PALM OIL INVESTIGATIONS
  • HOME
  • ABOUT PALM OIL
    • About the crisis >
      • SPECIES UNDER THREAT
      • VIDEOS
  • Names for palm oil
    • PALM OIL FREE CERTIFICATION
  • PRODUCT GUIDE
    • DIY TIPS & TRICKS
    • POI position statement on the RSPO
    • BRAND PALM OIL STATEMENTS
    • PALM OIL SUPPLY CHAINS
    • RSPO & TFT
  • About POI
    • POI Blog
    • SERVICES
    • INTERVIEWS & MEDIA
    • AMBASSADORS >
      • Nathalie Boltt
      • Tahlia Walsh - Youth ambassador
    • CONSERVATION NGO'S
    • FRIENDS OF POI
    • Contact
  • SUPERMARKET SHOPPING GUIDE
  • CLAIMS UNDER INVESTIGATION
  • BRANDS YOU CAN TRUST

POI scanner app issues

5/30/2018

30 Comments

 
We are very sorry that our app has not been functioning for quite some time and completely aware of the inconvenience it has caused. 

We were first notified that our POI barcode scanner crashed back in April 2018. We contacted our developer in El Paso Texas who assured us it would be fixed asap, this has not happened. 

We have put in repeated requests asking for a resolve.  During this time fix dates continued to pass leaving us not knowing the issues.  Contact with the developer has been extremely stressful to say the least, resulting in various excuses or contact completely ignored. 
It was eventually suggested that if we were unsatisfied with his service (or lack of), that he would allow us to host the app elsewhere.

Understanding that this issue has been causing problems with the end users and subsequently POI, another developer came forward offering their assistance, but even their attempted contact to the current developer has also been ignored with zero response. 

As we run on a voluntary basis and unfinanced, the scanner app has always been a financial strain on POI however we have always paid accounts sent to us by the developer and had also paid what we consider a large sum in advance for the services. 
We had also paid the developer for database setup to extend our app into the UK.  This job was never delivered.  Other projects we had allocated to the developer to make up for monies paid by us have also gone undelivered following months of waiting and frustration.  

Due to a non-functioning app being downloaded resulting in complaints and one-star reviews, we requested it be removed from the app stores.  This took 11 days for the developer to click the unpublish button which resulted in further complaints by app users to POI. 

The POI volunteers have been trying to deal with the daily onslaught of messages, emails, comments and complaints regarding the app since it crashed, resulting in countless hours of replies and stress on the team and damage to POI.  

The scanner app has consisted of at least 20 voluntary hours per week in product research, barcode and scan result loading into the back end over many years.  
We feel completely let down by the developer who has displayed total disregard for not only POI, but also our app users and ultimately the cause. 

As we now enter the next phase to resolve this issue, we wish to once again express our apologies for the inconvenience this has caused to the tens of thousands of POI app users who have relied on this barcode scanner for their shopping purchases.  

We want to thank you for your patience and loyalty at this trying time.  We are doing our utmost to get it functioning again, however it is proving to be extremely difficult at this point whilst it is in external hands. We have no access to the app coding and as the url is no longer functioning which they set up, we also have no access to the data. 

Update: Our new developers now have all the app data and are in the process of assessing the damage and what it's going to take for us to get it back up and running.  This may be a lengthy process.  We are doing our best. 
Picture
30 Comments
Marsha
5/30/2018 09:52:04 am

Hi there

Is the app open source? My husband is. Developer and is happy to see if he can help (free of charge)

Reply
Palm Oil Investigations
5/30/2018 10:36:34 am

Hi Marsha,
I don't think so, we are not that tech savvy. All we know is that the current developer holds all the control, we don't have access to the coding and as the url is no longer active which they set up, we can no longer access the data.

Reply
Adam
7/14/2018 08:57:27 pm

Hi Lorinda, it may be that someone like Julian Burnside - known humanitarian and environmental barrister and legal advocate - could provide some advice on how to best deal with this difficult situation. Dreadful to hear of this.

Jay
11/14/2018 12:22:02 pm

That is very generous of him to offer ❤

Be well ☺

Reply
Aimee
6/7/2018 06:05:58 pm

This is no good at all!
However I found the app had very limited functionality, & did not include enough products available in NZ to be of much use. It was also very very slow. Hope it can be improved on in the future as it’s a great idea!

Reply
Michelle Crone Naturopathy
6/9/2018 08:19:47 pm

Sad to hear the stress you good people have been under. The Australian government if joined else should be helping get this restored and maybe the state governments could help? Thankyou and gratitude for your valuable volunteering to help keep Orangutans and other flora and fauna safe. Hope someone comes to the party. I’ll ask around my tribes. 🙏🏾

Reply
Peter Best
6/10/2018 06:16:33 pm

Do you have an estimate for just rewriting an entirely new POI app? Crowd funding may be able to fund this, as it is such an important undertaking. Happy to contribute.

