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Sales FAQ
(Frequently
Asked Questions)
Click on a
question listed below to see the corresponding answer.
If you do not
see your question listed here, please contact our sales department:
sales@storagesidekick.com
Frequently Asked Sales Questions
General Info
What are your business hours?
What is included in free technical support?
What is the definition of a unit?
How much does Storage Sidekick cost?
What if I need to add more units later?
What is your return policy?
Do you have a user’s manual?
Do you charge sales tax?
Can the program be shipped to me?
What happens if I switch computers?
Getting Started
Can I download Storage Sidekick directly from the web site?
Does the trial version do everything that the purchased program
does?
How do I buy the program?
After I purchase the software, how do I activate my program?
What is a computer ID and how do I find it?
Program Functions
Can I export data into Microsoft Excel?
Can I import or export my financial information into
QuickBooks?
Can I create custom reports?
Can I keep all of the data for a tenant that moved out?
Does Storage Sidekick automatically back up my data?
Can I pay bills electronically using the banking information in Storage
Sidekick?
Can I merge my tenant’s information directly into a letter?
Do I have to use special checks to print from Storage Sidekick?
Can I e-mail reports?
Can I use this program to manage my residential apartment units?
Technical Info:
Remote Access, SQL Database,
Installation
Does Storage Sidekick interface with any gate systems?
Can my employees and managers all access Storage Sidekick?
Do I have to purchase a separate computer or server just for this
program?
How many client computers can access a single server?
How do I setup my router so client computers can dial into the Storage
Sidekick server?
Why is Internet access a system requirement?
If several users are working in the same database,
how do I limit what information they see?
What is Microsoft SQL Server and why is it running on my computer
when I use the program?
Where is my data kept?
Do you have a version of Storage Sidekick that is compatible with a
Mac?
Answers:
What are your business hours?
Business hours are Monday-Friday, 9:00 – 5:00 Eastern Time.
Sales staff can be reached at 800-559-7040 or
sales@storagesidekick.com. Technical support staff can be reached via e-mail at
support@storagesidekick.com. The office is closed on New Year’s Day,
Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and
Christmas Day. We may also close without notice due to inclement
weather. (return to top)
What is included in free technical support?
Free e-mail technical support comes with the program, even if you
are using the 30-day trial. This means you can send unlimited
questions via e-mail to our tech support department. We will do our
best to respond to your e-mail within 2-3 hours of the time we
receive it (please allow for our regular business hours). Other free
(and FAST!) options include our Frequently Asked Questions, User’s
Manual, and Free Video Demonstrations. If you wish, you can also
purchase a yearly technical support package which includes phone support. Call our
sales department to inquire. (return to top)
What is the definition of a unit?
A unit is any space that you rent or assign to a tenant, such as a
storage unit, a parking space, etc. Storage Sidekick is purchased and activated by the number of units
only, which means you are never limited to the number of tenants in
the program. This is especially helpful when you need to keep
records for tenants that have moved out- just give them an inactive
status. You can always purchase more units later if you need to.
Keep in mind that any units you make inactive (such as a property
you have sold) will still be counted towards your total unit amount. (return to top)
How much does Storage Sidekick cost?
The program cost depends on how many units you will be managing. For 75 units or more, the cost is
$7.00 per unit. If you are managing fewer than 75 units, there is a one-time fee of $525.00.
Please contact our sales department to find out more details. (return to top)
What if I need to add more units later?
You can always buy more units, and you’ll only pay the “per unit” price for each additional unit. There will be nothing new
to download-- we will just give you a new activation code. (return to top)
What is your return policy?
You can return the program for a full refund within 60 days of
original purchase. Sorry, we do not offer refunds on license
renewals, training, or technical support purchases. (return to top)
Do you have a user’s manual?
The manual for Storage Sidekick is built right into the program. To
access it, click Help, then choose Sidekick Help. You can
search the manual by keyword, find a specific topic, or read it
chapter and page. You can print the manual if desired by opening the
PDF version. To access this, right-click on the desktop icon, choose
Open File Location (or Find Target) and double-click StorageSidekickManual.pdf.
It can also be downloaded from our web site. (return to top)
Do you charge sales tax?
Only
Ohio orders will be charged 6.00% sales tax. (return to top)
Can the program be shipped to me?
