Tired of Waiting for the new Admin

[gavseim]

I've heard admins talking about the new admin panel for years and years.



Let me be frank and say I'm tired of waiting. You guys are a company with lots of users and apparently growing all the time. Frankly I'm tired of "we're still working on the admin panel" excuse every time people want a new feature - Amazon Payments for example.



New features are mostly ignored and the excuse is nearly always the same.



You've been telling us for at least 3-4 years years that a new admin panel was coming soon. Here we are in 2013 and the admin panel still feels like it belongs in 2003. What on earth is the problem?



I love what E-Junkie offers us, but I'm getting really tired of excuses. I'm sure that's not the goal of the EJ crew, but to put it bluntly - Lets get with the program.



Gav

[E-junkie_Guru]

As a conservative estimate, the new Admin should be live by the end of this year, and more optimistically speaking by the end of this summer, if all goes to plan.



The last update to the current Admin was launched on August 25, 2009. Preliminary planning for another update began in late 2010. However, 2011 brought some false starts and other unexpected setbacks to Admin update plans, along with the conclusion that the current Admin had become too fragile to develop any further, and the broader realization that Flash was quickly becoming an obsolete technology anyway. An all-new interface built from scratch in DHTML (HTML+CSS+JS) would be necessary, yet it would have to work with our existing back-end code and production systems as a drop-in replacement for the current Admin.



We were finally able to hire an experienced new developer last March, who has been dedicated to the new Admin project since then. Much of his work has involved essentially reverse-engineering the current Admin, as none of the Flash source code it's based on could simply be carried over to the new Admin, yet it would have to be written from scratch to work with our back-end in exactly the same way as the current Admin.



I've been building the HTML/CSS templates for the new Admin screens myself and just finished the last screen just over a week ago. Now it's just a matter of our Admin developer wrapping up the programming that will make those screens dynamic and functional, then alpha testing internally, then beta testing with clients, and then we can finally take it live.

[gavseim]

Well at least there's movement. Thanks for the update.

[mickm]

A year later and we're still waiting. It's now 2014.



Technology has moved on.



E-junkie is great but it's seriously lacking... I've noticed I've been using it less and less as the years roll on, because I'm not sure if it can't compete as a serious contender in the current market place.

[E-junkie_Guru]

We're pretty eager to launch and frustrated by the delays, too; Development lately just keeps telling us it'll be completed "in a week or so" and then running into last-minute thorny challenges that take more time to sort out than they expected. From what I can tell by the work-in-progress alpha version we've started testing, everything but the Shipping settings screen appears to be fully implemented already.

[beatthecasino_com]

Take your time. Quality work takes time but is usually worth it rather than offering a defective production version.



Thanks for the update.



KS

[mickm]

BeatTheCasino.comTake your time. Quality work takes time but is usually worth it rather than offering a defective production version.



Thanks for the update.



KS

That's a nice sentiment but an unrealistic one. Technology moves too fast.



Any release will have minor bugs, it's going to take real world situations to uncover and iron them out - and that's not a problem for vendors, it's to be expected as long as support is on hand to fix things quickly.



Besides feeling like we've been lied to about the release of the new system, we can easily compare Ejunkie with other, more modern solutions.. there's plenty to choose from; ClickBank, ClickSure, 1Shopping Cart, JVZoo, PayDotCom, DigiResults, Click2Sell, PayGear etc



Look at what they're doing and look at what Ejunkie is doing.



The last update was in 2009.. while on other platforms updates are being rolled out almost weekly.



In fact I'm using 5 of the platforms I've mentioned, and on more than one occasion I've suggested additional features and they've actually implemented what I requested in a matter of days. While over here Ejunkie customers are having to wait years for it to catch up.



As a result Ejunkie has moved from something that used to be an integral part of my business, to one that is now hardly used.. we both know I'm not the only one.



It's a shame because I'm a long time customer here, I'm very fond of Ejunkie and feel a sense of loyalty to the brand, there's just less and less "business sense" in using it.



Sorry if this is harsh but hopefully the team here will use this info to understand why improving the platform is so important to customers who want to remain with you.

[judger]

I'm much like you Mick, though I may not have used Ejunkie for as long - I started in 2010.



I also use Gumroad, SendOwl and Ecwid, all of which have been offering regular updates. I recently discover SendOwl can import all my sales from Ejunkie so if I move everything over to them I'll still be able to view old transactions which is a bonus, the only thing stopping me from moving is the work involved moving and promise of a new UI, which has been promised for so long now it is getting ridiculous.



