Volusion Update 10/20/09

UPDATE #2:
Well, my store is up and running again. And as expected, no explanation, no apologies, no root cause. I thought maybe... over optimistically... that maybe.... , maybe they had been working on upgrading their system to be more compliant with current browsers and had crashed due to some unforeseen stupidity on their part. While there was a lot of unforeseen stupidity, I was wrong to think they were trying to expand their interface... it is still there... stamped across the top of my page, warning me that my browser and their software are just as compatible as me and my ex. Come on Vortal... get with the times!
(click on picture to see it full size)

Volusion... CRASHES AND BURNS Today

When creating a blog post, it asks if you want to create a link to a web site. For instance, I am Venting/Blogging about Volusion, so I would usually post a link to their site... UNFORTUNATELY none of their links work. They went down hardcore today! Not just their store backend access for merchants, but anyone who created a store through them has lost their shopping cart interface. Their community access to stats and tech support is down as well. Furthermore, they didn't even put up a splash page alerting clients, members and users that they were down and working on a solution. Instead, it just reads as though it never existed, "This web page cannot be found". The store I built over a year ago for our group of #1 radio stations in East Idaho has thrived and has become a popular feature across all of our formats. The Deal of the Week. We direct traffic to this Volusion store on a daily basis. Now our link is dead... completely down and I am unable to access it to even leave our users a message to alert them to the problem. It is so frustrating. Surely Volusion has access to their database of customer emails... surely they could alert their clients about the mishap, and let them know what is happening... surely they have back up plans and mirrored technology.... surely? Doesn't seem to be the case.
*shakes head in disbelief*
Thanks Volusion.... I'm glad to know you are crisis ready. NOT!
~This concludes today's vent~ BEEEEEEEEEEEEEP
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UPDATE:
My tech support conversation after being 94th in the queue:
Joe S.: Hi Zoey
Joe S.: Unfortunately we are currently experiencing an issue that is causing this. Our IT Department is working on this problem now for a resolution ASAP, however I have not been given an ETA at this time. I am very sorry for this inconvenience.
Zoey: I need to access the back-end. Is there NO way to go in and create a splash page alerting our users that we are aware it is down and are fixing the problem, instead of looking like a dead link????
Joe S.: Sorry, if your store is currently inaccessible you'd need to wait until it is accessible again to make changes to it.
Zoey: a heads-up or email alert would have been appropriate for something this big! Can you tell me ANYTHING about what has happened?
Joe S.: Unfortunately that is not available at this time.
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after long back and forth of trying to figure out why other stores are up and mine is not and asking him to check specific things
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Zoey: You covered your butts and got your sites up ASAP. I want to see that my money is going to a reliable shopping cart interface. Now cover my butt... get my store up... and communicate with your clients., or we will pull out of this business deal.
Joe S.: I am sorry you feel that way
Joe S.: Does that answer all your questions for me?
Zoey: No, not at all, you haven't been able to answer anything for me, except your 'copied and pasted' standardized text that was given to you. No, this hasn't helped. Everything I requested is null. I have no idea what HAS been done or WILL be done... I'll check back in an hour since you guys wont contact me via email... and then I'll know which route we will take for the future if I get anymore of this "generic apology" crap from another tech support chat. I don't like waiting in queue to find out you have nothing to tell anyone.