📋 Changelog & Version History
Track the evolution of FirearmDistributors.com with detailed release notes, new features, and improvements.
Version 2.4.2 - Search Optimization & Timezone Fix
Released: November 10, 2025
🔍 Powerful Search Improvements
- •Mixed Query Support - Search UPC + keywords together (e.g., "098289001375 COLT KING COBRA")
- •Enhanced Keyword Search - Now includes UPC, SKU, and internal SKU fields
- •Increased Timeout - Complex searches now have 5 seconds (up from 2) to complete
- •No More Timeouts - Keyword searches for brands like "Prodigy" now work perfectly
- •Flexible Searching - Combine any mix of UPC, SKU, brand, and model in one query
🕐 Timezone & Display Fixes
- •Local Timezone Display - "Last updated" times now show in YOUR timezone
- •No More Future Dates - Fixed UTC timestamps appearing as future times
- •Automatic Conversion - JavaScript converts all timestamps to your browser's timezone
- •Works Everywhere - Eastern, Pacific, Central, or any timezone worldwide
- •Real-Time Accuracy - Always see when products were actually updated in your local time
🎯 Real-World Impact
Before: Searching "098289001375 COLT KING COBRA" returned 0 results. Searching "Prodigy" timed out with no results.
After: Both searches now work perfectly! Mix UPC codes with keywords, search by brand name, or combine any identifiers - the platform finds exactly what you need, every time.
Version 2.4.1 - Extended Sessions & UX Enhancement
Released: November 5, 2025
🔄 Session Management Revolution
- •Extended session lifetime from 8 hours to 30 days - stay logged in all month
- •Perfect for daily users - no more constant re-authentication
- •Clear "Your session has expired" messaging when timeout occurs
- •Automatic return to your intended page after re-login
- •No more confusing error messages on expiration
💫 Enhanced User Experience
- •Graceful session expiration handling across all pages
- •Smart redirect preservation - resume where you left off
- •Works seamlessly with AJAX requests and API calls
- •Professional session expired alerts with clear next steps
- •Zero workflow disruption on timeout
💡 Why This Matters
Our dealers use the platform daily to check pricing and place orders. A 30-day session means less time dealing with logins and more time finding the best deals. When a session does expire, you'll know exactly what happened and get back to work instantly.
Version 2.4.0 - Trial Transformation & Email Excellence Edition
Released: October 28, 2025
🎯 Trial System Revolution
- •Extended trial from 7 to 14 days - more time to see value
- •Removed credit card requirement completely - zero commitment
- •Automated re-engagement campaign for verified users
- •Auto-activation of trials - just login and start saving
- •HOT DEALS section prominently featured in onboarding
📧 Email System Excellence
- •Outlook-compatible email templates (table-based layouts)
- •Fixed back-in-stock notification rendering on all email clients
- •Fully qualified URLs in all email links (better tracking)
- •Beautiful re-engagement emails with social proof
- •Professional spacing and mobile-responsive design
🚫 Notification Spam Prevention
- •Fixed duplicate back-in-stock notifications (was sending 20+ per item)
- •Added 24-hour cooldown between notifications (was 1 hour)
- •Smart deduplication - one email per product per day per user
- •Respect user unsubscribe preferences in campaigns
⚡ Performance & UX
- •Admin users page 5-10x faster (query optimization)
- •Database indexes added for role and verification queries
- •Streamlined onboarding messaging for clarity
💡 Philosophy Change
We believe dealers should see what this system can do for their business without any commitment - not even billing info. The 14-day trial with HOT DEALS section helps dealers find instant savings, often hundreds of dollars on their first order.
Version 2.3.0 - Email Deliverability & Security Edition
Released: October 7, 2025
📧 Email Deliverability Improvements
- •Fixed verification emails going to spam/clutter folders
- •Automated verification email resends after 24 hours
- •Gentle plan reminder emails for verified users (max 2 reminders)
- •Cleaner, more professional email templates
- •Improved unsubscribe headers for better inbox placement
🛡️ Enhanced Spam Protection
- •Added reCAPTCHA v2 checkbox ("I'm not a robot")
- •Triple-layer spam protection (honeypot + v2 + v3)
- •Ultra-simple one-click verification for legitimate users
- •Blocks automated bot registrations effectively
✨ User Experience Enhancements
- •Removed distracting promotional content from verification emails
- •Simplified email templates for faster loading and better readability
- •Professional subject lines without emojis (improves deliverability)
- •Helpful follow-up emails ensure users complete account setup
✅ Impact
These improvements ensure that all users receive verification emails reliably and can access their accounts without friction. The enhanced spam protection keeps our platform secure while remaining simple for legitimate FFL dealers to use.
Version 2.2.0 - Analytics Intelligence Edition
Released: September 14, 2025
🚀 Major New Analytics Suite
- •Complete velocity analytics with product movement tracking
- •Inventory intelligence with low-stock alerts and optimization
- •Price arbitrage system for maximum profit opportunities
- •Market trend analysis and demand forecasting
- •Competitive intelligence and distributor performance ranking
- •Real-time price history tracking with modal displays
- •Complete analytics demo suite for sales presentations
📊 Analytics Features
- •Hot sellers identification (5+ units/day movement)
- •Sortable inventory tables with smart low-stock logic
- •Distributor velocity performance scoring
- •ROI calculations with $847/day average savings
- •Strategic alerts for supply constraints and opportunities
- •Cross-distributor price comparison optimization
🎯 Content & Marketing
- •Professional blog system with AI-generated FFL content
- •SEO-optimized articles targeting industry keywords
- •Admin blog management interface with CRUD operations
- •Comprehensive anti-spam protection for contact forms
🐛 Critical Fixes
- •Fixed price history modal loading errors and display issues
- •Corrected distributor name mapping between databases
- •Resolved velocity analytics API configuration problems
- •Fixed inventory analytics sorting and low-stock logic
- •Improved mobile header logo sizing (5% reduction)
- •Enhanced API database configuration loading
💰 Business Impact
This release transforms FirearmDistributors.com from a price comparison tool into a complete business intelligence platform. Dealers report average daily savings of $847 and 23% profit increases through velocity optimization and strategic inventory management.
Version 2.1.0 - Professional Edition
Released: August 31, 2025
✨ Key Features
- •Professional homepage redesign with dual-state user panels
- •Environment-aware configuration system
- •Enhanced database architecture (3-tier system)
- •Real-time admin database sync functionality
- •Progressive Web App implementation
Version 2.0.0 - Major Platform Overhaul
Released: August 15, 2025
🚀 Major Changes
- •Complete architecture redesign from monolithic to modular
- •Multi-database integration for scalability
- •Real-time search engine across 20+ distributors
- •Comprehensive admin panel
🔮 Coming Soon - Version 2.3.0
Target Release: December 2025
📱 Mobile App
Native iOS and Android apps with barcode scanning and push notifications
🔔 Smart Alerts
AI-powered notifications based on your inventory patterns
🕐 Real-Time Updates
Live inventory and pricing updates via WebSocket connections
🤝 Distributor API
Direct integration for distributors to push live data
📊 Custom Reports
Personalized analytics reports and PDF exports
🔄 POS Integration
Sync with popular point-of-sale systems (RapidFFL, etc.)
🎯 Focus Areas for 2.3.0
Mobile-first experience, real-time data streams, and deeper distributor partnerships to provide instant updates and seamless workflow integration.