We always recommend that you download the program for free from our
web site. But, if you would prefer that we physically ship the
program to you, there are a few options. We send U.S. Priority Mail
shipments with Delivery Confirmation for $10.00. Overnight shipping
is $30.00 via DHL. International shipping is $40.00 via DHL. All
shipments are usually sent out within 24-48 hours from the time of
your order. (return to top)
What happens if I switch computers?
If you move your program from one computer to another, you will
first need to backup your data (File, Backup Database) and save the
database on an external memory device (such as CD or flash drive).
Before uninstalling the program on the original computer, install
Storage Sidekick on the new computer by downloading the free trial
version of our program from our web site or from the CD we sent you.
When you have access to Storage Sidekick on both computers, contact our
sales department during normal business hours and we can help you
de-activate the program on the original computer and activate it on
the new one. Then you can restore your database into the program on
the new computer. (return to top)
Can I download Storage Sidekick directly from the web site?
Yes, the download available on our web site is the trial version of
the Storage Sidekick software. After you have used the trial for 30
days, the program will lock and you will then be required to
purchase and activate. You will not lose any of the information you
have entered in the trial version. You will not need to download it
or install it again, as the trial version on our web site is the
same thing as the purchased program.
If you are reinstalling Storage Sidekick or moving the program to
another computer, you can download this same trial version and then
contact us to re-activate your program. (return to top)
Does the trial version do everything that the purchased program
does?
Yes, you will be able to access each and every feature in the trial
version that you would have in the purchased version. The only
difference is that the trial version will lock up after your 30 day
trial has expired. Then, just contact our sales department to buy
and activate the software. Any data you entered during the trial
period will still be there. (return to top)
How do I buy the program?
You can call us at 800-559-7040 during normal business hours or
purchase online using the
Online Order Form available on the
website. We also have a
Printable Order Form available on our Order
page if you prefer to fax or mail your order. All transactions are 100% secure. (return to top)
After I purchase the software, how do I activate my program?
You will need to enter an activation code that is generated by our
order system. To get this code, please email: sales@storagesidekick.com
or call 800-559-7040. You will need to have your computer ID ready
(see the next sales question). (return to top)
What is a computer ID and how do I find it?
The “computer ID” is used by our order system to generate an
activation code specific to your computer. This ID can be found only
in the Storage Sidekick program by clicking on Help, then Activate. If
you are requesting an activation code from us, we will need to know
this computer ID. (return to top)
Can I export data into
Microsoft Excel®?
Storage Sidekick does offer the capability to export data from an
existing report into a Microsoft
Excel® spreadsheet.
(return to top)
Can I import or export my financial information into
QuickBooks®?
Storage Sidekick does not yet have an export or import feature
compatible with
QuickBooks®. However, this is a popular
request and
should be available in the near future. (return to top)
Can I create custom reports?
Storage Sidekick does not offer a feature to create custom reports. (return to top)
Can I keep all of the data for a tenant that moved out?
After a tenant moves out, you should change their status to
inactive. The program will store all of their information, including
payment history. You can have as many tenants (active and inactive)
in the program as you need. (return to top)
Does Storage Sidekick automatically back up my data?
Yes, Storage Sidekick will backup your data automatically each day the
program is used. This happens the first time each day that you open
the program. You can also do a manual backup by opening the program
and choosing File, Backup Database. (return to top)
Can I pay bills electronically using the banking information in Storage
Sidekick?
Electronic Bill Payment is not an available feature in Storage
Sidekick. (return to top)
Can I merge my tenant’s information directly into a letter?
Yes, the Letters to Tenants section allows you to choose and/or
create a letter that merges all of your tenant’s information
directly into the letter. You can also use this feature to send a
letter to several tenants at a time. Microsoft Word® is required for
this feature to work. (return to top)
Do I have to use special checks to print from Storage Sidekick?
Storage Sidekick was designed with special check and invoice templates.
To use pre-printed checks and forms in your printer, please contact
Mid-Central Business Forms, Inc. at 309-692-9090. We guarantee that
their checks and forms will work with Storage Sidekick software. The
check template is also compatible with QuickBooks® checks (3 checks
per page only). (return to top)
Can I e-mail reports?
Yes, you can e-mail reports, statements, and receipts
from the program by using your computer's default e-mail client
(such as Microsoft Outlook, Outlook Express, Windows Mail,
Thunderbird, etc.) This e-mail client will have to be configured
correctly in order to use the Storage Sidekick e-mail function. (return to top)
Can I use
this program to manage my residential apartment units?
Storage Sidekick was designed specifically for managing self-storage units. We do not endorse the use of this product for
anything relating to the management of residential apartment units. (return to top)
Does Storage Sidekick interface with any
gate systems?
