Open letter to Ryan et al.
-
-
- Ryan M Pierson
- Sr. Rocketeer
- Posts: 243
- Thanks: 164
- Technical Writer
-
radek wrote:
I think it is not a good solution to lock the topics. It is contempt of RT customers.
No contempt involved at all. The decision was made to lock the thread because it had run its course after 10.5 years.
I think the frequency and length of my responses to these individual threads should make it quite clear that we're not trying to silence or ignore you, we're trying to improve relations. But that thread in particular had become a very difficult place for anyone to see our responses.
How many members does the Joomla team have? When they released 3 template during 6 months. Somebody leave you?
Karol for the most part is spearheading new Joomla template development. When a design is finalized, it lands on his table and he coordinates with the rest of the team to get it done. WordPress and Grav ports are largely handled by Jakub, who is focusing on the Joomla template whenever there is work to be done there. Reggie and Kat share tasks doing testing, releasing, and more.
Everyone else pitches in when there is work to be done. I write content for the demo as well as documentation when the template gets closer to completion.
New Joomla templates have absolute top priority. When there is work to be done on the template, it gets done ahead of everything else. Every team member at RocketTheme at one point or another pitches in to help get a new template completed.
We did have some staffing changes over the past year, as happens with any company. You can always find an updated list of our team on the team page .
I only want to know what I get for my $80 when I renew subscriptions.
You get a lot of things. Updates to your templates, support via the forums, discounts from our perks page, and yes... new templates.
Here's the thing. As I said earlier in this thread we are addressing the delay. We're starting the design phase earlier this month so that we can jump more quickly in to the next release. This month was particularly tough because we had a lot of changes to the design which pushed back development a bit.
RT communication with customers is horrible and that is way why I was thinking about refund.
Just take a look at this thread and how much time I've taken answering every question in extreme detail. We recognize the issue and I'm going to be here, communicating actively, as often as I can.
I might disappear for a week or two when my son is born in the next couple weeks, but I will check in and update everyone as early and often as I can.
Please understand that closing the Hmm thread was a step to try to improve communication. We would respond on that thread and that response would be lost behind pages of people repeating the same question we had just answered or going back-and-forth with each other about why they are upset.
I'll try to make the RT team more accessible and give you regular updates on what's going on. - Last Edit: 6 years 11 months ago by Ryan M Pierson. Reason: grammar
- Ryan Matthew Pierson / Technical Writer / Buda, TX USA
-
-
-
- mundogame.com
- Newbie
- Posts: 19
- Thanks: 8
-
Ok. Now think same a Customer.
If Rockettheme ask - Could you pay me the money?
and the customer say - It wont be this week, could be the next.
The problem not is only the derailing of the quality standards adquired by Rockettheme by the years, we can add more problems to the table. Many customers of Rockettheme, have their customers and need to talk with them about when and why, and Rockettheme now make this much more difficult. Years ago, your customers have dates to organize and start to work in new websites, and now your customers only have uncertainty about dates.
Changing from monthly releases to when its ready releases, need changes in the payment system. You (Rockettheme) ask for more time to develop, but dont give more time to pay. This is unfair and very bad for your customers, who pay for a month of nothing new. And in the consecuence, its very bad for Rockettheme, because you are losing customers.
Another problem is the Focus on the develop system. You think its best to develop multi-templates, but not. They are more time consuming to develop, and cant attack the needs of a good template. Tell me, if you have a problem with water leak in pipes in your house, you call a technological/multiprofesional, or you call a specialist Plumber?. With the templates its the same. You can create a multi-template to sell to hundred of customers, but just like that, this templates dont go to the design excelence or Personality to a design.
You can see for example Interstellar . For me, one of the worst templates with Gantry 5. This is a Multi-template. Any theme provider can give us similar templates. And if you analize this template, dont have a reminiscence of excelence. You can make many websites with Interstellar, but your results dont have special things to any website.
What if Interstellar, can add the Book Block of Sienna ? This add more specific uses to Interstellar, and can be used in websites for Hotels with more specific solutions. But not only this. When you create a good particle, for example the Audio Player in Remnant , you have work advanced to the next template. Can be a new Concert-Theatre template with Audio Player particle inside, for example.
All of this its only a game of Focus and Consecuences. If Rockettheme dont give all the particles to all the templates in Gantry 5, many templates of the catalog lose chances to win customers and sites.
Another problem here its the Flat design. From Ethereal to Acronym we only have Flat designs. This days i see in the forums "Flat is trending", "Customers need Flat design". But no. You are wrong. The people need templates that excel from another websites, with special things and with details difficult to see in other template providers. Make the same of others and you lose customers.
