Membership Plans and Listing Packages Working Together

General
,
1

I have Memberships. Paid Listings and Bookings extensions currently.

So as Plans limit views to pages, attributes and potentially ‘all users’

And Packages limits number of listings and gives featured abilities.

I am wondering how my use case works together?

Please can you review each suggestion and the possibility of this set up.

I have created three Packages. Example:

Package 1

  • Up to 3 Listings - full content (Listing Package Feature)
  • Reply to Listing (Membership Plan Feature)
  • Private Message (Membership Plan Feature)
  • Review Listings (Membership Plan Feature)
  • Show Add-Ons on Listing (Extras - see note a) and b) below)
  • Show Discounts on Listings (see note f))
  • Optional Security Deposit (payout after attendance) (see note c) and d))

Package 2 (includes Package 1)

  • Up to 10 Listings (Listing Package Feature)
  • Listing Featured (Listing Package Feature)
  • Listing Verified (Listing Package Feature)
  • Request to Book Button (Create Verified Listing Category for Bookings)
  • Booking Management (Create Verified Listing Category for Bookings)
  • Booking Note
  • Booking Offset
  • Booking Window
  • Booking Days
  • Booking Available From and To
  • Min/Max Places Per Booking
  • Booking Interval Buffer
  • Seamless Booking Integration with Import/Export
  • Manual Payment Bookings (flexible for cash/direct payments etc)
  • Show Add-Ons on Listing (Extras) (see note a) and b))
  • Daily Prices (see note e))

Package 3 (Includes Package 1 and 2)

  • Up to 20 Listings - full content (Listing Package Feature)
  • Multi Media Marketing Package (access given in email sequences)
  • Video Review with Blog Post
  • Monthly Newsletter Promotion
  • Managed Payments/Automated Payouts (untick manually accept new bookings)

Questions:

a) Extras box shows title/price and required tick box and then when I put the Verified Category in. It then opens up Bookings and it changes to Title/Price and Dropdown with Per Place Per Day/Per Place/ Per Day/Per Booking - can I ask what is the difference as they could type these drop downs in the Title presumably in the first version, that shows (in my case) if they were not assigned Verified Category (Connected to Booking Functionality)?
b) Can this Extras box only show for Verified Category only for example so its not available on the FREE package?
c) Unsure that I want to handle deposits for FREE listings - how do I turn this off for Paid only?
d) Suggestions of how to monitor that the lister should be paid the deposit?
e) Daily Prices - This appears to open up for the Booking Feature (connected to my Verified Category) Please can you explain this? Is this instead of hourly? How is this different to Extras with per day?
f) Discounts - What is the reason for the change? Without Booking Functionality it says Quantity and Percentage and with Booking Functionality it says: Days and Percentage?
g) Is ticking ‘Featured’ only a manual process?
h) Is ticking ‘Verified’ only a manual process?
i) Is ticking ‘Manually accept new bookings’ only a manual process?
j) If Package 2 gets Featured Option and up to 10 Listings - if I put an expiry date, is that for the featured expiration or the whole listing?
k) If it expires the whole listings - how can I manage this via a trigger email to request if they want to want the listing still live?
l) If they go for a paid package - I assume the Claim Listing does not show?
m) How can the Ability to Review only be available to Listings they’ve booked?
n) Can I have a stand alone product to Feature 1 listing for 10 Days?
o) Do I set up 3 Packages as I have done and 3 Membership Plans that are the same info in description as above and link them both to the same Woo Commerce Product that will mean just one payment but with the features also from memberships?
p) Which page will they be shown the Plans or the Packages with the comparison tables when they join the platform once I update Membership Plans? Currently it is the Packages Comparison table once they have registered as a user and then want to add their first listing and are presented with Package 1, 2 and 3 which I’d like to continue that if possible?
q) I have another product that is a Reward Card that I have set up as a membership that limits visibility to Discounts and Contact details - how will this affect that table comparison page as its a 4th membership plan? - I have this currently showing to purchase from the shop page.
r) I have a secondary Listing Hive that focuses on MarketPlace Extension with Bookings for events only. But is connected by the main menu on this Listing Hive - Can I generate links to vendors profiles to theses Events as well as Number of Listings on their Vendor Box?
s) How can I make First Name required? I have set up Display Name too!
t) The large text ‘Add Details’ after joining as user - how do I pin point this part in Loco Translate to say - Would you like to Add a Listing Now?

