A nice cause for developers.

www.pdasquare.com

Mike

A quote from an article in June's Business 2.0 attributed to Thomas Reardon (formally from Microsoft): "The presumption at Microsoft is that all you have to do is wound the opponent, and they will bleed to death".

Somebody has been taking lessons.

To address a few of the posts here I will copy and past and put the text being replied to so it is prefaced by "RE:" and the text being replied to inside quote marks. My comments will be preceded by "PG:" and will be enclosed inside brackets ([ & ]).. Just to keep clear..

Regards,

Kenny West
PalmGear.com

RE:
"After two and a half years of litigation the jury in the case unanimously voted that no "contract" had been entered into by either party. Further it was determined had there been any serious discussion on the subject it was in fact Q Ventures who terminated negotiations with its memo stating the deal was off.

Now I present you with an interesting footnote to this story. Randy Eisenman, director of venture capital investments at Q-Ventures LP is also a founder of PalmGear’s rival, Handango Inc."

PG:
[and the same group (Q) bought out palmcentral.com and launched as their own site within (if memory serves) less than 60 days AFTER they filed suit against us...]

and also in reply to:

""I dont know how things works in the US, but does not the losing side have to pay all the legal fees of winning side?"

No unfortunately that is not the case. Anyone can sue anyone without having any risk here in the U.S. I wish the losers would have to pay the legal costs of the winners, as it would make people think twice about sueing a company just to get rich quick. That won't happen as long as the plaintiff bar association exists."

PG:
[the last text quoted above sums it up... While no way to go back in time I doubt it would have been filed had they been at risk for our legal fees which BTW were WELL just under $1,500,000]

RE:
"5) Handango was involved in the same lawsuit however they didn't pay their lawers with my money."

PG:
[Yes and no... They did pay out of the funds they had invested in them to create the site, etc. The difference being is that the suit had multiple effects, a few of which are:

A. "hobbled" us by making so that it was impossible to even seek outside funding or even bank financing..

B. caused the financing we were able to get as an example for hardware for the site to have the interest rates much, MUCH higher than had the suit not been filed.

There are of course other items...]

RE:
"but because of PalmGear's failure to pay you will not be able to accept the order from PalmGear. You will be happy to process any order from Handango/eSellerate/etc. ASAP.

This would do the following :
1) It will keep you on the "pay quicker" list at PGHQ, if such a thing even exists.
2) It will get the customers (the ones Kenny really cares about) complaining to PGHQ.
3) It will help transition your revenue stream to a more reliable partner."

PG:
[Yes, you could do this though who will it really help? As was pointed out by another poster here... If we (PalmGear.com) went away then what? While I wish I could give you all a guarantee that all the issues/AP/etc. would be resolved on or before X day and month I cannot do that though if we did go away (as was pointed out by another reply) you can be virtually guaranteed that after the legal fees, splits, etc., etc. there would be little if anything left...]

RE:
"Are you sure Handango's lawsuit was "totally bogus". I am not sure since the only person who told me it was bogus was Kenny West himself. Kenny's seemingly illegal actions regarding payments are making me wonder if perhaps Handango did in fact have somthing to sue about. "

PG:
[I am certainly not going to call it bogus as that term may get us into further problems with them... With that said I am not the only one who felt it was unfounded! The filing was such that they did not have to prove "beyond a reasonalbe doubt" our guilt. It was of the type where they only had to convince the majority of the jurors by "preponderance of evidence". In other words at or more than 50% beleived their story against us. In spite of that not only did the jury find in our favor they were UNANIMOUS in their decision on ALL counts they charged us with! AND... while they were deliberating they sent a question out to us the plaintiffs and the judge asking if they were limited to the damages they were charged with using for their decisions. Once the jury came back with their decision we asked the jury what they meant by that question (it is not allowed to ask them prior to deliberatin being completed I was told). They replied that they felt so strongly in our favor that they wanted to know if they could asses damages against the plaintiff (Q) for (if memory serves as I do not recall the exact number though this is close) $600,000 PLUS legal fees! Alas due to the suit not being filed by us it could only be done if we had filed a counter suit.. BUT... we were told that if we did that while we would have a good chance of winning it would in all reality take 2 to 3 years to go to trial and that if we won that after appeals, etc. it would be another 2 to 3 years before we ever saw any money.... And that the legal fees would be between $750k and up...]

PG: In closing (this is not in reply to any specific text, etc. here) we are committed to all of you and the Palm OS market. We like many others feel that the best market is a healthy one with more than one site like ours... If any of you wish to discuss feel free to email me directly and I will personally reply. I wish I could keep up with all the replies, etc. here though due to time restraints cannot.

