What to look for in a company when shopping for Magento Extensions

Just make sure that if you are working with a team that is not domestic, that they have multiple ways of communicating with you, offer a guarantee and have a track record you can verify. Speaking of verification, you may be wondering how you go about doing that…

2.) Social Media Sites

The first thing I like to do is check out their Facebook and Twitter pages. If I cannot find their pages on those websites or if they do not mention them on their website, I do not even bother with them. A company that is dedicated to solving problems and reaching out to customers, at this point, will make sure to engage you in any way possible. Those that do not are usually the companies that hide behind a website for a purpose and, sadly, many of those websites from my experience are scammers or, at best, not terribly reliable.

3.) Testimonials

While testimonials can sometimes be forged the odds are that, if a software developer offers great solutions, people cannot help but talk about them. I look for testimonials that include photos, names or, at worst, a url to their website so I can see that they are a real person. I completely ignore testimonials that have default ‘icons’ and names like ‘Bill T’. You can hunt down testimonials, especially for Magento extensions, if you search for their profile page on Magento Connect.

By clicking on the ‘reviews’ tab for any module you are considering to purchase you can see if the customers are happy with the product and the technical support. If the number of support questions outweigh the number of compliments to the developer then it is ideal to stay clear of that developer for the time being.

4.) Feedback From Google Search

I was actually researching some modules for a client of ours and I could not figure out if I could trust this one company or not. So I performed a Google search and found a few disgruntled customers who were mentioning their poor experience with this company on one of the Magento forums. When I factored in the negative reviews, the lack of positive reviews and realized they were not showing their phone number, I realized it was time to move forward.

5.)  Money Back Guarantee

I have found a few modules that seemed to be ideal for our client but I realize that they are not offering a money back guarantee. While some offer a 15 day guarantee I need to know that anything we order for ourselves or for a client is going to come with a firm money back guarantee that lasts at a minimum of 30 days. I’ve worked with too many software developers to trust anything less and you should never part with your money for a company that cannot stand behind their product.

6.) Customer Support

Software will always either have a bug or a learning curve when it comes to knowing how to configure it and use it properly. Because of this you can almost guarantee that each module you purchase will require you having to contact support. Please look for a phone number and if they do not offer one then I recommend you follow the prior steps to really ensure they are worth taking a chance on. See if you can find out the feedback from customers on their support. If you find a lot of positive reviews for their module on Magento Connect or if you find a lot of positive comments on their blog, then odds are they are going to help you as much as they can.

Another thing I would suggest you look for is a demonstration. I do not personally trust companies who do not create a demonstration of their product. To me it means they do not stand behind their product or that they are just lazy.

7.) How Upfront They Are About Who They Are

Although this was covered in item ‘1’ I would suggest really taking the time to review if their website only has a generic paragraph or two about their company. If they do not mention where they are then, yes, they are either in India or Asia which, by itself is fine, but you once again have to ask can you be sure they will go out of their way to contact you and, if so, what hours are you both going to be able to communicate with each other in real time?

Personally, the most reliable software developers love to show their company off and talk about who they are. If anything, they would prefer to toot their own horn than actually develop software. I personally would recommend steering clear of companies with ambiguous websites (which do not mention where they are/offer generic descriptions/text) as well as companies with poorly designed websites. If the word ‘cheesy’ or ‘template’ comes to mind, that might be a red flag that you should steer clear. I personally have noticed that the best development teams invest in their design and offer a unique design that fits their unique personality and way of doing business.

Summary

As I have said many times, always take the proper amount of time to research so you can avoid any headaches in the future. The more you know about a company before you work with them the better off you will be. Good luck and let me know if you have any questions.

Joel Holtzman

Magento Development Lead