Being able to visually put this all down and get your feedback to whether the system can work like this or for you to give suggestions and guidance at how it may be achieved or alternative ways will enable live launch.

I really appreciate your help. My 6 month current support has expired as its taken me so long to get my head around it all.

Once this ‘set up’ is settled - I can open focus on opening up all other extensions. Will that mean I can get replies within 24 hours again as I am nervous being live launched and not having that.

Many thanks

5

Hi,

Regarding your main question, yes, you can link a package and a plan to the same product, so if someone buys a plan or a package, the plan or package will be purchased as well. So you can link the purchase of a package and a plan.

As for your in-depth questions, please consider extending your support by purchasing another product. Purchasing another product will automatically extend support for 6 months, as we cannot help you with in-depth questions after the support expires. Also, please note that you still have lifetime theme updates, regardless of whether you renew your support or not.

Thank you for your understanding.

6

Thank you for answering the main question and just to confirm they would only be charged once for the product not twice. They will purchase the package and get the membership features because they are linked?

With regards to the other questions, I am going to purchase some other extensions tomorrow. So if I copy the codes into my profile, I will have 6 months support?

Would you like me to re-copy these questions here in this chat, start a new chat or email you for the answers to how your product works?

9

Hi,

Yes, if you select the same product for a plan and a bundle, then if you buy one of them, the other plan or package will be automatically added.

If you purchase another product and add a key, it will automatically add a badge for premium support.

10

Testing to see if badge appears for premium support as purchased an extension. I have added the licence key to the profile area.

Will you be replying to these questions here, or should I copy it as a new topic and name it something of your choice?

13

Hi,

  1. The paid deposit will be displayed in WooCommerce > Orders like all other information.
  2. This is the only deposit feature we have, and it won’t work without Marketplace or Bookings: How to enable discounts for bookings - HivePress Help Center
  3. Yes, if you don’t have a package created by Paid Listings and it doesn’t include this feature.
  4. Yes.
  5. Yes.
  6. For the entire listing.
  7. A mail about the expiration of the listing is sent within an hour after the expiration… Adding other emails will require a custom implementation.
  8. With the help of Claim Listings, you can purchase the listing from another vendor. And with Paid Listings, you can choose a package if you are creating listings on your own.
  9. Please navigate to HivePress > Settings > Orders > and enable the Restrict reviews to buyers feature.
  10. Yes, you can customize packages and plans in this way.
  11. You can create a page for packages in WP Dashboard > Pages, for example, and add it to the header menu.
  12. For the first name, please use this PHP snippet: Make first and last name fields required for users #hivepress #users · GitHub
  13. You can find this string in Loco Translate > Plugins > HivePress: How to translate HivePress - HivePress Help Center, How to change any static text - HivePress Help Center

P.S. Please note that purchasing a product only includes support for that product (e.g. there should be active support for Marketplace for issues related to marketplace features).

14

Thank you for your response, I appreciate it.

However, this is really not easy to navigate your answers, as my questions are lettered a) through to t) which is 20 questions and your reply gives me answers with numbers that only goes to 13?!

These 13 answers do not correlate to the order of the 20 questions asked. So a) being 1) for example?

Then some of your answers just say ‘yes’ which I do not know what question letter they are saying yes to?

Because for example your first answer is about deposits and my first question is asking what is the difference when the extra’s box ‘text’ changes when the bookings extension is activated for that category. I have given the before and after text to demonstrate.

Then your next answer starts to say that you are giving me an answer about the deposit feature and you give me a link to the discount feature???

Could you please answer my questions in order please? So that I can navigate please.

Many thanks

15

I am going to ask these questions as individual topics as I think I can see your answer number 11 may be providing a response to my question p) which would be 16 if we are changing it to numbers? So far far too confusing and its not answering what I actually asked unfortunately.

Please see individual topics incoming.

16

Hi,

Sorry for the confusion. You have been answered only for the extension for which you have premium support. If you want to get an answer for the Marketplace extension, you need to re-purchase it and add the key, then we will be able to help with detailed questions.

17

Hi there,

I would have been more clear on that, had your answer explained that, instead, I asked my questions more than two weeks ago now and its all become rather more confusing than it needed to be. How am I meant to know which question you are answering ‘yes’ to, when you tag it with a number instead of the original corresponding letter and in a different order?

Q1) Can you just confirm that unless you have a badge you don’t get questions answered on this community platform? - As I see everyday lots of people getting support on here without a badge, my understanding of premium support is that it becomes more prioritised. Is that incorrect? Support Policy | HivePress

Q2) I have bought the Marketplace extension twice now - yet because of delayed support trying to set up other settings - I have never gotten to the point of being able to ask questions about it. Is that fair?

As explained I have bought Marketplace twice now and its been a while setting up as I personally find your documentation so vague. In my findings, it only shows the features of the extensions, it doesn’t explain how to use the features in different use cases, the benefits and the processes. That is why it has taken me a while to get my head around what I had bought and its potential. - Whilst I see incredible value in the potential of what you have built, I do see this same frustration with many posts and why you may find yourself answering the same questions over and over again.

If you check your records, you will see, after not getting a solution for ages on the community platform regarding a previous historical loco translate query/issue. I then additionally had nearly 4 months of my support period wasted with emails back and forth with you guys, being stuck on that one part with loco translate. We didn’t even get to my Marketplace questions.

So I feel a little cheated if I am honest with the ‘premium’ support. I didn’t receive premium support as it took soooo long, certainly not within 24 hours or even close to that.

I was asking questions on here and didn’t get ‘premium support’ - I just got sent to the same 2 minute video multiple times which didn’t answer my question and was beyond frustrating and insulting if I am honest. My question was also not custom work.

How do we resolve this? You want me to pay more? In light of my ‘premium’ support period being wasted before with back and forth emails for months? I am really not trying to do anything different with your software other than out of the box use it!

Your reply says I need to purchase the extension again? You feel my question is too in depth? Maybe I could rephrase as I am simply just trying to use the extension as it is intended.

I see so many others getting snippets pasted into their answers, I just get the GitHub link and told to go to search for a snippet?!

Not knowing what to search for, or what it would be called. I just don’t feel I have received ‘Premium’ support, just simply linked to documentation that I have already read multiple times when I am just looking for a more human ‘premium’ support response.

Marketplace-Allow-users-to-sell-listings-HivePress-Extensions-09-23-2024_09_35_AM

It says on here that premium support is usually $19.50, are you asking me to purchase the whole Marketplace extension again, to get a question answered, even though I wouldn’t be uploading it to my wordpress?

19

(Also: referring to your previous answer: “As for your in-depth questions, please consider extending your support by purchasing another product. Purchasing another product will automatically extend support for 6 months, as we cannot help you with in-depth questions after the support expires.” -

I did this! I bought ‘another’ product the other day and even paid for extended support for 12 months.

You clarified in another reply: If you purchase another product and add a key, it will automatically add a badge for premium support. -

Yet here we are still discussing whether I can get support to learning simply ‘how’ your product works)

20

To avoid any further convolution or confusion, from this post I am still looking for these answers, which I have gone to the extent of creating new topics for (which groups some of the above questions together) and created screenshots to simply show what I am seeing on your software and only asking for an explanation of what I am seeing and why, to gain clarity and understanding of ‘how’ your product works.

