Since I know the tech support folks at DAZ get pretty backed up with emails, I thought this might be more appropriate for an open discussion, aside from my question...

If I need a copy of something I purchased in the past, can I send in my receipt and get the product set up for download? Please don't tell me I have to order an entire account history CD ($17.50 with PC discount) just to access one file? I couldn't find any mention of this issue in the FAQ's.

This got me to thinking. I've shopped with most of the online Poser related sites at least once, and I've noticed that they all handle the customer's account history access differently. Here at Renderosity you have your 3 downloads per product, with no expiration date as far as I can tell. If you need an additional download after your 3 are gone, a quick email seems to take care of it, and in my experience the R'osity staff responded very fast. I've found this setup to be extremely convenient for the customer, especially one like myself who's cursed with horrible luck when it comes to losing files.

PoserPros has a similar system, and have also been quick to respond to my plight in the past. RuntimeDNA also has easy access to past purchases, with an unlimited amount of downloads and no time restrictions from what I can tell. 3DCommune gives you a one-time-only download link at the time of purchase, but has no additional access for past invoices. (I couldn't find any further info on their site, so forgive me if I missed something.) Those are just a few sites I've visited recently, though there are numerous others out there.

I keep all of my purchases backed up on an external HD, but with all the moving and shuffling I've had to do sometimes things get lost. I'm sure others can relate, considering the multitude of files most of us have stored away. The reason I'm rambling here is that I'd like to know if anyone else has any thoughts on matters of convenience, and the obvious risks relating to piracy and illegal file distribution. In the case of DAZ, I realize that they're primarily a business (not a community setting like R'osity) and on a larger scale than most, so I'm sure they have a heightened concern for keeping files guarded.

How do other Poser users keep track of their past purchases? Burn copies to CD? Backup your runtime folder? I'd be interested to hear some input, sorry for the post being longer than I planned!

-Molly

I burn my purchases to a CD, then from time to time I also back up my Runtime (getting harder and harder as it grows bigger and bigger...) Some things are backed up on more than one CD, for instance the things I've made for sale/free. Those are things I can't just buy again :o) I have also downloaded things more than once becourse I couldn't find the first file G

One thing I'd like at DAZ is a listing of which particular items I have purchased over the years so that I can check them for updates. When I finally got over the hurdles and into the account section (my browser needed to have IE upgraded under the shell), all I could find was the dates and total amounts. With a nicely computerized system, it would be smart enough to flag upgraded products with a star or something so we wouldn't need to check them all. Carolly

also just so you know, at 3dcommune you just e mail the store with your order number and they will look it up and send you a new download link, I've done that quite a few times :)

I'd like it if I could Search through the items that I have bought in the past. If I see something on sale, and it looks familiar, but I'm not sure If I bought it a few years ago and just archived it somewhere, it would be great if I could just Search through my past purchases. Even better would be a little sign on product pages if you've already purchased them, and the update star that someone mentioned. :)

There have been a couple things that I have either somehow lost from my HD after installation or burned to CD without installing and they are now located in that rather large stack sitting on my desk. When such a time arrives, I just email them my order #, tell them what I want to download again and they set me up a new download link, usually one available just for that day. With the new system, they might just reset your download limit, I dunno. Lhiannan

I had that happen yesterday: I found out that I'd missed downloading one of my purchases and my download links had expired. (That'll teach me to buy 8 things in one swoop.) I called up DAZ with my order number and within 2 minutes had the order reactivated.

Noone reads the forums but me and maybe Steve. Email is the only way they will ever see what you typed.

Incorrect assumption, Anton. Infrequent posting is not synonymous with a lack of reading. Some of us read rather frequently. In fact, some, myself included, read several times daily... from the office, from home... on the clock, off the clock. So please, if all possible, avoid making all inclusive blanket statements for the rest of us, especially when those statements are based on assumption, okay? Thanks. And though I disagree that it is the 'only' way, an email direct to the appropriate department at DAZ is a bit more effective than a forum post, yes. Phone calls are also more effective.

For what its worth, the appropriate department was aware of this thread as of the third post, 39 minutes after it was started. Though because resolution is not immediate, involves more than a single person with an empty schedule (with a company of this size... no-one is ever anything shy of swamped), there must be some degree of investigation before a response is even considered, let alone posted.

As for the policy and official position stuff... Though the initial links to an order disappear with a set number of download attempts or after a few days (for security reasons), DAZ policy is to continue to provide every customer access to any single order they have made, at any time, at their request. Entire account histories involve a bit more research, so they are offered for a fee and made available via download or by shipping a CD.

-Rob