Oh yes they do. unless the recently decided to be reasonable.

I only stated what happend when I reinstalled the BBJ , they did not charge meHave you tried reinstalling an Ariane product recently?Do you even own one?

What's sad is that it's this type of company atitude that prompts people to hack the installer and bypass the activation, just out of spite and frustration. Some pirates hack to cheat the vendor but some hack as an "in your face" response to these types of attitudes.Simple options - don 't buy from them or, if you do, don't complain about their policy - it's been this was as long as I can remember.Vic

I'm not so vindictive as to attempt anything like that.. its not worthy of my time or effort! I politely told them "Thanks for nothing.. I'll just wait for PMDG's verison 2.0!"But... I did get TREMENDOUS satisfaction by taking the CD from their BBJ package, going outside, and smashing it repeatedly with a hammer!If I had a mailing address for them, I'd put the pieces back in the CD case and send it back to them - POSTAGE DUE! :( I'm not even so ticked off about the waste of money as I am about their brazen attitude!Oh well.. live and learn!

Yes. I own one. And they do charge if you change ANY part of your hardware. In my case i had luck when i upgraded my system, they did send me another key and made very clear that it would

Hello Bonkster,Thanks for sharing your experience with us. That is a total lack of customer awareness.After having read Al's review, I was getting ready to go ahead and buy Ariane's 737. But I will refrain now. Ok, I'll miss a good 737, but not for long, as PMDG is coming along with their own rendition for FSX.Jean-Jacques

As much as I have resisted posting this, I can no longer restrain myself!I just tried re-installing both their 737-700Ng and BBJ products for FS9 on my new system the other day... I was never able to get them installed and activated on my old system when I bought them 2 years ago. I sent Ariane the necessary activation e-mails with all of my information and their response was... get ready for this:"Your license is out-of-date... we cannot issue you a key.. we only provide keys to users who upgrade to newer products or who are continuing purchasers"!When they asked why I never contacted them regarding the inability to activate the products when I bought them 2 years ago, I told them the simple truth... that they NEVER responded to any of my e-mails requesting assistance! I tried e-mailing them EIGHT (8) times during that period. All e-mails went unaswered!They then told me that I should purchase their FSX products and abandon the FS9 products! They then went on to say that I should "Support the community by purchasing newer products!"That statement REALLY ticked me off! I spend well over $1000 a year on FS add-ons and through supporting both freeware developers and organizations like AVSIM and Flightsim.com. I have accounts with Flight 1, Simmarket, and Aerosoft that go back almost 10 years... The nerve they had to insinuate that I "don't support the community" because I won't purchase their newer FSX products has infuriated me beyond words! :( So.. in a nutshell, I have TWO of their products - totalling over $100 - that are completely useless and have been since the day that I bought them and they have the audacity to suggest that I just forget about that and purchase newer products from them!I am usually a very patient person! I've resisted the urge to comment on their business practices in the past, choosing, instead, to give them the benefit of the doubt.. but NO LONGER!!They are THE WORST company I have EVER dealt with and they will NEVER EVER see another dime from me! Furthermore, I will no longer hesitate to warn other potential buyers of their SHADY and UNETHICAL business practices!So.. BUYERS BEWARE! - Bonk

I was VERY sceptical about Ariane products and the re-activation charge in one of the recent Ariane threads, before I bought it. I have the 737-800X2 and I'm not a fan of it to be honest, however since I paid so much for it, I try to use it a little - I have re-activated it about 5 times in 2 months due to system re-builds and upgrades/formats, twice in 1 week infact, and although sometimes it took them a while to re-activate it, they didnt question me or try to charge me once.

I was VERY sceptical about Ariane products and the re-activation charge in one of the recent Ariane threads, before I bought it. I have the 737-800X2 and I'm not a fan of it to be honest, however since I paid so much for it, I try to use it a little - I have re-activated it about 5 times in 2 months due to system re-builds and upgrades/formats, twice in 1 week infact, and although sometimes it took them a while to re-activate it, they didnt question me or try to charge me once.

Seriously???? So i am starting to think that they don

Seriously???? So i am starting to think that they don

Go to their website and read their policy. Then if you understand it, please post your translation here. I realize software manufacturers are trying to protect against piracy, but this is pretty convoluted and gives them all the power. The only power we have is to buy something else. I won't be buying from them either.With the power of the internet I'd be very afraid of disappointing too many customers.

Go to their website and read their policy. Then if you understand it, please post your translation here. I realize software manufacturers are trying to protect against piracy, but this is pretty convoluted and gives them all the power. The only power we have is to buy something else. I won't be buying from them either.With the power of the internet I'd be very afraid of disappointing too many customers.