Yes, Storage Sidekick currently interfaces with Digitech International's gate software. Visit
Digitech's website
for more information. (return to top)
Can my employees and managers all access Storage Sidekick?
There is no limit to the number of people that can access Storage
Sidekick from any computer in the world. You will need a router at
your main location and a high-speed Internet connection on both the
server computer and the client computer(s) to make this work. Please
see the section called “Accessing Storage Sidekick from Remote
Locations” in the user’s manual to learn more. You will be able to set up user login IDs and passwords for each
user that will be accessing Storage Sidekick. By default, the program
allows access by any one registered user at any given time. To allow
more than one user in the program at a time, you will need to
purchase additional user licenses. Please note that a client
computer connecting to the server via an Internet connection will
not be able to access program reports. (return to top)
Do I have to purchase a separate computer or server just for this
program?
You can install Storage Sidekick on any normal computer.
Here are the
system requirements for the program:
Memory: 512 MB or more recommended
Available Hard Disk Space: 350 MB or more recommended
Operating System: Windows Vista®, Windows XP® (Service Pack 2 or
later), Windows 2000®
(Service Pack 4 or later)
Internet Access: required for updates, technical support, and
client/server access
(return to top)
How many
network computers can access a single server?
There is no limit to the number of users that can access your server
computer. Keep in mind that the program automatically limits the
number of people in the program at one time to a single user. If you
need more users to access the program simultaneously, you can
purchase additional user licenses. (return to top)
How do I setup my router so client computers can dial into the Storage
Sidekick server?
Storage Sidekick’s user manual contains instructions on setting up the
program for use from remote locations. Open the manual by choosing
Help, then click Sidekick Help. Click the plus sign to the left
of the second chapter entitled “Installing and Updating Storage
Sidekick”. A new sub-chapter appears called “Accessing Storage Sidekick
from Remote Locations”. Use these instructions and the corresponding
page called “Router Setup” to find out more about remote access
setup. If you cannot set up the router on your own, we have an
arrangement with a company called Progent that can set everything up
for you over the phone. Please understand that Progent has a
separate charge and billing for this service. (return to top)
Why is Internet access a system requirement?
If you are on the server computer, the program itself can be used
without Internet access. However, all program updates, technical
support via e-mail, and the Frequently Asked Questions section of
the Storage Sidekick Help feature do require Internet access. Also, if
a remote client computer will be dialing into the server to access
the program, both the server computer and the client computer must
be logged onto the Internet continuously. (return to top)
If several users are working in the same database,
how do I limit what information they see?
The program administrator can set up the security feature of Storage
Sidekick to create a separate login and password for each user. When
setting up user logins, the administrator can also change each
user’s permissions so that upon logging in, that user can only see
those functions, locations, and/or tenants that he or she has been
permitted to view. (return to top)
What is Microsoft SQL Server™ and why is it running on my computer
when I use the program?
Microsoft’s SQL Database Server is a database engine installed in
many different programs to hold the data that is used by the
program. Storage Sidekick uses Microsoft SQL Server Express 2005, which
is a free and distributable version of this database engine. SQL
Server is part of the Storage Sidekick installation and you do
not have to purchase it, nor do you have to download it separately.
This feature of Storage Sidekick allows for very fast access to
virtually unlimited amounts of data. All Storage Sidekick
data is stored in the Microsoft SQL Server folder on your computer.
If you delete the SQL Server program and its folders, your data will
be lost. (return to top)
Where is my data kept?
All data is kept by default in the Microsoft SQL Server™ database,
which is installed on your computer with the Storage Sidekick program.
You can find the automatic data backups by opening the Microsoft SQL
Server™ folder in the Program Files folder on your hard drive. Open
the folders called MSSQL. Data backups should be in the folder
called Backup, unless you have manually saved them elsewhere.
Please remember that your data is not located here at Storage Sidekick
headquarters
and it is not stored on the Internet. It only resides on your
computer and on any external backup devices on which you have saved
your data. In case of a hard drive failure, flood, fire, or other
computer catastrophe, we recommend frequent backups to multiple
external memory devices to ensure against total data loss. You can
also e-mail a database to yourself to add an extra measure of
external data storage. (return to top)
Do you have a version of Storage Sidekick that is compatible with a
Mac®?
Storage Sidekick is a Windows-based program only. We do not have a
version available for Macs®. (return to top)
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