GadgetPhreak

Hey-

Fairly new to the forums here, been "lurking & learning" for about a month. I received my X50V a few weeks ago and based on the experiences of the board members here I installed SPB Pocket Plus, Wisbar Advance 2, Pocket Breeze, and Weather Panel to get the Today functionality I was looking for.

The activation codes from the first three manufacturers was amazingly fast after I purchased from Handango.com. However I stil haven't heard from Weather Panel which is kind of frustrating. I have sent mail to Marsware Support twice now and havn't heard a response from them either.

I purchased on Sunday 8/21 and it's now Thursday 8/25... are my expectations too high or should I cancel and cut my losses?

What have your experiences been?

Thanks for all of the great tips on this board, it has really helped in making some of the decisions and avoiding some mistakes I would have undoubtedly made otherwise.

Cheers,
Gadget.

PS: I also installed Microsoft Voice Command, oh - my - freakin - gosh!!! The accuracy is amazing, it's not perfect, but there is nothing cooler then being able to push the voice command button (can be assigned to any button, mine is record...) and say "what is my schedule today?" and having your Axim tell you verbally...

Martin

Generally, small PPC software companies can take 24-48 hours to email you with the activation key, and only in working days (so Sunday wouldn't count.)

However, I think after 4 days you have a case for saying it should be in your inbox by now. The fact that you have emailed them twice is also worthy of note. I would email them once more, perhaps telling them that if it isn't in your inbox by, for instance, Friday at 5pm then you will be cancelling the order and seeking a weather programme for an alternative company.

However, it may be that they have reason for the delay (although what this would be is unclear.) If it comforts you at all, I received by activation key from marsware when I purchased Weatherpanel very quickly. So really it's your call on whether you want to wait a bit longer, or cut your losses now.

__________________

Newest
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

rockandchelle

The guy that heads things up at Marware (WeatherPanel) goes by the name of Martian and has been gone for quite sometime. Frankly no one knows what has happened to him He has been gone for about 2 months now I belive. I have been told by several other hardcore WeatherPanel users that he will sometimes get really involved in his coding and pretty much drop off of the face of the earth until he is done, I am guessing this is one of those time. My recommendation is to post something at the weatherpanel forums and see if you can get help that way.

http://forums.marsware.net/

I am really hoping we hear something soon as weatherpanel is a great program, and I would hate to see it just vanish.

Martin

That really is very poor indeed, and the fact that he may be working on an upgrade does not excuse him from completely ignoring paying customers. The relevant thread in the Marsware forums is here.

Gadget, I suggest, if you have not heard back from the developer within a reasonable period, to contact Handango (or your credit card issuer), get your money back and go look for another good weather app. Pocket Weather is a good one and the support at SBSH is second to none.

Hope this helps. Let us know how you get on.

__________________

Newest
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

wilmiester

Is it possible the registration (typcially sent through e-mail) was caught by a spam filter?

GadgetPhreak

I thought of that and double-checked my Junk Email folder to ensure it wasn't in there, but it wasn't.

Still no response.

Tanker Bob

Posting on the marsware forum should solve the issue. Martian does disappear from time to time, but this is also the heart of vacation season. He's a one-man show, so there's no backup of which I'm aware if he's out of town on vacation.

The good news is that Weather Panel is the most comprehensive, flexible, and configurable weather program for your Today screen. I've tried them all and nothing else comes close. You made the right choice. I'm sure that if you post on the forum, your code will arrive. Contacting Handago can also help sometimes, as they often have other ways to contact developers.

__________________
Regards,
Tanker Bob

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Reviewer for
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

locutus555

Originally Posted by GadgetPhreak

Hey- However I stil haven't heard from Weather Panel which is kind of frustrating. I have sent mail to Marsware Support twice now and havn't heard a response from them either. .

I had the same experience, the registration code never came, I got a refund and repurchased Weather Panel directly from Marsware, I had the registration code immediately.

Now when I find software I want I buy direct from the source, there are some who don't sell direct, but it sure works smoother and especially works well for updates, etc.

Good Luck,
Locutus

jdrew

I'm in the same boat. Paid about a fortnight ago througH Handango. No reg key.

The Marsware forums have people waiting for a response a month longer than me. Crappy customer service but it really is an excellent piece of software.

Thinking of getting a refund.