I'll hold out for another few weeks but if not I'm going to make the move.

[whispers]

I'm glad there is 'movement' as well.



I could have probably written the flash front end in a week or so.... and I'm not sure how many php scripts are used in the whole platform, but it certainly cant be that many... even working with PayPal (Standard and Pro) isnt hat difficult to work with with flash/php..etc. So are the new features most of the hold up? Years is quite a long time!!! (although real world issues and employee trouble is understandable, and takes time to integrate someone new..etc in a position like this.. [ie: working with someone elses code and getting acquainted with the process/work flow])



That being said, in all fairness, things have worked pretty smoothly without 'much' incident. So what 'is' there is pretty stable IMHO..





Some tutorials and other quick ref. post/stickies on how to customize (over write the CSS) would have probably been better for most people here with integration/implementation..etc







Along with the 'new site'.. (is it PHP based then for your server side connection?)

how about some thought on the pricing/plans?



I cant tell you how many time I get frustrated knowing I host my files now (space maxed out)..and if I want more products/items.. I need to upgrade my plan (again..and again).. and I dont get much more of anything... (space wise).. just the ability to save more entries in a DB. (kills me!)



I have been tempted to try my hand any a quick and dirty flash based system like this, for my own personal use.. or find an alternate service for my money! I have stayed out of laziness and the need to upgrade my plan (again) hasnt arose yet.. (when it does something -will- give either the plan/option will be realistic and you pay for the space your plan comes with and unlimited (or at least many more) slots in the db.... or my years of being a loyal, paying customer will finally come to an end.



While I can totally see paying for the space to host the customer files.. paying for 'database slots/records'.. quickly becomes a slap in the face!



I have hopes the new 're-vamp' will solve some of these technical issues as well as the business model!

[rodypl]

I started my business in 2011. The 2 main services I used for the business was Weebly (for my website) and e-Junkie (for the selling).



When I look at these 2 companies, Weebly is VASTLY different and A LOT better in 2014 than it was in 2011. It is crazy how much that company grew and expanded its service. I haven't had the need to switch from Weebly because their growth keeps up with my company.



On the other hand, e-Junkie is the same since I started in 2011. The good thing is that e-junkie still works and does the job for now, but the lack of innovation and improvements makes me feel boxed in. It doesn't seem e-Junkie cares much about being the best service it can be, which is a shame.



Pretty soon, unless something changes, I'll have to leave e-Junkie behind and move on to something better. I don't hate the company because the service does work, and for that I'm thankful, but that's no excuse to not be better. Weebly worked in 2011, but their 2014 version makes the old Weebly feel like something from the stone age.



To me it seems that since e-Junkie gets a regular subscription income every month, they get lazy since they get paid either way.

[E-junkie_Guru]

Thanks for all your input, and sorry we haven't replied to this topic in a while, but there didn't seem to be much more we could say that hadn't already been said. Frankly, we agree with you on most points, particularly regarding the necessity of upgrading and improving our service, and the unacceptably long time it's taken for that to occur.



While we've constantly been making improvements "under the hood" the entire time, the simple fact is that significant and obvious client-facing new features and functionality have largely been "backed up behind the dam" of a new HTML-based Admin that we can readily modify to add the new interface settings and controls necessary to manage such new features.



However, new features haven't been holding things up, as we've just been shooting for feature-equivalence with the current Admin at first, to keep the project scope focused and avoid feature-creep delaying things any further; once that's finally done, tested, and live, that will allow us to become more active and responsive in adding new features/functionality and fixing any minor bugs that may be discovered in production.



In acknowledgement of the excessive and ongoing delays in completing the new Admin, we've now engaged expert outside talent to help us wrap up the "last mile" of that project; in fact, this is the same development firm that our founder was working for when he first created E-junkie as a personal side-project a decade ago, so they have a long track record and an established relationship with us, with some of the best developers in the state if not the country. Once the new Admin is live, they will also then be revamping our site layout to modernize the look'n'feel, apply responsive design principles to make the site more usable on mobile devices, etc.



In hindsight, perhaps we should have contracted the Admin project to them in the first place, but we had no way of knowing in advance that the new in-house developer we hired, though technically proficient, would turn out to be so inefficiently painstaking at actually producing code, and we were admittedly too slow to conclude that his productivity wasn't going to get any better with time and familiarity. Hindsight's always 20/20, but that's all water under the bridge now; we can only learn from our experiences and carry those lessons forward as we resolve to do better.

