The ProForma Panic of 2008:
Yahoo! Store changes form submission…
and why you should care

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We told you keeping up with Yahoo! was a full-time job. (More like 24/7, actually.)

Today, 1/25/2008, Yahoo! Small Business Group announced a security enhancement to the Yahoo! Stores platform that modifies the script associated with Yahoo! store form submission.

Most online merchants use ProForma every day—whenever they receive a form email from shoppers through their contact page, newsletter sign up, or quote request feature. With this update, Yahoo! prevents hackers from subverting your forms for their own dark purposes.

When this hit our in-box last night, we knew this was You Need to Know worthy. Yahoo! noted in the developer email we received that “certain merchants” would be affected, but all of us wondered, “Is there a store out there that’s NOT affected?” Who doesn’t have a “Contact us!” page?!

We told you this was big.

Don’t worry. We have a plan:

DON'T WAIT!

Customer communication is essential to your business and shopper perception of your store. You cannot afford to not have form submission working. We can't stand to see any Yahoo! merchant affected for even a day.

In the hands of experienced Yahoo! developers, this is not a big deal. We've got the training and know where the bodies are buried. One call and with your approval, you'll forget this was a problem.

FastPivot is already working on its retainer customers and scheduling its recently launched customers. We will take requests in the order received and distribute them across the team to keep things moving. For form-driven merchants (you know who you are), please call us as soon as possible to avoid any interruption to your operations.

No store left behind! Please check your forms and call us if we can help!


GETTING PAST PROFORMA
by FastPivot

Step 1: Check your email. Did you (and your site development team) get an email from the Yahoo! Small Business Group about the ProForma update? If so, good. If not, call your Yahoo! rep and get that oversight handled. Then put that email where you can find it.

Step 2: Look at your forms. Do you use:

  • Contact Us?
  • Email a Friend?
  • Newsletter Signups?

Pretty much anything that captures information in fields, asks the shopper to hit submit, and comes to you as a form email is affected. Without updates on your side, you may find that you don’t receive important information from your shoppers that needs your action or response.

Step 3: Breathe. Wonder why there’s nothing on the Yahoo! Stores blog yet (as of 1/25, 3:30pt).

Step 4: Consider your options.

  • If you are a FastPivot retainer client:
    Your site will receive a complimentary update by FastPivot automatically.
  • If you are a past FastPivot client with a site less than 90 days old:
    Your site will receive a complimentary update by FastPivot automatically.
  • If you are a past FastPivot client with a site more than 90 days old: We can help.
         - Please click here for Yahoo! DIY support. Please note that if things don’t go smoothly, you’ll possibly not only lose data, you’ll end up spending more to fix the problem.

          - Know you need help? Contact us - We’ll contact you within one (1) business day and schedule a site update.

Step 4a: Cost? You have a choice:
  • ProForma form fix only: $40*.
  • ProForma form fix and site coding eval: $120* While we’re there, we might as well make sure nothing looks like it’s going to break.
  • If you are not FastPivot client. We’d like to offer you the 90+ option for $50* and $150*, respectively.

Step 5: Contact us. If you’re not sure you’re affected, if you want to make sure your fix is scheduled, if you want someone to yell at…we’re here.

*Assumes that form update does not require additional programming due to additional store issues.