TGI

Same experience for me. I emailed Marsware 3 times, emailed Handango with the problem, which they also forwarded to Marsware. Never a response from Marsware, so I got a refund and am looking into Pocket Weather Today. I did have an issue with their trial -- but I got a prompt response from support, and followup from them about the problem being fixed. (They have a new beta version 5.74 they plan to release in a couple of days that should address my problem). I prefer dealing with companies that respond to problems (especially after they take your money -- the trial worked fine -- the purchase version wouldn't work AT ALL without the registration code!)

TGI

Originally Posted by GadgetPhreak

Hey- Fairly new to the forums here, been "lurking & learning" for about a month. I received my X50V a few weeks ago and based on the experiences of the board members here I installed SPB Pocket Plus, Wisbar Advance 2, Pocket Breeze, and Weather Panel to get the Today functionality I was looking for. The activation codes from the first three manufacturers was amazingly fast after I purchased from Handango.com. However I stil haven't heard from Weather Panel which is kind of frustrating. I have sent mail to Marsware Support twice now and havn't heard a response from them either. I purchased on Sunday 8/21 and it's now Thursday 8/25... are my expectations too high or should I cancel and cut my losses? What have your experiences been? Thanks for all of the great tips on this board, it has really helped in making some of the decisions and avoiding some mistakes I would have undoubtedly made otherwise. Cheers, Gadget. PS: I also installed Microsoft Voice Command, oh - my - freakin - gosh!!! The accuracy is amazing, it's not perfect, but there is nothing cooler then being able to push the voice command button (can be assigned to any button, mine is record...) and say "what is my schedule today?" and having your Axim tell you verbally...

GadgetPhreak

I sent a 3rd and final mail to the support alias requesting a response along with details of the actions I will take without one (request reversal from credit card company, request Handango investigate my claim and others of no registration # provided after accepting payment for product and consider pulling Marsware as a vendor, and file a fraud case with the Better Business Bureau for accepting payment for goods without fulfilling the order as agreed).

I have never taken this kind of action against a vendor before, as it was never required, and to be honest it makes me feel a bit uncomfortable. I hate that it has come to this, but it is just not reasonable for any company to accept payment for a product and not fulfill the order.

I am a Program Manager (I write the functional specifications and designs for software products) in Software Development for arguably the largest software company, so I understand the Software Development Lifecycle very well. So I totally understand going heads down to reach development milestones, sometimes it is totally necessary. However when that is required somebody else in the company should be made accountable for managing fulfillment and support. If there isn't anyone else, then hire someone. If you can't hire someone, then suspend taking orders for a period of time and post a note on the website communicating the "hiatus" to your customers.

You cannot simply take peoples money and not fulfill their orders, that is called fraud and it's against the law, period.

Like I stated in the emails that I sent to the support alias, I did a lot of research and the general agreement is that this is the best weather app out there. But given the amount of bad publicity that is building on this site and others (marsware.com forums for example), irreperable harm is occuring to the company name and image, and it will likely take a long concerted effort to correct it.

sportster44

Gadget,

I bought WP direct from the Marsware site and had the reg code within seconds in my e-mail and the log in link worked right away for me to DL the full version. If you must have the software, you might want to try going this way.

blazingwolf

I realize you guys would like a reply for your registration key. I respect this. However, you guys have no clue what is going on in the life of the developer. Perhaps he is in the midst of a family emergency. I know if it was me and I had some sort of family problem the internet would be completely forgotten.

GadgetPhreak

I respect that there might be something going on in the life of the developer, and despite not knowing the person I hope that they are ok. However, it's unethical and illegal to accept payment for a product and not fulfill the order, its that simple.

If you own a business and something happens you don't just run out of the store and leave the lights on and the doors open. You lock up, post a sign saying you will be closed for a while and then go and take care of business.

It is not unreasonable to think that if something had happened that he, or somebody working on his behalf, could take 5mins and post a note on the home page and set up an automated message on the support email address indicating that they are temporarily unavailable.

Besides, if you look at the home page there is a news item with a date of 8/20 which is only 6 days ago, so somebody is keeping the place running, they are just choosing not to take care of everything. I have run across multiple threads of people who are facing the exact same situation I am, some of which have been waiting longer. Some people have given up and ordered a different product, others like me haven't done that yet as we are hoping that someone will eventually bother to check their mail and take care of their customers.

Just Jen

You should try going to their site and download from there. They have a nice log on screen that only asks you your name and e-mail account: http://www.marsware.net/accounts.php
Hope this works for you!

edit: After posting I realized I bought this program directly through marsware's site. I'd still hope it would work though. It even posts the key right on their site after you log it. I've redownloaded the program several times and never needed my key.

__________________
-Jen

WICKED The Musical defies gravity! :approve: