Article View: misc.consumers
Article #6948Re: Shareware, Software ethics........
From: Joe Kidd
Date: Fri, 13 Oct 1995 00:00
Date: Fri, 13 Oct 1995 00:00
66 lines
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4925 bytes
Starlite Software Corp.
PO Box 370
Port Hadlock, WA 98339-0370
Michael Butler (tech. support)
(360) 379-9472
(360) 385-7136 (fax)
starlite@mail.daka.com (internet)
CompuServe ID: (72662,3571)
World Wide Web: http://www.daka.com/starlite/starlite.htm
I regret having to write this letter but recent letters posted in
numerous Newsgroups makes this necessary. Frankly, this is a
trivial disagreement that shouldn't be conducted in a public
forum. I'll try to keep this short. I'm referring to "complaint"
letters posted by a Mr. "AhTeeEm". We know who this is and we
know his real name. We are not posting it here as we are not
vindictive and do not wish to directly embarrass this individual.
I wish I could say the same for his unfair treatment of Starlite
Software.
This disagreement arises from a call made to our toll free 800
order number. He was seeking technical support on a recently
purchased software product. He wished to have the advertisement
closing screen not play upon closing the program. He has posted,
ad nauseam, that he feels this is an error in our distributed
copy. He is incorrect. What Mr. "AhTeeEm" must fail to understand
is that PC-Write is distributed as shareware. We have a tradition
of allowing registered users to distribute copies of our program
to other users. Therefore, the registered copies must come with
the advertisement screen so that new users of these copies will
know that our product is shareware and how to register. Even
without the code to eliminate the advertisement screen, a
modestly skilled computer user could write a batch file to start
the program and clear the screen upon closing.
Mr. "AhTeeEm" must also fail to understand that technical support
cannot be provided at our phone expense on a very modestly priced
program. We would have to charge all users a great deal more to
provide this free phone service. He is creating this public
fiasco over his refusal to call Starlite technical support or use
a 32 cent stamp to write us. He could have contacted us through
compuserve. Unlike he claims, he was sent our compuserve address
with the program. To date, we have never had another user fail to
understand this reality.
He used abusive language with me over our toll free number when I
suggested he call our technical number. He refused. He went on to
say he would withhold his credit card payment, which he did. We
had to write to Mr. AhTeeEm's credit company to defend our
actions. As you might have guessed, his credit company sided with
us. Perhaps you have seen Mr. AhTeeEm's response to a previous
letter from Mr. Gordon Wanner, Starlite's President. If you have,
I believe you'll agree, Mr. AhTeeEm's juvenile quips speak for
his character.
Mr. "AhTeeEm" is obviously a bitter individual who is desperately
trying to hurt Starlite Software and defend his petty actions. We
trust you have met this type of individual before. We are
confident you are wise enough to "consider the source".
Regards,
Michael Butler
Customer Representative, Starlite Software Corp.
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X-Google-Language: ENGLISH,ASCII-7-bit X-Google-Thread: 10afa1,30fcd475d659dacb X-Google-Attributes: gid10afa1,public X-Google-Thread: 114df1,30fcd475d659dacb X-Google-Attributes: gid114df1,public X-Google-Thread: 11474a,30fcd475d659dacb X-Google-Attributes: gid11474a,public X-Google-Thread: 107cbb,30fcd475d659dacb X-Google-Attributes: gid107cbb,public X-Google-Thread: 10f261,30fcd475d659dacb X-Google-Attributes: gid10f261,public X-Google-Thread: 101dd2,30fcd475d659dacb X-Google-Attributes: gid101dd2,public X-Google-Thread: 106595,30fcd475d659dacb X-Google-Attributes: gid106595,public X-Google-Thread: 107518,30fcd475d659dacb X-Google-Attributes: gid107518,public From: starlite@mail.daka.com (Joe Kidd) Subject: Re: Shareware, Software ethics........ Date: 1995/10/13 Message-ID: <45kh0d$kgc@news.accessone.com> X-Deja-AN: 117443160 references: <BZFewMF9BIWd085yn@netcom.com> organization: Starlite Software Corp. mime-version: 1.0 newsgroups: misc.consumers,alt.consumers.experiences,pdx.consumer,uiuc.misc.consumers,ba.consumers,alt.comp.shareware,biz.comp.software,comp.os.msdos.apps,comp.software.licensing,misc.legal.computing,alt.comp.shareware.programmer,comp.software.international,comp.programming,phl.misc,misc.forsale.computers.pc-specific.software,de.comp.misc,de.admin.news.softrware,de.comp.standards,seattle.generalseattle.forsale.computers,fr.comp.text.tex,nz.general,nz.biz.miscnz.biz.misc.discuss,uk.misc,uk.legal,uk.org.starlink.software,uk.comp.misc