May 1st, 2009

Shop Controller by Alliance Automotive Software has not been able to stay competitive with several other shop management systems feature-wise. 

The company’s website now contains a marketing sales letter on the home page.  The sales letter says FROM: Marshall Kelly and then the next line is the date.  The date updates automatically to whatever the date is when you browse to that web page.  Not good.  The date of a letter is assumed to be the date it was written.  Come on!

Near the bottom of this sales letter it says:

“One On One”

“Professional Business Analysis”

“(Value: $1395.00)”

“Absolutely FREE for Standard, Professional, & Platinum Members!”

“For a limited time only we will give a Free business analysis with purchase of Shop Controller Management software. ”

If the $1395.00 price is the actual, bona fide price that Alliance Automotive Software offered this business analysis service to shops on a regular basis for a reasonably substantial period of time, it provides a legitimate basis for the advertising of the price claim. Where the former price is genuine, the bargain being advertised is a true one.

I have to wonder though if they would be able to substantiate this claim.  I don’t claim to know whether this claim is true or not. I do know that all vendors should be prepared to substantiate any claims upon request of any consumer, industry group, government agency, consumer watchdog or the Better Business Bureau. 

Irregardless, Shop Controller by Alliance Automotive Software is not competitive enough with other shop management software on the market so they are eliminated in the initial screening.