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ELOGO
Sefton Billington
and
BRAND STUDIO
Address: 3/424 Queens Drive Lyall Bay Wellington
A CAUTIONARY TALE FOR ANYBODY THINKING OF HIRING HIM
SEFTON BILLINGTON is a director of ELOGO and BRAND STUDIO, another branding outfit in Wellington NZ.
The story so far.
On April 20 2009 Tom contracts with Brand Studio (owned by Sefton Billington) to develop a new Internet store. Planned to GO LIVE on July 13 2009.
April 23 - Deposit invoice - $4,095
May 12 - 1st progress payment - $3,375.00
June 22 - 2nd progress payment - $3,375.00
July 10 - 3rd progress payment - $3,375.00
Total payments thus far: $14,420.00
Apparent progress so far: ZILCH
Since then, just correspondence:
HI Tom,
Ok great that sounds good.
Regards,
Sefton
Tom wrote:
Hi Sefton,
Thank you for your reply. I have certainly realised that this more difficult than you envisaged. It would be a good idea to let me know which function/s is/are not working. If I knew what wouldn’t work I could think about what I could do without or change. Remember that if there is a problem you just cannot crack, I am prepared top discuss a workaround.
Kind regards,
Tom.
From: brandstudio [mailto:brandstudio@xtra.co.nz]
Sent: Tuesday, 15 December 2009 12:36 a.m.
To: tom@gdd.co.nz
Subject: Re: GDD
Importance: High
Hi Tom,
Payment issue is sorted we are just running some testing on it now.
Regards,
Sefton
Hi Tom,
I'm just awaiting for a response from pay station on question.
Will keep you posted.
Regards,
Sefton
Tom wrote:
Hi Sefton,
Can you give me any hope that a working system might be ready anytime soon?
Cheers,
Tom.
Hi Tom,
We have modified the structure to handle the multiple merchant accounts. Is it possible to ask paystation
if they can provide some example gateway code?
Best Regards,
Sefton
Hi Tom.
I'm back in NZ and back on board. We will need to review our structure to add this and we would need
another step to process the switching of accounts.
Will be in touch soon
Sefton
Tom wrote:
The payment gateway will be Paystation. Every merchant will use their own merchant account number. When a customer chooses their merchant the system will have to refer to their merchant number for processing a credit card transaction. Paystation are happy with this. Apparently it’s how it works with franchises they process for, such as Hell Pizza’s where every franchise owner uses their own merchant account.
Cheers,
Tom.
Hi Tom,
Do we have an indication from the bank how we would process
the multiple merchant accounts?
Many Thanks
Sefton
HI Tom,
Thanks for that - will come back with the next lot of requirements.
Regards,
Sefton
Tom wrote:
Hi Sefton,
I envisage the multi-merchant feature will work thus:
- At point of sale, the customer will select their merchant from a (drop down?) list. This will be a list of towns that will link to merchants, which will be added over time as the network increases. The list will be propagated from the town names within the account merchant details that will be added over time by the system administrator. The customer will be asked to choose their nearest centre rather than a merchant name. Where they are not near a centre on the list they will be asked to choose Head Office, the default merchant account.E
- Email templates: attached.
- Order template: attached.
- I don’t imagine that you’ll have all the paperwork I gave you so just let me know if there’s anything else you need.
Kind regards,
Tom.
From: brandstudio [mailto:brandstudio@xtra.co.nz]
Sent: Tuesday, 29 September 2009 6:49 a.m.
To: tom@gdd.co.nz
Subject: Re: GDD
Importance: High
Hey Tom,
Sorry about the delayed reply, I just got your message.
I have allocated some time this week to iron out the remaining issues. Its been really hard to
get any time to sit down and get into it until now. I had our other programmer working on it however
I need to firstly have a good look to see where we are at and the time required
to finish it. A few things I can think of in the interim however -
- Advice on how the multiple merchant will be handled during the checkout process.
- A template for the emails sent to both the user and the admin
- Confirmation messages that are provided on successful order, registration etc.
We will be returning on the 13th arrive on the 15th October at the latest.
Best Regards.
Sefton
Tom wrote:
So Sefton,
Another week has flown by and things are coming to a head here. Since I have yet to hear from you since your last Email I assume we are not at Go yet.
The fitting out of the first showroom starts next week with a view to opening at the start of November – barely time now to enjoy the Christmas rush. Given that there may be bugs to iron out and product to load, the remaining time suggests that I could be in for acute embarrassment. What’s your view?
Tom.
From: brandstudio [mailto:brandstudio@xtra.co.nz]
Sent: Friday, 18 September 2009 5:43 a.m.
To: tom@gdd.co.nz
Subject: GDD
Importance: High
Hi Tom,
Just to give you an update, I received the software I required from New Zealand
today so I should be able to sort out the website for you starting next week.
I will keep you posted - and will email as soon as we are go.
Best Regards,
Sefton
Hey Tom,
Sorry about the delayed reply, I just got your message.
I have allocated some time this week to iron out the remaining issues. Its been really hard to
get any time to sit down and get into it until now. I had our other programmer working on it however
I need to firstly have a good look to see where we are at and the time required
to finish it. A few things I can think of in the interim however -
- Advice on how the multiple merchant will be handled during the checkout process.
- A template for the emails sent to both the user and the admin
- Confirmation messages that are provided on successful order, registration etc.
We will be returning on the 13th arrive on the 15th October at the latest.
Best Regards.
Sefton
Tom wrote:
So Sefton,
Another week has flown by and things are coming to a head here. Since I have yet to hear from you since your last Email I assume we are not at Go yet.
The fitting out of the first showroom starts next week with a view to opening at the start of November – barely time now to enjoy the Christmas rush. Given that there may be bugs to iron out and product to load, the remaining time suggests that I could be in for acute embarrassment. What’s your view?