Reply
Karina
6/11/2018 10:23:01 pm

Agreed. :) Wish you well with this struggle.

Reply
Liz Burbrook
6/12/2018 12:54:50 pm

Crowd funding is a great idea. I am wondering, conspiracy theorist that I am, whether they are whether unsympathetic or have been got at.

Reply
Milli Troon
6/23/2018 04:00:56 pm

I was wondering the same thing. The app contains info damaging to companies. Bound to get backlash.

Esther
6/29/2018 03:54:04 pm

I reckon you hit nail on the head here.... Developers don't just shunt people like this out for no reason & it seems they are doing everything to shut them down. The only ones who benefit from this is the palm oil industry & possibly the developers taking a bribe from the palm oil companies who lose money from the POI app.

Tina Webb
8/21/2018 02:48:28 pm

My thought as well

Natalie Kata
6/14/2018 11:22:44 am

Just wanted to say thanks for all that you do and for creating this wonderful app in the first place. I would also contribute to a crowd fundraiser if it would help and would happily harass friends and family to do the same.

Reply
Carina
6/14/2018 07:32:10 pm

Is there an equivalent of the ACCC in the us poi can contact to get the developper to ‘give up’ the app controls to the next hopefully more reliable developer?

Reply
Meg
6/18/2018 08:23:36 pm

I hope you can find a solution to the app problem I would be happy to donate to help!

Reply
Milli Troon
6/23/2018 04:02:47 pm

Crowd funding to help things along and restore the damage. I would contribute.

Reply
Esther Williams
6/27/2018 10:10:03 am

Im appalled by the amount of stupid people giving negative reviews & emails. Surely they understand you guys are all volunteers & do it to help them & the orangutans... if they weren't so darn lazy they could just print off the list from the website like i have.. people are so needy & ignorant... give me animals over humans anyday. Good job & thank you POI for everything you do.

Reply
What the?
7/2/2018 08:55:34 am

I think you have misunderstood the purpose of app reviews. If people advise the app doesn’t work, that does not make them stupid. They are not personally attacking the volunteers, they are providing feedback so the app can be improved. Yes, the could print off a list, but they chose to download an app which states it performs a certain function.

Reply
Christine Daniels
6/28/2018 07:05:17 pm

So very sorry for all of this stress... The app was helpful and we all really need an app to help us be better consumers..particularly newcomers to the POF way of life. I too wonder if the developer has been 'got at' by lowlife corporates.. We will look out for further updates from your page on a new app and information on the matter. I think crowdfunding is a good idea, so many of us would be happy to help with any little bit we can..

Reply
Vanessa
7/2/2018 02:22:44 pm

I thought it was a glitch on my phone! Good luck getting it going again and please let us know how we can contribute financially. Many thanks for all your efforts - they are genuinely appreciated!

Reply
Elizabeth Graham
8/5/2018 02:03:16 pm

It is a shame that not only were Palmoil investigations sorely let down by the app developer but he ripped you off. Demand your money back and report to the authorities relevant. I don't mind waiting in the least as the outcome ultimately will be so worthwhile.

Reply
MAuro MAzzerioli
8/16/2018 03:46:39 pm

hello, please be aware that scanning products that use uncertified palm oil "will" attract sabotage from "a lot" of places. said that, we are much stronger than multimillionaires and their slaves. thank you

Reply
Maria
8/19/2018 10:36:21 pm

Happy to help crowdfund this awesome app!

Reply
Gerold
9/11/2018 10:18:28 am

I guess we all should give the app a 5 Star rating once it is back online to boost it back into popularity.
Looking forward to it coming back, as I couldn't find another one for Australia and I do go shopping with it, even my kids ask me to scan their choices.

Reply
Alicia
11/20/2018 12:22:01 am

Thank you for all that you guys do x

Reply
louise
11/30/2018 08:02:59 am

All that work.... thank you for raising our awareness....we will keep spreading the word.

Reply
Sarah
2/5/2019 11:36:01 am

Please let us know once the app is up and running again. ImI struggling to find anything that is even close to the equivalent.

Reply
Michela
10/7/2019 11:55:00 am

I came across this app via a newsletter from Ethical Super. I was reading about your difficulties & started to wonder if the developer is sabotaging your efforts. I agree with others that this app could have serious consequences for companies that continue to do the wrong thing. Looking forward to seeing your app up and running.

Reply
facebook link
11/19/2019 04:17:24 pm

I think this is the technical issue.And you could find the solution that what is the problem about the app.

Reply
New Mexico Blondes link
2/5/2021 05:03:39 am

Thanks for the ppost

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Lorinda Jane
    Founder and President.
    Palm Oil Investigations

    Archives

    March 2019
    May 2018
    December 2017
    May 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Copyright Palm Oil Investigations