Kenny,

In the past, I agreed with PG's situation that the litigations can hamper your funding capability. Now everything is cleared out (I guess long time ago), why don't you act like a true business man, create a strategic plan to raise your funding like every start up company does. Get the cash reserve and clear all your debt first and try to rebuild your reputation. I will restore my faith on PG without any doubt. Any excuse now is excess.

Please don't streotype Handango as a monopoly animal. Our company sells software through PG, Handango, and our own site via Kagi as on transaction house. Years of records prove that, 15% from Handango, 7% from PalmGear, rest of 78% came from Kagi.

If you are a developer, listen to this number. Or you may want to try yourself out.

a couple of the local small dev shops that i know are owed 2k+.. they have since switched to handago. it's just not a way to keep business. They say the "loyal" developers, well those loyal developers weren't relying on that extra income i guess.

Oh yes - If I were Kenny, I would have **** all those "loyal" Palm enthusiasts who have been coming to PalmGear for years, roll over and play dead.

Better yet, Kenny could have just filed for bankruptcy and kept all the money - what was it - almost $1.5 Million?

Oh Yes, Kenny, You are such a BAD man - oh, how you remind me of Bill Gates......

Death to heathens!

Plain and simple, Kenny made some very bad business decisions and he is now trying to dig out from the hole he dug.

Come ON Rachel! The "plain and simple" is that Randy Eisenman & Co. (Handango) deliberately set out to crush PGHQ. That is at the root of the current problems, and in a perfect world, Handango would have been severely penalized for their unethical business tactics.

IMNSHO, the Palm Community owes a HUGE debt of gratitude to Kenny / PGHQ and I hope that those of us who care for the platform will band together and help PGHQ to thrive (not just survive)!

--- Dan

Please tell me why "the Palm Community owes a HUGE debt of gratitude to Kenny / PGHQ" ?

They've sold other people's products and then kept the money for themselves. Sounds more like Kenny / PGHQ owe a HUGE debt of gratitude to developers, no?!

"How are you going to stop paying for a product that you have already purchased?!"

In response to your comment, developers usually make more then one program.. if they are to remain in business. I intend not to buy any future products from them.

I don't know how you would think I feel software should be free.. I have paid for 200 software programs. What I said was the developer promised free upgrades.. and then changed that policy later. You the developer made an agreement when I purchased the software, and now you unilaterally changed your policy.

My entire point in this is YES the developer should be paid for his work.. but when Palmgear makes a public statement saying they will be making payments, then a certain segment of the development community wants to come out and bash the CEO for doing so... anonymously!

If you feel the need to bash the CEO for attempting to make things right, then sign the name of your company and lets see if the Palm Community agrees with your views. I personally will not purchase any additional titles you may develop. I will show you how I feel with my credit card!

A Palm in hand is worth two in your pocket.

Well it either gets fixed soon, PalmGear goes out of business or some of us developers go out of business.

Kenny writes memo:
Note to department handing back payments to developers, put Astraware at the top of the list for payment.

Great minds think alike

(sigh) Thought I'd made it clear above - obviously not clear enough... I've *already* worked out an acceptable plan with PalmGear, way ahead of this latest news. I suspect most developers whose businesses are really affected will have done similar way before now too.

I'm stating my position on the subject, showing some backbone, and supporting a group without whom there wouldn't *be* the kind of Palm software market there is now.

Howard

Yes, great... you, Astraware (a BIG developer) worked out preferential terms with PalmGear in advance of the announcement and then screwed all the small developers... aren't you clever?

"What would happen if I did just demand the outstanding amounts, do you think ?"

You would get a small percentage of what is owed to you, just like everyone else.

However, by cleverly using your size and popular product range to bargain with PalmGear, you get to put yourselves at the front of the queue in regard to payments... which obviously puts everyone else at a disadvantage.

I'm sure that you are one of the people that Kenny is refering to when he says "this has also been requested as well as suggested by many of you"... indeed, why not suggest something like this when it is to the advantage of your own company?

Hmmm - I can see that's how it would appear - especially on a day when everyone seems to be wearing their cynic tinted glasses. If I were to pull our products from PalmGear, that would reduce their income too, and wouldn't help them pay off older debts.

I wasn't one of the ones to suggest this change, though I do agree with it. Having a better plan for payment benefits everyone - even those (like us) who have already worked out a method.

There have been a lot of worries amongst newcomers to the development community that listing through PG wouldn't be a good thing to do, because they wouldn't see any return for many months. Kenny's decision here means that new developers will see their money straight away. (well, after the usual month lag from any reseller). This makes it attractive for new developers to list there again. New products and increased sales allow PG to pay back the older debts faster. Makes sense to me, but YMMV.

I *am* looking at this from the point of view that PG aren't going to go into bankruptcy. To say "There are obviously a lot of developers who aren't going to get paid" I think is unreasonable. Our payments may not have always been timely, but they *have* kept coming in. They never stopped. To have a plan to get up to date is great news for all developers. Perhaps I'm just the one prepared to go against the flow and say so un-anonymously.

I believe that there really is little choice for those of you developers who are insistent on being paid on past due items. If conditions come about to cause them to file for Bankruptcy protection, most likely all of you will get next to nothing after a potential liquidiation of assets in a chapter 13 Bankruptcy, and of course, most likely nothing in a Chapter 11 reorganization plan. You are all essentially unsecured creditors. A few of you may be able to get a court to file a judgement before any prospect of Bankruptcy, but you will most likely have to go to Texas for the filing.

If PG closes their doors, the only shot unsecured creditors have at getting any money is for some adventurous soul to head up a creditors committee and represent the lot of you during bankruptcy proceedings. If this person does their due diligence, it may be possible to gain some percentage of monies owed back to the unsecured creditors (if any monies are left from satisfying secured demands). Of course, this person will have to be in Texas, and spend a lot of time (and thus money) to get monies owed for many people. It is often not worthwile for the individual head of the creditors committee.
Your best shot at getting monies owed is to help them stay in business. And nag nag nag. The squeeky wheel gets the oil.

Morias is soundly in bed with Kenny West and more than happy to screw smaller developers who can't negotiate exclusive terms to get paid long overdue funds.

Too bad moral backbones are as lacking in the Palm developer community as they are among Palm software distributors.

"I can sympathize with those who are not getting paid for their software."

Guess what... those developers who are not getting paid would probably prefer NOT to sell their software through PalmGear at all (thus, a loss to the Palm community as a whole) than have PalmGear sell it and keep the money themselves!!!

I think PalmGear is doing a great job here in putting the blame onto developers ("unloyal") and Handango ("fake lawsuit") but have yet to take any responsibility for themselves!

I really wish there was a strong alternative to Handango (that would be healthy for us all), but it's not PalmGear...

Agreed.

To anybody who bought software from PalmGear in the last 6+ months... do you realise that the developer has NEVER received any money for their work and probably never will?

Why?

Ask Kenny... or rather, listen to Kenny as he tells you all the reasons why it will be ok in the future, if you leave your software for sale on his website... though there's still no guarantee that you will get paid for it...

Where are the money of the real customers, who have paid my soft with their real credit cards? What give you the rights to hold my funds for 6 months, huh??
These are my “genuine complaints”, as requested.
Why do you want to know who-I-am? To kick me off? We had a deal Kenny, and you PISS on this deal. The deal was: PalmGear pays the developers monthly. Read the agreement at your site, please.

Yikes. does it mean there is a chance for a class action suit by consumer against PQ now?

This PQ better start to behave nicely and not pissed people off ro they will be gone in no time.

So Palmgear is asking to to pay another $1000 and then maybe they'll pay you in return? No ****?

Well, hey buddy, I didn't see anyone twisting your arm to list your software with PalmGear to begin with!

Hell, why don't you post your website here so we can all pay you a visit, evaulate your software, and decide to buy it if we feel its useful.

What was the name of your website again....
"www.im-to-poor-and- stupid-to-have-my-own-site-so- Ill-list-my-cheesey-software-with-PalmGear- and-when- they-dont-pay-me- Ill-whine-about-it.com"

Oh, well, I think I see why NO one is visiting your site to evaluate and buy your software....

Hmmm, have you thought about possibly advertising costs,

or maybe a breathe mint????

I suggested that to him about a year ago. He refused.

... in addition to the above I want to say, that I certainly won't by from Handango,

since they are so much "money oriented" that they offer software bundles for 20$, that you can as well get for free if you are a bit informed.

Although that's business, it doesn't fit to the idea of a "palm community", so I won't support them

There could be a domain name server down or in need of an update somewhere between you and Handango. I have DSL (most probably slower than your broadband connection), and I've never had problems connecting quickly to the Handango site, save for the occasional glitches seen on any website, including Palm Gear.

Marketing, web designers, people to run the site, bandwith costs quite a bit of money. Many people chargeback, profit, it's not all fun and games trust me :).

The lawsuit was NOT the problem. The problem started the day Kenny decided it was OK to spend money that was never theirs to begin with. He should have been putting the 80% of their software revenue into a seperate account for paying back developers. They should have NEVER used that money for expenses, web development, lawyers, etc.

