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We’re back! And a Valleyschwag4 Update
We had an unexpected day of downtime when some script kiddies (sorry, l33t h4×0rs) broke our server. We’re back now thanks to the efforts of Scott, Sean, and Cameron. Credit card information is stored securely at Paypal and wasn’t compromised. We’re a little tired, but we drank some Rockstar and we should be fine.
Loosening the Reins on the Schwag Wagon
We’d planned mail Valleyschwag 4 this week, but some of the cool stuff that was committed fell through at the last minute, and the package was going to be lame. Lameness is not to be tolerated, and our company was founded with a philosophy of agility and iterative improvement, which we’ll put into practice today with Valleyschwag.
We’re taking the feedback you’ve sent and using it to switch things around. Most feedback has been very positive, but there have been three nagging problems that we’ll try to solve all at once. (Some of this was mentioned in the previous post. More detail below.)
Problem 1: My schwag is late.
Everyone wants their project to be cheap, fast, and good, but as anyone in web development knows you can only get two of ‘em. We want to keep valleyschwag cheap (ten bucks plus shipping! cheap!) and we want it to be good (more schwag! cool packaging!) so we’re going to sacrifice fast. We’re switching to a less defined shipping schedule. We’ll send out packages when we have the right stuff to make them great, not on a specific date. Whether it takes four weeks or 8 weeks, we’ll make sure your stuff is up to snuff. (And we promise to rhyme anymore.)
Problem 2: You billed me twice and you haven’t sent me anything! You Bastards!
This problem is an offshoot of problem #1, and the solution is implement our fancy new payment system from TrustCommerce. For those who have paid too much, we’re going to even things out and credit your accounts in the next few days.
Problem 3: I want more better schwag.
Easy, we’ll just take a bit more time and gather more stuff. We’re still only promising one shirt plus assorted schwaggage, but we always aim for more, more, more!
If you have something to say about these changes just jog over to our blog. If you really hate change, or you’re bored with us, you can go to http://www.valleyschwag.com/ and unsubscribe. It will make us cry, but if you love somebody set them free.
We’re still figuring out how to make Valleschwag work for everyone and be the greatest web schwag subscription service around. It’s a funny idea for a business, but we think it’s viable long-term if we can get the rhythm right.
August 3rd, 2006 at 7:46 am
Good to see you guys back! Sorry to hear some maladjusted individual decided to spread his jackasscity over your parade.
A few comments/criticisms/praises/questions.
1)Do you have any clue on when this package will go out? I know you said a cool item was taken out of the mix and ruined your plans, but I am curious if this will be a two month package or not.
2)Will be giving us updates more often? I am dissatisfied with the information given as far as a timetable goes with the current system. The new system sounds like it will be even harder for you to give us regular updates. You don’t have to set dates in stone, but just give us ballpark figures. Keep us in the loop even if you don’t know when things will be shipped. A “I just don’t know when I will go out.” Is far better than silence.
3)Kudos for seeing that the current system was broken and taking steps to change it.
4) I admit to a certain level of frustration since I will be billed for my 4th package in just a few days and only gotten two of them. I think you guys are stumbling a lot right now, BUT I have a feeling you are going to get a handle on this very soon and make things right as well as see a booming subscription rate.
4)This sounds like a threat, but of course it’s not. It’s just an FYI.
I am going to give it another package after the one you are currently getting ready to ship. If things are not far better, I am going to abandon ship until such time as you get all your ducks in a row, if you ever do.
I hope this doesn’t sound to harsh. I understand the growing pains and I understand you guys are really trying to get things rolling here, but I am paying for a service I am not currently receiving, so I should be allowed a little leeway to complain.
Good luck, I hope this works out. It is an awesome idea, I just hope you can figure out how to implement it correctly.
August 3rd, 2006 at 8:07 am
Well, I’m a bit bummed by the delays, but I’m glad to see the site back up. While some will definitely complain and probably cancel their memberships, I’m going to ride it out for a while to see if the new system is worthwhile. I appreciate the fact that you guys did not send out a “crap” package, just to get it out, as that would have pissed me off. So I don’t mind waiting for some good stuff.
