There is no way to reply to a previous support ticket as you suggested (ticket #A5-20B9), but now I have a different but related issue. The link you sent in the "Half-Off Subscription Sale" email leads me to this link: http://bidslammer.com/pricing/?half_off_bf15. THAT price—$24 for a 12- month subscription—is what I wanted.

But if I go to my Home page and "ADD SERVICE" I get the message:
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Congratulations!
You are currently a subscriber in good standing. You don't need to add more service yet. Be sure to check back once your service has expired!
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Then, just about 15 minutes ago, it's clear you have added a new page today with different pricing on it, at THIS link: https://bidslammer.com/pricing/. You'll observe the 12- month plan is now twice the price, $48. I went ahead just to get extra credits, but really, something is just wrong with the pricing! As a longtime member I really want the first offer from the email---12-months for $24. Can you please adjust my account now, and refund my PayPal account with $24?

You've made this more confusing than it needs to be. But I'm patient with the process and look forward to your reply, again.

Hello Gary,

I realized after I clicked submit that the user can't see the reply box in your version browser. That is fixed. ;-)

The discount only appears if you click-through using the link that you received in your e-mail. That enables the offer. Since you tried to use the site last, that session expired so you won't see it. Do you still have that link?

Kind regards
BidSlammer Customer Care

Also let me add why so complex. I think firstly, we might have re-worded the email offer to clarify that (1) you must use your existing account, and (2) you must use the link to click through.

And the rest is surely a bit confusing because the offer is only applicable to people whose balance is between 0 and 24, and who are not already subscribers. We apologize for not having the transition a bit tighter. But we do strive to react quickly.

I'm watching PayPal to see if everything was ok. ;-)

Nice! Thanks for changing this so quickly. Makes things much easier. So--though I went through my account here (nwnovelist, using email [edited]) I used my PayPal account, which has a different email address ([edited]) for the $48 subscription charge. And I'm pretty sure I do quality for the same offer, only at $24 for 12 months. can you check that? if you wish you can make it a 24-month subscription rather than confuse things further with a refund. Let me know if this is all good. (And thanks for your great support here.)

Hello Gary,

Great! As per above, the discount only appears if you click-through using the link that you received in your e-mail. That enables the offer. Since you tried to use the site last, that session expired so you won't see it. Do you still have that link?

If the email was delete by accident, let me know and I can try to re-send it.

(We can't really make it a 2-year subscription, as we would have to change the software to configure a page for it.)

Cheers,
BidSlammer Customer Care

I am still having issues, so I've made a little Screencast movie to show you exactly why I cannot upgrade my current plan using that special email link. Though I can't find what my current balance is, it's somewhere around $30 I think. Regardless, I got your email for the 50% lifetime offer, etc, and want to take advantage of it. Click here (http://www.screencast.com/t/QwTXpIqmT) to see the problem, then keep reading past THIS POINT HERE once you've seen the video.

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Now, going through the subscription process earlier today, I MISTAKENLY went through the signup process here (https://bidslammer.com/pricing/) and PAID $48 for a 12-month subscription on PayPal, using my business email address [edited]. You should have notice from PayPal by now. So since you now say I can't do two years, LET'S CANCEL THAT TRANSACTION, issue a refund for $24, then apply the remaining $24 to my new 12-month subscription, plus add in my current $30+/- credits on account. Can you do that?

This is as clear as I can make it! I hope this resolves it, I need to get back to work ;-)

Gary

Good grief! Sorry, that movie link is here: http://www.screencast.com/t/QwTXpIqmT

Hello Gary,

Ah! That's the issue. Just ignore that page and go straight to the login page instead.

Make sure not to close your browser, or that will clear the offer. They key is to log in during the same session that you clicked the offer link.

I couldn't reproduce the issue because I was clicking the the second link "click here to log in securely," which correctly relocates you to the login page.

The other link went to our regular signup page, which we never tested while logged out!!

Take care,
BidSlammer Customer Care

Whoever you are, thanks, I really appreciating your working with me on this, though it still is not working. I went through the exact steps you did, getting the same result--nothing. Here's the new process I uploaded for you on Screencast: http://www.screencast.com/t/3BYvmwIhV -- I did find new screens this time, but the result didn't work.

Plus, please confirm you did receive my erroneous $48 via PayPal under my [edited] email address. If you can do all this manually for me, I would appreciate it. Refund $24, then apply the remaining balance of $24 to my new 12-month subscription.

Gosh, it shouldn't be this difficult, really.

Thanks,
Gary

Hello Gary,

Hmm... I set my default browser to Firefox and tried again, logged in as you. I can't seem to reproduce the problem, as I get the correct subscription page.

Try this after you log in: https://bidslammer.com/pay/subscribe/12/24/

I added $10, sorry for the hassle.

Take care,
BidSlammer Customer Care

Thank you, thank you! All worked as it should now, but just to make sure--my first year is only a penny? $0.01 was charged, so I assume that you use the pre-existing balance in my account? If so we're good to go as far as I can tell. And thanks for processing that refund, too.

Now one last thing: I can't see what my current account balance is. It used to be in the upper right of the bidding page, but it's vanished. How do we check that?

Have a great week!
Gary

Hello Gary,

Your balance of $24 was applied to the first year. PayPal won't charge zero, so it is hacked to charge a penny.

We'd like to make a mobile app but it's hard to test your own stuff, as you surely know! I looked around and saw testninjas.com, might give them a try.

I was trying to decipher your desktop icons... are you a web coder? I recognized the obscure icons too, like the scansnap manager. ;)

Take care,
BidSlammer Customer Care

On the payment page it explained "You have a balance of $24, which will used to reduce your first payment, once you go to PayPal. The first payment would be $0.01 USD. Your balance of $24 was applied to the first year."

In other words the balance is now zero and you snipe unlimited.

This whole thing was really designed to convert people away from the balance system. It was designed 15 year ago and modeled after Overture ads, but too often people regard it as a bank account balance, when it is really just a representation of the account usage remaining.

You really do have a sharp eye! I have been in computers since I was in the Army (1970...yes, I am one of the ancients...) and in addition to being a writer, I have two businesses: as an SEO specialist at www.GetToTheTop.com, and my main passion—for which I am grateful to you every time I win a sniped auction—at www.VintageMemorabilia.com, a CMS site which I'm currently rebuilding for better responsiveness, etc.

I've beta tested for many companies over the years: Apple, Microsoft, and a lot of smaller companies (which I prefer), but I'm on deadline to finish a book I've been working on now for two years, so my time is pretty well focused just now. But if there's anything quick and easy I can help you with, I'm at your service. (Just tell me your name so I know who I'm talking to :-)

G

We are making a mobile app.

I have a web conference in a few minutes with a client in Australia, and that will likely last the rest of the evening here, (I'm in Seattle), but I'm intrigued in your new product and would be happy to chat about it. Let's take it offline, though, and continue through email. Use my private address, [edited], and we can pick it up from there in the next couple days.
Good to finally "meet" you, grateful for our many years together, and supportive of what you're getting into next...
Gary