If they got to the point where they could no longer afford their operating expenses, they should have reduced expenses or just GONE OUT OF BUSINESS. It would have been much easier on developers if they'd just gone away back then. It would have been a shock initially, then everone would just shift to Handango and life would go on. Instead, they've lied, strung developers along, refused to pay money that is due, and caused more hassle to developers than if they'd just closed up shop a year ago.

If there is only one mega site for Palm software, users wlll eventually lose out since Handango can charge whatever to developers as their fees, and that cost will no doubt pass onto the consumers (in fact, they charge more even now--as a result, some of their software prices are higher than Palmgear and developer's).

Is this what we want?

It worries you *more* that someone did not correctly spell a word? You should seriously consider therapy ;-)

Larry -- I think it was this particular announcement that has people riled up. Not the paying current months forward part; I think that's a good move and most people would agree. But the preferential payment plan seems like the same smarmy business practice as their past move of raising their cut except to those sellers who "go exclusive" with them. It's like they're threatening you with your own money.

As for past "questionable" things PalmGear has done: how about remove links to web sites and FAQ pages (without offering an alternative for users to get this info), hiking their cut in the first place, making late payments without warning or any "projection" of when these monies will be paid, etc.

But mostly I think this is just a final bad decision from a company that hasn't made a lot of good ones.

PG will never payback, they have used up 100% of developers money over last 6 mths and expect to pay back with the 20-30% cut they are taking now?

Let's say 10% goes to running pghq, 600%/20%=30mths to backback everything!!

PGHQ has been mismanaged and should have closed 6mths ago. Boo! to PGHQ for cheating our money(knowingly or not!).

80% to developer / 10% they can pay back. 8 * 6 month will be 48 months

It's very true... This has been going on since February... And I as a developer is forced to keep apps listed at PG for fear of never ever being paid.

Wow, that's truly scandelous. I don't think a lot of people outside of the developer world are truly aware that this is going on. I know I wasn't. Maybe PIC should run a story on it.

Í think there are some bastarts posting here!
Why do you don´t remove your software from palmgear?
yes, perhaps it will be better in the future, and you expect again good money?
palmgar never was lying to anyone. Everyone was told from palmgear, that the company is in finacily trouble and will/can pay you later!
Has any stock company done that to you? How much money have you lost there? Have they called you and warned you about finaciall trouble? (Worldcom etc.)
I never have read a thank you to palm gear in a forum when the monthly check was ariving! And for some of you the monthly check was not to bad. Some of you got 5000 US$ and more a month.
Most of you still using palmgears name just as cheap advertisment and sell the software "around the corner"!
Is that consequent?

Why do you don´t remove your software from palmgear?

do you know that if you remove your software from PGHQ - your "priority" for repayment goes to the bottom of the list. we personally keep our applications on PGHQ in the hope that one day we'll get paid. the software still sells - we have no problem with this.

the issue is that until the payment system is fixed - most developers wont be submitting new titles to be listed. thats standard business practice - new software = high sales, but, if your not sure about getting paid, will you risk it?

palmgear never was lying to anyone. Everyone was told from palmgear, that the company is in financialy trouble and will/can pay you later!

its very nice for PGHQ to inform developers - but, do you really think they *can* pay back the money owed? i am not an accountant, but, my math says that since sales are lower, and, developers are reluctant to put new software up - if anything, the debt will get worse. why do you think PGHQ has opted to basically say they will revert back to "normal" operations from june onwards, anything pre-june is considered arrears, and, will come later.

I never have read a thank you to palm gear in a forum when the monthly check was ariving! And for some of you the monthly check was not to bad. Some of you got 5000 US$ and more a month.

i think it is irrelevant how much money is involved here - some developers run their software business as a real business; they have rents to pay, salaries to pay.. delays like the ones most people have experienced has caused some development outfits to "ease back" on development, just to stay alive.

Most of you still using palmgears name just as cheap advertisment and sell the software "around the corner"!
Is that consequent?

PGHQ is still the largest software directory. they are implementing strong controls such that no references to the developers websites are made, if it isn't sold on PGHQ - its not listed. all these are actions they are trying to do such that "abuse" of free bandwith is not happening. but, really - who is losing out here?

do you think PGHQ can show enough information to the user about a product? if i purchase software, i like to see what it does; what type of support the developer provides, maybe discussion forums about the product, help pages, maybe more screenshots. a lot of these are not listed on the "sales" website - hence, its not good in any way.

maybe you should think about what your saying before you ramble on here - there is always a lot going on underneath the "covers"; which, most people dont see. try being a developer, put yourself in our position. think about being a user, will your money ever make it to the developer?

sure, PGHQ is/was a great service; but, everyone is going through a rough time right now. i surely hope they pull out of it ok - the last thing we need is a monopoly with sales distribution.

// az
aaron@ardiri.com
http://www.ardiri.com/
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