Basically, I’m assuming now that I’ll get cool new schwag once every couple of months, instead of every month, and then if I get an extra one thrown in, that’s cool.
Good luck with your planning and conversion to the new system. And good luck finding the ba$tards who shut the site down (unhappy schwagger, perhaps?) and getting them fired from Dairy Queen.
Cheers,
MD
August 3rd, 2006 at 8:25 am
Am I the only one that is enjoying the tension and anticipation caused by the randomness factor about when the packages get sent out????
The last two packages have been a totally unexpected suprise waiting for me at home after horrible days at work. I love how I have absolutely no idea what will be sent or when it will arrive!
It makes it so exciting!!!
Thanks
Steve (From the UK)
P.S. I think packages should be delayed until you are happy with their content. It’s the personal touches like that which make your packages so good!!!!
August 3rd, 2006 at 8:49 am
@Stickboy & Motherduce
Thanks for the encouragement. We’re really trying to work the random grab bag surprise aspect, and we really don’t want to send out anything sucky. Also, I’m going to personally travel to every Dairy Queen searching for the j-hole who ran his script on us.
Which reminds me, we’re pretty sure it was a random scripted brute-force attack, meaning it wasn’t really directed at us personally. We also saw no evidence that a human ever got into our server - it’s quite possible that someone ran the script and didn’t bother to check and see if they got in.
August 3rd, 2006 at 8:53 am
[…] The Chronicles of Valleyschwag » Blog Archive » We’re back! And a Valleyschwag4 Update […]
August 3rd, 2006 at 8:56 am
@Rikostan
Good points (as usual).
1) The current plan is to ship before the end of August when a few of us have a vacation planned (good incentive!).
2) We’ll notify everyone before the shipment goes out so they have a chance to cancel if they don’t have $$ available on their credit card. Otherwise we’ll keep you updated on here on the blog as stuff comes in.
3) Thanks! We’re all about the adaptation.
4) This is exactly why we’re switching to a new system and crediting people in the mean time. We have a line in our database called “owed”, which is the number of payments minus the number of packages shipped for each individual. That number should always be 1 or zero; if it’s 2, as it may be in your case, we’ll correct it by crediting your account.
4b) You are always allowed, and encouraged, to complain. That’s how we know what isn’t working. We hope you’ll stick around, as these changes are intended to make Valleyschwag a better value with more high quality stuff.
August 3rd, 2006 at 9:13 am
Motherduce mentions on her blog, in reference to us using a payment system from TrustCommerce:
“(This is one thing that worries me a bit…the new billing system will be run from their servers, I’m assuming, which were just hacked. Hopefully they’ll get the security issues resolved before I give them my credit card)”
Your credit card number wouldn’t be in danger with any system we use. TrustCommerce has bank-level server security, with a full-time server security staff and dudes with guns outside the server rooms. We would have to be real gluttons for punishment to ever store credit card numbers on our servers.
August 3rd, 2006 at 11:33 am
glad that you guys are back.
few things for you.
1. I think its great that you aren’t sending out packages that you yourself think are rubbish.
I would prefer to wait another month and get something that I’m happy with than a cheap ass tshirt and 2 stickers.
2. I think once you have this new payment system where you only bill once the packages have been shipped, people wont worry so much about getting one each month. As my first point I would much prefer to only get 6 great packages a year than 12 packages with 1 good tshirt in.
3. its web2.0 (web2.5.3 maybe there was a patch released) so talk talk talk. Even if its a sneaky peak at a sticker. Just keep us uptodate on whats happening. I dont need a fix date you will ship but its nice knowing you are still there any doing something.
4. I love you Valleyschwag, sure everything isn’t perfect but your working at it
August 3rd, 2006 at 12:28 pm
When does the new payment schedule go into effect? I’ve got PayPal scheduled to take my August payment on the 5th, will that still occur or has the transition already been made?
August 3rd, 2006 at 12:57 pm
I’m very glad you’re working out the issues to make sure it’s about quality over frequency.
Will the billing switch over automatically, or will we have to stop paypal manually then re-sign up under the new system?