Still Waiting for that Software Registration Code?
Posted on 24 February 2007, at 3:13 pm, by Judie Lipsett
Don’t you just hate buying software and then having to wait for its registration code? Waiting for a reply is not so bad when you are using trial software that came with full functionality for 30 days (thank you Ilium), and you’ve decided on day 15 that you want it, or if you are given 15 days to try it with only occasional purchase reminders (thank you Astraware). But it is bad when you have a crippled program that gives an annoying reminder of why you “need to buy” the fully registered version (which grrrr – you already have!), or worse yet – the application has completely shut down and quit responding without that magic password.
Evidently this is another subject that chaps Jerry’s hide, but he does have a good point. If you pay right away, shouldn’t you also get a key right away? Now to be fair, there are quite a few developers that have excellent customer service and that will get right back with the correct codes and other support. But…
Jerry says, “Most recently for me the last two applications I purchased and I emphasize PURCHASED, have yet to send me working registration codes. In one case I got an email confirming my purchase and that the code would be forthcoming. A day later I get another email asking for the device owners name so they can send me the code! I still don’t have it 2 days later! This is not isolated; it happens more and more often. Why don’t I get the code at the time of purchase? They got their money right away didn’t they?”
Read Jerry’s latest rant here; be sure to let him know whether waiting for an activation code bugs you too, or if it is just water off a duck’s back. 
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3 Comments For This Post
3 Trackbacks For This Post
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Cheat Code » Still Waiting for that Software Registration Code? Says:
February 24th, 2007 at 3:18 pm[...] Original post by Judie Hughes and software by Elliott [...]
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Jerry’s Thoughts » My Rants are Getting Popular! Says:
February 25th, 2007 at 1:18 pm[...] Mobility Site and seems to share my views on waiting for days to get a registration code. It seems to be getting more and more prevalent to have to wait for an email instead of receiving it at the time of purchase. You can find the original rant here. It is also posted about in Gear Diary. [...]
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Experience Mobility » Blog Archive » Jerry Has A Point! Says:
February 25th, 2007 at 7:20 pm[...] (thanks Judie) [...]
February 24th, 2007 at 4:32 pm
Yes fully functioning demos do take the sting out of this. In many cases, including one that recently comes to mind, you don’t get a fully functional version.
February 24th, 2007 at 6:03 pm
Its funny, I just read an article on Slashdot about DRM causing piracy because it is much easier to obtain and use pirated music, and this article has some strong ties. If developers make it so hard to purchase their software, then some people are going to decide it is not worth the hassle and download a key.
While I have never had this happen to me, I would be very annoyed if it did. I don’t go out and buy software just to keep sitting at the trial screen for a few days. I bought it that moment because I made the decision I wanted it, and wanted it now, which with the Internet I should be able to do. Clicking Pay should have the code immediately sent to my email address. None of this “Oh whats your Owner name?”, that should have been entered on the purchase page, and then automatically used to generate my code and have it emailed.
February 27th, 2007 at 10:57 pm
I couldn’t agree more. Look, I write for a living. I want writers and (blech; I hate this word) “content developers” to get paid for their work. But when people set the bar high for purchasing that work legitimately, they *are* encouraging piracy. It’s stoopid.
There’s two things that I really object to when it comes to buying electronic stuff:
o) Instant access once I pay for something.
o) DRM that prevents me from copying what I purchased to wherever I want, however many times I want. If I buy a DVD, or download it, whose business is it that I watch it on my computer, my TV, a portable DVD player, or a PMP, for cryin’ out loud? And if I take the time and trouble to convert it, who gives a rip? I’m not selling it to friends, or even giving it away; I just want to have it available for when *I* want it. I paid for the durn thing; I should view it in whatever format I like. It’s only *bits*, for cryin’ out loud.
So anyway, I’m with youse goys.