Mail Order Manager Software

[filters]

Has anyone installed the Mail Order Manager Software recently? We are considering buying it and would like to know any recommendations/cautions that people have.

We are thinking about buying the Mail Order Manager version through MivaCentral.com

Thanks,
Alyssa

[sebenza]

I know of a few store owners using it anf they like it. The other to look at is Order Manager from StoneEdge.

[Pamela Hazelton]

Has anyone installed the Mail Order Manager Software recently? We are considering buying it and would like to know any recommendations/cautions that people have.

We are thinking about buying the Mail Order Manager version through MivaCentral.com

Thanks,
Alyssa

This all depends on the features you need, and the price you want to pay. We have many clients running MOM, but they do need to purchase mods from them whenever they want to do something "different."

Many users also run Order Manager, because it will sync with MIVA Merchant and StoneEdge makes a habit of configuring direct syncs with third-party modules (like inventory, etc.).

[yescandy]

I've been using MOM for a few months now for my start-up biz. It is not the most intuitive software, and when my computer guy saw it one day he commented that it is very old fashioned. But after much configuring, and calls to tech support, it seems to work and do what it's supposed to do. I'm actually happy to use it now.

Miva Import/export module: You have to go through three steps every time you import orders form Miva: export the orders in Miva, copy the export file to your computer from ftp, carry out the import in MOM (it would be nice if there were just a button to push!). But it's not too bad in practice. The biggest disappointment I have is that it's not possible to export inventory data from MOM to Miva. I wonder if 2-way inventory communication is possible with StoneEdge...

Credit card processing: If you want to process credit cards directly through MOM, you have to use Authorize.net, which Miva also supports. I can use MOM for any orders I have outside of Miva (but then there's the inventory issue--I have to manually adjust it in Miva if I don't process the order in Miva). I think I had to get a module for this, which was included in my "Miva package" which I bought directly from MOM.

UPS: I currently use UPS exclusively and am very happy with the UPS link feature in MOM. It is so easy. Be aware that if you do international orders, you can't process them with UPS link. You will have to set up WorldShip on a different computer as UPS link and WorldShip are incompatible. It's even difficult to install UPSLink on a computer that has had WorldShip on it in the past.

Kits: One of the main reasons I chose MOM is for the "kit" function which allows me to create gift baskets and keep track of inventory for individual component items. Again, I don't know if StoneEdge can do this.

Tech Support: If you decide to go with MOM, be sure to ask about and schedule your set up call at the beginning. I didn't know about this service and was informed about it a few months late. A tech support manager will take you through the configuration, which is a big help, and I wish I had done it sooner. The documentation for MOM is NOT very good (incomplete), but I have found tech support decent overall. The wait usually isn't too bad and they will stay on the phone with you as long as necessary. I've learned that the 2 managers are more knowledgeable. If you luck out and get one of them, your call will go a lot faster!

If you have any other specific questions, i'd be happy to try to answer. I'd welcome the opportunity to compare notes with other Miva-MOM users. MOM has a users message board too, but they just started it this year and seems like they're still getting the hang of how to run it.

[Barney Stone]

If your business includes traditional mail order, and you need tools to manage printed catalog production and ROI on your advertising campaigns, you should consider MOM. Otherwise, the Stone Edge Order Manager (www.StoneEdge.com/OrderManager.htm) will probably save you a lot of money. The Order Manager has much better Web integration. That includes one-button downloading of orders from Miva Merchant, real-time inventory tracking, support for numerous third-party Miva modules, etc. We are more flexible on credit card processing (we support Authorize.net, PayflowPro, Cybersource, QuickBooks Merchant Services, USAePay, ECHO Inc. and SkipJack, plus ProTX for UK users). Our UPS integration does not have the international problems that Dawn described, and yes, we do support kits.

The Stone Edge Order Manager is also highly customizable. Custom functions can be written by us or by anyone good with Visual Basic for Applications (part of most Microsoft Office products) and called by the program at appropriate times. We are also very active supporters of the small business community and regular contributors to forums like this one.

Feel free to post any questions you might have here, or give us a call at 215-641-1837 for more information. (Several of us are in Las Vegas for our booth at eBay Live this week, so responses may be a bit slower than usual.)