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Medlin Software, Dennis

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Everything posted by Medlin Software, Dennis

  1. Reseller programs can be a savings, but there is a reason. The support may be offloaded to the reseller, or some fee per use from the developer (assuming the reseller pays the developer and reports your sale to the developer). At one point in the 90's, our product was available from a reseller or two. One sold many licenses, but never paid us, or reported the customer information. As inevitable, the customer contacted us (at the time, via phone) for help, and we were in a Catch-22. Help them for free, supporting the thief/reseller, or explain the theft which made us look like the bad guy. So for us, it quickly became a lose-lose and was ended shortly after starting. Unfortunately, back then, the reseller was able to keep going the about a year, as it was just a matter of copying the software onto another floppy to sell. IIRC, either the same or a different reseller was supposed to handle their own support, but they did not, or when the customer found out how to reach us, they did, making the agreement a money loser in that manner. The reseller, once we went to a different license method, resold their own license over and over too. We eventually noticed (for the same reason, via support inquires) and came up with a way to prevent that type of theft too. We still get issues when someone orders for another, sometimes collecting more from the customer, then the customer complains to us. Happened last week. For me, I avoid resellers for anything major. My current computer is a new model, in short supply. Resellers had some inventory, but I figured out when the manufacturer updated inventory, and was able to order in the few minutes/seconds when they had stock. Why? The return policy was cleaner, and they give a longer warranty option (which for a new device, for me, is important).
  2. I make all my tax payments/withholding in Dec. I am within 500 either way. I have interest income. But, a significant % of my income is on Dec. AND I understand the rules, such as withheld on or before Dec. counts for the entire year. Just part of the game we all make money playing. Use/cost of the money has a value even if there is no interest collected as described in the OP. Many fail to account for that.
  3. Does not matter. Broken means higher approved budget requests. There is zero incentive to streamline (thus no free efile of 94x forms yet).
  4. I had an estate return (only filed to get refund for one of the pandemic credits) take more than two years to get processed and the funds received. There was no fraud or other issues and was timely filed. Even after about 4 years, still dealing with estate issues, such as trying to get native oil/gas dividends/settlements transferred (the folks who manage these have zero incentive to actually help).
  5. I can save a few hundred per year by changing charge card processors, but the work on my end would be weeks of time/$. I am facing porting code to a different compiler, and it will take a couple of years to complete, but it has to be done at some point to keep value in the company when I am gone (to something more people use, rather than a specialized compiler not many use). One should always be prepared for their tools of income to disappear at a moments notice, including a plan in place to recover. This also includes a threshold/plan/budget/timeline for changing tools.
  6. Can be state specific. So much depends on how many hours in 24 the person is deemed to need care, and what activities are counted. If the family is not up to speed on the rules, then there is likely a state specific disability rights group of some sort which can give the family some tips, and likely you as well. I come at this as the person with the needs should have income, at least SSI, and to be able to pay for some of their care. For over and above, folks can give to an Able account, to avoid benefit issues.
  7. I needed a good laugh, thank you "IRS making sense".
  8. Likely nothing was broken. The VPN could be routing you through a different IP range, which the site is not yet tracking. Years ago, I found a list of all the IP ranges controlled by a competitor, which happened to also be routinely scraping my site. Easy enough to block. Same for bot scrapers. I don't really care about VPN use, as I do have customers outside the US (travel) who need access, but I have seen many lists of VPN IP ranges (so they could be easily blocked). I also, many years ago, blocked some of the way back type sites, and as best I can, I block the addresses who want to scrape me to use/sell for their "AI" purposes. Even so, I still can find lifted content in AI sites, and in other places.
  9. Rule 1, umpires are always right. Rule 2, if umpire is wrong, see rule 1. But of course, the good ones work hard to never be wrong, and understand they will be wrong and have to rule the best they can with what they have at the moment. Good training for life. Sadly, the difference today is any perceived slight will follow you forever at any time. I have been asked about a call from 20 years ago while online at the grocery. Must have kept little Spike from making the show. My very first call in my very first game was an ejection. Little JR cursed at me. The grown up JR resides at state expense as a predator.
  10. They are likely blocking certain IP ranges, and your VPN is using one of those ranges. Try changing your VPN sever/IP location. Most VPN's come from known IP ranges, which is how companied like Netflix try to block certain access. For me, I block outside of North America, not only because my software does not apply outside of NA, and reducing unwanted access attempts, but I avoid having to comply with the EU "cookie" pop up laws! I also block known bot farms within NA, and other IP ranges based on experience.