Simply put, what they propose is illegal. The customer is the user, not the computer the user chooses to use their product on. Unless or until they can show that the transaction that results in purchase is related to an individual conception of hardware, rather than a genetically-inspired individual with a bank account based on their individuality, then any terms or conditions they impose are simply not enforceable in a court of law, which does not recognise the existence of a `hardware fingerprint` over the flesh and blood person that paid for it...Suggest taking legal advice. Acceptance of any such contract represents unenforceable contract in law.Buyer beware?

Spot on, Simon. Unfortunately, especially when dealing with international internet commerce, such companies are relying on the factors of distance, expense to file tort, and the (relatively) small cost of the product to insulate them from any such action as may be permissable under the laws of their company's legal existence.I also know that here in the U.S., all civil actions take a lot of time (welcome to your decade in court, Mr. Tort Filer!). Another sad fact is that at any time a company can choose to file for protection under bankruptcy law, which then places an automatic "stay" on all pending litigation or claims, effectively putting an end to the complaint... :(

Parties are generally free to contract under what terms they wish. It gets even more complicated when you are actually negotiating for a license, which is a use interest, not an ownershp interest. So it would not surprise me if their licensing agreement cut entirely their way, and it is absolutely your choice not to enter into a legal agreement under terms you dont' like.Personally, I never read contracts. I blithely certify that I have read the 47 page EULA by ticking the box as quickly as I can find it and getting on with it. I am either going to buy the thing or not, and anything beyond that is a waste of time. That's some legal advice, too :-)

Parties are generally free to contract under what terms they wish. It gets even more complicated when you are actually negotiating for a license, which is a use interest, not an ownershp interest. So it would not surprise me if their licensing agreement cut entirely their way, and it is absolutely your choice not to enter into a legal agreement under terms you dont' like.Personally, I never read contracts. I blithely certify that I have read the 47 page EULA by ticking the box as quickly as I can find it and getting on with it. I am either going to buy the thing or not, and anything beyond that is a waste of time. That's some legal advice, too :-)

Exactly wrong. A computer is not capable of conceptualising the essence of offer, acceptance and compliance. It is, at heart, a calculation machine - incapable of entering into contract. And is therefore, by implication, not a `party` but a tool. `Reading` is not the same as `acceptance` or even `agreement to comply`. No company is free to contract under ANY terms. Only those which are in compliance with the greater laws of the land.Restriction of tool use is restriction of trade. FACT: - ask Microsoft... :)I doubt the Ariane agreement is worth the paper it's not printed on. However, their implied terms and conditions of contract may well be in breach of legal interpretation. Again, if in doubt, seek legal advice. Under UK law, one may always seek redress for petty restrictions under the Small Claims Court procedure of the county court. Any judgements are binding - and may then invoke investigation under Trading Standards Legislation. One wonders how well the Ariane business model would stand close scrutiny by the guardians of consumer rights..?...but it's not my sausage. I wouldn't go near Ariane if they paid me. The petty restrictions without foundation and justification are indicative of a vindictive, malevolent corporate entity less interested on protecting its intellectual rights & and property than exercising excessive control over its customer base. I thought we fought wars to protect US from the likes of THEM... :(

It is funny that this company keeps getting such heat continually. When issues like this come up time and time again it means that there is an issue. If I think of my work place there are always some who do less than their share and allow others to pick up the slack for them. The employees get frustrated and speak to management, management speaks to the employee who then makes a half baked effort for a few weeks, enough to keep their job and goes back to the way they were. These guys are always getting bad reports by customers. It is an indication that something is very wrong with the their business model. I purchased their 737-900 in order to fill my 737 desires until PMDG came out with one and I upgraded my operating system and I did not get a new activation after I requested one. What I was given was letter explaining how I can pay and obtain a new activation. The old activation did not work to activate the product. I will never give this company any of my money again, especially for a product that I don't even think stacks up to the PMDG model that was meant for FS8 and 9. I do not hear these kind of complaints about PMDG, hmm I wonder why. The last big hooha over at the PMDG forums was when they went to the Euro. I couldn't have cared less because I am willing to pay for their quality. Your customers are your best advertising and quite honestly, no one seems to advertise for ARIANE. I could even understand a modest fee like $5 but they want me to pay nearly $16 Canadian to fly a product that cost me over $140 dollars!?! :( :(

::: UPDATE :::Now, it seems that the "kind" folks at Ariane are offering to provide me a KEY! LOL!!!!And they had the audacity to say that there should be some form of "gratitude" on my part towards their "support girls"! :( I politely declined...

Simon,Good to see you around!