Help! current RMS users advice on choosing partner

Software unlike hardware can be supported remotely from any where. Select the best reseller you know, with the best price, with whom you get along best. As long as he/she can give you telephone support and dial into your system if required.

We customers all over the world. Our office in NJ supports customers throughout the US.

Afshin Alikhani - [ snipped-for-privacy@retailrealm.co.uk] CEO - Retail Realm

Afshin has a valid point. Remote support is not that complicated.

I went with a fairly local reseller (less than 2 hours away) but they did have more than one or two RMS clients already, one of whom was only minutes from me and happy to show off their system and answer questions.

Depending on how self sufficient you plan to be, this NG is an excellent resource. I get most of my 'little' questions answered here and only go back to my reseller for the big stuff.

HTH, Tom

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What state are you in? Maybe we can export some of the bumper crop of partners that are springing up around here:)

Afshin and Tom are certainly correct in saying that software can be supported remotely. A point of sale solution is more than software though. There is also harware involved and don't forget that pesky networking stuff if you have multiple workstations. If you lose your network, it's going to be really hard for a remote user to log in and fix it. If you are most concerned about getting help with using the features of RMS, then yes a 'guru' on the phone or via remote access can probably support you better than a less knowledgeable local partner. If you want help when your system stops working, go with someone local if possible.

By the way, we also provide remote support services. There's definately a place for that, but you have to consider your own ability to be at least somewhat self sufficient before you go that way. Sometimes there's just no substitute for being there.

Glenn makes some good points. With regard to the local/remote question, who says it has to be an all or nothing affair?

I use my local reseller for most of my hardware. I buy my own cash drawers and barcode scanners. I started buying my printers online, too (we use regular laser printers for receipt printers). I buy all of my PCs from the local guy--and he does a good job of supporting his stuff. I do my own networking, but I do enough business with the local guy that he responds when I need him. My RMS reseller is more or less 2 hours away. I have not yet needed emergency response for RMS and I don't expect to. All of my onsite RMS support has been scheduled well in advance and most of it could have very easily been handled with a speakerphone and/or remote assistance.

I have gotten a lot of very useful help from this group. I have a batch file that performs a database backup daily and saves three days' backup files. I have a custom .dll that enables me to trigger POS macros from custom buttons. I have custom reports. I have a much better understanding of SQL queries and XML receipt templates.

Between the three (local reseller for hardware/infrastructure, not-so-local RMS reseller, and microsoft.public.pos) I seem to get everything I need out of RMS.

Best of luck, Tom

"Glenn Adams [MVP - Retail Mgmt]" wrote:

We are based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada and have plenty of clients who are not in Calgary. We have clits all over Alberta and Canada. We insist that every client has Win XP Pro so we can "remote in" to their computer. So far it has worked very well.

I would go with who knows the product. RMS really doesn't require alot of support > As an actual user of the product what is your opinion on a local partner

Tony, you are one naughty naughty man, I hope you are not married. Re-read your post to see if you can spot the 'vertical smile' joke.

Rob