Title: Alternatives for Support Last modified: August 20, 2016 --- # Alternatives for Support * [Orbit Storm](https://wordpress.org/support/users/orbit-storm/) * (@orbit-storm) * [14 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/alternatives-for-support/) * Out of curiosity, are there any other alternatives to seeking support for WordPress? * I’ve spent a considerable amount of time attempting to fix an issue with my WP site, and ended up resorting to posting about it in the Support forum. The turnaround for support seems to be atrociously high, and most threads are nitpicked through and I’ve seen dozens that were bluntly overlooked/ignored (kinda like mine). * It seems silly that a company would only provide support for its product via forums and consider that to be an acceptable form of support. * This isn’t a rant, just an inquiry into support options. Personally, I’d sooner find a more legitimate software provider, but my current web host doesn’t provide many alternatives, thus I’m stuck with WP – and the exorbitantly long waits for some semblance of community-based support. Viewing 13 replies - 1 through 13 (of 13 total) * [esmi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/esmi/) * (@esmi) * [14 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/alternatives-for-support/#post-2616153) * WordPress is free software and this is a free, volunteer staffed forum. From what I can see, you’ve only posted one other question – 7 hours before this one( not counting the post that you yourself closed). Forum volunteers do answer as many questions as they can but if you require a more professional level of support, try [hiring someone](http://jobs.wordpress.net/). * [Michael](https://wordpress.org/support/users/alchymyth/) * (@alchymyth) * [14 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/alternatives-for-support/#post-2616160) * [@esmi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/esmi/): I closed the ‘excess’ topic as the user opted to create a new one with the same formatting issue. * help with fundamental formatting is not within the scope of this WordPress forum– even if it occurs within a WordPress site. * there are other forums that deal with html and css. * [esmi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/esmi/) * (@esmi) * [14 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/alternatives-for-support/#post-2616179) * [@alchymyth](https://wordpress.org/support/users/alchymyth/): My bad but since the OP did post: * > Please disregard this post […]I’ll be creating a NEW post * it still shouldn’t count as an “unanswered topic”. Which still leaves only a single topic that hasn’t been answered… yet. Not bad going for a free forum. 🙂 * Thread Starter [Orbit Storm](https://wordpress.org/support/users/orbit-storm/) * (@orbit-storm) * [14 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/alternatives-for-support/#post-2616214) * I actually use a separate username as well, for the sake of keeping the anonymity between this one and the other one secure. That’s not due to issues here on WP, it’s so that I can retain my anonymity as the Owner of my gaming server’s site. 😉 * Either way, as I’ve said, most threads are overlooked, while others are handled fairly quickly and end up burying older topics. The idea of “first come, first server” is evidently long lost. * I already acknowledged that this is a community-based support forum, thus why I asked if there are alternatives, because several of my threads (and not just the one under this username) have gone unanswered. The ones that _were_ handled, were done so quickly and professionally and I’m thankful for that. * [esmi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/esmi/) * (@esmi) * [14 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/alternatives-for-support/#post-2616221) * > most threads are overlooked, while others are handled fairly quickly * I disagree. People answer what they can answer. In my experience, the most commonly unanswered questions are those that are plugin specific and require the attention of the plugin’s developer. Not a lot we can do about that. * > and end up burying older topics. The idea of “first come, first server” is > evidently long lost. * If you look at the top right of any forum page and you’ll see a “No Replies” link. Any post that has not received at least 1 reply within 2 hours ends up on that list. Forum regulars check that list as often as they can – picking up any topics that they can contribute to. * If you want to look for other WordPress support resources, Google should be able to help. * Moderator [Jan Dembowski](https://wordpress.org/support/users/jdembowski/) * (@jdembowski) * Forum Moderator and Brute Squad * [14 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/alternatives-for-support/#post-2616223) * > If you look at the top right of any forum page and you’ll see a “No Replies” > link. * Actually, for most users it’s at the bottom of `http://wordpress.org/support/` or just this link `http://wordpress.org/support/view/no-replies`… * More to the point on this topic, Esmi’s right and people answer what they can answer. Many of us _do_ use the no-replies link and even go back days for finding something that’s not answered that we can assist on. * Thread Starter [Orbit Storm](https://wordpress.org/support/users/orbit-storm/) * (@orbit-storm) * [14 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/alternatives-for-support/#post-2616224) * > help with fundamental formatting is not within the scope of this WordPress > forum – even if it occurs within a WordPress site. * After rereading this, I’m honestly baffled. The theme is _for_ WordPress, and for use _only_ on WordPress. That’s equivalent to Samsung not providing support for their cellphones, because you chose to purchase yours at a local WalMart and not an “official” Samsung store at a mall 50+ miles away. * I honestly can’t wrap my mind around such an