  11. Finally, I managed to have a snappy, to me, response to "How do I contact a live person?" "There is no one here who is dead, so every message you get from us is from a live person." --- This was from someone who has sent a dozen or more messages, over the last 24 hours, all with a reply address which is not valid, so I doubt they will ever see my reply.
  12. Makes me think. Our first official order was in 1984, $35. Currently, for the most similar program, the price is $79. In 1984, we calculated and filled in preprinted paychecks. Paper "reports" were printed to get figures to enter into tax forms. W2 fill in was possible, if you or we knew the proper "printer control codes" for the brand and model of printer being used. Inflation charts tell me I should be charging about $105. But nope, and we have exponentially more functions/features than 1984. -- The reality is, there is usually one code base these days, with the ability to hide/disable things if you want a lite or different "versions". The cost is actually MORE, to produce the lesser versions (time adding/testing the code to hide/disable things). The savings of a lite version are often from reduced support costs via restrictions on support in some manner (the cost of one long support issue can take a couple of years for the customer's license fee to recoup). -- Written as I chuckle to myself pondering pricing. I just filled up our EV for under $10 (~250 miles) and tomorrow, I get to fill up our ICE, about 30 gallons at $5.80 per, good for about 600 miles. The last time I got gas, it was at least a dollar less per gallon. We would have no ICE car, except it is the one SWMBO allows the pups in, and it can be flat towed behind our motorhome. We have no room for a car trailer or I would get a second EV to drag around on trips. I am allowed to keep our Wrangler, carbureted, 4WD, top and doors off, and I get to use the third pedal!
  13. After our retired racers started to pass, we were able to get our hands on two ~75/25% Greyhound/Whippets which were saved from the meat trade in a certain country. Some elders in that area still eat dog, and they have big markets where dogs are sold by the pound. Don't look this up online unless you are ready for what you will see. One of our greyhounds was a "Macau" dog, rescued at about 30lbs, with a good weight of 75. She lasted just under 2 years with us, likely because of being emaciated for two to five years while being "stored" in a back kennel at the Macau track. We call them our "littles" since they weigh 40-45 lbs. Much easier to pick up, especially when I think about picking them up 10 years from now. (Racing greyhounds are 60-100lbs in "retirement".) Most thankfully, our first racing Greyhound was an alpha female. She was able to train the littles into good house dogs in her final months, as a perfect purpose when her two prior house mates passed. There is something to be said about having an older dog break in the noobs. The littles spend most of my work days near me on fluffy dog ball/beds. There is something special about watching (and feeling) a free animal (such as a Greyhound) with the flexible spine, running (double suspension gait) at full song.
  14. I do get emails with things like (literally) "Help", "I cannot print", or "How do I pay my taxes". Over the years, I have built a custom automated reply system for the most common messages. I do track those who seem to ask excessive questions. They are thankfully few, and often indicate no experience or training ahead of time (with payroll processing) and will usually end up with a refund and a suggestion to hire out their payroll until they can get trained. Back when our customer count was beginning to grow, we could take orders on the phone and manually input them, we would spend time on the phone with most, but it actually was a detriment if one considers the time spent per customer and what our time costs (either to replace, or in lost productivity with other tasks). I am not saying support is a money loser, but the best use of support budget is preventing the contact in the first place by programming skills, FAQ, proactive emails, etc. It is also the best for the customer, as no customer (well, not those one should keep) asks for help before spending time trying to figure it out themselves and are likely at a low simmer (at least) when they reach out.
  15. For me. A dollar fee does not prevent calls for things not in my realm of support. It anything, it makes the process worse, as those who pay expect to monopolize my time, even beyond what they paid for. They do not like hearing no, that is not anything to do with my software - but I cannot refund you because you still called and took my time. The reality is, again for me, email is the only fair method, and workable. Anything I could answer over the phone is rare, and well documented already, and the other issues usually require images, backups, or a written-out reply (so it can be followed properly). Then there is the fairness. Should somebody who calls jump the line of those who write, and how much to charge for that effect.
