AVS4YOU Scam – You Must Own One Computer Forever

avs4you-scam-coverpng

All I wanted from AVS4You.com was my legitimate, paid for software activated on my new computer, since I threw away my old one. AVS4YOU Said ‘NO’, you have to buy a whole new license, then pitched me on their full suite of products.

avs4you-diagram

Unless you plan on using the same computer forever, don’t buy AVS4YOU software.

Any casual video editor has probably heard of AVS 4 You and their suite of products. But if anyone has purchased their license you may have experienced the same frustration I have with their rules and regulations, and utter unwillingness to work around their archaic licensing policies.

Bait And Switch In Full Effect

AVS4YOU provides some excellent software,  though it’s clear they fluff up their inventory by breaking multiple functions that could easily be included in one single app, into over a dozen smaller apps. But they convince you to buy their software without making it clear that the one computer you have your software is the only computer you can EVER have this software on. And I don’t mean you can delete it from one machine to another, it means that you can NEVER EVER install it on another machine, EVER.

I Purchased the ‘LIFETIME’ unlimited license, which means ‘UNLIMITED AS LONG AS YOU DONT MIND USING THE SAME COMPUTER FOREVER”.

Horrible Customer Support

It’s standard policy by major software companies to allow installation on 2 machines simultaneously, assuming many people have a desktop and a laptop. That’s the best policy by far, but some foolish companies either cant afford quality licensing software (not my problem) or they are actively using this awful policy as a business model.

AVS4YOU Policies Force Legitimate Software Purchasers To Steal A Copy Of Their Own Software

This poor customer service has forced me to try to locate a pirated unlock code for software I already purchase. Why do these software companies punish people who buy their products, when it is way easier to steal them? I can take $10 worth of my time to blog about their poor customer service, and download a pirated copy of theirs or any other software, when all I wanted was to pay for and use legal software.

Here’s the screenshots of the conversation I had with Eldan, the head thief over at AVS4YOU.

edlan-avs4you-poor-customer-support1

AVS4YOU – Was there a miscommunication? Do I have this wrong? Feel free to let me know.

 

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  • Scott
    I bought their software when I had a Gateway with XP. When I bought my new HP computer I formatted the Gateway Harddrive before giving it to my sister. I then downloaded the AVS4YOU software and sent an email requesting my activation code and have since been using it almost a year without any problems. Sounds like you were abusing the software. The only complaint I have is some (only about 2 I have tried) dont work on a 64 bit machine yet. Otherwise I have had no issues with the software or the company.
  • Rmatheson5109
    It will not transfer. Do not upgrade either to Win 7 or it will not work. Try to make an image of the hard drive and copy to the new PC. Make sure the computer name is also the same on the new one as the old. The new computer has to be an exact manufacturer and hardware copy of the orginal PC hardware for the image to work or you will have registery problems. The answer is a pain or you can just bite the bullet and repurchase cheaper and less headache. They win for now.
  • Rmatheson5109
    You downloaded the free version without activation and payment, that is how they protect their software by messing with you music. The sad part is all your music is permanently messed up. Make sure you have a backup to reload all you music, if not.........sorry.
  • Rftpouy
    i dont agree with the avs policies but they are there to be read BEFORE you pay anything. you either cant read or decided not to. your fault.
  • Mustang Moe
    I was contemplating buying their suite of software but when I checked at the FAQ section about licensing and saw that it is per-computer I thought, no, it can't be.
    I seemed you can only install it on one computer, which is fine, but if you buy a new one you can't transfer the license! So I did more research and found you blog.
    Thanks for confirming my thoughts.
  • Wow. That is pretty stinkin lame. It does happen with other software sometimes but usually they allow you to put it on 2-3 computers. Microsoft office lets you put it on 3 computers I believe which means that for one person it can last the life of 3 computers which is fine because usually by the you are ready to get the updated version of office anyway.
  • Thank you... I almost bought but now will look elsewhere.
  • Fire_mike98
    I just got a new computer, too. This is the biggest scam I've ever seen and I don't know how they get away with it. I was able to bring over all my Microsoft and Adobe products over to the new PC. Lifetime of your computer!!! Who in the H*ll keeps a computer for more than 2 or 3 years nowadays?

