Its Good to look around, but read this before you make a decision http://www.cgi-central.net/forum/index.php...l=dream+account and I'll second it ! Ive been there. I'll leave Alex to answer you Questions on affiliates etc Re - ion cube see http://www.ioncube.com/ Encoded files can run with no changes to server software You can make all the modifications you like with Amemberpro as the files are not encoded, but in php.
Pilot - Thank you so much for your insight. Just a few days ago, after visiting both DreamCost and aMember's sites, I was considering taking the dive with DreamAccount (mostly because of the affiliate functionality). I am a programmer by trade and figured any minor bugs I could work out on my own. But then I read your postings, and few others at WebHostingTalk, and have revered my decision. Especially if they are making claims on functionality that doesn't exist; I don't need that headache. Thanks again.
I personally would not buy any software after that 'nightmare' experience that did'nt offer an open forum. You should be able to see all the posts, especially of people who have purchased the software before you. I have'nt found one 'bug' yet in Amemberpro, and I have been running it for three months now, and very happy.
Just out of curiousity, who are you using as your payment processor? Along side the issue of obtaining a membership backend (aMember vs DreamAccount), the payment processor is priority #2 on my list. Are you using any of the forum integration modules?
I really have'nt got my salesmans cap on.. its just so nice when things work well. I am using three of the forum integration modules. I am using WorldPay as a payment processor, as I am UK based and WorldPay is part of the Royal Bank of Scotland. I am also using Nochex, and Pay by check ( offline processing) To make WorldPay work in AmemberPro you just initiate the plug in with your account details and 'Viola' it worked perfectly 1 st time. Same with Nochex . same with Offline processing So I thought I would catch them out with FuturePay, that is the recurring billing from WorldPay. Nope they thought of that too, just tick the recurring billing with worldPay and put in your Futurepay account details and blow me that worked a treat too. I have pay by check on a three monthly subscription, and worldPay on a monthly and three monthly subscription. I have also a subscription for new members for a month at a reduced rate then after that a full rate. Members can use this once only. It is very versatile The reminder (email) that a subscription is about to run out works well with external Cron. This can be set to XX many days before the subscription runs out.
We will add "Product Dependancy" to next version, it is not a problem. Trial subscriptions working for a few payment processors, but by your request we can add it to any payment plugin. We are working on affilaite support, it will be more featured than DreamCost have, but we cannot shedule exact date when it will be completed. About ionCube - as it is not listed in requirements, it is our problem to make it working. In 99% cases it will work without any additional steps.
If you have affiliate support that would be icing on the cake. I would request that you have a 1 or 2 tier system if that is possible. BTW, I had dream account and the affiliate feature didn't work anyway, and I haven't heard of anyone who got it to work either. Dennis