asinine concept. It’s well that WordPress is free software, because a business model such as that would never succeed. * I’ll leave my thread open, but it’s unlikely I’ll receive any form of support, as it’s already been nearly 24 hours. * And yes, I’m well aware that Google should help – I’m a bit more pragmatic than you’re inferring. I can seek support with a third-party site, but most places redirect you to the software provider’s site. * If anything can be taken from this thread, it’s that WordPress should consider providing a more legitimate form of support, rather than expecting the end-user to be on a level comparable to the upper tier of the community. A lot of folks have less experience with CSS than I do, which I can only imagine the lack of support _they_ receive. * [Rev. Voodoo](https://wordpress.org/support/users/rvoodoo/) * (@rvoodoo) * [14 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/alternatives-for-support/#post-2616225) * > That’s equivalent to Samsung not providing support for their cellphones, because > you chose to purchase yours at a local WalMart * No, it would be akin to Samsung not supporting a 3rd party theme that you bought from the Android market… which they don’t. Or akin to them not supporting a poorly coded app, which they don’t. Samsung will replace your phone if it’s broken… which, you can download WP for free again if it’s broken. * > WordPress should consider providing a more legitimate form of support, * Who would pay for this? They obviously can’t force people to volunteer….. we all do what we can, that’s the best it can get * [esmi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/esmi/) * (@esmi) * [14 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/alternatives-for-support/#post-2616226) * > The theme is for WordPress, and for use only on WordPress.. * And that’s your reasoning? Drop me a line. I’ll give you a theme that can bring your otherwise perfect WordPress site down in less than a second. Is that the fault of WordPress or me as the theme’s developer? * > WordPress should consider providing a more legitimate form of support * Then try [hiring someone](http://jobs.wordpress.net/). * Thread Starter [Orbit Storm](https://wordpress.org/support/users/orbit-storm/) * (@orbit-storm) * [14 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/alternatives-for-support/#post-2616234) * What I’ve gathered from responses thus far is: * – WordPress is essentially “perfect” – Theme support is not provided, despite WP having default themes – Community-based support is provided on the level of“ if they feel like it” – My options are to await an unlikely response, or * > try hiring someone * for a product that has been stressed as being “free”. * Look around the “interwebz”, 90% of the software out there provides support for anything that utilizes their software. Let’s use SMF for example – there are literally thousands of third-party-produced mods for SMF, all of which are supported meticulously due to the mod _using_ the SMF software. * The responses I’ve received in this thread alone, would be enough to turn anyone away from requesting support. Being directed to utilize third-party sites in an effort to obtain support for WP-based themes, is beyond foolish. Evidently, the WP package doesn’t come with a theme, it just miraculously appears, and when it does, your support options vanish. * My responses are no longer geared toward the slow turnaround for support, more so that I’m being told to “hire” someone or seek third-party assistance for something so simple. It’s naive, and arrogant. * [esmi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/esmi/) * (@esmi) * [14 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/alternatives-for-support/#post-2616236) * > all of which are supported meticulously due to the mod using the SMF software. * As a long time SMF user, I can assure you that this is not the case at all. Many mods are not maintained at all. There is little support for them (despite the fact that may require line-by-line code changes) and SMF themselves do not unilaterally support all mods – leaving that to the individual mod developers. * > It’s naive, and arrogant. * So is complaining about the level of free support for your free software. * Thread Starter [Orbit Storm](https://wordpress.org/support/users/orbit-storm/) * (@orbit-storm) * [14 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/alternatives-for-support/#post-2616238) * Virtually all mods have their own support thread, and even if you’re unable to obtain support via that thread, opening a new thread requesting support doesn’t earn you “hire someone” or “go elsewhere” douchebaggery. * SMF provides an area for support for just about everything involving SMF, including mods, which are no different than themes here on WordPress. I’ve yet to see a single post on SMF with the sort of ignorant responses I’ve seen here. * And this isn’t a complaint, it’s an observation. Naivety would be classified by posting insinuations without bothering to read the OP. * [esmi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/esmi/) * (@esmi) * [14 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/alternatives-for-support/#post-2616239) * I think we’ve now had quite enough of your comments. If you do not like the level of support here, please feel free to go elsewhere. Viewing 13 replies - 1 through 13 (of 13 total) The topic ‘Alternatives for Support’ is closed to new replies. * In: [Everything else WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/miscellaneous/) * 13 replies * 5 participants * Last reply from: [esmi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/esmi/) * Last activity: [14 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/alternatives-for-support/#post-2616239) * Status: not a support question ## Topics ### Topics with no replies ### Non-support topics ### Resolved topics ### Unresolved topics ### All topics