    I will be sure to let EVERYONE I know that is thinking about AVS4YOU to not bother.
  • Rusty Fields
    I am in the same boat
  • igo
    Wow! I was just about to purchase it but decided to check up. Good thing.Thanks dude for the warning. Much appreciated!
  • Adrian
    Hear, hear! What a bunch of pr..ks they are! The tragedy is their software is good. It's their rip-off licence policy that up the spout. Wish I knew what the UK equivalent of the Trade Practices Commission or the consumer protection is.

    Cheers
    Adrian
    Sydney
  • AC
    I wish I'd seen this blog before I bought their software. I had to change my motherboard/cpu and suddenly the software no longer works because it thinks I've installed it on 2 different computers. I want my money back!
  • READ the aggreement
    I Googled AVS4YOU to see if someone was using the program, because trial version of it looked so awesome.
    First problem reported was the license.
    Thanks to that, I read the aggreement, actually, and checked FAQ section and Terms of Use as well, if I remember correctly...

    I agree with "Did you read it?" below!
    This license thing ain't AVS4YOU's problem. It's a marketing trick. Nothing more, nothing less.
    It says so in the aggreement that you can use their program to ONE computer ONLY. Maybe it's a bit "unfair"
    If you don't read it, it's your fault. That's it.

    However, I know that after I buy a new motherboard, this program will stop working on my computer.
    I don't really mind about that.
    I know it now, and I WILL buy this program in the next few months.
  • Did you read it?
    I'm confused -- when activating the product, you had a choice to accept or not accept the license agreement. You accepted. Either you didn't read it, or you didn't have a problem with it. You may not agree with the practice, but how is it their fault if you clicked "yes" on the license agreement but then decided that you didn't want them to abide by the agreement?

    What is it with people not reading the fine print?
  • I have been using it for a year and am happy with it.

    I agree this is a shady business practice and did know it before purchasing. My computer then was 1 year old, now 2 years old. However I think the benefits of the software have made my life easier and I still like it.

    I would suggest that if you are going to use it and keep your computer is abit old, just grab the 1 year compared to life time. Its not that expensive for someone who is needing to edit video or do conversion.

    We can agree its a good product with a bad business practice. I would not call that a scam, I would call that more shady.

    Cheers,
    Mukul


  • Thanks BigRobby
    The power of blogging. The power of your post. If they advertise (spam my wordpress, causing blog owners to click on their link, I believe this set off a whole new load of spam referrals from the same site. I've no idea how they got to my blog o rmy blog gets to theirs. Parasitic. Ironically I am looking for something they advertised - videos to flash. But a gut feeling followed by a google feeling landed me here. A hearty bigrobby feeling warned me not to proceed. Your voice (ours, the consumers) speaks louder on the internet..
  • CH
    Thanks for posting. I'm passing also.
  • chaz
    I have an AVS 4 You message "stuck" on my desktop, How do I get rid of the damned thing? I do not want their product.

  • Bill
    Thanks for the information. I was ready to buy this today but I will look elsewhere.
  • Garry
    No Mate you dont have this wrong... it's a scam.. I on the same PC but all I done was upgraded from Windows XP to Windows 7 (Fresh Reload) and wala My AVS software is no good and they do not reply to my support requests. By the way they should atleast proof read there warning that comes up when I try to activate my software as it says accring to our records. Anyway $59.00 buckis down the tube. will look elsewhere. In OZ mate they wouldnt last 5 minutes in business doing this sort of stuff.
  • CHRISTOPHER MOORE
    YEAH AVS4YOU PROGRAM DOSNT WORK RIGHT ON MY COMPUTER IT SAYS THAT THEY WILL REFUND FOR THAT AND ITS BEEN 6 DAYS SINCE I REPORTED IT NOT WORKING RIGHT AND STILL TO THIS DAY NO SUPPORT WAS TAKIN
  • SergioDG
    Hello Steve, are you sure the software is not linked to the hard disk code?
  • SergioDG
    Thanks a lot. I was almost buying their software. You saved me from wasting my money with them!
  • Kurt
    WOW! Thanks for the blog. I almost bought their software but will be looking elsewhere due to their horrible policy.
  • Anonymous
    If anyone is looking for a video/audio converter, and a good one at that, try this one! It's called Any Video Converter and even the free version is awesome! Buy the professional and you've got a great deal!
  • Ray
    I wish I found this site 10 minutes ago as I just bought the "unlimited" license. This really is deceptive and I didn't read the FAQ until after I purchased the product. Keep fighting the good fight.
  • rob
    Power to the people! Eventually companies like this will realize that customers matter.
  • Steve Carr
    !! IMPORTANT TO READ !! IMPORTANT TO READ !!