  1. Explanation of 'Extras Box' Changes when Bookings 'Category' chosen

  2. Deposits Function for 'Paid Only Listings' via Categories in Bookings Extension?

  3. Daily Prices instead of Extras with Per Day Function?

  4. Discounts Differences when Booking Extension used via choosing a Category

  5. Verifying and Featuring Listings only Manual or Can Be Automated? - Answered and semi-resolved.

  6. How the listing expiration work - Answered and Solved

  7. q) This question is redundant now. As I have worked out that whilst the product uses the membership extension to hide the attribute. It doesn’t become a 4th ‘membership’ package. (It can just be purchased via the shop page.) Therefore not an in depth question.

  8. r) I think to rephrase the first part of my question. It was asking can I add a URL attribute to vendors profiles? - Which I have realised is really not that in depth, it is simply a URL attribute to be added on the vendors. The second part of my question was how do I get the number of listings showing - like this below (a screenshot from another’s hivepress who have managed it?)

Listings-number-issue-on-Host-block-General-HivePress-Community-09-23-2024_11_38_AM

21

Hi,

Sorry if you had a bad experience with support. I checked your support requests in detail, including the other 5 requests posted in the last few days.

Unfortunately, the misunderstanding and the level of required guidance, along with coding-related questions, prevent us from completing our obligations regarding the paid support service since the required guidance falls within the website setup territory.

We’re always happy to help, as you can see there’re 10,000+ answered requests on the forum and probably the same number answered via email, but unfortunately we can’t help in this case, there’s level of in-depth guidance and setting up which requires hiring a freelancer for assistance (I highly recommend this option). Please let me know if you need detailed clarification, I will send it regarding the recent support requests.

Considering the above, we have to refund the Bookings purchase you made to renew the support service according to section 4 Refund Policy | HivePress

You can still use the products you purchased previously, the license is still life-time and there are unlimited updates. The premium support we offer includes fixing reported bugs (also making temporary fixes directly if available, before the update), general guidance about the features, and although coding-related issues are beyond the support scope, we often provide developer guidance if it benefits the community. Each support service is related to the purchased products, e.g. it’s not possible to purchase Bookings and get support related to Memberships. Support for our free themes and extensions has no guaranteed turnaround time, while premium support has a turnaround time of 24 hours or less.

Thanks for your understanding

22

Hi ihor,

Thank you for your response, and I appreciate you taking the time to review my support requests in detail, although I am saddened that you are declining to reply to standard configuration questions.

I’d like to clarify a few points to ensure we are on the same page and that I can continue to make the best use of your product:

  1. Continued Need for the Booking Extension:
    I want to emphasise that I did not purchase the Bookings extension solely for the support, but because I need the extension’s functionality for my site. While the premium support was a factor, I need the Bookings extension to run my platform as part of the core offering. Therefore, I respectfully ask that you do not process the refund for this extension, as that would negatively impact the launch of the site and the time invested and monies the CIC has already spent with you.

  2. Clarification on Support Scope:
    I do not feel that I have asked for in-depth or extensive guidance. My queries have primarily been based on providing screenshots of the standard setup and asking about the configuration and behaviours of the features as they are currently set up, which I believe falls under understanding the standard configuration of your product. I have not requested any customisations — just clarifications regarding how the product is intended to function, which I believe aligns with your support policy regarding installation and configuration.I also want to reiterate that I’ve always aimed to self-troubleshoot before reaching out and have reviewed the community forums. I appreciate that there are many answered questions available, and I’ve made use of these where possible. However, sometimes the guidance in the forums isn’t entirely clear or doesn’t address my particular setup, which is why I’ve reached out.