[credit_aid_software]

Hooray! Sounds awesome Tyson! Can't wait to see it!



Daniel

[cynthia]

Actually this update is very concerning to me. If the current eJunkie team isn't knowledgeable enough to build the new HTML 5 interface how can I feel confident they can maintain it after the outside (former owner) rebuilds it?

[E-junkie_Guru]

Our decision to seek outside assistance in wrapping things up was driven more by concerns over productivity rather than know-how -- i.e., the problem has been in the rate at which new code has been written and in accurately projecting ETAs, rather than any shortage of knowledge or skill to write good code; indeed, our in-house Admin developer has simply been so careful and meticulous that cranking out code hasn't gone as rapidly as we'd hoped and by now clearly need, so we're simply adding more trusted minds with experience to the project, just to get it done, and done well, forthwith.



Our Admin developer will be remaining on the team and will have written nearly all of the final code that goes into production, and should have no trouble understanding what other devs have contributed, so he'll be able to maintain it with the same painstaking care and concern he's given to it heretofore. I designed all the HTML and CSS for the new interface myself, and of course I'm not going anywhere. :^)



To clarify the matter of our ownership, that remains the same as it ever was since E-junkie was founded and will continue so. Our founder originally created E-junkie as a personal side project while he was employed at another development shop until E-junkie took off and started demanding his full attention, and that's the same dev shop we've now contracted to help us wrap up the new Admin and then modernize our site. They've been in business longer than we have and continue to thrive, so we expect they'll remain available if we happen to need them again in the future.

[sprudio]

I am proud to say that I was from the beginning with E-junkie and I know the owner Robin when he was just like me a small business owner. He is a very good guy and I trust his decisions. How many can say that are from the very beginning with e-junkie? Before e-junkie had a team he was answering all the e-mails. It was cool. Nothing against you e-junkie Guru you are cool too. In beginning things didn't work smooth but we stick with him and now e-junkie is still the best file delivery system, we want to much – to fast:-0. I am sure that things will get done when they will be done.

[credit_aid_software]

Me, too.



I've been with e-junkie since I started my online business in 2006. I couldn't have launched without it. I had no clue what I was doing back then. E-junkie support is awesome. Robin helped me personally and hooked me up with Adi to help to me get started. An hour later I had a working automated store. In the past 8 years I've referred many other people to e-junkie and they all pay $5 a month for an service that is flawless. It always works, the orders always send, deliverability is great, I can always depend on it (unlike every other more expensive services I also subscribe to). Back then the other cart alternatives were expensive. $5 a month for an awesome service, that always works is is unheard of. Yes, the UI needs a makeover. Yes, flash is out and responsive is in, and yes I would love to use it on my iPad--But i know I'll have that soon, and it's ok. In the meantime, I have peace of mind that software orders processing, downloads are sending, customers are happy, I'm making money while I sleep, all because I have e-junkie. Hey guys, I can't wait to see the new UI. Take your time and when it's ready I'll still be here. Thank you for 8 years of flawless service.



Daniel

[dstrange]

Well we are now in Q3. Any updated time table?



Thanks!

[E-junkie_Guru]

Latest word from our Admin developers is that they've completed a run-through of the total project in full, so now they're reviewing that completed body of code from end to end to look for bugs, adjust and optimize as needed, etc. Sounds like we'll have a complete alpha version ready for formal internal testing/QA review any day now.

[beatthecasino_com]

You know at first I said quality takes time and it does but don't you think you should simply say we are not making one as this has been promised now for years hasn't it? Are you really working on one?





This was posted in 2013



As a conservative estimate, the new Admin should be live by the end of this year, and more optimistically speaking by the end of this summer, if all goes to plan.

[E-junkie_Guru]

Yes, unfortunately that estimate I relayed from our Admin developer last year turned out to be wildly optimistic, so early this year when it became apparent things still weren't close to done, we decided to bring outside talent in on the project, and progress has been rapid since then.



We're now already in late alpha testing on the completed new Admin -- I'm testing and using it every day myself -- and latent bugs are getting harder to find while logged bugs are getting sorted out almost as soon as we find them. The latest ETA from the Admin dev team is that we should be on track for at least open beta testing, and possibly even a full public launch, by the end of this month.