Giveaway of the Day Forums

1. 

   tekline
   Member

   Sometime ago I installed the ExeIcon 3D Box Maker registered to giveawayoftheday and I must confess it was great software. I say was because having not used it for a while, I started to use it again and as I rendered a magazine to a image file the software came up with an error message.

   Error! Unknown Picture Format

   I tried different picture formats and different templates with the same result. So I sent an email to their support. The reply I got was this:

   On Feb 16, 2011 14:27 "support" <support@exeicon.com> wrote:

   "Hello,
   Sorry for the trouble.
   It's a bug of the picture engine. We have fixed it yesterday. You can
   install the latest version and fix it.
   Thank you."

   I thought it suspicious that they knew of the problem and had fixed it YESTERDAY. Also the email is clearly not sent by a person but was an automatic email response! So what did I do. I downloaded the software as suggested and guess what, my giveawayoftheday license was not valid and I had a 30 day trial instead.

   This begs the question. Is this a clever marketing scam? I say this because after
   writing to them again I got this reply:

   "I'm sorry to tell you the promotion of giveawayoftheday has ended for
   a long time.
   If you want to get a full version we can give you a 20% off discount
   by using following link:"

   So let me see! As a software developer myself I know how easy it is to incorporate a timer inside software so that after a period of time a "false error message" could be activated - just like what happened to ExeIcon 3D Box Maker software. Then you are advised to download the latest version and bingo your licensed software is no more. But get this. Buy the software and get 20% discount. Sounds like a marketing ploy to me. What do you think?

   So if anybody on this forum has had the same issue, please let everyone know. I would hazard a guess that if you were to write and email to

   support@exeicon.com

   reporting the error message shown above you will receive the same email saying that the software was fixed yesterday (again). Why don't you try it out and see what happens.

   Posted 13 years ago #
2. 

   Whiterabbit-uk
   Games Guru

   Sorry to here of your problems. Unfortunately all giveaways come with no support or updates so installing the latest version just invalidates the full version you were given way back when it was given away. There is no scam, though if you told the developer initially that your version was a giveaway version they should have said, (but aren't obliged to).

   I can't answer you question as I didn't bother with that particular software. I've never had problems with any of the software I've installed from the giveaway project, but then i've never updated any of it unless I've been certain you can without losing the licence, for example Zoner Photo Studio.

   Posted 13 years ago #
3. 

   tekline
   Member

   Thanks whiterrabit

   I did tell the support that I got the software from Giveawayoftheday at the outset. Instead of saying too bad or whatever, the indicated that all I had to do was to update it. I even asked the question that if I updated it would it delete my license.

   "Hi

   If I download the latest version and overright the giveaway version will is still be registered OK?

   Fred Harding"

   They suggested that I updated. I have since received an email as follows:

   Hello,
   I'm sorry for the trouble.
   But it's not because of Giveawayoftheday license, all of the previous
   version has the same problem.
   We have received many reports about the problem from different user
   since last year, not only full version user but also trial version.
   You are the first one from giveawayoftheday. But for a long time we
   could not find the reason, because under our testing system no any
   problem.

   Today, some user report that even in the current version, if the
   resolution is too big, the same problem will happen for unknown reason
   in Windows 7 sometimes. We are trying to resolve it.
   We are very sorry for the software can not work with you. You can
   google for other perfect cheaper or free box maker software.
   Thank you

   So it would appear that they are still having problems so I won't be buying it. Shame! It appeared to be good software when it worked and the templates were excellent. As they say, no point in crying over spilt milk

   Fred

   Posted 13 years ago #
4. 

   Whiterabbit-uk
   Games Guru

   Thanks for the info Fred. Thankfully the software was of no use to me so no loss; sorry you've missed out though. we have had box making software previously, so will probably see some again in the not too distant future. :)

   Posted 13 years ago #

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