vB support sucks!

[michaelsilvia]

Please read here:
http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?t=282936

I hope everyone see this and helps decide if they want to purchase a vB license. If the original owner of the license DIES you are out of luck. If the original owner of the license refuses to send an e-mail you are out of luck.

This is pathetic leadership. This is a decision I would expect from someone that has no clue that websites are now bought and sold very frequently now. God forbid if you buy a websites from the 4th owner and you have no way to track down the original owner.

When you decide to buy a website take note that you are left out in the rain from vB when it comes to real support.

--------------- Added 1219707324 at 1219707324 ---------------

Also, freedom of speech and accepting feedback is not allowed. Notice how they closed down the thread?

[Itworx4me]

Your best bet would be just to purchase another license and upload those files to the site in question and then you should be able to upgrade to the newest version. If you have control of the site then changing to the new license on that site should be a easy.

[michaelsilvia]

They will NOT let me buy a license for the domain name because it is already registered under someone else. So, if I buy a license I have to lie and place it under a different domain and then they bust me for having an unauthorized copy.

I guess vB guys are from Europe where there is no freedom of speech. Can vB actual take feedback from a customer that has purchased 10 licenses from you? I also can't PM Steve because he doesn't accept PMs from paying customers. So, vB has such a thin skin they can't discuss an issue that will likely effect hundreds of paying customers?

If you own a site and it is not from the original owner, you are out of luck if you can't track down the original owner. vB hasn't even given me the contact info to track him down. Instead they just say, "sorry you are out of luck" and close your threads.

This is pretty scary from a business that has taking my money for 10 licenses and refuses to even discuss the issue. I guess I will have to take it to the vb.org boards.

--------------- Added 1219708138 at 1219708138 ---------------

Also note that they took my $$$ for the license renewal that I purchased based on THEIR supports recommendation last year and they have YET to refund me the money. So, they close down my threads, tell me tough luck and keep my money.

[Adrian Schneider]

They did let you post it, but it turned into a flaming vB staff thread.

Ask the guy you bought the license from to create a support ticket outlining transfer of ownership on the license. It's not their fault, it's the owner of the license.

If you buy a car from someone and he doesn't sign it over to you, it's still his. He might thank you for the money, but the car is still his.

[michaelsilvia]

Read what I posted. I bought it from a guy that bought it from a guy. So, the original owner with the license is not who I bought the site from. I have had no luck tracking down the original owner.

They will take your money THEN tell you they can't help you and provide no refund as well. What about that?

I was one of the biggest fans of vB. Just read my posts here and on there. No I can't stand them.

[Spank]

Would you like it if I told vBulletin that I am the new owner of all of your sites, and they transfer them into my name without speaking with you first?

[michaelsilvia]

A better way for them to have handled this was for them to e-mail the owner on file and ask if he indeed sold the site and if he could contact me. That may have been a way to support a guy that has purchased 10 vB licenses.

[Shelley_c]

The one and only great anology thread.

It's like if i were to buy a block of cheese from the cheese monger and it got stolen and that person who stole the piece of cheese gave fed it to (lets say.. jerry) from the old tom and jerry cartoons would that piece of cheese be mine?

maybe. Anyway, goodluck in renewing your license though as the others have suggested.... speak to the person who sold you the license and have them speak/contact staff at vb.com and your problems will be solved as for me I'll keep searching for my stolen block of cheese. :rolleyes:

[michaelsilvia]

Would you like it if I told vBulletin that I am the new owner of all of your sites, and they transfer them into my name without speaking with you first?

We are not talking about transferring the domain and files. We are talking about the ability to download files. vB had no problem with me paying for the renewal. Then the domain disappeared from my account.

Again, I'm not some punk going to vB and asking for them to transfer a domain without a history. I have purchased 10 licenses from them and they could have either given me the contact details or spend 5 seconds e-mailing the license owner.

[Adrian Schneider]

It has nothign to do with vBulletin.

You must get it from the guy you bought it from. If he is selling things he doesn't own, then that's also illegal and you should take it up with him.

[SEOvB]

A better way for them to have handled this was for them to e-mail the owner on file and ask if he indeed sold the site and if he could contact me. That may have been a way to support a guy that has purchased 10 vB licenses.

No it wouldn't have. Its not Jelsofts responsibility to keep track of who is selling their license to who.

Man up, take care of the things you are responsible for taking care of and try to mature some in the process.

[michaelsilvia]

maybe. Anyway, goodluck in renewing your license though as the others have suggested.... speak to the person who sold you the license and have them speak/contact staff at vb.com and your problems will be solved as for me I'll keep searching for my stolen block of cheese.

And if you can't find the original vB license holder? Or he dies? Or just isn't found? Then you are just stuck in vB 3.5 land?

--------------- Added 1219709084 at 1219709084 ---------------

No it wouldn't have. Its not Jelsofts responsibility to keep track of who is selling their license to who.

Man up, take care of the things you are responsible for taking care of and try to mature some in the process.

Well, I can see you have no business sense as well. You take care of your customers, especially the ones that have purchases 10 licenses and keep renewing. I have send over $2,000 there way over the past few years. Spending 5 minutes is not asking much, now is it?

I can see you must be great with ladies as well. Man up? I'm in the military and have manned up just fine.

[TimberFloorAu]

I musta missed the ghist of this.

If you purchased the site from somone then the license would be in their name, irrespective of the originator.

So surely a license transfer would be indeed possible from the last known owner.

[michaelsilvia]

It has nothign to do with vBulletin.

