van insurance

This is an advertisement
Interested In Advertising? | Contact Us Here

Warning!

 

Welcome to Clean It Up; the UK`s largest cleaning forum with over 34,000 members

 

Please login or register to post and reply to topics.      

 

Forgot your password? Click here

Pete Thompson

  • Posts: 960
The Slow Death of CleanerPlanner?
« on: August 24, 2022, 04:58:25 pm »
I’ve been using CleanerPlanner for years now, and always found it to be superb, reliable and fit for purpose.

However, it’s no secret that features that had been promised have now been abandoned, and development has simply ground to a halt. Maybe I could live with that for now.

But lately I’ve noticed a few bugs are starting to creep in that are not being fixed. For example, when generating a printed worksheet, it often adds in a random column below the header row, meaning that nothing lines up in the sheet.

I also heard that credit/debit card processor Stripe changed their API, and this now no longer works with CleanerPlanner. When alerted to this, CP seemed not to be interested in fixing it.

Since the original developer sold CP to an American company a couple of years ago, I suspect the they no longer have the ability to maintain and update it, with the detailed knowledge that maybe only the creator would have.

As all operating environments change continuously, I think more bugs will start to accumulate, and we may be seeing the slow painful death of CP. 

What a shame, especially as the SAAS model, with its continuous income stream for the owners, is supposed to enable constant product development and improvements, with bug fixes and maintenance being the minimum we should expect.

I’ve decided to give Squeegee a go, though when I tried it a few years ago, I didn’t like the interface much, or the way it required internet connection to work (which CP doesn’t). Has this now changed?

Is anyone else considering switching?

Shrek

  • Posts: 3931
Re: The Slow Death of CleanerPlanner?
« Reply #1 on: August 24, 2022, 05:28:28 pm »
I’m still using Microsoft excel   ;D

Frankybadboy

  • Posts: 9022
Re: The Slow Death of CleanerPlanner?
« Reply #2 on: August 24, 2022, 07:04:06 pm »
havent noticed any wrong with it

dazmond

  • Posts: 23966
Re: The Slow Death of CleanerPlanner?
« Reply #3 on: August 24, 2022, 07:30:11 pm »
Ive never experienced bugs in cleaner planner and ive been using it for years too.it works smooth and effortlessly as it always has.

As for updates I don't need them.i think cleaner planner is fine as it is.it does everything I need it to do.

Simple,straightforward and easy to use.

I'm perfectly happy with it.👍
price higher/work harder!

SB Cleaning

  • Posts: 4287
Re: The Slow Death of CleanerPlanner?
« Reply #4 on: August 24, 2022, 07:52:05 pm »
Ive never experienced bugs in cleaner planner and ive been using it for years too.it works smooth and effortlessly as it always has.

As for updates I don't need them.i think cleaner planner is fine as it is.it does everything I need it to do.

Simple,straightforward and easy to use.

I'm perfectly happy with it.👍
I feel the same about George, even better with no monthly fees too;D

Stoots

  • Posts: 6211
Re: The Slow Death of CleanerPlanner?
« Reply #5 on: August 24, 2022, 08:48:21 pm »
Ive tried squeegee a few times and found it really buggy.

Cleaner planner is great, simple and effective,


Smudger

  • Posts: 13438
Re: The Slow Death of CleanerPlanner?
« Reply #6 on: August 24, 2022, 11:10:00 pm »
Stripe payments over £200 is an issue - everything else has been fine

Darran
Never argue with an idiot, they will only bring you down to their level, and beat you with experience

Ascjim

  • Posts: 220
Re: The Slow Death of CleanerPlanner?
« Reply #7 on: August 25, 2022, 09:50:37 am »
I still think it's the best system out there and I haven't seen any bugs.

My issue is not being able to take phone payments via Stripe, they say they keep trying to fix the issue but I don't think it's high on their list. I could be the only one that has complained about it.

I feel CP is great for small and large window cleaning firms but we no longer clean windows.

Most of our jobs need images and PDF files attached in the job notes which can only be done via HTML. Which only I can do, so no one else in the office can do it, which isn't ideal.

