Keeping In Touch

At MasterLink Software, we want to hear from you.  Hopefully, you  will be able to run The Auto Shop Writer without any further assistance.  However, we are sure you have some great ideas to improve this  product, and to make your life easier.  Perhaps you have a great dealer, and want us to know how much you appreciate that person.  Perhaps you don't like the way something operates.  In all cases, we  would like to hear.  These are the ways to communicate with MasterLink Software.          

Telephone Calls For Support

The telephone number for technical support is (949) 589-3186.  When  you call, please be advised that you will be billed at the rate of  $2/minute, with a $20 minimum charge per call.  You may provide the technician with a MasterCard or VISA number for billing purposes.

Support agreements are available, and those who participate in The Developer's Partnership Program to receive updates also may obtain technical support at no charge.

MasterLink Software never charges for problems related to a software  "bug."  What frustrates you, or doesn't work the way you expect it  to, does not constitute a bug.  Instead, the pesky critters include  incorrect formulas, screen display errors, and system halts due to  incorrect code.  Bugs are fixed, and updates are available to Auto  Shop Writer users at no charge!

MasterLink Software can link to your computer, and do an evaluation  of your problem, if you are using remote control software, and have  a properly installed modem.  MasterLink utilizes PC Anywhere32 for Windows!    You must have the program installed and running in Host mode.   The best performance is obtained if you have a high speed internet connection.    

Using the Internet

MasterLink Software has a tremendous presence on the Internet.  We use email, FTP file download capability, electronic updating, user chat groups, and our own technical support newsgroups.  You can find out about all of these services by visiting the Support section at www.mstrlink.com

Your program has two "instant connect" buttons. The first button will automatically connect you to our user group.  You can post messages there for response from our tech support department, and other users.  This is the proper place to submit your views about features that should be included in the software, and to discuss business principles.

The other button will start a private email message to our support department.  Simply fill in the subject, the details, and press the send button.  This is the most appropriate method for obtaining personal support on issues that you feel are not relevant to the group.

Both of these options require you to have an internet connection already installed on your computer.

In addition, MasterLink Software has a forum at www.masterlinksoftware.com which is used for posting questions in a variety of topic areas.  It is very well organized, and it an excellent resource to check for answers before making a call to tech support.

FAX Messages

The MasterLink Software FAX is always ready to receive your  transmissions at (949) 589-3185.  It is very helpful to see  the printouts with which you are experiencing difficulty.  This helps  us to assist you in the fastest way possible.            

Writing Letters

We love letters.  They are far preferable to phone calls because we  can read them, and

review them, until we implement what is stated.  We want you to give us input.  No product is

ever perfect.  We do  not generally write back specific responses, but we incorporate the

questions asked into our quarterly newsletter.  If you are unclear  about something, the odds are that 100 other users may have the same  question.  This way we share with everyone.

Letters should include specific examples whenever possible.  If you  want to see a new section added to the program, send diagrams,  suggested screen layouts, etc. We want your input - please !

All correspondence should be addressed to:      

MasterLink Software,      

P.O. Box 740

Trabuco Canyon, CA 92678

MasterLink News

MasterLink Software occasionally publishes a newsletter, with  articles about shop management, our client's, and of course, The Auto Shop Writer.  Guest articles are highly desirable, and may be  submitted by anyone for publication consideration.

More frequently,  you will find Articles of interest on our web site at  www.MasterLinkSoftware.com.   When you began your business, you had special ideas, plans, or a vision that would make your shop successful.  Your colleagues also  had similar visions. However, our success corporately (meaning all  of the shops in the repair profession) is based on quality work by  many people.  Consequently, sharing your ideas does not give  advantage to others, but realistically sets a higher level of  professionalism by which the repair industry will be viewed, and  judged.  Many good people have spent years enhancing the image of  technicians and repair facilities.  Please feel free to use the  MasterLink news to communicate with, and enhance, your colleagues in  a manner which assists everyone.  Articles should focus on a single main idea. Although you may have  several points to make, it might be best to have a series of  articles rather than placing all of them in one shot.  It is  helpful, but not required, to have the articles submitted on disk.  If they are written with a word processor, they can be uploaded via email to support@mstrlink.com, and will be reviewed.  In some newsletters we may desire  to follow a central theme, and will hold your article for later  publication.

If you have a special supplemental service that you can provide to other shop managers, please let us know.  We would like to grow the  MasterLink family, and your input will certainly assist us with this  goal.