You must get it from the guy you bought it from. If he is selling things he doesn't own, then that's also illegal and you should take it up with him.

He did own it and legally bought it from the other guy. He just never was good at upgrading the site and sold it off because of his lack at tech stuff. I know who he bought it from and am trying to contact him.

[Shelley_c]

And if you can't find the original vB license holder? Or he dies? Or just isn't found? Then you are just stuck in vB 3.5 land?

I think if the owner either can't be contacted and/or dies (a little extreme) then I would personally gather as much information about the seller and hand it to vb.com so that they have ateleast some documentation who you bought it from. Even with that I can't see this being a happy ending for you and will you will onlybe left feeling fustrated by the response from vb.com.

Bare in mind though, they are doing their job and from their stance they cannot allow renewel of licenses without being 100% certain that the person renewing the license is genuine. Personally, I think you are the genuine license holder though it's not me you have to convince. Goodluck regardless.

PS, I never suggested conveyed across that you where some punk. Stated above, I think your case is genuine.

[dtv100]

with one of our site we have a similar problem and all we did was get a new license .
that work for us .

[TimberFloorAu]

He did own it and legally bought it from the other guy. He just never was good at upgrading the site and sold it off because of his lack at tech stuff. I know who he bought it from and am trying to contact him.

Then why are you +++++ing on here about it.

The onus lies with the originator, not vbulletin.

If you buy a car, 5th hand off someone, you cannot then legally go to "ford" for example and say I want to transfer service records to my name, if you have not completed the process of transfer. Thats fundamental.

[michaelsilvia]

I musta missed the ghist of this.

If you purchased the site from somone then the license would be in their name, irrespective of the originator.

So surely a license transfer would be indeed possible from the last known owner.

The original owner sold it to the guy I bought it from. The guy I bought it from never transferred the ownership because he was a mod on the site with little tech skills and NEVER upgraded the site.

I bought the site and vB sold me the upgrade for $30. I downloaded the files just fine and then upgraded the site. Well I went back this past few weeks to upgrade again and the domain was gone. So, they took my money and let me upgrade in the past. Now they are now.

[TimberFloorAu]

Sounds like someones took you for a fool mate, and that person isnt VB

[michaelsilvia]

If you buy a car, 5th hand off someone, you cannot then legally go to "ford" for example and say I want to transfer service records to my name, if you have not completed the process of transfer. Thats fundamental.

I can prove I have owner ship of the domain through godaddy and my server host. So, there is no issue there. It is just vB that won't update.

--------------- Added 1219709463 at 1219709463 ---------------

Sounds like someones took you for a fool mate, and that person isnt VB

How is that? I have the domain and the site for the past 2 years? The fact is the original owner just hasn't been able to get back with me. So, the domain is at godaddy in my name and the files on my server for the past 2 years. Vb let me purchase an extension for $30 and now the option is gone.

[TimberFloorAu]

Thats not the issue tho, the issue is the "license" that has little to do with Godaddy or Google or Bob the builder.

Part of buying and selling domains, is trasfer of ownership, legal rights to sell, and ongoing support.

How can VB support a 3rd party owner of software they havent purchased, albeit youve upgraded, the issue is you are not the originator of the license, much the same as "ford" example.

You may indeed be the transfer owner of the domain, but the intact license is tied to a) a person and b) a single domain.

If one of those changes, then your up S**T street, unless the original owner transfers the license.

Its pretty straightforward, and there to protect your investment. Not to fleece you

[michaelsilvia]

Thats not the issue tho, the issue is the "license" that has little to do with Godaddy or Google or Bob the builder.

Part of buying and selling domains, is trasfer of ownership, legal rights to sell, and ongoing support.

How can VB support a 3rd party owner of software they havent purchased, albeit youve upgraded, the issue is you are not the originator of the license, much the same as "ford" example.

You may indeed be the transfer owner of the domain, but the intact license is tied to a) a person and b) a single domain.

If one of those changes, then your up S**T street, unless the original owner transfers the license.

Its pretty straightforward, and there to protect your investment. Not to fleece you

I agree 100% with what you are saying. I'm more p**sed because they won't make the extra effort at least contact the license owner to help out. It is basic customer service in my view to spend 5 minutes of your time for a customer who has spent $2,000 and was planning on spending much more in the future. Like I said, I have 8 current licenses and had 10 at one time. Also, they shut down threads without letting the issued get discussed.

[iogames]

Relax...
I'm sure maybe someday [hope soon] someone will have the idea/courage/willingness to redo Jelsoft as a outstanding Company... is human behavior...
so someone, soon, not old people, new guard ;)

p.s. many of this threads has been posted lately with the same tone, maybe the balance is tilting to right side, of curse I just can expect for this thread to be closed.
p.p.s. and yeah since I live in America. sometimes you feel like there is no room for discussion :'(

[Marco van Herwaarden]

If you have questions about license issues, please post in the vB.com site feedback forum or open a support ticket.

This thread does not belong on vB.org, so closing.

PS I strongly you take a few deep breaths and open a support ticket without immediate accusing staff/jelsoft of bad business, taking the soft approach might get you much further.

PPS I can already predict that Jelsoft will never transfer a license without the explixit request of the current registered owner of the license.

You have 2 problems:
- The person you bought your license from never had it transfered to his own name, so he is not the legal registered owner. This is not Jelsoft's fault and this person will need to address this issue by contacting the original owner and ask him to file a transfer request.
- You bought a license without first verifying if this license can be transfered from the person you have bought it from.