AngryPets Blog

Don't make me login to get a patch

Seriously. I hate it when I go out to a site, looking for a patch to software that I bought, and I find the patch, them I'm required to login/register before I can do the actual download.

I DIDN'T agree to that when I bought the software off the shelf . Don't make me do it. In fact, I won't. I'll just use http://www.bugmenot.com to get in and grab the download.

Mike 1. Roxio 0.

(Actually, for companies that do this... somebody tell your marketing dept that they are actually HURTING business.)

Existing Comments:

# re: Don't make me login to get a patch - Posted: 6/8/2005 1:03 PM - By: James Shaw
   This question keeps coming up. I admit it, I make people register (once) to download the trial version of our CMS. They are members forever then and can download updates at any time, without further ado.

I blogged about it at http://www.coveryourasp.net/NowYouMustRegister

I'm lookng at it from the other side of the fence admittedly, but do you see my point? Believe me (and other ISV's I've discussed this with) virtually no-one will give you constructive criticism, negative feedback, call it what you will, without you asking them for it.

So, overall I'm pleased with it and it'll stay for a little longer. I'm getting some good feedback from it, and improving the product.

Of course, I might also be losing 500 new customers a day..

# re: Don't make me login to get a patch - Posted: 6/8/2005 1:09 PM - By: Michael K. Campbell
   I dunno. If you want to make people register prior to download, then that's obviously your choice. I can see why you do so - to get access to feedback.

That said, If I'm looking for a product, I'll download the one that doesn't make me divulge personal info. If the product is good, i'll provide feedback to my PEERS (and no, probably RARELY to those who made it).

My PERSONAL philosophy is that anything that stops people from getting their hands on my product is a mistake. The best MARKETING I have out there is my product -- and people's response to it.

All that said, I don't think you sell Dozing Dogs at Staples, etc... So, when people buy your product, you could 'register' them, and only allow registered users to login to patch. That, in my mind, would be quite acceptable. You're NOT trying to get my info to market to me. You're just trying (in that case) to ensure that only paying subscribers get access to the patches -- AND, by doing the registration during purchase, you're coding purchasing info against that subscriber -- not just doing a greedy grab for info that you could possibly rent/sell to other parties.

# re: Don't make me login to get a patch - Posted: 6/8/2005 1:15 PM - By: James Shaw
   Ahh, good. Thanks Mike. No personal info is required to register, apart from your confirmed (double opt-in) email address which I only "spam" once, 2 weeks later to ask your opinion.

Just to clarify though, these aren't paying subscribers. Anyone who wants to download the trial version (which expires up to 2 months later) must register.

All these things are such a black art; rarely do you ever find out which was the right answer!

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