Hmmm...I just went and downloaded an application I bought a couple of years ago, and it worked fine. It seems I'm ok so far.....no problems YET. Emphasis on yet.
Karen, I'm sure we will see your mission statement on Handango's home page very soon, possible right under the "Going out of business" sign.
I believe the "Download Protection" only applies to purchases made sometime after the middle of 2006; this is why some people aren't seeing it for a purchase they made in 2003, for example.
I do not purchase from Handango unless it's from a developer that has a full trial available on their website, in which I'd just need to enter my reg code to unlock it.
I agree with a few posts above this, you can discuss backups all you want. The issue is software updates. What if your device was an older PPC, and you upgraded to a newer Treo with a new screen resolution. The file you downloaded from the original purchase does not work with the new device, but there's been an update since then that would work. This is the issue.
As software and devices add/change features, you should have the right to not have to pay for upgrade downloads of something you already own (if the developer guarantees that, of course).
I'm like some of the others; I've been purchasing software from Handango since the beginning of the PPC. I have a ton of purchased apps dated before this new policy that I have no problems downloading. Since this protection policy started, though, I've made about 3 purchases there.[/i]
Just to add my 2 cents worth... I too have stopped buying from Handango when ever possible. Yes, some of the older purchases are availible for download with out the "protection", sometimes they ask for the credit card number or something to check. I went through and downloaded all the updated programs I could to be current.
I have been buying software from them since the beginning with my iPAQ 3600! But what ever happened to the customer/merchant loyalty? I guess they are protecting us from them. I wrote them a long letter about this very topic a few months ago and there reply was that they would review it with there service personal. The big reason I switched is because of the percentage ratio they pay to the developers. I think it was something like 20% to the developer! I could be wrong on the exact percentage, but it was low. But the whole thing flared up on this site some time ago. So I have been doing my part to support the developers and not the re-sellers. We have to let the developers know who have a link to handango for purchases to partner up with another re-seller. That will get Handangos attention!
If people stop buying, they'll stop it. And if people get stung once, they'll probably stop buying (not enough people read things like this website). So they can get by with it until enough people get stung, then stop buying, so that it'll affect their market share. It's obvious that at this point they don't fear the customer leaving.
It's just like DRM: if enough people bought music of independent artist who sell recordings w/o DRM, the 'big labels' would drop DRM real fast (actually, they'd only slack off enough to regain sales).
PocketGear works slick. And it's not about just going back to re-download, but they post updates so you can just scan the list and know if there is a newer version avilable. Keeping your own local backups of old versions of software isn't much help ("Pinnacle" makes that point above).
I have never "had to use PayPal" at PocketGear.
The last time we had this discussion, MobiHand's selection was miniscule. I suppose that has changed by now.
What one sees as a need for "Download Protection" (i.e., protecting themselves from download bandwidth costs), another would consider an opportunity to offer an after-the-sale service to the customer that will make them want to come back.
I guess one could make an argument for the "Download Protection" that Handango keeps the versions of the software around for redownload and that requires hardware & support costs etc.; but IMHO its a ripoff.
I personally stopped using Handango after they failed to honor a prize for a developer.
I did recently stop by their site via mobile access and they wanted to download software to my device that enabled me to purchase more software. First thing through my head: If this is Handango software, its probably spyware that will monitor my software usage.
Add me to the list of disgusted (former) Handango customers.
I also think that the download protection only applies for purchases made from mid-2006 on. My laptop died last month, taking with it all of my local copies of purchased software. I was able to re-download all but my most recent purchases from Handango.
I too, have been boycotting them as much as possible. PocketGear, Mobihand and developers direct from now on!
-James
Is it just me, or is there something darkly ironic in the word Handango uses to describe this 'service?' Protection. I recall other groups offering similar services under similar names in the past: 'Protection' for which you had to pay 'protection money.' I believe the law enforcement authorities involved tended to refer to it as a 'protection racket.'
Handango's Marketing Department... I don't know, not only is this an idea guaranteed to annoy repeat customers, but the title they chose demonstrates a level of ignorance which is breathtaking.
Or perhaps they aren't ignorant - they are aware of the implications and they really do hate their customers. :roll:
When people email me saying they can't download their skins from handango, I rarely mince words and I describe this scheme in a similar fashion. I've had to watch myself though recently, because someone took that to Handango, who sent us a nastygram threatening to delete our account if we continued. Seriously.
Mobihand isn't quiet ready for skinners yet, in that we need many more screenshots, and html descriptions would be a plus, but they are a far nicer bunch to deal with. Pocketgear charges the same royalty that Handango does, and they only send payment by check...which can't be cashed here. Plus there's that time when they weren't paying developers at all. That reputation never does quiet go away does it?
So we have Handango, but for most of our products (I still need to add Sbsh Deluxe, but it's impossible to add the Exclusive skin pak) there's always Mobihand, and our own site.
(Mrs. Juni)
edit - and no, do not pay extra to download your purchases from us. Upgrades are always free and Juni meant that when he said it. There are too many programs skinned that need regular updating to ever think of charging for upgrades. The download link should be in the handango email you got (if purchased after June of last year), but if you lost it, or somehow got the older email, then just let me know and you can have what you paid for without paying again.
I no longer purchase software from Handango because of their "download protection" schemes. I generally update the ROM on my Universal a few times per year and always redownload software that I've purchased to get the latest version. Multiple times, Handango has prevented downloads of software that I've already purchased, saying that I've "exceeded my download limits". Also, I think that trying to extort money from customers by charging for "download insurance" is ridiculous.
In general I now try to buy from the software maker directly, there is much better customer service, no middleman, and better updates.
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