I would be happy to pay more, but they don't seem interested in improving the software. I have been looking into changing over to something else like a facility company software but we have been using CP since it came out, everyone knows how to use it, we just need the time to find something new and learn it.

Arnold Palmer

  • Posts: 20777
Re: The Slow Death of CleanerPlanner?
« Reply #8 on: August 25, 2022, 10:33:53 am »
I still think it's the best system out there and I haven't seen any bugs.

My issue is not being able to take phone payments via Stripe, they say they keep trying to fix the issue but I don't think it's high on their list. I could be the only one that has complained about it.

I feel CP is great for small and large window cleaning firms but we no longer clean windows.

Most of our jobs need images and PDF files attached in the job notes which can only be done via HTML. Which only I can do, so no one else in the office can do it, which isn't ideal.

I would be happy to pay more, but they don't seem interested in improving the software. I have been looking into changing over to something else like a facility company software but we have been using CP since it came out, everyone knows how to use it, we just need the time to find something new and learn it.

I take stripe phone payments every day via Cleaner Planner.  100s per month. The only ones I have issues with are payments over £200 and even then not always.

Ascjim

  • Posts: 220
Re: The Slow Death of CleanerPlanner?
« Reply #9 on: August 25, 2022, 11:00:40 am »
I still think it's the best system out there and I haven't seen any bugs.

My issue is not being able to take phone payments via Stripe, they say they keep trying to fix the issue but I don't think it's high on their list. I could be the only one that has complained about it.

I feel CP is great for small and large window cleaning firms but we no longer clean windows.

Most of our jobs need images and PDF files attached in the job notes which can only be done via HTML. Which only I can do, so no one else in the office can do it, which isn't ideal.

I would be happy to pay more, but they don't seem interested in improving the software. I have been looking into changing over to something else like a facility company software but we have been using CP since it came out, everyone knows how to use it, we just need the time to find something new and learn it.

I take stripe phone payments every day via Cleaner Planner.  100s per month. The only ones I have issues with are payments over £200 and even then not always.

Yep, we don't do anything under £200 :(

Arnold Palmer

  • Posts: 20777
Re: The Slow Death of CleanerPlanner?
« Reply #10 on: August 25, 2022, 11:06:16 am »
I still think it's the best system out there and I haven't seen any bugs.

My issue is not being able to take phone payments via Stripe, they say they keep trying to fix the issue but I don't think it's high on their list. I could be the only one that has complained about it.

I feel CP is great for small and large window cleaning firms but we no longer clean windows.

Most of our jobs need images and PDF files attached in the job notes which can only be done via HTML. Which only I can do, so no one else in the office can do it, which isn't ideal.

I would be happy to pay more, but they don't seem interested in improving the software. I have been looking into changing over to something else like a facility company software but we have been using CP since it came out, everyone knows how to use it, we just need the time to find something new and learn it.

I take stripe phone payments every day via Cleaner Planner.  100s per month. The only ones I have issues with are payments over £200 and even then not always.

Yep, we don't do anything under £200 :(

Yeah, I had been warning them that was coming too. Frustrating to see it not being dealt with, I guess the number of users effected is pretty small?

Keep at them, I will too - squeaky wheel and all that.

Smudger

  • Posts: 13438
Re: The Slow Death of CleanerPlanner?
« Reply #11 on: August 25, 2022, 01:49:15 pm »
same here,

at present we take 4  or 5 payments under 200  until we reach the total price - not ideal but works until the issue is fixed

Darran
Never argue with an idiot, they will only bring you down to their level, and beat you with experience

Clever Forum Name

  • Posts: 5942
Re: The Slow Death of CleanerPlanner?
« Reply #12 on: August 26, 2022, 08:27:46 pm »
I love Cleaner Planner but the last 12 months have been horrendous for us.