    You must register the computer to the EXACT name as the older computer.
    So if you are getting a new computer, the AVS software key is linked to the name the computer is registered to.
    So the name you had in the email when you received the software key is what the computer has to be rgistered to.

    !! IMPORTANT TO READ !! IMPORTANT TO READ !!
  • Kristin
    Hey, i downloaded this program and converted all of my music to a different format. Now in EVERY song it says "avs4you demo" in the background every 10 seconds. PLEASE HELP!! Email me back with any help or feedback.

    -Thanks for your help!
    Kristin
  • Grandpadon
    Well despite not liking their marketing policies, today I broke down and bought the AVS4YOU unlimited subscription. It was on sale for 30% off ($41.30 instead of $59) at http://backupandrestoreyourdata.com/. I just hope my PC lasts a couple of more years.
  • Scott
    Yea, I'm gonna say here that their policies suck, but there are other websites that I've known (not gonna name any) that have used this policy on their products, and AVS4YOU isn't the only one that started to suck with it.
    Oh yea, that customer support guy looks like he needs a blowjob.
  • Paul Davis
    Thanks for the heads up! Too bad, i liked their video software - it's a good AVCHD converter. Will look elsewhere.
  • Grandpadon
    Today is the last day (1/10/10) of the AVS 70% Off Christmas Sale, and I almost popped for the $59 "Lifetime" offer, even though I was aware it meant lifetime of the computer. Then I read this blog and was convinced that my 3.5 year old computer would probably reach its allotted time before I would, even though I have been collecting Social Security for some time now. My association with AVS goes back several years (June, 2004) to when they were first creating their software, and I made good use of their conversion programs. They stated at that time that I would have a lifetime subscription to their audio/video software, and I interpreted that to mean my lifetime. When they came out with their suite of programs, I tried to get them to give me a license, and they would not even answer my emails...So much for AVS and their marketing policies...My immediate need is to convert Tivo files to DVD. I would have to do the 2 step Tivo-MP4-DVD using AVS for the second step, but using Easy Media Creator 10 as suggested by Jabarrado Montoya above, it looks like a 1 step process. I'll investigate that and bypass AVS.
  • AVSquery
    "Does anyone know how they define computer?"

    This is important. I would like to know this also. In the FAQ they say that you can change out a card (video/sound/etc) without problem, but what about upgrading mobo or HD?
  • Steve
    Thanks so much for the info. I was just gonna purchase the software and now i'm gonna download Elements 8 trail for free and if i pay for it,at least it will be MINE
  • Carl
    Dang - I tried 3 DVD converters on my personal VHS to DVD and this was only one that actually worked, and it was real easy. It's a better deal than Norton antivirus that wants the big bucks every year. But I agree they SHOULD say LIFE OF YOUR COMPUTER just for clarity. IF the software is good, you hurt yourself by playing games like that.
  • Ben
    Considering that AVS is a European company and not a US company, you must realize that the wording on the terms and conditions page is related to the laws in Europe.

    While I am glad that you got your updated license, you were wrong to expect the license to work on more than one computer. I always uninstall products when getting a new computer so that I can legally transfer the licenses. If there is a problem, I then contact the company. just trashing the computer becuase you got a new one is childish, rebuild first then close out the old one.
  • C Smith
    Thanks for all the info. Knowing all of this - I will not be purchasing from this company. Great reporting! Imagine how much business they are losing by doing this. Kind of makes a person feel better.
  • C Willis
    YES!! The license is tied to the hard drive. I had to replace mine after it failed and re-installed a acronis image and guess what....NOT ACTIVATED...reports it is expired and running on multiple PC's. I purchased the unlimited version. Soooo....if your hard drive fails...your SOL! Not even tied to the PC your using...it's the hard drive!
  • Ted Buckner
    I was just about to purchase and decided to google them. Thanks for the info. My laptop is already more than a year old. I think I need more time to consider doing business with them.

