Games of Daze/Infomagic - Games of Daze (Summer 1995) (Disc 1 of 2).iso/x2ftp/msdos/biz/psl_info.txt

Internet Message Format | 1994-09-01 | 8KB

From [e-mail] Wed Aug 31 18:04:57 1994
From: [e-mail] (PHDavison)
Newsgroups: alt.comp.shareware
Subject: 800# Service for Authors
Date: 30 Aug 1994 12:01:01 -0400
Organization: America Online, Inc. (1-800-827-6364)
NNTP-Posting-Host: search01.news.aol.com

There's been talk about registration services for authors, so I thought
I'd post this:

(If I shouldn't post something like this please don't flame me too hard
<g>)


                       PsL's Registration Service

Overview:

PsL is short for "Public (software) Library". We have been distributing
public domain and shareware software on disks since 1982. PsL has been
recommended in every major (PC) computer magazine, many computer books,
and many non-computer publications such as NY Times.

PsL offers a shareware registration order taking service primarily for the
benefit of shareware authors who are unable to get a credit card merchant
account. We began this service in January 1989 and presently take orders
for over 675 shareware authors.

PsL can take orders via our 800#, non-800#, CIS#, and FAX#. Our operators
are available from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. CST Monday-Friday and normally
>from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on weekends. We provide the easiest and most
direct way to register shareware via CompuServe - via email. FAX and
credit
cards are the primary means of registration for overseas customers.

We charge a small fee per transaction. Statements and checks are computer
prepared and mailed promptly at the end of each month.

We have tried to price this service as close as possible to our total
actual costs. What we get out of it is the name of a good shareware
customer (one who is honest enough to register shareware) to whom we
can send our monthly shareware magazine.

As a result, we will take orders ONLY for programs that are being marketed
as shareware for DOS-based machines. However, the program does NOT have to
be in our shareware catalog; the order-taking service is a completely
separate function from our shareware distribution service. (We would, of
course, be happy to have you send us a copy of your shareware program for
review for our monthly magazine.)


1. PsL's Obligations:

PsL will process orders received directly (only) from customers on a
non-exclusive basis for the Programmer for fully-licensed versions of
the Programmer's product.

(NOTICE: MC/Visa forbids us to process orders not received by us directly
>from the customer. If you receive a mail order, for example, with a
credit card number, you will have to notify the customer to contact PsL
directly. Do not just forward the order on to PsL yourself.)

At the Programmer's option, PsL will either ship the product or will
relay the order information to the Programmer or to the Programmer's
designated agent via CIS Email or telephone within one business day of
the time received.

Once a month, PsL will write a check to the author for orders received
during the prior month, less an order processing fee of $5 per order and
4% of the total amount charged to the credit card (to cover our credit
card expenses). The total amount includes any shipping to be charged the
customer and remitted to the programmer.

We also deduct $1 for each call received from a customer complaining
about not receiving his registered materials. This is to cover the cost
of the call and operator's time.

PsL may delay payment to make sure of fulfillment of orders if a
substantial number of orders are received near the end of a month or if
complaints are received about non-delivery of registered materials by the
author.


2. Programmer's Obligations:

The Programmer will either provide PsL with products to ship or will
ship the product within 48 hours of being sent notice of the order by
PsL, or will notify the customer and PsL within that period if shipment
cannot be made immediately.

If you are shipping the product instead of the PsL, you must either
have a CIS PPN and agree to check for CIS Email at least every other
day, or you must have a phone number where you or an answering machine
can be reached during the day.

We generally prefer for the programmer to ship. However, if you have a
large volume of business with us, it may make more sense to have us ship.
There is no extra charge to you for this service, but $4 S&H ($6
overseas) will be charged the customer and kept by PsL.

To inform users about the availability of this service, the programmer
will add the following information to his docs:

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
"CREDIT CARD ORDERS ONLY -

"You can order with MC, Visa, Amex, or Discover from Public (software)
Library by calling 800-2424-PsL or 713-524-6394 or by FAX to 713-524-6398
or by CIS Email to 71355,470. You can also mail credit card orders to PsL
at P.O.Box 35705, Houston, TX 77235-5705.

"THE ABOVE NUMBERS ARE FOR ORDERS ONLY.

"Any questions about the status of the shipment of the order, refunds,
registration options, product details, technical support, volume
discounts,
dealer pricing, site licenses, etc, must be directed to <your number or
address>.

"To insure that you get the latest version, PsL will notify us the day of
your order and we will ship the product directly to you."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------


RETURNS:

The Programmer assumes all responsibility for product warranty and
user satisfaction and for any refunds. If PsL ships an order or if PsL
sends payment for an order to the Programmer and payment by the user
subsequently fails in any way, the Programmer will reimburse PsL or
PsL may withhold the amount from payment for subsequent registrations.

If you accept returns, be sure to specify in your docs that returns must
be made to you. If a customer calls PsL's 800# for a return, and we have
to contact you and process the return, it's more work for us than taking
an order and we will have to charge the $5 order processing fee.


USE OF PsL'S 800 NUMBER:

Several authors have listed PsL's 800 number in ads and in magazine
reviews without identifying it as being PsL's number and without saying
that it is for orders only. If this happens and we receive an excessive
number of non-ordering calls, we reserve the right to charge the author
for such calls.


3. Termination and Changes:

Termination of this agreement or changes in the pricing or other
information related to this agreement must be made in writing or via
email to Nelson Ford, not by phone to our operators.

This agreement can be canceled by either party at any time, except
that the Programmer must ship any orders which PsL has processed as of
date of cancellation and PsL must pay the Programmer for orders
received and shipped.

(With around 700 authors signed up to date, we have only terminated 4
agreements: one for trying to sneak 3rd-party credit card orders by us,
one for not being able to prove ownership of a program which was being
claimed by someone else, and two for not filling orders.)


4. PsL Shareware Registration Program Information:

Your Name:
Address:
Telephone:
CIS ID#:
Program Name:
Registration Fee(s):

If you are shipping -
   Amount to charge for U.S. S&H:  $_____
   Amount to charge for Canadian S&H:  $_____
   Amount to charge for overseas S&H: $______

   Phone or CIS number for relaying orders to you: __________________

If PsL is to ship:
   Please note in your ordering information that shipping is $4
   in the U.S. and Canada and $6 overseas.


Email the above information to 71355,470 or U.S. mail it to

PsL Registration Service
P.O.Box 35705
Houston, TX 77235-5705

For a free sample issue of our monthly magazine, PsL News,
call 800-2424-PsL or 713-524-6394 or FAX [phone]