  3. Support on the Community Forum:
    I’m seeking clarification on whether I will still have access to the community forum for support on the questions I’ve raised and similar topics. I believe my inquiries are aligned with what others have discussed, such as asking how specific features work or clarifying the setup process, which others do daily, and I hope the same level of support will remain available to me. I have had your Hivepress theme since September 2022. In a two year period, I have not overused the community and have only sent a few more support requests recently more for clarification and because as I explained its the final tweaks of a largely completed site.

  4. Our CIC and Community Benefit:
    I also wanted to highlight that our company is set up as a Community Interest Company (CIC) with charitable status, and the platform we are building is designed to benefit the community, not for profit and is needed to be fully functional with all extensions available. The site is largely set up already, and I’m happy to provide access for you to review that is the case and will evidence I feel my requests are not within website set up territory . My questions are based on understanding the limitations of your product so that I can plan ahead for any customisations that may be required in the future. Additionally, I have actively contributed to your community by creating custom code snippets for the Claim Form, which I have shared to help others. This illustrates why I’ve been asking coding-related questions — I have successfully implemented code before, and I’m trying to ensure I fully understand the product’s capabilities.

  5. Concerns About Freelancer Requirement:
    When I purchased your product, it was based on information and demonstrations, including your partner, Mr. Webb’s YouTube content, that showed your platform as user-friendly and easy to set up. At no point was there an indication that hiring a freelancer was a necessity. I understand that more complex customisations may require that, but I had expected that basic guidance on standard product use and setup would fall within the support I paid for.

I would greatly appreciate your confirmation on whether support will still be available to me within the community, and again, I kindly request that the Bookings extension remains active.

Thank you for your understanding. I truly value the work you’ve put into this product, and I look forward to continuing to build my platform with it.

Best regards,
Donna Marie

24

Hi Donna,

  1. Sorry for the confusion. I assumed that there was a previous Bookings purchase, and this one was for the support renewal only. The refund was already submitted to the payment provider yesterday, and unfortunately, it can’t be reversed, but you can still use the currently installed Bookings version on your site.

  2. (4) Thanks for the details, I understand that the website is non-profit, and I’m happy to see that HivePress is used for charity organizations, but by website setup I meant the scope of the support requests which require analyzing the business model, current website content (e.g. packages, plans, combinations of monetization extensions and their settings). Sorry for the inconvenience, I understand that it may not be clear why we can’t provide support in this case, but this occurs very rarely, and we have to draw the line somewhere. Unfortunately, we can’t explain every functional level option and use cases for combinations of all the specific settings. For example, the first post in the topic contains 20 questions, and most of them can be resolved by checking the UI, docs, or the forum.

The support scope we offer includes fixing bugs and general guidance about the features. Researching the website business model, providing precise step-by-step guidance on the settings level for combinations of multiple monetization models to complete the website setup is outside of the support scope. Please check recent topics on the forum for examples of the support we offer, 99% of topics are separate bug reports or general questions regarding common features which can’t be found (e.g. how to change the theme header image, or display categories instead of listings).

  1. Sure, the forum is available to anyone for searching solutions, but even with the support requests related to HivePress and free extensions we have to reserve the right to refuse support in specific cases.

  2. There’s no requirement to hire a freelancer, this was a suggestion based on the submitted support requests. We try to make the UI as clear and simple as possible, to help people build websites without coding. We also have docs and video courses that may help, e.g. please check the RentalHive course if you want to combine the Bookings and Marketplace extensions The complete course on setting up RentalHive - HivePress Help Center

Hope this helps

25

Hi Ihor,

Thank you for your response, and I appreciate the clarification.

I understand from your message that you are suggesting the forum is only available to me on a ‘search basis’ — is that correct? Which would mean any future extensions I purchase, support will not be included?

I’d like to express that I felt my questions would benefit the wider community and potentially reduce your support load, as the answers would be available to others as well. I spent over two years reviewing your software before fully implementing, and it took considerable time to formulate the specific questions I had, which I believe could help future users. I am sorry that you do not feel that way.

