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Lost $1500 worth of software because I lost a stupid usb key

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Originally posted by: KLin
Personally, I think you're SOL. They're not going to make any concessions for you based on what I've read about this Steinberg Key. Consider it a $1500 lesson learned.
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Well, at the very least they are going to get $1500 of harassment. I would be more than happy to call on a daily basis and take them to small claims court.
 
Originally posted by: LikeLinus
Originally posted by: randay
Originally posted by: LikeLinus
It's unreasonable for a company to think that a USB dongle is not going to get lost at some point by someone. As long as the customer can prove proof of purchase, they should be able to send you another flash drive for a small fee.

It's one thing if we were talking about a $100 piece of software - but when we're talking about thousands of dollars worth of software. Come on!

Also - their use of the "if you lose your watch" is STUPID. It's more like "if you lose the keys to your car, would <insert maker here> actually make you buy another 20k car"? NO, idiots. They USB drive is just a COMPONENT of the actual software. The same way the keys to a car are just a component that allows you access/use to the car.'

I'm not for stealing, but in this case your only recourse may be to crack the sofware.
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the price of the software is trivial, its the price of the dongle that you are really going to pay for. its normal. the op has no recourse but to get a "shareware" version of the software.
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Seriously? You mean all those thousands of man hours, hundreds of developers to design and build those programs are worthless. It's all about the security dongle?

Is that why almost every other software maker doesn't use dongles? That's an VERY expensive $2000 dongle. I'm surprised Sandisc can stay in business!

No need saying shareware....say he's cracking it like he's doing. They're ripping him off, he may or may not choose to do the same.

Either way, the company is wrong.
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small software companies who sell very small volumes of software have to do business this way. the dongle is the software effectively. if you bought a version of windows vista, then lost the serial key, do you think microsoft would give you another serial key for free?
 
Originally posted by: randay
Originally posted by: LikeLinus
Originally posted by: randay
Originally posted by: LikeLinus
It's unreasonable for a company to think that a USB dongle is not going to get lost at some point by someone. As long as the customer can prove proof of purchase, they should be able to send you another flash drive for a small fee.

It's one thing if we were talking about a $100 piece of software - but when we're talking about thousands of dollars worth of software. Come on!

Also - their use of the "if you lose your watch" is STUPID. It's more like "if you lose the keys to your car, would <insert maker here> actually make you buy another 20k car"? NO, idiots. They USB drive is just a COMPONENT of the actual software. The same way the keys to a car are just a component that allows you access/use to the car.'

I'm not for stealing, but in this case your only recourse may be to crack the sofware.
Click to expand...

the price of the software is trivial, its the price of the dongle that you are really going to pay for. its normal. the op has no recourse but to get a "shareware" version of the software.
Click to expand...

Seriously? You mean all those thousands of man hours, hundreds of developers to design and build those programs are worthless. It's all about the security dongle?

Is that why almost every other software maker doesn't use dongles? That's an VERY expensive $2000 dongle. I'm surprised Sandisc can stay in business!

No need saying shareware....say he's cracking it like he's doing. They're ripping him off, he may or may not choose to do the same.

Either way, the company is wrong.
Click to expand...

small software companies who sell very small volumes of software have to do business this way. the dongle is the software effectively. if you bought a version of windows vista, then lost the serial key, do you think microsoft would give you another serial key for free?
Click to expand...

yes.

<---lost his keys a few times.

All that it requires is PoP, and some info off of the media. I have never had issue with ANY vendor except Adobe, but I was was swimming upstream with them😛

I can understand the company's policy, but they should have at least one method in place to restore a legitimate user's product operation. Not having one is simply ignoring reality.

Frankly, I am not so much siding the software company as agreeing that they can do what they want.

That said, this is a perfect example of how to come off as an arrogant asshole to your user base, right or not. Perhaps the customer is not always right, but if you make it so that they are always wrong, you are indeed shooting yourself in the face.


 
Originally posted by: randay
Originally posted by: LikeLinus
Originally posted by: randay
Originally posted by: LikeLinus
It's unreasonable for a company to think that a USB dongle is not going to get lost at some point by someone. As long as the customer can prove proof of purchase, they should be able to send you another flash drive for a small fee.

It's one thing if we were talking about a $100 piece of software - but when we're talking about thousands of dollars worth of software. Come on!