Yes, you need responsive templates, and the flat design aid with this, but we have more solutions. A good design in big screens and a similar flat design for mobiles, for example.
Finally, an updated graphic of your Team. What is the work of Flavio? and Marge?. Tell me about corrections and i update this. -
The following users have thanked you: Hartmut Schwab
-
-
-
- oceano
- Elite Rocketeer
- Posts: 635
- Thanks: 43
-
When I point to Ryan website like Breitling.com and similar I think him think i was just polemics.
That time I want explain to him exctly this:
"Another problem here its the Flat design. From Ethereal to Acronym we only have Flat designs. This days i see in the forums "Flat is trending", "Customers need Flat design". But no. You are wrong. The people need templates that excel from another websites, with special things and with details difficult to see in other template providers. Make the same of others and you lose customers."
If you look stellar website made from top of the developer in world you see jus small difference, details and mix of design that made that website " the one ".
Of course I dont want such perfection for 60$. But the idea that you find in that design.
OPPPSSS is the point that here, this website in RT, is not one of that they sell...mmmm if are so good the template they sell to us why they don't use for themself?
- Last Edit: 6 years 11 months ago by oceano.
-
-
-
- radek
- Elite Rocketeer
- Posts: 928
- Thanks: 20
-
Sorry for my English. It is hard to express in EN.
Ryan wrote:
No contempt involved at all. The decision was made to lock the thread because it had run its course after 10.5 years.
I think the frequency and length of my responses to these individual threads should make it quite clear that we're not trying to silence or ignore you, we're trying to improve relations. But that thread in particular had become a very difficult place for anyone to see our responses.
It appeals to me like scorning the customers. The customer comes to say something, wants to know something and you lock it. It doesn´t matter how long it was. It was locked the moment when people asked again where the template is .... And not only 1 topic was locked, there was more topics locked so the argument with the topic age is a nonsence.
Your reaction could be different. You promised the templates will be out after 4-6 weeks and now it has been almost 8 weeks and there is still no template. You have 3 template within the last 6 months. Before there were 6 templates within 6 months. You are still delayed. So that is why there is a question how you managed to make 1 template a month when now you don´t have time to make 1 template within 2 months.
Karol for the most part is spearheading new Joomla template development. When a design is finalized, it lands on his table and he coordinates with the rest of the team to get it done. WordPress and Grav ports are largely handled by Jakub, who is focusing on the Joomla template whenever there is work to be done there. Reggie and Kat share tasks doing testing, releasing, and more.
Everyone else pitches in when there is work to be done. I write content for the demo as well as documentation when the template gets closer to completion.
New Joomla templates have absolute top priority. When there is work to be done on the template, it gets done ahead of everything else. Every team member at RocketTheme at one point or another pitches in to help get a new template completed.
We did have some staffing changes over the past year, as happens with any company. You can always find an updated list of our team on the team page .
I don´t need to know the exact number. It was only a common question. I just couldn´t get how it is possible you made 1 template a month and now you are not able to make 1 template within 2 months and still you don´t have time. Because as somebody already wrote here, the templates are very similar and I don´t need the year subscription. It would do for me to subscribe a pagebuilder for a year and I will make very similar templates, quicker and easier and for half of the money. As I wrote we run a nonprofit organization and we don´t have the money to waste. That is why I want to know what I get. I like RT but I will not pay for something what I don´t get. I already thought to quit because of G5. It is probably good for people who understand it but I´m only advanced user and I am not to become a coder to understand it all.I don´t need to know anything to use Pagebuilder. I only click and the web base is done within 5 minutes. That is why I ask what is going to happen as it is easier for me to quit and buy another Pagebuilder subscription and don´t deal with RT anymore
You get a lot of things. Updates to your templates, support via the forums, discounts from our perks page, and yes... new templates.
Here's the thing. As I said earlier in this thread we are addressing the delay. We're starting the design phase earlier this month so that we can jump more quickly in to the next release. This month was particularly tough because we had a lot of changes to the design which pushed back development a bit.
You write I get many things by renewing subscription but I had them before, the same and I had 1 more template per month. So I had more templates and the subscription was cheaper. I had more before. I had forum support before, I had updates before, I had dicsount for perks before...
I don´t mind if I get 10 or 11 templates but I need to know when I pay for something that I get for example 10 templates, not maybe 5 or maybe 2. You write every month it was hard and that is why the delay. But you are delayed every month...
Please understand that closing the Hmm thread was a step to try to improve communication. We would respond on that thread and that response would be lost behind pages of people repeating the same question we had just answered or going back-and-forth with each other about why they are upset.
I'll try to make the RT team more accessible and give you regular updates on what's going on.
I will never understand how the topic lock can make a better communication .... it is only worse. People wouldn´t ask again and again if the template is out how you promised. You only make every coming out longer. That is why you think people ask. Yes, they ask but everytime about certain template that should already be out and is not. It would do if you keep the deadline or announce we don´t have time, will be delayed. It will be out within week or two ....
You can be glad you have people like those: Mark Taylor, Henning, David G. etc.
I think that is all, writing more would not help. - Last Edit: 6 years 11 months ago by radek.
-
-
-
- Ryan M Pierson
- Sr. Rocketeer
- Posts: 243
- Thanks: 164
- Technical Writer
-
Changing from monthly releases to when its ready releases, need changes in the payment system. You (Rockettheme) ask for more time to develop, but dont give more time to pay. This is unfair and very bad for your customers, who pay for a month of nothing new. And in the consecuence, its very bad for Rockettheme, because you are losing customers.
We are working hard at this. Yes, we had a setback, and as I said numerous times in this thread and others, we are working to address it. But in reality, there are very few Joomla template clubs out there that guarantee any specific regular release dates at all. The ones that did, many of them have gone out of business or have eliminated their clubs entirely.
The benefit of membership has always been support and updates. We update themes constantly. Here is a list of the updates we made to themes this past WEEK:
- Chimera 1.6 Joomla
- Leviathan 1.1 WordPress
- Cerulean 1.2 WordPress
- Metropolis 1.1 WordPress
- Fracture 1.2 WordPress
- Sienna 1.1.3 Grav
- Sienna 1.1.3 Joomla
- Sienna 1.1.3 WordPress
- Photon 1.0.5 Grav
- Photon 1.0.5 Joomla
- Photon 1.0.5 WordPress
- Citadel 1.1.3 Grav
- Citadel 1.1.3 Joomla
- Citadel 1.1.3 WordPress
- Protean 1.1.2 Wordpress
- Protean 1.1.2 Grav
- Kraken 1.2.1 Joomla
- Chapelco 1.1 WordPress
- Hexeris 1.1 WordPress
- Praxis 1.1 WordPress
- Corvus 1.1 WordPress
- Acacia 1.2 WordPress
There are more benefits to membership than simply having a new theme every x number of days. We are working to make this snappier, and recognize this month was particularly difficult, but we need to stress that while it is our goal to release themes frequently, we can not absolutely guarantee a date of release.
Another problem is the Focus on the develop system. You think its best to develop multi-templates, but not. They are more time consuming to develop, and cant attack the needs of a good template. Tell me, if you have a problem with water leak in pipes in your house, you call a technological/multiprofesional, or you call a specialist Plumber?. With the templates its the same. You can create a multi-template to sell to hundred of customers, but just like that, this templates dont go to the design excelence or Personality to a design.
Specific templates are part of our stated goal. We've created several function-specific templates. Remnant and Sienna are examples of this.
Keep in mind though that we can't do that with all of them. Why? Because when we released Remnant we had a bunch of people happy, but another bunch were upset they didn't have a client to use it with so, to them, it was a lost release. The same went with Sienna. If you aren't in the business of building websites for hotels or travel agencies, you might not see the immediate appeal of it.
We can't make everyone happy all the time, but we are working at making products that make a great foundation for a developer to work with to create something that fits their needs. These are templates, not sites-in-a-box. They're made to be worked with, for developers (especially you professionals out there) to use to save time.
What if Interstellar, can add the Book Block of Sienna ? This add more specific uses to Interstellar, and can be used in websites for Hotels with more specific solutions. But not only this. When you create a good particle, for example the Audio Player in Remnant , you have work advanced to the next template. Can be a new Concert-Theatre template with Audio Player particle inside, for example.
What you're suggesting is a Particle marketplace where you can download particles individually and apply them to a theme. Otherwise, we're creating these particles with their own unique styling for every individual template...which ups the amount of development time required.
We have said in the past that this idea is on the list of ones we'd like to tackle down the road. It won't happen today, though.
Another problem here its the Flat design. From Ethereal to Acronym we only have Flat designs. This days i see in the forums "Flat is trending", "Customers need Flat design". But no. You are wrong. The people need templates that excel from another websites, with special things and with details difficult to see in other template providers. Make the same of others and you lose customers.
Acronym has some flat elements, but if you want to find a design philosophy to tie it to it isn't flat. It's material. Drop shadows, layers, etc. All present in Acronym. The animations are very 3D, as is the placement of images.
mundogame.com wrote:Finally, an updated graphic of your Team. What is the work of Flavio? and Marge?. Tell me about corrections and i update this.
I'm not going in to what individual tasks every person on that page is assigned at a given time. Just as you wouldn't necessarily want me going to your place of work and digging in to the individual duties and to-do lists of its workers.
There's a line there, and I've already said as much as I'm going to say about our staff's role in a template release. - Ryan Matthew Pierson / Technical Writer / Buda, TX USA
-
-
-
- Ryan M Pierson
- Sr. Rocketeer
- Posts: 243
- Thanks: 164
- Technical Writer
-
oceano wrote:
When I point to Ryan website like Breitling.com and similar I think him think i was just polemics.
I shared the link with the core team during design discussions. It didn't not get shared, we also don't try to copy existing sites outright. We find elements we like and try to see how we can do it better.
oceano wrote:OPPPSSS is the point that here, this website in RT, is not one of that they sell...mmmm if are so good the template they sell to us why they don't use for themself?
Oceano we don't sell our website as a theme because we wanted it to be very difficult for someone to replicate. I'm sure you understand that there are pirate sites out there that absolutely love mimicing theme companies and selling virus-laced copies of themes to unsuspecting visitors.
Then, those folks end up coming to us for support because their site was flagged as malicious only to find out they were duped. So no, we don't sell our website as a theme and no, that isn't us not trusting our product. We built this site ourselves, it technically is a RocketTheme theme.
Now, if you want to see an example of us using our own themes... check out Gantry.org or GetGrav.org . You can pick up free copies of the themes we used. - Last Edit: 6 years 11 months ago by Ryan M Pierson.
- Ryan Matthew Pierson / Technical Writer / Buda, TX USA
-
-
-
- oceano
- Elite Rocketeer
- Posts: 635
- Thanks: 43
-
At this point I have to say that I think wrong about you Ryan.
Thank you for all the things you explain to me and to others.
Really I Mean the idea, of course I don't want you copy from others.
BTW thank you and sorry, I was wrong whit you.
Roberto - Last Edit: 6 years 11 months ago by oceano.
-
The following users have thanked you: Damir, Ryan M Pierson
-
-
-
- Grzegorz Wójcik
- Hero Rocketeer
- Posts: 271
- Thanks: 40
-
April 2007 - Joomla Club
Team 14 Moderator 16
web.archive.org/web/20120502094117/http:...ettheme.com/the-team
April 2012 - Joomla, Wordpress Club
Team 13 Moderator 11
web.archive.org/web/20140418163556/http:...ettheme.com/the-team
April 2014 - Joomla, Wordpress, Magento, phpBB Club
Team 14 Moderator 12
web.archive.org/web/20150429103514/http:...heme.com:80/the-team
April 2017 - Joomla, Wordpress, GRAV Club
Team 9 Moderator 7
2017
A lot of work. Few employees. This unfortunately translates the lack of meeting deadlines. How will it be with quality?
-
-
-
- Martin Hansen
- Jr. Rocketeer
- Posts: 34
- Thanks: 7
-
Now listen, some of us keep repeating the same criticism over and over again. If we are not happy with the services and products of Rockettheme, it is our privilege to end our subscriptions.
For me this is simple. Who provides the best framework? Rockettheme! Hands down and without a doubt. Yes, Gantry 5 was a challenge to learn. Yes, it is “overkill” for some sites. But it offers superior flexibility and plays nicely along with Joomla.
I am a member of several template clubs. Who has the best customer service? Rockettheme! The dedication and attitude of the moderators are supreme. Ryans answers in this very thread are but one of countless examples. Most suppliers ignore dissatisfied and worried customers.
Now, is Rocketheme perfect? Absolutely not. I guess Joomlas market share is showing in their budgets. But hey, I heard Joomla is growing
Of course nothing is perfect. I am not thrilled with your current design choices. I know aesthetics change and are subject to individual taste. But I find recent templates to be “weak and unattractive”. They lack the power and instant appeal they should have. Now, please do not take insult in my words. I sincerely respect your work and appreciate every template you publish. It could be my individual (and Scandinavian) taste that is not as developed And obviously it is up to us to make adjustments and alterations that suit our own visual preferences.
However, in a perfect world you would prioritize and strengthen design and the visual appearance of your templates even more. You already have supreme coders, the best framework, but perhaps now the visual aspect of Rockettheme should become your main concern. The relationship between colors, fonts, images and functionality should be your priority, not the framework. How about getting in designers that doesn't understand code, only design? Or inviting us, your customers to assist? Or make a market place where disigners can sell templates built on your framework? Most important, more striking designs built on your excellent framework.
This would make your templates more attractive, attracting more customers, and establishing Rockettheme as the best template provider there is.
Ryan, thank you for taking our concerns seriously. But in the big picture they are minor. Congratulations with your child.
-
Time to create page: 0.074 seconds