In terms of the Bookings extension, I do want to clarify that I have two HivePress sites, both connected via the main menu, and I require two separate Bookings extensions — one for events and the other for educational resources, connected under one brand. I have also purchased the Marketplace extension twice to serve both sites you may notice. Given this, the need for the Bookings extension is essential for my site’s operation, and unfortunately, the refund has negatively impacted my site’s launch.

I’m saddened that the refund was processed without fully understanding that I purchased the Bookings extension not just for support, but because it is an integral part of my setup. My first message in this thread indicated that I planned to purchase more extensions, and while support was a factor, it was not the only reason. Andrii mentioned that purchasing another product would automatically provide premium support, therefore all I did was expedite the already intended second purchased of Bookings extension under that understanding.

However, now that the refund has been processed, I would ask for your advice on how I can proceed with repurchasing the extension and ensuring that support remains available for it.

I also appreciate your concerns regarding the nature of my support requests. I am sincerely not asking for in-depth business model analysis or step-by-step guidance for every monetisation model, but rather clarification on the existing configuration, behaviours, and limitations of the product as it’s currently set up.

I genuinely believe that responding to these clarified ‘screenshot’ questions would not only have benefited me, but also the wider community. It could have helped avoid confusion and the need for so much back-and-forth communication, while allowing my site to progress smoothly without any negative impact.

I have already watched that video course, I am prepared to revisit it.

I await your advice about the following:

However, now that the refund has been processed, I would ask for your advice on how I can proceed with repurchasing the extension that includes premium support.

Regards
Donna Marie

27

Hi Donna,

Sure, if you need licenses for 2 websites you can re-purchase Bookings twice, this would be useful in you need further updates for Bookings. Unfortunately I can’t guarantee that we will not have to deny support for further support requests after purchasing Bookings. If you don’t need support and just lifetime updates, please let me know and I’ll provide a 50% coupon for the Bookings purchases.

I highly recommend hiring a freelancer for assistance, or checking all the existing settings and features which depend on the installed extensions, this would resolve 99% of website setup questions, and if some issues are left after this (directly related to the functionality, not combinations of extensions which are not advertised as integrated, like Paid Listings and Claim Listings, and not to the website business model) we will be able to help.

Thanks for your understanding

28

Hi Ihor,

Thank you for your response.

I think having the 50% code may be helpful, if premium support may be denied. Please advise how best to furnish me with that.

I think I have realised my biggest issue which has created all other questions. I did not realise that you could only have one version of payouts until last night.

I thought I could have a combination of payouts per package.

A package(s) where they get paid direct and a package where they could choose the top package to choose to have easy automated payouts through us via stripe connect.

This has been where my confusion has been to set up my packages.

In an ideal world, I wanted to have the;

a) ‘Reply to Listing’ button on my first package
b) ‘Request to Book’ on my second package
c) ‘Book Now’ on my third package

Had I have realised I couldn’t do that earlier, it probably would have stopped this packages ‘rabbit hole’

If you ever develop that or advise this can be done via customisation with a freelancer. Please do let me know.

Many thanks

30

Sorry for the delay.

I’ve just sent a coupon for Bookings via email, it can be used for 2 licenses.

Yes, most of monetization extensions we offer are not linked with one another, they are separate monetization models. For example, listing packages are not linked to Bookings in any way, so restricting the booking features depending on which package is purchased will require customizations. If you hire a freelancer, they can use the forum to ask for general guidance regarding the best approach to implement something without affecting the HivePress framework and future updates.

We also plan to launch a new monetization extension by the end of the year which will implement integration between the monetization models, e.g. to make listing attributes dependant on listing packages (to allow editing extra fields in case of a paid package).

Hope this helps

1 Like
31

Hi Ihor,

This development would be amazing and a perfect solution. Can I comfortably advise my community that it is upcoming or should I not mention this.

Honestly, would be the answer to my prayers.

Thank you!!!