|
Competition is healthy, for sure. When there is pressure to compete, consumers and in this instance merchants and affiliates end up with a better product. I host clients with MPA3 and clients with NATS. I have clients that are happy with each respective software. I have had clients that have moved from one to the other, etc. I consider the people at both companies to be friends - Gary, Oystein, John. We are acquainted but I've just never spent that much time getting to know you Nathan.
Although I understand why both parties are posting in here, I think I was dissapointed starting with the first post. I can understand offering a competing offer, even a special to lure customers away from a competitor. In my opinion, you didn't need to go farther with that all you need to do is let the product speak for itself. That is all anyone ever really needs to do, I think. I believe, honestly, that both companies have good products. I respect your decision but it's not the one I would have made, personally.
I will leave everyone on this note... A long while back, I got a call from Oystein. He very patiently confronted me with some information, basically saying that he had a complaint from a current MPA customer that I was trying to push them into NATS. I don't know if this was an actual customer of mine with MojoHost, with 123Bill or just somebody I was acquainted with discussing the topic freely. Humility. You know, I have customers that use both softwares and I have practically been a client of both myself. I apologized, as I should have, and resolved to be much more objective. My point for even bringing this up, really, is just that I had a tremendous amount of respect for Oystein calling me out in the manner in which he did. I know that is how I like to do business, one on one and always with a preference to not air laundry in public.
With all of the upgrades and enhancements to both packages I truly believe that one can't really go wrong with either one. I don't have to kiss ass to get business, I just tell things like I see it. When NATS first came out I, like everyone else, was excited to see a new product to market. I endorsed it before I was ever a client of it and that was an immature decision of mine. I have long since seen proof of the fact that the issues I had with my own conversion from MPA2 to MPA3 were unique or at least ultimately resolved. I host some very successful programs on both packages and I can't honestly say that I have clients on either side of the fence that are unhappy with their respective solution provider.
I don't give any glowing endorsement. As a host and a biller, I see the best and worst of both. As far as I am concerned with my level of experience, knowledge and observance of both products the options are "6 of one and a half dozen with the other." They both have their merits, accomplishments, drawbacks, growing pains.
I wish both companies success with their products. I like the my hosting clients have more options in the market, that each company has a full suite of software to choose from. The most important thing is that as a customer of any company or any service provider is that you are HAPPY. If you are not happy, try something else and hopefully the transition isn't too painful and your provider doesn't hold you hostage. If NATS and Mansion can agree on anything, I would think, it is that their customers are #1. I believe that we all respect those that are kind enough to put food on our tables... I know that we at MojoHost take that very seriously.
I wouldn't call this a dirty fight quite yet, but it definitely isn't pretty. I just hate to see this, I like to think that the parties, no matter how estranged, could come together enough to find some level of mutual respect so that they can compete respectfully.
Cheers,
Brad
__________________
President at MojoHost | brad at mojohost dot com | Skype MojoHostBrad
71 industry awards for hosting and professional excellence since 1999
|