Also - their use of the "if you lose your watch" is STUPID. It's more like "if you lose the keys to your car, would <insert maker here> actually make you buy another 20k car"? NO, idiots. They USB drive is just a COMPONENT of the actual software. The same way the keys to a car are just a component that allows you access/use to the car.'

I'm not for stealing, but in this case your only recourse may be to crack the sofware.
Click to expand...

the price of the software is trivial, its the price of the dongle that you are really going to pay for. its normal. the op has no recourse but to get a "shareware" version of the software.
Click to expand...

Seriously? You mean all those thousands of man hours, hundreds of developers to design and build those programs are worthless. It's all about the security dongle?

Is that why almost every other software maker doesn't use dongles? That's an VERY expensive $2000 dongle. I'm surprised Sandisc can stay in business!

No need saying shareware....say he's cracking it like he's doing. They're ripping him off, he may or may not choose to do the same.

Either way, the company is wrong.
Click to expand...

small software companies who sell very small volumes of software have to do business this way. the dongle is the software effectively. if you bought a version of windows vista, then lost the serial key, do you think microsoft would give you another serial key for free?
Click to expand...

If you had proof of your purchase, you actually might have a case with getting another. It wouldn't be easy and might require a bit of time on the phone, but I bet you could do it. Then again, Microsoft actually cares about retaining customers, something this other company doesn't seem to do.

CitizenDoug, I would try threatening to switch to a competitor and promising to never buy future products from them. If that doesn't work at all, then they really don't care about your business and your only recourse would probably in court.
 
I searched and it looks like I have an authorized Yamaha dealer within walking distance. I'm going to stop by and see if they have any advice. And I will talk on the phone a bit. I'm not sure what angle to take on how I lost it so I guess I will go with the truth. I'll keep you all updated with how this comes along. In the mean time I guess I will just have to buy the software again and sell it if and when I get my original copy working again.
 
Originally posted by: CitizenDoug
I searched and it looks like I have an authorized Yamaha dealer within walking distance. I'm going to stop by and see if they have any advice. And I will talk on the phone a bit. I'm not sure what angle to take on how I lost it so I guess I will go with the truth. I'll keep you all updated with how this comes along. In the mean time I guess I will just have to buy the software again and sell it if and when I get my original copy working again.
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Is there any alternative software you can use? It would seem foolish to purchase software from such a poor manufacturer.
 
In the future, is it possible to "insure" the dongle for the value of either a replacement dongle or for the price of new software? I know it seems silly, but I"m sure if its critical for a bussiness to have this software, they should have some sort of protection for loss, theft, or whatever. Just like how some performers insure their <insert whatever> for millions of dollars.

Just a thought though.
 
Originally posted by: CitizenDoug
Originally posted by: SoulAssassin
Why don't you buy one of the blank dongles on ebay, smash it, send them the smashed dongle and your receipt/license. It's technically not lost and if it's smashed good enough they won't be able to tell it's blank.
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http://www.cubase.net/phpbb2/i...s-usbkey_cnet2_256.jpg

Does that answer your question? It looks like you would have to break it in such a fashion to completely obliterate that key number. And even then I bet there is something unique about the generic one compared to the one designed especially for Cubase 4.
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Buy that $60 one off EBay & then melt it right to the edge of being recognizable & send it in.
 
Originally posted by: xeemzor
Originally posted by: CitizenDoug
I searched and it looks like I have an authorized Yamaha dealer within walking distance. I'm going to stop by and see if they have any advice. And I will talk on the phone a bit. I'm not sure what angle to take on how I lost it so I guess I will go with the truth. I'll keep you all updated with how this comes along. In the mean time I guess I will just have to buy the software again and sell it if and when I get my original copy working again.
Click to expand...

Is there any alternative software you can use? It would seem foolish to purchase software from such a poor manufacturer.
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Well I took a year long course at my college that was pretty much dedicated to learning to use this software.
 
Originally posted by: RedCOMET
In the future, is it possible to "insure" the dongle for the value of either a replacement dongle or for the price of new software? I know it seems silly, but I"m sure if its critical for a bussiness to have this software, they should have some sort of protection for loss, theft, or whatever. Just like how some performers insure their <insert whatever> for millions of dollars.

Just a thought though.
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Yeah, but what gets me is that I had no clue it was so valuable. They didn't even make that obvious or clear in the manual or setup process. If I knew it was irreplaceable there is no way I would have lost it.
 
