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  1. #1
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    Default database

    im helping someone i know create a program for a motor mechanic shop
    simply the idea is to add customer data but send out email reminders on rego & service dates
    now theres a few programs out there already ranging from $200-$5000 or $30-$180 month
    but most are complex & still have some sort of downfall

    so i have contracted a freelancer @ $150 to have a go, + many indian freelancers dying to do it
    anyone use something like this?
    https://www.facebook.com/philquad68



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    LSemmens
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    Back in the days of DOS I could have done it for you in my sleep. MS Access would be capable, but not likely the best choice. I'm, only now starting out learning MYSQL and am still trying to settle on a suitable front end that is cross platform. At this stage, I'll probably look at a web based solution, but have yet to decide.

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    i passed everything at tafe IT except for access
    i 1st learnt websites with word lol , then frontpage, both are dead
    wordpress is all the go now, without all the hard stuff
    it has so many plugins you can use its crazy
    https://www.facebook.com/philquad68

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    I'll be interested to see how you go, keep us posted, please.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Philquad View Post
    the idea is to add customer data but send out email reminders on rego & service dates
    It sounds like a very common list of requirements for a mechanic to want, but the prices you've been quoted for off the shelf software sound crazy. I would have thought there would be lots of these sort of programs available at reasonable prices. In the IT industry, the catch phrase for this soft of software is Customer Relationship Management (CRM).

    Be very careful if going down the path of getting someone else to write an app for you. A very common complaint is that the developer "gave me what I asked for, but it wasn't what I wanted" - and then it costs mega dollars to fix. In particular, if dealing with Indians, make sure that you own the source code & can make your own modifications to it (or take it to someone else). A common trap is that the developer quotes a reasonable price to build the app, then months and many hours of your time down the track, you need some small thing changed & they quote you crazy prices to change it. You then have to pay up or start from scratch with a different developer. If you own the source code, at least you can take what you have to someone else.

    In a past life, I maintained an in-house customer database / job tracking system that had been written in FileMaker. Many people dislike it, but it was very quick and easy to get going compared to MS Access.

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    That's for WA, It would be impossible to find out when rego was due, as the customer can pay 3,6 or 12 months at a time.

    Hopefully you can use that script

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    Quote Originally Posted by Philquad View Post
    so i have contracted a freelancer @ $150 to have a go
    Bugger that, just go to

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    a fiver wont cover this one
    1 quote was 2500
    but it seems my brazillian friend has worked it out
    only catch he thinks the pc needs to run 24\7
    this will be a open source program as i paid for it
    with a little modification for those who know how
    maybe quite handy
    https://www.facebook.com/philquad68

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    I wouldn't of thought you needed a website for it or a pc to run 24/7

    I would of thought a database would do it all.

    a few fields name, address ,car odometer reading ,date came in, date of next service , last letter sent.

    The tricky part is guessing when the customer is going to do the next service. ie our car has services every 15k, our mechanic sends out letter trying to get us to do a minor service every 7500k



    But at the prices, you can get these guys to do things is great. I've had great success with freelancers, most often outside the site.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Philquad View Post
    im helping someone i know create a program for a motor mechanic shop
    simply the idea is to add customer data but send out email reminders on rego & service dates
    now theres a few programs out there already ranging from $200-$5000 or $30-$180 month
    but most are complex & still have some sort of downfall

    so i have contracted a freelancer @ $150 to have a go, + many indian freelancers dying to do it
    anyone use something like this?

    Problem they are going to face is what comes first the kms which you have no way of tracking or the scheduled 6 months what ever it is these days. for the reminder emails

    will look into your other project tonight mate

    Chieflets
    Last edited by Chieflets; 15-06-14 at 05:07 PM.
    It's amazing how 2 people could be one on forums, must be identity theft cough cough 

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    im just waiting on it now
    he said about making the reminder 11 months after last check so ill just see
    sounds pretty customizable so

    hows this



    zilla said his not worried about the cart just the online presence as he has a hell ebay setup
    https://www.facebook.com/philquad68

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    Quote Originally Posted by Philquad View Post
    im just waiting on it now
    he said about making the reminder 11 months after last check so ill just see
    sounds pretty customizable so

    hows this



    zilla said his not worried about the cart just the online presence as he has a hell ebay setup

    hope all goes well , I could of done all this in desktop or web at good rate

    Chieflets
    It's amazing how 2 people could be one on forums, must be identity theft cough cough 

  • #13
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    yea i knew you did sites but wasnt sure on the database stuff

    the car app & godzilla's site are 2 different things though

    the apps for a local mechanic & the wp site is to replace godzilla's outdated cubecart i made 5 yrs ago
    https://www.facebook.com/philquad68

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    Default database

    I would just go the dominos way, aggressive. When I relocated I hit 20 of my best customers with month after month direct mail. I retained 10 of them. I was pleased with that as my customers don't update their details. If I was a mechanic, I'd be sending out specials at least 1/4ly. Free wiper replacement with your next service etc.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Philquad View Post
    yea i knew you did sites but wasnt sure on the database stuff

    the car app & godzilla's site are 2 different things though

    the apps for a local mechanic & the wp site is to replace godzilla's outdated cubecart i made 5 yrs ago
    how did you go with this do you still need some one to do it for you?

    Chieflets
    It's amazing how 2 people could be one on forums, must be identity theft cough cough 

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    one of the mods from cubecart.org fixed godzilla's site for me

    the database, well the 1st guys attempt was pretty weak, i have someone doing it in ms access now
    ill let you know how it turns out
    thanks
    https://www.facebook.com/philquad68

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    LSemmens
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    Just a comment on the MSAccess front, it is very proprietary as a front end and once you start using it, you are locked in. As a back end, you're better off using MYSQL or similar which is also way more secure than the Access databases.

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    its done
    a database that sends out to email on set dates
    my end has sms sendout added also

    https://www.facebook.com/philquad68

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    So, without looking at the link, what did you end up using? Access?

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    YEA ITS JUST ACCESS opps, 2010
    as you mentioned though, access is all wrapped in 1 file, bit scary, cant seem to export data to excel
    but its really only to send out sms & email reminders once, shame i dont know how to modify it much
    id like to ad more features to it
    https://www.facebook.com/philquad68

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