"Download Protection" from Handango

pragnanzer · 06-20-06, 05:49 PM

Do you guys know about the "download protection" from Handango? Is that a useful service or just a rip-off? Other on-line software stores do not offer this protection. Does that mean I cannot download later if I buy from other online stores?

**ksong12** · 06-20-06, 05:51 PM

Depending on which store. Unless you lose your files, I wouldn't shell out the money. Simply email it to yourself or something.

NoWire · 06-20-06, 07:05 PM

It's pretty much a rip-off.

The important thing is save all your Registration/Serial Key, as you can always download a new version by going to the developer site or by downloading the trial and pluging in your serial no.

Of course some software doesn't require a Serial/Registration key, so that's the kind of software I usually make sure to make a back-up in several places.

callmemoe · 06-20-06, 07:05 PM

PocketGear will let you download the software infinitely as far as I know without the extra fee as long as you have a PocketGear user account and purchase your software under it.

CodeBubba · 06-21-06, 09:38 AM

Originally Posted by pragnanzer

Do you guys know about the "download protection" from Handango? Is that a useful service or just a rip-off? Other on-line software stores do not offer this protection. Does that mean I cannot download later if I buy from other online stores?

Rip Off.

What I always do when I download a software utility is to take the license number they send me and put it into a .TXT file. I package this and the executable into a ZIP file and put it away on my archive drive - then I install it. Every so often I make a CD of all my utilities stored in their ZIP files like this so I can retrieve them when I need to.

-CB :approve:

06-21-06, 09:42 AM

It is a total rip-off. I always save the download file to my desktop and, as NoWire says, if you make a note of the User Name and Registration Key, you can always download the trial version and register it (which is what I do for a lot of upgrades).

Also callmemoe says, PocketGear has free downloads for all time.

In furure I will cease using Handango until they remove this rip-off option, even though you can remove it. It is an ugly, greedy practice.

06-21-06, 09:42 AM

Yep, it's a rip off all right. I just saved all of my registration emails. Problem solved.

BirdBrain · 06-21-06, 10:01 AM

I think it's a rip-off. If the charge were only a few cents, I'd call it a convenience; for what they are actually charging, it's a rip-off. And I find it tacky that it is automatically added to you cart when you buy something, not an optional add-on that you have to select. I'm not buying anything else from them!

pragnanzer · 06-22-06, 01:04 AM

Thanks everyone for your advice. Probably the additonal profits that Handango make out of this "download protection" gimmick may not even cover the loss of deflected customers like ourselves. Let's hope that other sellers like Pocketgear will learn from Handango's mistake and not replicate the mistake.

06-22-06, 09:48 AM

This morning I downloaded Spb Time from Handango (free incidentally see This Thread).

But I noticed that Handago had increased their Download Protection charge for $3.00 (which I think it used to be) to $4.99, which I obviously removed. This really is quite outrageous and I think that we should all stop using Handango until they remove this iniquitous charge.

06-22-06, 10:58 AM

Ripoff!

For all the reasons that have been previously stated. I am curious why they thought it was a good idea so I have asked them to explain it. I will share their response when I get.

netsyd · 06-22-06, 12:06 PM

Originally Posted by Blkngold

Ripoff!

For all the reasons that have been previously stated. I am curious why they thought it was a good idea so I have asked them to explain it. I will share their response when I get.

I think I can explain this to you in their minds, as opposed to the BS response you might get.

Location:
C-Level people sititng around a big wooden conference table.

Topic:
Increasing their profit levels without upsetting the price levels set by the software developers.

The idea:
Hey ... so we already sell software right? Ok, and we already allow people to download software right? Well... what if we add on something (call it protection) that we can charge people for ... in order for them to download the software a month or two after they bought it. That way, we can cut our bandwidth utilization and save some cash by cutting a couple T-3's and at the same time we can collect a ton of extra money by not doing anything extra. It'll take 5 minutes to code into the sales process and make us a crapload of cash off of stupid people :approve:

The Response:
Hell yea!!! Screw the customers, make money doing nothing.... where do we sign up???!

BirdBrain · 06-22-06, 01:08 PM

Greenbak · 06-22-06, 02:25 PM

I'll go with rip-off.

All you have to do is be sure to backup the install files yourself somewhere. Multiple copies can be a good thing. And be sure you keep reg keys recorded along with the packages.... :approve:

EngrPaul · 06-22-06, 03:32 PM

Downright Extortion.