Originally posted by: DangerAardvark
What possible reason is there for a policy like this other than to scam their own customers?
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Its done because without decent protection systems the companies would go broke.
Granted the cubase folks are less customer friendly than they need to be.
Thats why as I said earlier most companies are going to network license servers.
It provides just enough protection without punishing the user.


Hopefully the local dealer will be more helpful. They usually are.
 
Originally posted by: Modelworks

Its done because without decent protection systems the companies would go broke.
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My issue with that is the false security with a 'decent protection system'.

Just like any other lock in this world - they serve to "keep honest people honest"

No matter how complex you make something , if you've made it , it can be broken. If somebody wants to hack it they can and will. Our 100,000$-per-user software can be had in asia for 10$ off the streets.

Where the problem comes in is the added complexity of the licensing schemes gets passed on to the paying customer.
 
Originally posted by: LS21
Originally posted by: Modelworks

Its done because without decent protection systems the companies would go broke.
Click to expand...

My issue with that is the false security with a 'decent protection system'.

Just like any other lock in this world - they serve to "keep honest people honest"

No matter how complex you make something , if you've made it , it can be broken. If somebody wants to hack it they can and will. Our 100,000$-per-user software can be had in asia for 10$ off the streets.

Where the problem comes in is the added complexity of the licensing schemes gets passed on to the paying customer.
Click to expand...

Sure the protection can be broken.
But what you have to understand is that these are niche markets.
These aren't companies like MS that sell millions of copies.
They serve very small markets compared to the mainstream software.
They can't afford to not protect the software at all and just allow people to copy at will.

Like it or not, protection systems do prevent the casual theft.
Just like having a jewelry store with the door unlocked. The casual thief might go in and steal something, but if the door is locked not bother and walk away. Of course the hardcore thief is just going to cut the lock.

Putting protection on software like with network license servers doesn't interfere with the user at all. It works as intended. Protection should protect the software but not get in the way of the user.

 
Originally posted by: homercles337
Im not sure about this specific software, but if you lost your dongle your are screwed.
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almost all software that requires them is like this. There is no other way to keep the non-honest from bring a copy home or using it on multiple machines.

You can't call many places and get a duplicate item for free of one you lost though.

For a real business though this $1500 should be just a learning lesson....sounds like it's more individual based.
 
Originally posted by: KK
What a stupid ass company with stupid ass policies. I hope they go under. If I know a company won't support their customer base then they aren't a company I would deal with. Hopefully there is a crack out there somewhere that you can find to get your expensive software back up and running.
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If the company is stupid for instituting such policies, what does it say about those who agree to those polices, lose their dongle, then cry when they're surprised that the company doesn't break their policy just for them?
 
Does the dongle need to be attached in order for the software to start and run?

If not I would put that thing in a safe or store it at a bank.
 
Originally posted by: Soundmanred
Originally posted by: her209
Originally posted by: Soundmanred
2.1. I have accidentally lost my USB key! Does it get replaced by Steinberg?

A simple answer: No. You are solely responsible for the USB key and the contained licenses. If you lost your key the only solution is to buy the products/licenses again. Imagine you have lost your watch: Would you get a replacement from the manufacturer? Most likely not. Keep your USB key safe! It is not a problem to replace manuals, installation media or other components but not an USB key with licenses!
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I would argue, if I lost the key to get into and start my car, I would damn well break into it and hot wire it.
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That's not really a valid comparison. This would equate to losing your car and expecting the dealership to give you another one. Like they say - the program is not where the value lies, it's the key. If that were the case with a car key, it would be valid. In cases of theft, loss by fire, etc they tell you to see if your insurance will cover the cost of a new license (i.e. program). Not a bad idea.
I think USB keys are a bad idea, but they are harder to crack than a normal software license key, so I understand why they would want to use them. If there were a way for them to know that you're not trying to get something for free, that would be good, but there really isn't.
I went as so far to install the WeldPro USB key inside my case, so it wouldn't get lost when moving or get unplugged accidentally, etc.

It's one thing if we were talking about a $100 piece of software - but when we're talking about thousands of dollars worth of software. Come on!
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If it were a $100 piece of software, it wouldn't be as big of a deal.
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errr he didnt loose the software he just lost the key to turn it on, see below

"if you lose the keys to your car, would <insert maker here> actually make you buy another 20k car"?
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