AJV Dive Express vs PADI Eve5

[scubasprout]

We have been using AJV's Dive Shop Express for years. We recently moved into a new location and are expanding to multiple computers and would like to upgrade our POS software. We are considering the newest version of AJV or PADI Eve 5. Does anybody have experience with both of these programs that can give me pros and cons to help me decide between the two? Thanks in advance.

Brian
Diver Dan's Scuba & Aquatic Center

 

[bjf123]

I've never used (or even remember ever hearing about) PADI Eve 5, so I can't comment about it. We do very little PADI training, so I'm not sure how it might work with mostly NAUI classes. We recently went from having AJV installed on just one system on the sales floor to trying to get it on three. I was able to get our office PC connected to AJV with no trouble at all. We added a laptop to our service department so they can have Internet access for looking up tech specs on manufacturer's web sites and wanted to start using the work order functionality in AJV. I was not able to get that one to connect. I called AJV and discovered that the issue is Windows Vista on the laptop. Their network version and Vista don't like each other and they really don't support running it on Vista. Our other two PCs are running XP and everything works fine. Their suggestion was to buy a copy of XP and install it on the laptop.

Also, AJV recommends having a dedicated server if you're going to have more than 5 workstations. Fewer than that and you can easily share the data from one of the workstations.

Hope this helps.

Edit - I exchanged a few e-mails with Summer at AVJ yesterday. They are working on modifying their system to work better with Vista and the upcoming Win 7. No timetable for when that might happen.

 

[abyss_scuba]

you can not do lay away, work orders or anything else that resembles what you do in the real world of business. Very nice people but the soft ware is nothing but a head ache. Also they are not in on weekends, EVE guy has a cell phone that you can call him on.

 

[scubajcf]

I used AJV in a multi computer; multi location shop.

It wasn't bad as a multi computer single shop application. However, it had no ability to work multi location. The Calendar feature and rental feature was nice, but buggy. It had no real ability to plug into our accounting software, so we had to do double entry.

I have never used Eve, but have seen the presentation and DEMO. A nice application, but cannot fairly compare the two. My issue is I did not want a dive company, like PADI, having access to my business records and contacts. I am certainly not accusing them of anything. Just my overly paranoid mentality.

My advice -- quickbooks retail.


jcf

 

[bjf123]

you can not do lay away, work orders or anything else that resembles what you do in the real world of business. Very nice people but the soft ware is nothing but a head ache. Also they are not in on weekends, EVE guy has a cell phone that you can call him on.

I'm not sure what kind of work orders you're referencing, but you can do them for gear repairs. We recently started using this feature. Works great for us. I'd also be a little leery of PADI having access to my data and customers if I used their product.

 

[abyss_scuba]

I was asked to donate something for a local American legion raffle. I wanted to donate a gift certificate for a Discover scuba. If I sell a gift certicicate then I have a profit, as opposed to giving something out of inventory which would show a net loss.

I want to migrate to Quick Books but I need to buy new hardware that is compatible with QuickBooks the day I finish with AJV can not come fasr enough.

 

[scubasprout]

When you input the gift certificate, choose expense account for payment method. This will expense it and take out of inventory and charge to you.