Tom.
Hi Tom,
Just to give you an update, I received the software I required from New Zealand
today so I should be able to sort out the website for you starting next week.
I will keep you posted - and will email as soon as we are go.
Best Regards,
Sefton
Hi Tom,
I spoke to Simon yesterday and he is having issues getting the software loaded onto the server. I have given him some suggestions
so hopefully we will hear back shortly. Failing that I will need to take a look at it.
I understand your position however I'm also a bit stuck in a position as we didn't anticipate the amount of work that was required
here. I have very little available spare time at present which has been most frustrating mainly because my Girlfriend damaged her
leg on the stairs moving boxes so now I'm doing double loads. We have a deadline here to so its been pretty tough going.
I was planning on having it wrapped up prior to the trip however we had the delay with the credit card which ultimately evaporated my
safety buffer. I'm 100% committed on getting the project live as soon as possible.
We only have a few weeks before I will be returned to NZ.
Best Regards,
Sefton
Tom wrote:
Did you get hold of Simon yet?
I must say I am starting to get quite frustrated by the lack of progress and the fact I cannot seem to get any commitment to finishing this project, which is now two months overdue. I also have commitments to meet and plans that are now coming to a head. You originally said you were on a working holiday now you are saying that I was supposed to be told that you are unavailable.
Perhaps I should deal direct with Simon. I really must get this finished and soon. Please be frank with me and either confirm that you are going to complete and when, or tell me if you are unable to do the job.
Tom.
From: brandstudio [mailto:brandstudio@xtra.co.nz]
Sent: Friday, 4 September 2009 2:08 a.m.
To: tom@gdd.co.nz
Subject: Re: Credit Card
Importance: High
Hi Tom,
Very sorry about the delayed response I have only just established a phone line and connection.
I thought Telecom was bad but nothing compares to the delay here.
I managed to get hold of Simon briefly last week and ask him to advise you I was unavailable till further
notice which he obviously hasn't. Its currently 2.03am NZ time but I will try and establish contact to find
out whats going on. Once the bank has confirmed the merchant account we can get the final payment
integration sorted and go live.
Best Regards,
Sefton
Tom wrote:
I got no reply to my Email of last week. Nor did I get any response from messages left on your service.
I need to know that this program is going to be ready sometime soon as time is dragging on and the Christmas season is fast approaching. I have people waiting. Please let me have some idea of when I am likely to see it.
Tom.
From: brandstudio [mailto:brandstudio@xtra.co.nz]
Sent: Wednesday, 19 August 2009 4:39 p.m.
To: tom@gdd.co.nz
Subject: Re: Credit Card
Importance: High
Hi Tom.
Thats typical huh! We just working on some validation issues and will keep you posted shortly when its available.
After some testing we realised the current validation we had checked for example if an email was correctly entered but didn't prevent them submitting the form across some browser so had to add a further layer of validation. Unfortunately you can never foresee
these issues until the final browser testing stage.
I will get the NZD dollar stuff added 2 so we can be sure everything is approved promptly. I forgot to mention ( i think ) also
we got the cart working correctly so no refresh is required. Thats a shame about Friday as we will be in Palmerston
prior to a wedding on sat. However any changes we can action promptly as we are keen to get this sorted and live, and generating some $$$ ; ) After next week I will not be available by phone all the time as I'm having to travel to europe to assist in selling my girlfriends property. Its a working holiday so I will be available to get any updates done and if I'm unavailable I will ensure its passed to our other employee for completion - Not to worry there. Our office will be attended most of the time but when its not we have an answering service which will take your details and I can call / email you back.
Best Regards,
Sefton
Tom wrote:
Hi Sefton,
Progress!
The bank need to see the web site before they will OK the account. They have a few issues with the present one and I have had to reassure them that certain things will not apply in the new one (such as a credit card surcharge).
The payments page must clearly state that all transactions are in NZ dollars (as opposed to Fijian ones I suppose).
Before they will approve the site, they must see it. So can you post it somewhere and send me a link that I can pass on to them. Thanks.
I will be in Wellington on Friday for my daughter’s birthday. I could see you then if there are any issues.
Cheers,
Tom.
From: brandstudio [mailto:brandstudio@xtra.co.nz]
Sent: Thursday, 13 August 2009 12:45 p.m.
To: tom@gdd.co.nz
Subject: Credit Card
Hi Tom,
Hope you are well,
Do we have an ETA on the creditcard?
Best Regards,
Sefton
Hi Tom,
Ok great - just wanted to be sure as we are removing all shipping references to simplify the checkout.
I'm not sure how that would work but along as it connects and runs the website won't be a problem.
Regarding the merchant account once setup we need PHP example script then we should be able to integrate no problems.
Regards,
Sefton
Tom wrote:
> Yes, as the logo states, we deliver for free.
>> Whilst I am at this, I need to let you know that I am planning for the
> licensee computers to be kiosk terminals. They will run from a memory
> stick rather than a hard drive and automatically connect to the web
> site on boot up. The operating system will be a very cut down Linux
> program that provides no opportunity to browse the Internet freely.
> Users will only be able to visit linked pages.
> This shouldn't be a problem but if there are any issues you can
> foresee, now would be the time to let me know.
>> Cheers,
>> Tom.
>
> PS: The merchant account application is in and Paypoint have confirmed
> that they can manage licensees as a group with each having their own
> merchant accounts.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: brandstudio [mailto:brandstudio@xtra.co.nz]
> Sent: Friday, 7 August 2009 2:33 p.m.
> To: tom@gdd.co.nz
> Subject: Shipping Cost
>
> Hi Tom,
> Just confirming that all transactions are free shipping?
> Regards,
> Sefton
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