Same thing happened to me, lost my HD with NGX and JS41, I understand PMDG has their files on server to download but they are there  hey don't have to produce more copies, I think a special discount on re-downloading files would be nice not to pay as a first buy.

Guess you didn't read the Software License Agreement.

 

 

No, I didn't. I have better things to do in my life. Cheers.

No, I didn't. I have better things to do in my life. Cheers.

 

So you agreed to install a product bound by a license agreement without having read the actual agreement?

I'm not going to get into a pissing contest with any of you over this. I just tried to solve a problem without having the guy to re-purchase the product. Didn't expect to bump into a whole bunch of eula #####.

So you agreed to install a product bound by a license agreement without having read the actual agreement?

WWOOAAAUUUU finally I find someone that reads the license agreements!!!

I'm not going to into a pissing contest with any of you over this. I just tried to solve a problem without having the guy to re-purchase the product. Didn't expect to bump into a whole bunch of eula #####.

 

There is no problem in the first place, and he does not have to purchase the product again.

 

 

There is, unfortunately, a startling amount of ignorance in this thread.

You are not paying for your product again, you are paying for the bandwidth of the download. I work in IT in a systems administrator position and I can tell you right now, bandwidth is not cheap. PMDG are recouping their costs of this bandwidth when you pay for their EDS. Nothing more, nothing less. If other companies are taking a hit on it, fair enough - it may be that other companies products have a smaller installer size and as such don't use so much bandwidth.

Additionally, there are a number of free cloud storage options, as well as USB pens and external hard drives that you could keep at home. If you want to be a touch more adventurous, have a look at some NAS (network attached storage) for your home. Typically these consist of dual (or more) hard drives for redundancy plus you have a lot of extra storage for other backups.


Frankly, the re-download costs should be a non-issue.

I can tell you that I work in sales/consultancy within a company that offers cloud storage solutions for businesses. From this I know that $5 for a year service is vastly overpriced. A rough calculation based on the size of the PMDG 737ngx would equate to between 80-120 downloads of this to equal $5 of bandwidth (of course we are talking economies of scale rather than what you might pay as a consumer). Subsequently, I unfortunately see this as a money making activity rather than 'cost covering'. Additionally, with an automated system similar to those offered by similar companies, PMDG would save on admin costs as it is currently all done manually (I think Ryan does this?)

Saying cloud storage is expensive is like saying a piece of string is long. It has to be put in context. I don't think many people would mind paying an extra $2-3 on top of the purchase price for an extended download service if it was permanent... but for a year. It is quite evidently a practice to achieve extra revenue.

 

So the norm is being lazy and not responsible for your own files?
Gotcha.

I said its the industry norm. This is why people expect it. Myself, along with many other people have better things to do than backup everything, every day. This is because we know that the vast majority of software is readily available to re-download free over the internet should anything happen. It's where the technology industry is moving to. Again, this is why it is not completely unreasonable for this topic to be bought up.

 

No, I didn't. I have better things to do in my life. Cheers.

Exactly.

 

So you agreed to install a product bound by a license agreement without having read the actual agreement?

There is an element of trust in all purchases. I don't buy anything of value from a company I don't trust, subsequently I don't read the legal writings everywhere. These are aimed at protecting the company in lawsuits more than informing the customer.

I think the OP raised a valid point. For as long as I remember PMDG have been operating this Extended Service product. Now the market has moved on (at last 4 years I think) it is more than reasonable to ask if PMDG can reassess their position on this. If they decide it still costs too much, fair enough. But as I've already said $5 for a year is vastly overpriced if its maintained as 'cost recovery'

I should say here, that I think PMDG are a wonderful company with passion that isn't really matched by anyone else. This topic is my only gripe. 

 

 

So you agreed to install a product bound by a license agreement without having read the actual agreement?

 

With all due respect, 99.9% of people don't read the license agreements. They are far too interested in getting the exciting new product that they just purchased up and running.

A lot of people are talking about hosting files and bandwidth like its 2003 and services like Amazon S3 don't exist. PMDG if allowing people to download thier previous purchases requires human intervention and is expensive for you then you're doing it wrong. Go look at the pricing of S3 then come back and argue that bandwidth and file hosting is expensive these days.

 

Here's a tale about being customer centric...

 

A while ago I purchased the PMDG NGX and FS2Crew for it from their site. Afterwards FS2Crew updated their product which meant I had no way of re downloading it due to PMDGs file access policy. FS2Crew responded to my problem by allowing me to set up an account on their selling site which does have a re download service so I could update their product. I immediately went out and got the FS2Crew products for the J41 and also the emergency NGX even though these aircraft are still in my to learn list, their customer service impressed me enough to reward them whilst I will never buy anything except the aircraft from PMDG again.

 

Don't get me wrong, PMDG make great aircraft products but the extended download service just feels like a way to make additional cash and it seems that there is an army of ###### to back this practice up to anyone who disagrees.

 

Before anyone asks I back up my own files in different locations so won't need to download again but I disagree with their distribution policy.

Same thing happened to me, lost my HD with NGX and JS41, I understand PMDG has their files on server to download but they are there  hey don't have to produce more copies, I think a special discount on re-downloading files would be nice not to pay as a first buy.

Guys, $5!!! You don't have to pay the full price again. And I'm from Argentina where a dollar is 5 times our currency.

It even last for a year, so you can loose it any times you want within that time.

So you agreed to install a product bound by a license agreement without having read the actual agreement?

Can you view this agreement before purchase? PMDG does not offer refunds, so if you can only see the details of the agreement after purchase what then if you don't agree to the terms? Can u get your money back?

This manual re install process is from the dark ages and to be frank Im at a loss to understand why  the leader in flight sim technology would resort to this.

 

there are 4 steps

 

1. buy the new download

2. complete a support ticket

3. WAIT for an email activation .. seriously who does email activation these days ?? and you may not be flying untill the next day sepending on what time zone your in

4. download the product

 

is all this really necessary ? With any other add on its  one step process, log on and download , thats it!

Do people actually read my whole post? I TRIED backing up my files, my backup program doesn't backup setup files. Which I had to find out AFTER I did the reformat. But as I said, complaining nor asking someone to change anything ever does any good so I've ended my argument.

This manual re install process is from the dark ages and to be frank Im at a loss to understand why  the leader in flight sim technology would resort to this.

 

Last time I did a re install I only had to run the installer, enter the serial and wait the installer to do its job. No need to even open the browser or pay anything if you bother spending 30 seconds to back up the installer & serial number on an external hard drive after buying the product. 

 

And I understand OP actually intended to back up the installer, but in general I don't see why PMDG should offer free download service forever when people can just back up the installer and that's it. 

 

 

Regards

 

Joona L

I suspect this discussion is well on the way to being locked.

 

It's PMDG's policy, if you don't like it, vote with your money and patronise other businesses.

 

whilst I will never buy anything except the aircraft from PMDG again.

 

Lol - That'll show em'  :rolleyes: