LifeSaver vs. FrameReady

Mel

MGF, Master Grumble Framer
Joined
Sep 4, 1998
Posts
846
Loc
Pendleton, OR, USA
Yes, my head is spinning. Having narrowed the field, I am trying to compare LifeSaver and FrameReady POS software. They are both installed as trials, and I am working through the User's Guide on one, but when playing initially with the other, find it a lot more intuitive.

Have any of you been in a position to compare just these two systems in a fairly in-depth way? I am interested in addressing only the ease or complexity of work orders, pricing and recordkeeping. The cost of the software and the updates, and their compatibility with accounting systems isn't an issue.

Please? Oh, and I have studied the archives on both TG and HH already. They were very helpful--I can even tell some of you which software you are using--but didn't seem to answer this question.
 
mel:

This may not be an aexact answer, but here goes:

Lifesaver is headed up by guys who used to own framing stores; one used to be systems programmer at digital Equipment Corp in Atlanta. So they're designing from both a framing and very deep and broad computer background.

Now some folks find Lifesaver doesn't do a good job of gallery management. Cannot address that issue because we're high end framers not high end art gallery.

Don' know if you know or not yet but Lifesaver just revamped their system; now, you go onto the internet and download everything instantly into the Lifesaver system; you can preset prices for all your moulding vendors either individually or separetly, either by length or chop. So, for instance, Roma could be 3.0 across the board, Larson could have their sliding scale pricing, someone local to you could be length, etc etc. Then, when you update from the net, all you're getting are the moulding additions/deletions and you don't have to reprice.

This to me is a godsend.

I love Lifesaver. yeah, it's got some quirks but, heck, so does the competition. And so do we as humans.

Hope this helps a little

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Michael LeCompte CPF
 
We changed over to FrameReady for one simple reason. Then need to control the information and display of that information on our work-order. Vendor information can also be downloaded from the internet. Retail pricing can be universal, per vendor or per item. You can also add a fixed additional cost to each item or group.
But the most important item is that it is written in "FrameMaker Pro+" database which allows you to display your reports in any format you want, add new data files to your program --- hence you are able to take complete control over your program.
One other very nice item is the way FrameReady allows you to keep your moulding inventory --- by the actual stick (not just total footage)
The last item is program cost. Your get the full program for about the cost of the "lite" programs on the market. Full frame shop operations plus art gallery inventory control, direct mail development and cash control.
One package--Near complete control of your business.

P.S. We don't work for FrameReady, but we do have twenty years experance with frame shop programs.

[This message has been edited by From the sidelines (edited October 31, 2001).]
 
Thanks, this info is most helpful.

Working through the FrameReady Users' Guide has caused me to notice something rather peculiar. In many, if not most cases, the preset pricing results in the length price (as is displayed in the Price Sampler) being more than the chop price. Chop is priced more than chop-and-join more often than not. Note one size in the sampler, e.g. 32x40 and click between length, chop, and join. You'll see the price differences.

Am I totally out to lunch? When I pay more for a chop, I pass it on to my customer. When I pay less for length, I include time for chopping, which still results in a charge to my customer of less than chop.

I spoke to the FR folks and the explanation is that one of the industry leaders (I'm not sure whether to drop names) set these prices as "fair" to customers and to framers.

Now I will create my own pricing, so it is a moot point for me, but if anyone out there who uses FrameReady hasn't created their own pricing, they may want to check out this phenomenon.



[This message has been edited by Mel (edited November 01, 2001).]
 
We started using FR with version 1.0 ( being in Ontario Canada we ended up on his first mailing list ). We've looked at Lifesaver and others before each upgrade and found that whatever they did, FR did better. Very intuitive, very flexable both in pricing and being able to add your own designs, the list goes on an on.

Bert DeRoo ( the designer ) makes software but his wife owns a frame store. Nice match eh?

If you can't decide between the two, here's a testimonial. We had a computer problem that culminated in corrupting one of the files ( actually since FR uses File Maker Pro it's error correction and rebuilding software is almost perfect....almost, but not this one time ) so badly the whole program crashed. No problem, I'll just call Bert. They'd all left for Atlanta Oh NO! Whimper....I left a message. Two hours later he phoned from his hotel room and walked me through a fix. Another time he was going up to his cottage and gave me the number there in case the fix didn't hold ( it did and no I won't give anyone the number ). By the way, two software problems ( created by hardware failures ) in six years I consider excellent.

------------------
Wal-mart...the Ferengi of our times.
 
Dermot:

The Masterpiece program seems to be a program for art galleries/fine art dealers, not necessarily framing businesses.

DO you find this to be the case, or is it my imagination?

------------------
Michael LeCompte CPF
 
Mel, I noticed...the frame end price should be just as much regardless if it's sold by lenght or chop and of course what the traffic will bear and give one a profit. JP
 
Michael

My understanding is that Masterpiece now have a framing module, I found some details when I looked at their site.

I posted the information as it offers a possible alternative for those who have more than a framing operation.
 
JPete,

You're absolutely right--in the ideal world. I find, and I suspect many other framers do as well, that I charge more for chop than I do for a length job because I tend to undervalue my time, and chops cost me so much more. That is one of the reasons I am investing in a POS program. But I can't understand why anyone would retail length jobs for more than chop jobs. The incentive would be to buy chop and sell length. The customers would never know you had not done it yourself, nor would they care--if they got a good join, that is.

And the chop and join retail price is less than chop. Go figure.

[This message has been edited by Mel (edited November 06, 2001).]
 
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