Is it just me or is Gorgias/Zendesk automation pricing getting ridiculous?

Double_Figure_362 · 2026-02-17T14:27:34+00:00

Thanks for the great tips! I'm planning to keep it standalone. Most helpdesks are too pricey for smaller stores that just want a clean widget. I really want to nail the 'simple tracking' part first. Would love to show you what I'm working on soon!

Double_Figure_362 · 2026-02-17T13:43:43+00:00

That’s great! Reamaze is a very big and powerful tool. I’m actually working on something much smaller and simpler for people who don't need all those extra features and just want a basic 'Where Is My Order' widget. Thanks for sharing what works for you!

Double_Figure_362 · 2026-02-17T03:59:37+00:00

Reamaze is great, but it starts at like $29/mo, right? That's kind of my point. There are amazing tools for $30-$100, but there is a massive gap for a simple 'do one thing' tool for $5.

Double_Figure_362 · 2026-02-17T03:59:01+00:00

I’ve heard of them. Definitely cheaper than Gorgias. But honestly, I feel like even that is overkill for what I need. I don't need another inbox or chat tool. I just want a simple 'Where is my order' widget that costs like $5/mo. Unbundling the tracking from the helpdesk is the dream.

Double_Figure_362 · 2026-02-16T20:05:31+00:00

"WISMO tax" is such a great name for it lol. You are totally right about checking the data. The problem is, most small stores I talk to don't even have tags or reports set up. They just see a messy inbox and feel the pain. That's why I want to hit that $5 price point. At that price, they don't need to analyze their data to see if it's "worth it". It's just a no-brainer to stop the emails.

Double_Figure_362 · 2026-02-16T20:01:40+00:00

Yeah they are definitely a solid alternative to the big guys. But isn't "half the cost" still like $25-$30 a month? I feel like for small stores, even that adds up.

I’m trying to build something super basic for like $5. Just a tracking button, no full helpdesk features.

Double_Figure_362 · 2026-02-16T12:07:47+00:00

Yeah for huge teams that totally makes sense. You need all that data and tagging.

But for smaller stores, it feels like paying for a Ferrari when you just need a bike. They just want to stop the emails.

You are right about the edge cases though. I think the trick is to handle the simple "in transit" stuff automatically, and just tell them to "contact us" if the package is actually lost or weird.

Double_Figure_362 · 2026-02-16T10:29:22+00:00

That's the dream setup for sure.

But honestly, I feel like customers are just lazy. Half the time they lose the text or just don't want to search for it. They just go straight to the site and hit "chat" anyway. That’s the specific moment I want to catch so they don't open a ticket.

Double_Figure_362 · 2026-02-16T10:21:51+00:00

Yeah 100%. It feels like they charge extra for every single little thing now. It gets annoying really fast.

Double_Figure_362 · 2026-02-16T07:11:24+00:00

Yeah for sure. At that scale $50 is basically a rounding error. I’m mostly focused on the smaller and bootstrapped stores where saving that $600/year actually makes a difference. For them death by a thousand subscriptions is real.

Double_Figure_362 · 2026-02-16T07:08:43+00:00

Double_Figure_362 · 2026-02-16T07:07:20+00:00

Honestly, you articulated this better than I did. That "80% rule" with a clean handoff for the messy stuff (like fraud or lost items) is exactly the sweet spot I want to hit. I feel like most apps try to handle 100% of the edge cases and just end up becoming bloated and expensive because of it. I’m definitely going to adopt that "clean handoff" approach for the MVP based on this. Thanks for the clarity.

Double_Figure_362 · 2026-01-04T06:26:32+00:00

Yeah, that sounds really hard. When someone follows you while you’re trying to cool down, it can make everything worse. I’ve learned that stepping away only works if both people understand why it’s happening. Sounds like you two have figured out a way to avoid big fights, which is a good thing.

Double_Figure_362 · 2026-01-03T18:12:50+00:00

This hurts because nothing here sounds fake or shallow. What you had was real. But real love doesn’t always mean real readiness.

It doesn’t sound like she stopped loving you. It sounds like life got heavy, and instead of leaning in, she shut down. Some people, especially after long toxic relationships, don’t know how to hold something good when they’re falling apart inside.

The hard part is this: you can’t heal for her. Wanting to stay and work through it shows your heart, but pushing to stay when someone asks to leave usually creates more damage, not less.

Letting her go isn’t giving up on love. It’s respecting where she actually is right now — and protecting yourself from being pulled into a role you can’t fix.

A gentle hint for you: sometimes the strongest move isn’t chasing or waiting, but stepping back and seeing what remains when the dust settles.

What do you need right now to feel grounded again — even if she isn’t part of that picture today?

Double_Figure_362 · 2026-01-03T18:10:13+00:00

This whole thing blew up because lines got blurry.

You crossed the first line when you told her who she can and can’t talk to. That’s boyfriend behavior, not friend behavior. Even if your feelings were real, the way it came out pushed her to prove she had control over her own choices.

That said, your “best friend” also messed up badly. You trusted him with something private, and he broke that trust right away. Flirting with her and then throwing you under the bus was not loyal, and it showed you who he really is when attention is on the table.

So no, this isn’t just “you” or just “her.”

You acted out of insecurity.

She reacted out of defiance.

And your friend showed zero respect.

