What a Rip!

For the most part, you can file this post in the who cares category -- Steve is just being a cry baby -- but I thought I would take a break from ticking off POS vendors, and instead tick off a competitor. If you don't have time to waste reading non-important stuff, simply come back later and I'll be sure to have a more important topic posted. Notice the byline above, "random thoughts" and "simply vent" -- this qualifies for both.

Do you ever get that feeling you're being watched? Not watched as in big brother is watching (but come to think of it, I think they are!). But more watched like in a little Chihuahua staring at you from the ground below while you are eating. But then the little rodent gets impatient, it tries whatever it can to either get your attention, or better yet, distract you in the hopes you drop some crumbs it's way.

I get that feeling with one of Shift4's competitors, X-Charge by CAM Commerce Solutions. In the past they have covertly hired employees from Shift4 -- not for their technical skills, sales prowess, or expertise, but simply for their knowledge of trade secrets and customer lists (it's strange, how these ex's move on after their information ceases to be relevant due to time). Imagine my surprise when Shift4's marketing director sends me a link to their site and now the covert is actions have switched to overt actions by ripping content straight from Shift4's site and putting it onto their site. But I'm not talking features and benefits, or even catchy phrases or graphics; ripping off stuff like this is far too often common on the Internet. No, they rip partner lists for republication and don't even have the time to reorder them or remove little asterisks that signify something on Shift4's site but not on theirs. Talk about "me too" marketing!

Shift4: http://www.shift4.com/pos_pms.htm
X-Charge: http://www.x-charge.com/products/listHospitality.asp (cut & paste the URL yourself, I don't want to give them the benefit of a search engine boost)

Some interesting points of fact, many of the partners listed on both sites have exclusive partner arrangements with Shift4. Several listed are custom interfaces that only interface to Shift4's DOLLARS ON THE NET. Some listed are no longer in business and are only listed on Shift4's site because there are customers still using the applications. Lastly, if you were to call most of the vendors on the list you'll find they never heard of X-Charge and will confirm there is no existing interface. If you call CAM Commerce, they will most likely tell you that they will work with any of the vendors listed (as opposed to they currently work with the vendors).

In a prior post, I prematurely used labeled a vendor as "unscrupulous" without considering all the possibilities for the vendor's action. In this case I don't think I would be out of line using this word -- I think this vendor is unscrupulous (not to mention lazy). If you are in the market for a payment gateway, you may want to cross these guys off your list.

Merchants beware when shopping for something as important as a payment gateway provider. If the provider gives references or lists interfaces, do some fact checking for yourself. Call some and if facts don't agree, dump them. Beware of weasel words, or more importantly, discrepancies in phrases like "we work with" vs. "we will work with." Make sure what salesmen tell you verbally or via email agree with the information on their site, "we work" vs. "we will work" is a big red flag. Make sure any reference list is their reference list. Good luck.