Community Close
Login to Plimus Community
Not a Community member yet?
Get a Profile to:
- Raise Your Visibility
- Find Partners to Sell Your Products
- Find Partner Products to Sell
- Have Your Say in Blogs & Forums
Extended Download Warranty
Do any vendors offer this and do your customers actually opt for it? The base cost of $3.95 seems exorbitant for a service that doesn't cost Plimus anything and doesn't have much value to the customer (it has more value for the vendor than the customer). I've had plenty of users request the download again so I just go into their order and re-activate the download. I don't understand why Plimus charges so much for this and I don't offer it because I think the cost is ridiculous. If the base cost were free (Plimus can get a commission on the surcharge) I think more people -- both vendors and customers -- would use it.
Yes, the fee is subjective. My items are relatively low-priced so the 3.95 base charge is a significant percentage. That's why I think it would be better if you took a commission on this charge instead of a flat rate, even if your cut was 50% and there was a minimum of $1 you might make more in quantity.
However, I have a new and related problem. I wanted to test something regarding EDW and so I uploaded a file for one of my soon-to-be-live contracts (I tried using sandbox first, but it said there was an error when I tried to upload a file). How do I delete the file associated with this contract?
There must be some small cost to Plimus as they have to keep track of which version of an upload the customer has bought as otherwise the customer would be able to just download the latest version and get around any upgrade costs!
That's a good point, I hadn't thought of that.
In that case, using "re-activate download" differs from EDW. When you re-activate, it provides a link to the current release and not the version that they had originally purchased.
In my case, I have one product that I use the file with and I have offered it with free upgrades. After I released the update (v2), I still have users trickling in that request the update that had originally purchased v1. Without even giving it a second thought, I would use the "re-activate download" assuming that it would give them the latest version. I've never had any complaints that it was the wrong version.
Also, I remember asking Plimus support if there was a way to include a new active url for each of my customers using the newsletter service. They suggested the only way to do that would be to go into each of their accounts and use the re-activate download link.
Moments ago, I thought I would test this out in the sandbox. But, as I have discovered, there are many cases where the sandbox is NOT a mirror of the actual plimus system and this is one of them. Apparently you are not allowed to upload files (from PC or web).
My theory is that EDW and "re-activate download" DO work the same way. One of the notes on the upload file page is:
"Uploading a file with the same name as a previous upload will overwrite the previous file."
So, perhaps if you use the same filename, both EDW and re-activate download will be a free update. If you upload as a different filename, then the user will only have access to the filename that they purchased.
And if that's the case, we're back to EDW not costing Plimus anything. But I'm over that kick. I've done searches on it and most people (non-vendors) believe it to be a scam/rip-off, so I'll not use it regardless of Plimus' commission.
Yes - I can confirm that the resend will send the current file configured for that contract.
Secondly you should find that you can upload files to the sandbox. We found a glitch that could affect some users and this has just been corrected.
Thanks,
Derek, Plimus
Hi, I'm currently evaluating Plimus for our e-commerce, and I'm also wondering about product updates.
When we update/overwrite the download for a product, is there a way for us to mail a newsletter out to all associated customers so they can each get their copy? I assume this would send each customer their own link?
This statement (from above) seems to say it isn't possible: "I remember asking Plimus support if there was a way to include a new active url for each of my customers using the newsletter service. They suggested the only way to do that would be to go into each of their accounts and use the re-activate download link."
That would require a lot of manual labour on our (the vendor's) part. Is this true?
Thanks,
Eddy
If you are replacing the existing file that is uploaded for the product in the "download file" section of the contract-id, then yes, you would have to re-activate the download link for previous customers, so they can download the new file. The re-activate function sends an email to the customer with the download URL.
You can use the Newsletter feature to notify the customers regarding the new file or you could add a URL of your own to the newsletter publication and send it to your existing customers so they can download it.
If you have any support queries, please contact our Vendor Support team at vendors@plimus.com
I had dozens of customers requesting lost files no matter they had download warranty bought. Their download links simply didn't work. The problem was so major that I simply turned off this feature for all contracts.
The most great feature about download warranty so far is ability to turn it off for all contracts.
It doesn't bother me at all to manually provide new download links free for my customers even 5 years later. At least they 100% work when I do it manually.
© 2001-2010 Plimus Corporation, Inc.
There is a definite value to this service and people often opt for this add-on, or the CD Backup.
To reduce piracy and illicit sharing of software general access to downloads is restricted on initial purchase. If purchasers want this item they are free to purchase or decline. Vendors have complete control whether to show this option or not, and if yes, they can set their own surcharge.
The fee is subjective -- some people would think it is very cheap for total backup access to their product. Others might think otherwise, and of course the price of the software is relevant as well.
Please bear in mind you as the Vendor have full power over this when setting up the contract -- see screenshot below from the contract settings page in the control panel.
Derek, Plimus