A little 'sour grapes' regarding paid modules

[fxdesigner]

I certainly don't want to come across as ungrateful for the efforts developers put in regarding designing 'modules' but to be blunt - some of these addon modules do NOT warrant the cost.

In fact, you can easily purchase other full-functioning, feature-rich, options included 3rd party shopping carts for less than or slightly more than the cost of most of the single 'addon' modules being offered.

Prestashop is a good entry-level cart solution and you certainly can't quarrel with the price, but it is hard to swallow these module margins for a core product that is offered for free.

Again, the developers are within their right to charge what THEY believe to be a fair-market price, but most of the modules offered are for "features" that any basic cart should already include in their core package.

Things like attribute types (textbox, checkbox, customer input box), payment gateways and an ability to create your own custom payment / shipping options (not shown), etc. should already exist, and not have to rely on a 3rd party to charge outlandish fees for such basic needs.

I'm sure they won't agree with this viewpoint, but as I said, there are other alternatives and it is a shame, because Prestashop has great potential, but in my opinion falls short on some of the essentials.

I'm always fascinated when a fellow user needs help with something regarding a not-so-apparent feature and/or setting and how often a "module developer" states "Oh, I got just the addon for you" rather than perhaps offering just a "little" insight as to how an alternative method might be just as good, without the issue of addon module 'sticker-shock'.

My two cents,

FXDesigner

[noesac]

I have paid $50-100-200 for modules before which I thought were good value for money.

However I have paid $30 for some which only offer basic functionality which I don't think were worth any more than $5-10-15

I think some of them are really overpriced.

[fxdesigner]

Hi -

That was my point - As a designer (in a different realm) I know development can take resources and unrecoverable time. But at the same time, I know that risk when I start a design project. Trying to make back that "design labor" by charging (again what is only my opinion here) unreasonable prices for a product that (as experience has clearly demonstrated) is almost always touted to be the next best thing to sliced bread, but generally falls short or with just a little bit of effort (on my part) and the generosity of others who are brighter than I and willing to share their expertise with the community at large a work-around or outright solution was available at little or no cost.

As originally stated, I don't begrudge these module designers their due or their efforts to "charge" for these modules - I just think some (not all) are over-priced and not very good.

Before anyone hops on the bandwagon, regarding what have "I" done lately for the community at large, in very unassuming fashion I do personally contribute my time, efforts, expertise with others and certainly there are times I would have been justified in "charging a fee" - but after years of learning from others it is time (and it feels good) to simply give back. This is NOT a "Kumbaya" moment it is just an opinion that as I said, for the cost of some of these individual modules, there are worthwhile 3rd party ecommerce systems available for around the same price that include some of these module features and then some.

I also think that these so-called "premium / after-market" modules and templates hurt the Prestashop philosophy of OPEN-SOURCE availability.

For example - AND I'm not calling out or picking on any one module designer - Someone offers a "Menu Module" that is for all intended purposes VERY SIMILAR to or is based partly on a FREE / OPEN-SOURCE Jquery Plugin available for FREE download across the internet that supports the same features and functions of the addon payme module (and the free plugin with some minimum page modification is PrestaShop-friendly), this addon module "sells" for 30 Euro ($43.00 USD) - (See attached images) - I fully understand there is a market for someone / entity that doesn't want to be bothered and the "module" MAY (not always) have some value-added GUI / features - but even at that, the "menu" stills needs to be minimally configured and installed via the Prestashop BO.

If I have to do that and there is an alternative method that accomplishes virtually the same features, I'm going to if it is within my ability to understand and modify / add / install the "FREE" version. It is not a matter of being cheap or frugal or trying to get something for nothing. But again, OPEN-SOURCE means just that OPEN-SOURCE and I 100% support that principle.

I'm more than willing (if the module / design / template, is an open-source resource and functions as advertised) to make a donation to the contributing author - I have done exactly that too many times to remember - but to pay for something that attaches itself to a "FREE, OPEN-SOURCE Core Application (PrestaShop) and where readily available FREE /Open-source alternatives / methods exist - I really have a difficult time justifying the cost for such a product / contribution. Also there is no guarantee the module will install / work and there is no guarantee for reliable product support. At least if it is "free", if it doesn't work, all I have given is my time.

Regarding attached images ("green" menu is premium module example, "blue" one [ The White House ] is free Jquery version [ it can do just about everything the premium one does ] ).

Again, just my two cents...

regards,
FXDesigner