• I want to thank all the members that have upgraded your accounts. I truly appreciate your support of the site monetarily. Supporting the site keeps this site up and running as a lot of work daily goes on behind the scenes. Click to Support Signs101 ...

Activity POS Sign Accounting Software

RJ California

RJ California

New Member
Anyone know what happened to Activity POS Software? It was a sign accounting and estimating program. We used it about 10 years ago until we switched to Estimate a few years ago (which was a mistake I believe now).

I am looking for a little beefier accounting system. I've looked at Cyrious and I like the program, I just don't like the runaround that you get on pricing, based on how many invoices you do a month, etc.
 
RJ California

RJ California

New Member
I like the people at Estimate. Nice on the phone and helpful as they can be.

Things I do not like about Estimate.

1) I do not like the fact that you have to export invoices into QB before they can be paid by credit card (our cc processing runs through QB). This can be time consuming when a customer hands you a CC on a job that has not been exported yet.

2) I do not trust the backup system on Estimate. We had an issue with the program and we had to restore the program and files. When the program was restored from our backup we had lost a block of 100 invoices. We still had them in QB since they had been exported previously, but still scary.

3) For some reason we always get a few skipped invoice numbers in a batch. It makes me worry that somehow an invoice has been deleted.

4) Lately if we try to copy a previous invoice for a repeat order (something we do alot) it crashes.

5) I don't like how you do not have to "Save Changes". Any change you make is saved as you do it, no way to undo it.

6) The pricing formulas seem too advanced for it's own good. I'd like a simpler pricing formula so that I could come up with a quote off the top of my head which would be at least close to what my software comes up with.

7) Version 2.0???!!! I'm beginning to wonder if the ever elusive upgrade to 2.0 will ever occur. I've used the software for about 3 years probably. I started with version 1.95 (I think), now we are on 1.98 (mostly minor bug fixes). They have promised big changes and upgrades (not sure what they will be) with 2.0 for 3 years now. That's getting really old.


I started out with handwritten invoices in 1990. I went to Activity POS a few years later. For some reason I swithed to Estimate a few years ago (I think it was the ad that said I could take a 3 week vacation if we used Estimate :Big Laugh )

Cyrious? Looking at it. Tried the demo, which seemed pretty good. Kind of expensive at $2,500 to $3,700 to start. I got a bad vibe from the company though in my dealings on the phone.

I plan on contacing Activity POS again and see what they offer.
 
Checkers

Checkers

New Member
Ouch, I can understand your concerns though. Fortunately, I haven't had those experiences yet. Thanks for the heads up.

Checkers
 
DavidLSI

DavidLSI

New Member
Using POS for many years...

We have had the Activity POS for many years...

The only problems we ever had was with the constant upgrades, the expensive support system that you are required to buy into (in order to get the upgrades) and the fact we only needed the support when the upgrades came out. Fixing bugs and unforseen problems that came up.

Also be prepared for changes with the upgrades that go into place with no warning. Some minor but there where some major changes requiring adjustments to our processing routines.

Alot of time it seemed the changes were for the sake of change not really adjusting a problem or adding a real value. But without them changing on a regular basis there would be no justifing the support prices.

We stopped paying for support and stopped upgrading a long time ago. We have version 6.5.2 and it still runs great with no problems.

Basically as with any program you will need to adjust how you do things to fit in there system. And once you buy into the system you will have to change on there schedule.

SeeYa
DavidLSI
 
activitydude

activitydude

New Member
Hi! This is Terry Miller, President of Activity Software. I read your post and appreciate your honesty. Since my wife and I purchased the company a while back we have hired all new staff for support, improved the software vastly since 6.5.2, (now on 8.4) and lowered prices. Yes, we still have support contracts but the real reason for them is not the occasional help you call for but the money it brings in so we can update the program. Our new website, for instance, has (almost) all the help files you need but That doesn't mean you can't call or email us, it's just our way of maybe helping you answer a question faster.

Again, thanks for using our software.

Terry
 
S

seaboard

New Member
activitydude said:
Hi! This is Terry Miller, President of Activity Software. I read your post and appreciate your honesty. Since my wife and I purchased the company a while back we have hired all new staff for support, improved the software vastly since 6.5.2, (now on 8.4) and lowered prices. Yes, we still have support contracts but the real reason for them is not the occasional help you call for but the money it brings in so we can update the program. Our new website, for instance, has (almost) all the help files you need but That doesn't mean you can't call or email us, it's just our way of maybe helping you answer a question faster.

Again, thanks for using our software.

Terry
Click to expand...


>>Lowered prices

Not to be rude, but just out of curiosity how low are they? :help:
 
cartoad

cartoad

New Member
We have Activity and have had a rocky relationship with them. At one point we purchased Estimate just to be able to be generate estimates.

With a lot of help from some folks other than Activity we got it working for us. Unless it has changed they do not provide a printed instruction book to go with it (yes, I know that is rapidly becoming a thing of the past for a lot of programs, but I am old and like a printed book!)

On a positive note I really like the amount of information that you can retrieve via the reports, and building your own price breaks for quanity of materials. I am still spending a fair amount of time getting the pricing all set, and I am writing a procedure guide for employees to use it so we get consitent quotes. We still have Estimate and I use it to check prices for odd ball jobs that I want to adjust for the amount of materials I am using.

I did recently get a very nice email from Terry Miller that was open and honest with prior problems and the changes that have been instituted. From what I have been told recently they are working hard to improve their image. The program is very good, its the support that has been lacking in the past but has dramatically improved. At this point in time we have no plans to change our POS software program. RJ if I can be of any help let me know.
Hal
 
activitydude

activitydude

New Member
Thank You, Cartoad.

As for the manual we are putting all help files on our website so anyone can access them but, at 343 pages so far, it's a little expensive to print. You can print off any of the pdfs you find out there that you need.
 
A

All Signs Inc.

New Member
Activity POS Software

I'm about to purchase some estimating and invoicing software and have looked at Activity as well. Have you given this any more thought? Did you ever switch back???

RJ California said:
Anyone know what happened to Activity POS Software? It was a sign accounting and estimating program. We used it about 10 years ago until we switched to Estimate a few years ago (which was a mistake I believe now).

I am looking for a little beefier accounting system. I've looked at Cyrious and I like the program, I just don't like the runaround that you get on pricing, based on how many invoices you do a month, etc.
Click to expand...
 
Natalia21

Natalia21

New Member
When you think about the benefits of POS software, it’s likely that inventory control and simplified customer transactions come to mind first. Most business owners aren’t even aware that POS software programs can also simplify accounting and bookkeeping for small businesses. Improved tracking of sales and inventory information can improve the accuracy and efficiency of accounting and bookkeeping tasks for small businesses, particularly when POS software and accounting software are integrated. Integrating accounting software and POS software can lead to improved tracking of many types of financial information.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top