[Freeswitch-users] Sharing tips on using OSS and Freeswitch in business

[Richard Cruz]

Why most of the people tend to confuse "open source" with "free work"

Richard Cruz
​
(253) 237-4139

On Sun, Jan 7, 2018 at 12:55 PM, fs <fs at szmidt.org> wrote:

> * I might very well go outside the intended purpose with this list,
> * in which case I apologize! You can remove it with my blessing.
> * The Biz list appears to not be in use.
> * I just see that we all want to be successful with Freeswitch
> * and many want to make a living with it, thus:
>
> How do you make a good living from Open Source Software with, for
> example, Freeswitch? (Staying away from promoting any business, but
> sharing valuable experiences.)
>
> What works for you and what does not work for you?
>
> I've been operating for years and give away a lot of my time to both
> potential clients as well as paid clients. My product is not yet changed
> to using Freeswitch but I'm working on it. Generally my rule is that if
> I can do something verbally without using my computer I help them. In
> other words they don't have to be afraid of talking with me.
>
> But there's also a technical limit on how far I go. It needs to be a
> fairly simple thing, such as on a heavily loaded server use RAID 10 and
> SAS drives. That security is a vital consideration and why, including
> some pointers on how to implement that. My thought on it is that if my
> clients cannot stay in business I won't have any clients. And I do care.
> I'm also the happiest when I have helped someone win.
>
> Not that simple, rule wise, but I strike a balance. A good paying client
> receives more free service than one that does not. I'm also taking into
> consideration their attitude, which leads me to a huge point. A client
> who does not assume full responsibility for his business and equipment
> and is looking for some scapegoat to blame, I drop.
>
> In ten years I've only had four refund requests and they were all well
> serviced beyond what they paid for, for example I spent two hours
> helping a guy to get in and change the Linux root password. He kept
> saying "Maybe I should not be in this business." After two hours I said
> "Yes, maybe you should not, I think he was trying to use my willingness
> to help. But the bottom line was he was not willing to be responsible
> for his server, and could not write down and enter the same password
> twice, and needed someone to blame when he screwed it up. Which he did
> nonstop.
>
> As a generality small business eat up your time and large ones expect to
> pay. When I depend on someone servicing the product I got from them I
> insist on paying as I need them to remain in business.
>
> When you use Paypal, add a function that adds the IP address of the
> buyer, this way when their CC company are told they did not authorize
> the purchase you can show the IP that was used. PP have always gone to
> bat for me when I get a refund request as they have all been scams and I
> could show it. However, if they used a CC then the CC company makes the
> final decision on the refund.
>
> ---
> fs
>
>
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