[Michlib-l] Vendor Update/Closure: PLYMOUTH ROCKET

[Jim Flury]

Good Morning, 

If your library subscribes to one or more of the Plymouth Rocket products, it is likely you have already received a copy of the below, form email from Ric Bailey. Nevertheless, I thought I would share it with the wider MI library world, as from 2012 to June, 2023 the Michigan Activity Pass program ran on Plymouth Rocket's TixKeeper software platform. More common in libraries was EventKeeper, a Plymouth Rocket calendar/room reservation program which was discontinued October 31, 2024. 

Nobody would ever use the terms "cutting edge software" and "Plymouth Rocket" together in the same sentence. Plymouth Rocket software was the very definition of utilitarian/basic. But it (mostly) worked. 

When Macy's pulled its financial support for the 100% paper based Museum Adventure Pass (MAP) program, and I proposed to then TLN Executive Director Jim Pletz that we convert MAP to an all online program, Plymouth Rocket's TixKeeper software was our only affordable option. Ric Bailey worked diligently with TLN to make the TixKeeper software the best experience it could be for patrons and library staff. While that didn't always translate into ideal, from my perspective it is a fair statement that our current MAP program and the LocalHop software platform on which it runs, which we enjoy using and promoting to MI library patrons today, would not have been possible without the Plymouth Rocket TixKeeper software of yesteryear. 

Jim 

Jim Flury 
Technical Services Manager 
The Library Network 
41365 Vincenti Court 
Novi, MI 48375 
248-536-3100, ext 133 
Note New Fax Number: 248-716-5584 
Note New Email Address:jflury at tln.org 


From: "no reply" <no_reply at plymouthrocket.com> 
To: "Jim Flury" <jflury at tln.lib.mi.us> 
Sent: Tuesday, November 19, 2024 6:29:14 PM 
Subject: PLYMOUTH ROCKET UPDATE 

TO: Jim Flury 
I am very, very sorry to tell you that after almost 25 years in business, Plymouth Rocket is forced to shut down operations effective December 31, 2024. This unfortunate result is due to the unexpected difficulties recently experienced by Plymouth Rocket. The company that provided hosting of Plymouth Rocket’s servers for more than 20 years, servers that are critical to the operation of Plymouth Rocket’s software, decided to close their Baltimore location, where our servers were located. This forced us to select a new service provider. This move turned out to be unexpectedly complex and introduced significant incompatibilities with the Plymouth Rocket software that were more extensive than expected. 

I understand and deeply regret any disruption in your operations. I understand you will need to replace the Plymouth Rocket software in your operations and, to this end, Plymouth Rocket is making your data on our servers available for you to download. A link to instructions for downloading your data is available below. 

PLEASE NOTE THAT PLYMOUTH ROCKET DEEPLY REGRETS THAT IT LACKS THE FUNDS TO GRANT REFUNDS TO ITS CUSTOMERS. 

PLYMOUTH ROCKET’S SERVERS WILL ONLY BE AVAILABLE UNTIL DECEMBER 31, 2024. YOU WILL BE ABLE TO DOWNLOAD YOUR DATA FROM THOSE SERVERS UNTIL THAT DATE. NO DOWNLOADS WILL BE POSSIBLE AFTER THAT DATE. ALL DATA ON THE SERVERS WILL BE DESTROYED AND UNAVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD AFTER DECEMBER 31, 2024. 


Plymouth Rocket has retained Jeffrey D. Sternklar, Esq. in connection with its termination of operations. Mr. Sternklar’s contact information is as follows: 

19th Floor 
101 Federal Street 
Boston, MA 02110 
617-207-7800 
jeffrey at sternklarlaw.com 

Please feel free to have your counsel call Mr. Sternklar directly if you have any legal questions about Plymouth Rocket’s shutdown. Please do not call Mr. Sternklar about a refund - unfortunately, none will be forthcoming. You may also email Mr. Bailey directly if you have any non-legal and non-refund questions. 

All of us at Plymouth Rocket wish you the best going forward. 

Best regards, 

Ric Bailey 
President, Plymouth Rocket, Inc. 
rbailey at plymouthrocket.com 

[ https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.plymouthrocketxb.com_shutdown_download.cfm&d=DwMFaQ&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=VZwzE-ihmVk8MWnuOKeBhdzjlCVxa_pma10LdYu6QtI&m=TddQIk9I46njst7GaQx3fMcB2xOsOknPobmsVgDkKZyvYh_myDo8ROY7zJ9pw2VL&s=ZxTo5ty-bd13RUemz0ph_NtnpZbQTy18RZzxWejRfs8&e= | Download Instructions ] 



2024.11.19.15:05 
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