TomTom BUYERS BEWARE

Lynz · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jun 05, 2004 Posts: 14

Thought I would bring this to the attention of those considering buying TomTom products.

I lost my activation code for my recently purchased TomTom Maps Of Europe CD's and requested a replacement from TomTom.

Despite producing proof of purchase, and even offering to send in the original discs at my expense, TomTom have refused to allow me to sell on my Maps Of Europe Cd's, a purchase of over £120 not that long ago. They insist that, and I quote:
"you are not allowed to pass on a TomTom license to another person. TomTom licenses are personal and non-transferrable".

I advised them I no longer owned a PDA, and just wanted to sell on my Maps, just as I sold on my PDA. They are refusing to allow this. Buyers please beware, I have been ripped off, don't end up like me. The TomTom range looks good, but the support is pathetic.

ispartacus75 · Occasional Visitor Joined: May 06, 2005 Posts: 54

As a TomTom 3 user I have to respond to this.

First of all, almost all software has licences that are no-transferable, its not just TomTom here.

Second, I had need for TT support a few weeks ago about activating my TT software on a new PDA and the activation code wasnt being accepted. After getting in touch with them and providing proof of purchase I had a new code within ONE HOUR

Its not really TomTom that have to be singled out here. Its the whole of the software industry.

Sorry

Lynz · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jun 05, 2004 Posts: 14

If they all suck they deserve criticism individually or as a whole. I couldn't afford to go with anyone but TomTom, investing hundreds in the software, which when I sell up a few months later is worth...spit. Yes I am upset, that was a month's savings for me.

I could name umpteen software companies that give great support with lost licenses. Who the hell are they to say I canot sell something I have paid for? As I say, if they suck, name them, saying they all do that is a crappy excuse.

ispartacus75 · Occasional Visitor Joined: May 06, 2005 Posts: 54

When you install software the terms and conditions state that the licence for teh software is non transferable. you then have the option to agree and continue installation or disagree, cancel installation and return the software for a refund.

If you accept their T&C you cant really complain about it afterwards and if you dont read them then its up to you.

Have you ever tried to get Microsoft to allow you to resell a licence?

Lynz · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jun 05, 2004 Posts: 14

Yeah, I have sold a retail packs of MS Visual Basic Learning Edition as second-hand with no hassle. When I sold my last pc I sold the XP os with it no hassle. When I sold my PDA the retail games I bought were transferred no hassle. I've lost count the number of my retail games I sold on EBay. These were in effect a 'transfer of license'.

So why are TomTom above this?

Tons of people are selling their TomTom software, such as on EBay (and no, I don't just mean the dodgy versions). The only difference is these lucky ex-owners didn't lose their activation codes. I did and despite years of TomTom loyalty I get shafted. I notice TomTom sell TomTom Go units, so it seems you -can- transfer TomTom software if it's installed on their terms, e.g. sold in their little gadget. Hypocrites.

You haven't justified this and I feel right in bringing this to attention of buyers. I consider this equal to piracy, the viewpoint just depends whose pockets you go into.

neil01 · Posted: Tue May 10, 2005 7:53 pm Post subject:

Unfortunately - you were caught out for being honest. If you had simply said that you had lost the code, and not mentioned your intention to sell - you would no doubt have received a new code.
I ,for one, believe that it is terms and conditions, and attitudes such as these, which are used to justifythe piracy culture. After all, even the most 'honest' people often break terms and conditions if they feel them to be 'unfair' and if they break one - why not the rest!

lbendlin · Posted: Tue May 10, 2005 7:54 pm Post subject:

Let's assume for a second you still have your PDA. You would want to reactivate TomTom on it. You give them the proof of purchase, and ask for a new (or even the old) activation key. That would work, wouldn't it?
_________________
Lutz

Report Map Errors here:
TomTom/TeleAtlas NAVTEQ

ispartacus75 · Occasional Visitor Joined: May 06, 2005 Posts: 54

yes this would work.

As i stated previously i had reason to use TT customer services.

I had installed TT on an XDA II which became faulty and was swapped out. I installed on the second no problem.

When I upgraded to XDA IIi last month I couldnt activate. I got in touch with them and they said it was because I had activated on 2 previous devices. After sending proof of purchase of a new device I had a new code in 1 hour.

Lynx

Lynz · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jun 05, 2004 Posts: 14

Buyer Beware?

I won't be spending a large budget for GPS equipment with TomTom whereas I most certainly would have. In fact I sold my iPAQ as I wanted to opt for a fuss-free dedicated GPS unit like TT Go unit I was lining up.

As for the software I sell, like 99.999... percent of the population no I don't advise companies when I sell software. That's pedantic and a daft thing to say. Like a book I buy I have 100 percent ownership. I can sell it on, the only catch is I cannot keep any copies. There is no legal difference between software and a paper book.

Seller Beware more like, you have lost out TomTom with crap support.

SteveW · Posted: Wed May 11, 2005 1:10 am Post subject:

If you go to this site and put your product code in, that's the code on the box, I think it will give you your activation code.......

http://www.ttcode.com/ttcode/ActivationCode.php?lang=eng

Regards,

Steve

andyfr · Posted: Wed May 11, 2005 9:42 am Post subject:

RichXDA2 · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jul 26, 2004 Posts: 44

I can't believe the amount of pathetic moaning on this site!

As other people have said, the license is clear when you purchase the software - if you don't like the terms DON'T BUY THE SOFTWARE!!!! It's that simple![/i][/b]

Lynz · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jun 05, 2004 Posts: 14

>...I can't believe the amount of pathetic moaning on this site!

Stop being pathetic and moaning about it then. It was a user-awareness warning so's folk don't fall into the -expensive- trap I did.

I repeat, there is no legal difference between ownership of a book and software. Just 'cos company-X have it in their 'terms and conditions' doesn't make it legal. See how many loan companies get a bloody nose in the small courts in the UK and you will see how far 'terms and conditions' hold if they are essentially unfair. But forget the twoddle, I can't afford to run a legal test-case anyway. I have learned that honesty does not pay.

BTW the little plastic product code was the thing I lost. It was a daft little label on a plastic sleve that proved too easy to misplace, dumped by my in-law during a tidy-up blitz.

Time to end this thread lest the moaners start moaning even more...
Rolling Eyes

ispartacus75 · Occasional Visitor Joined: May 06, 2005 Posts: 54

sland · Regular Visitor Joined: Mar 19, 2004 Posts: 144

However note the following part of the Navman Licence which does allow you to transfer license if you sell the PDA:

	PocketGPS
	Web