We have a main account and then sub accounts for each franchisee. On a Monday the transactions reports are run from each franchisee account so the Royalty Fee and Water charges can be worked out. 9 times out of 10 there is an issue with one or more accounts. This means what should take a hour or two tops can sometimes take all day as my Admin lady can spend all day trying to make it work. Luckily she is my girlfriend BUT she is paid a legitimate wage and most weeks she works more hours than needed.

Unfortunately the tech support is pretty much the same each time! Switch it on and off comes to mind! They ask the same questions like; What operating system are you using? Is your internet ok? And so on.
 
I feel like nothing is being updated on Cleaner Planner and it has the potential to be amazing. I have tried others on the market but I am not so keen on them!

I don't understand what the issue is, surely they must have enough revenue coming in to make it work and improve it.

Maybe we all need to come together and make a list of improvements we would like to see? That's what I loved about the forum that we had for Cleaner Planner.

I think what really grinds my gears is we have a lot of accounts with them, all at £29 each once you pay for the year in one go. A company running 3 vans probably only pays for the top package which is about £50 a year at a guess?

I will stick with Cleaner Planner but I am worried they will simply walk away from it one day!

I am quite happy to contact them and ask them for information, suggest updates, etc.

MrWindowClean

  • Posts: 28
Re: The Slow Death of CleanerPlanner?
« Reply #13 on: September 07, 2022, 08:35:43 pm »
Swap to squeegee you'll never look back

Scrimble

  • Posts: 2047
Re: The Slow Death of CleanerPlanner?
« Reply #14 on: September 20, 2022, 05:03:26 pm »
 it is very disappointing that the owners of cleaner planner have not kept it up to date, having seen the new squeegee software which has better features CP is now looking pretty old,

I wont be changing over to squeege, cleaner planner still does everything you need to and at £500 per month the owners of squeege are taking the p, the price of it is laughable,


deeege

  • Posts: 5008
Re: The Slow Death of CleanerPlanner?
« Reply #15 on: September 21, 2022, 01:57:33 pm »
it is very disappointing that the owners of cleaner planner have not kept it up to date, having seen the new squeegee software which has better features CP is now looking pretty old,

I wont be changing over to squeege, cleaner planner still does everything you need to and at £500 per month the owners of squeege are taking the p, the price of it is laughable,

Would you really need the £500 per month infinity package?

Squeegee has been excellent for me and well worth the £180 per year that I pay.
"....and it's lend me ten pounds, I'll buy you a drink, and mother wake me early in the morning."

SB Cleaning

  • Posts: 4287
Re: The Slow Death of CleanerPlanner?
« Reply #16 on: September 21, 2022, 02:39:39 pm »
it is very disappointing that the owners of cleaner planner have not kept it up to date, having seen the new squeegee software which has better features CP is now looking pretty old,

I wont be changing over to squeege, cleaner planner still does everything you need to and at £500 per month the owners of squeege are taking the p, the price of it is laughable,

Would you really need the £500 per month infinity package?

Squeegee has been excellent for me and well worth the £180 per year that I pay.
£500 a month ,they are in cloud cuckoo land you could get a new car on tick for that  :o

Smudger

  • Posts: 13438
Re: The Slow Death of CleanerPlanner?
« Reply #17 on: September 21, 2022, 03:51:26 pm »
Really depends on the size of your biz and what £500 a month does - my thoughts are it is well overpriced.

Darran
Never argue with an idiot, they will only bring you down to their level, and beat you with experience

Splash & dash

  • Posts: 4364
Re: The Slow Death of CleanerPlanner?
« Reply #18 on: September 21, 2022, 05:29:34 pm »
Stripe payments over £200 is an issue - everything else has been fine

Darran


Am I right in thinking stripe is a card reader machine to take payments ? If so why is there a problem with payments over £200 ? Ime looking at getting a card machine and have no idea what to get .

Smudger

  • Posts: 13438
Re: The Slow Death of CleanerPlanner?
« Reply #19 on: September 21, 2022, 10:47:40 pm »
we do ours direct on CP - they haven't updated certain protocols so over £200 requests get rejected - this is defo a CP problem

Darran
Never argue with an idiot, they will only bring you down to their level, and beat you with experience