  16. Holding your ground is a good thing. Erosion (I am a left coaster so it is physical as well as mental) hurts.
  17. I have always agreed with your statement. My threshold gets lower and lower every day. For instance, I have a hard line of end of relationship when a customer sends me something my granddaughter should not see. It is a matter of being professional/business-like, as well as liking to have her in play in the room when I am working.
  18. It is very peaceful to let go of those whose revenue does not cover their expense and headache. Although long ago someone here said there is a price which makes any client worth having, and our job is to get that full price.
  19. Probably. The tribe should have the ability to not 1099 if the item is not taxable. Giving a 1099 tells the recipient the amount is being reported as income. A perfect comparison in IHHS (at least what they call it in CA) to care for someone in their home. Those living in the same home as the client (say a parent caring for an adult child, or vice versa) make a statement to the county affirming they live in the same home (which means the amount received is not taxable wages) and no 1099 is generated. Without that statement, a 1099 is issued. Ultimately, the facts determine taxability, even receiving a 1099 does not mean taxable (say if the letter was not prepared or the payer still issued a 1099). Depending on your engagement, you might accept the 1099 as fact, and leave it up to your client to prove non-taxability. Or maybe your client has engaged you to investigate.
  20. While a member of a tribe, my tribe does not make direct payments. Likely depends on the source of the funds. Gaming revenue is likely taxable. Trust fund income is not likely taxable.
  21. The latest is no win 12 this year. There was recent news about the cost of the esa for 10. There may be a big update to 11 in the fall.
  22. Unless there is some exception (real estate agents?), commission is fine, but still have to monitor and make up, if less than min wage for all time worked. Likely some federal rule to start, then possibly modified by state rules. These days, with CA and ABC, and what DOL is doing/trying to do to somewhat align federal with CA, everyone should be considered an employee unless an exception can be mapped out case by case. Payroll is more complicated than ever, with many unqualified people handling payroll using the employer's choice of "magic" software (the kind which says or implies no knowledge is needed. (Sound familiar to tax preparer's world?) In a group of payroll "pros", who pay to be part of the group, there are multiple posts, daily, asking essentially why they should withhold for the worked in state, even if the company is located in another state. Granted, many of the posters are new, but even needing to ask in a forum tells me how little the employer is aware that the software or online processor they use is "doing" for them. Today, one of the posts was about a payroll software which allowed allocation of wages by state, with another which somehow was allocating some by worked in state and lived in state. neither is correct, since one has to track time worked at each location, and where an employee lives/gets mail is not material.
  23. If a single stand alone, no one really does. Repair or fixes, sure, but first letting the updates run, after they are done manually checking, until no more are left, is good to self do. Same with blowing/vacuuming (depending on one's preference/belief) is a self project. The random computer "expert" is likely going to connect remotely, run some sort of script, and may or may not fix anything, and may or may not cause more problems. One (in)famous "expert" service is well known for causing more problems, as their default is to do some sort of backup on removable media, a clean wipe and reinstall of Windows, then send you on your way with only their faulty backup to work from (they do not back up everything, just the common things, and they rarely help restore).
  24. I try to manually checks for updates every Wednesday. I do it just before lunch, and let it run if needed. If you do not keep relatively current, there can be many updates needed, and in some cases, they are done in specific order, with multiple reboots some of the time. Another goodie is to reboot your modem (or modem/router) at least once a month. I am also using a consumer/pro grade physical firewall box (to allow two internet connections to be live at the same time and) to block access to places other than the US, incoming or outgoing. (I did have to add an exception for a game SWMBO plays.) Make sure you are not sleeping/hibernating/power off until the updates are complete, or they may have to start over. When I notice a significant update, after it is done, I will manually check again in case the new update triggers another. I do not use the option to get the latest updates quicker (a quasi beta tester). I do not use any third party "security" software, as such software is often the cause of issues - the security built into Windows is great as is, better than you can get third party if you setup correctly. My new fav, now that I finally am using Pro Windows, is the brute force safe bit locker drive boot pin, and the walk away with my phone computer lock. For the fan, look online for hints how to clean your air paths and fan. They do need to be cleaned out on occasion. For me, I use portable computers, and I prop them up to improve air flow, versus sitting flat on a desk or my lap.
  25. If the person believes their name only will protect the funds, good luck. DD to an account in their own name is the safest. Especially in a community property state. Practically speaking, anyone can scribble on / stamp a paper check. No one is looking unless someone complains. I have my daughter sign any incoming checks "deposit only", not that it adds any security either.
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