Free Themes vs Premium Themes

Using wordpress for creating web solutions is easy. The main issue I have with WordPress is the lack of support from the premium theme sites, the premium plugins and anything else that isn’t free. WordPress is free. And open source. And this ethos has allowed for wordpress to flourish.

Sadly, individuals that could not write code to create something like wordpress has found a way to create plugins, widgets and themes that they charge for. And that is not an issue, as some of these themes and functions are great. Take this directory script for a moment. A lot of work has gone into creating this theme. And it works great. Sadly, when you are a VIP member with PremiumPress, it doesnt mean that you will get support for whatever modification advice you require.

I wanted to make use of the API used by directorypress and combine it with the images upload feature. The ”problem” is that the default screenshot image gets replaced by the uploaded images. Fair enough. Te code for this ”function” exists within the script. So first the forum, post a question, and get an answer that doesn’t answer ANYTHING you asked for. Maybe it is a bit complicated for the forum. Let me open a support ticket.

So I get an email back saying why did I not give the url of the site I am working on. And can they have ftp access to my root? And what is my order number when I originally purchased PremiumPress? I responded and asked just to clarify where the fnction is created to replace the screenshot, with the uploaded image featre, to allow me to edit this function. The ”support” staff guy, ”Dave”, didn’t have a clue what I was asking. I was instructed to ”reset to factory settings”. What ??????

So after some emailing left and right, I received an email from Mark Fail, the owner of PremiumPress asking me not to be rude to his support staff. So I guess that means no more ”support”.

My Argument

If you are going to use a free open source script, and bolt on a feature which you want to charge for, YOU need to ensure the ”support” staff you employ is up to scratch. If the ”support” staff have no idea what the answer is why don’t they just say so, rather than taking some stabs in the dark of what the actual answer might be?

Having worked extensively with this script, and having identified COUNTLESS ways of manipulating the original code it is amazing that the user, which PAID for the priviledge of using the premium theme, is left with only the most basic of support functions. Maybe I should not look at this in a negative manner, as the market created by selling this theme, without adequate support will leave an opportunity to improvise a new sub dmain, that would exclusively deal with HACKING of PREMIUM PRESS.

I have loads to do at the moment, so I don’t have the time to expand on these issues at the moment. I will however remind Rob to add some content for me here. Especially in relation to the submit page. The various examples of directories we have put together displays our ability to create custom layouts for the single post pages. This is something we can easily share, and we will do so when the time allows for it.