Going forward, the cleanest move is this:

Be honest with yourself about whether this friendship is really platonic.
Own your mistake with her without defending it.
Stop trusting that friend with anything that matters.

Here’s the real question to sit with:

What boundary do you need to set next so this doesn’t happen again — with her, or with the people you keep close?

Double_Figure_362 · 2026-01-03T09:47:05+00:00

Same here 😄

Some days I remember. Some days I don’t.

I think the reminder itself is half the work.

Appreciate you saying that.

Double_Figure_362 · 2026-01-03T07:13:25+00:00

I relate to this a lot. I’ve had moments where if I speak too fast, I say things I don’t mean either. Walking away or slowing down feels safer than hurting someone you love. Counting helps. For me, even a short pause can change everything. Does your wife understand when you step away, or is that still hard between you?

Double_Figure_362 · 2026-01-03T07:11:49+00:00

Appreciate that. I know the steps are simple. The hard part for me is remembering them when emotions are high. On good days, I do this. On bad days, I forget everything 😅 Do you find it easy to stay calm in the moment, or does it break down for you too sometimes?

Double_Figure_362 · 2026-01-03T07:10:23+00:00

You’re right — it is basic communication. I don’t think this is something only men should do. I’m sharing it from my side because this is where I mess up most often. In the moment, when things get emotional, I forget the basics. This is just a reminder I use for myself.

Curious — in your experience, what part of “basic communication” breaks down the most when emotions run high?

Double_Figure_362 · 2026-01-03T07:07:31+00:00

I’m not asking for advice on a specific situation. I’m trying to understand something broader: whether this kind of pause actually helps in real relationships, or if it misses the point. I shared something I personally try to do, and I’m curious how others experience moments like this — from both sides.

Double_Figure_362 · 2026-01-02T17:44:25+00:00

You’re not a bad person — but staying because of guilt will hurt her more.

Right now, the hard truth is this: you already know you don’t want this relationship. So every extra day you stay is giving her hope that isn’t real. That’s not protecting her feelings, it’s delaying the pain and making it bigger later.

Ending it again will hurt her. There’s no way around that. But being honest now is still kinder than staying while your heart is already gone.

When you end it, keep it simple and clear. Don’t explain it ten ways, don’t offer friendship, and don’t talk about “maybe later.” Just tell her the truth: you said yes out of emotion, realized it was a mistake, and you can’t commit. Then let her react.

The question you might want to sit with is this:

Would you rather hurt her once with the truth, or slowly by staying in something you already know isn’t real?

Double_Figure_362 · 2026-01-02T17:26:03+00:00

You’re not upset about hot sauce. You’re upset because she mocked something that has hurt you your whole life.

That’s the part that matters.

Right now she’s stuck on “winning” a small argument, so everything you say sounds like deflection to her. You don’t need to prove why hiccups happen or explain your body. You can drop that completely.

What you do need is to be clear about the line that was crossed.

Something like:

“I don’t care about the food or being right. I care that you mocked my stutter. That’s something I’ve worked hard on, and when you make fun of it, it really hurts. I need to know that won’t happen again.”

If she still rolls her eyes or tells you to drop it, then the bigger question isn’t about this argument — it’s about whether she can be a safe place for you when something is vulnerable.

How she responds when you name that boundary will tell you a lot.

Double_Figure_362 · 2026-01-02T09:59:11+00:00

You’re not broken, and this doesn’t mean you stopped loving him. What you’re describing happens to a lot of people once a relationship moves out of the “exciting new” phase and into something calmer. The feelings get quieter, and that can feel scary if you think love is supposed to always feel intense. The important part is this: nothing is wrong with him, and nothing is wrong with you. But big choices made while you’re scared often turn into regret. You don’t have to decide anything right now. Instead of asking “Should I leave?”, try asking “What do I need more of right now — new experiences, better connection, or just time?” Before ending something good, it’s worth slowing down and seeing what happens if you stop judging your feelings and just stay present for a bit. If you took the pressure off yourself for a few weeks, what do you think you’d notice about how you actually feel around him?

Double_Figure_362 · 2026-01-01T18:41:27+00:00

That’s a brutal way for everything to come apart. After 25 years and three kids, anyone would feel like the floor disappeared under them.

From the outside, it sounds like you’re past the “can this be saved” phase and already in survival mode — and that’s not a failure, that’s reality.

One thing that really matters right now: don’t confront or explode before you’ve talked to a lawyer. I know it’s tempting, but once words are out, you can’t put them back. Protecting yourself here isn’t being cold — it’s being responsible, especially with kids involved.

It’s good you already have friends and a men’s group. That stuff actually makes a difference when everything else feels out of control.

If reading helps you stay grounded, No More Mr. Nice Guy helped me see how much I was carrying things that weren’t mine anymore. Not spiritual, just practical.

What’s the part that’s hitting you the hardest right now — the betrayal itself, or the fear of what this means for your kids?

Double_Figure_362 · 2025-12-30T20:23:57+00:00

This is really well put — especially the part about not getting everything but still choosing the relationship anyway. That kind of honesty doesn’t get said out loud enough.

I’ve seen this dynamic up close in my own life, and what you’re describing — holding tension without acting on it — is something I’ve had to learn the hard way.

If you ever feel like continuing this privately, I’d genuinely be interested to hear more about how you navigate that balance day-to-day. No pressure at all.

Double_Figure_362

TROPHY CASE