Supplier refusing to decrypt data in our own database. Help!

[KevinCamaroSS]

beanbag said:

KevinCamaroSS said:

beanbag said:

I appreciate many of you are suggesting an off-the-shelf solution, however the reality is we need a timeshare compatible solution (which instantly adds huge costs on top of a typical PMS), and they tend to cater only for resorts of 100+.

The business my wife operates is significantly smaller than this. Back in its heyday, they had over 100 units but over time have sold them off so it really is a small resort.

Short of the long. The business simply cannot afford a solution that charges €440 per month. The ultimate aim is to one day get rid of all the timeshare owners but they are entitled to keep their properties as long as they want so until that happens, we legally bound to manage that side of the business. I just hope that moment comes sooner rather than later!

44 units, 440 Euros/month? That is only 10 Euros per unit per month! That is very small indeed to my mind. I really do suggest you take another look at it. It really is not worth risking a security issue when dealing with cards. Just my 10 cents worth (or 1% if you look at it another way )

€10 per unit + cleaning costs + repair bills + taxes + community fees + staff costs + office costs + electricity + water + internet costs + low season costs, etc, etc......

Every penny saved makes a huge difference....

Balance that 10 Euros/unit/month against a potential liability of multi-millions if a card transaction goes wrong and you are liable. Use a standard system as implemented by the supplier and that liability goes from you to them. Getting a bloke you know to 'develop' a bespoke software product gives you no real cover for that risk at all. Also, how do you think somebody would be able to develop something as good as the standard product for a fraction of the cost? There are going to be so many holes in it it does not bear thinking of.

[AndStilliRise]

I agree. Always better to go off-the-shelf, at least it would have been tested and verified for use. The issue you have OP is that you are at the moment only looking at the development costs. You have not looked at the testing, deployment or management. The off-the-shelf solution i would guess would have a development plan off releases, schedule, bug fixes all managed through testers, project management and a product life cycle.

In short OP its going to cost you at least double what you are expecting.

• The smart thing to do would be to build a generic version that you can then sell to other clients.

[beanbag]

Thank you all for your input. Seeing as none of you know our business, it's finances and how it works, I think I along with my wife and her family are in a better place to judge.

I'll definitely take your feedback on board however...

Ta.

[Sebring440]

beanbag said:

Seeing as none of you know our business, it's finances and how it works, I think I along with my wife and her family are in a better place to judge.

It was you that came on here looking for advice!




Also posted in the Apostrophe Abuse thread for completeness:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Edited by Sebring440 on Saturday 12th November 00:08

[Squishey]

Sebring440 said:

It was you that came on here looking for advice!




Also posted in the Apostrophe Abuse thread for completeness:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Edited by Sebring440 on Saturday 12th November 00:08

Woah, that's a bit harsh! The guy came on here for advice on retrieving data from a database not storing credit card information. He has thanked others for their advice, it's up to him whether he takes it or not.

[randlemarcus]

Was looking at something else today, and this cropped up. Looks like a reasonable cost, and it gives the problem to somebody else:
http://www.blog.sagepay.com/6-reasons-to-consider-...