    Thanks for the info!
  • Thanks Robby. Does anyone know how they define computer? I use Acronis Migrate Easy (in one of its earlier encarnations) to clone my hard disks, with the effect of making my computers pretty immortal. I have yet to have a mother board break on me. If a hard disk breaks I can just put back in the last clone.

    I wonder if AVS4YOU will sense the fact that my hard disk has changed, when I change it. I will install AVS4YOU after the next hard disk change.

    Why do you recommend the "lifetime" licence? Are the updates worth it?
  • Timothy - Yeah, it does say it in the FAQ, but let's all admit that it's a bit of a shady business practice. They actually profit this way. I would rather pay $20 more for a copy that I could use on any single computer. That being said, their products work very well, I use them all the time, and I recommend to anyone who can get past their shitty policies to grab the unlimited license. But I recommend you do it with a computer you'll have for a long time.
  • Well they do say it quite clearly in the FAQ.

    But I agree that they should make it clearer by calling the "lifetime" licence a "Computer lifetime licence" since "lifetime" has an accepted meaning in English usage - the lifetime of the purchaser.

    All the same I think that I will be purchasing the software. It is not expensive and it does the job better than anything that I can find.
  • eclecticfred
    WOW.... glad this warning came to me before hand. Sorry AVS4YOU.... but there' a difference between customer"service", and "symantics". Guess I'll look for something else.
  • Ludwig
    AVS4you did the same to me as well a few months ago. My computer also went dead (bad motherboard) and after I got all my software moved over to the new one, I was told by AVS4You that I was SOL and I needed to purchase a new license key. I admire the fact that you posted this to WARN any potential buyers of their product.

    Cheers.
  • @ JimD: That actually just happened to me w/iTunes. They refuse to believe that I've only installed them on three computer - my laptop, my gaming rig and my HTPC. I upgrade all my computers to Windows 7, so guess what? They are now saying I have put this on FIVE computers. My HTPC? Eff it!!! No biggie, UNLESS you just paid $32 for the first season of The Proud Family for your niece to watch in the FRONT ROOM, not in my bedroom!
    .-= Jennifer´s last blog ..I feel the earth move under my feet... =-.
  • Jim
    Thanks for the Blog BigRobby, I went throu the payment process then the last page went stupid and didn't complete. I started again but just to be safe googled AVS4you scam, and their you were. I won't go near the pricks now. Thanks from Australia
  • JimD
    I'm guessing that the license is really tied to the disk drive signature. SO . . . if your drive fails and you replace it, then reinstall your operating system, they can't really claim that you are trying to put it on different computer, BUT their enforcement methods would probably THINK it's another computer. They would have to change their wording to say, "Sorry, you are not allowed to replace your hard drive without paying us more money."

    BTW: I just successfully got them to let me put it on my replacement computer, but they said, "Just this once. Don't let it happen again or you'll have to pay."
  • fiona
    well just paid for it but it will not give me access! have the code i paid for but just keep getting do this and do that from the help site, maybe they can't download to vista? fed up, will now go for the pirate one, not worth being honest and paying for it, cost me to find out though
  • Bill
    Thanks for the post! Unfortunately, I purchased this product about a month ago and installed it on a laptop that crashed. I tried to activate on a new computer to no avail. I have submitted 3 support message and not a single reply. I’m now looking for a replacement. Any recommendations? I need a product that can transfer many video formats to website formats such as WMV, MOV, AVI and Flash? By the way, I also plan to bring this to the attention of the Better Business Bureau.
  • jennifer
    Good for you!!! Who says blogging is a waste of time?

    I hear that it's not uncommon for companies to have software set up that automatically writes responses based on key words in your email. That sounds like what happened here.

    And I'm reminded of Andy DuFresne in "The Shawshank Redemption" when he said that he was a straight man on the outside and had to go to prison to become a thief. I have my software keys and whatnot written down and backed up to hell, but I will hit the 'net in a minute before I deal with some CSR jockey half across the world being paid pennies a day telling me there's nothing they can do (even though they really can't). Despite what the poor widdle rich executives tell you, most of us have no problem PAYING for what we need. Just don't nickel and dime us to DEATH!!!
  • Thanks for the heads up. I don't like their licensing policies, and giving me my own license back is not going to get me to like them anymore.
  • Jabarrado Montoya
    AVS pulled that same stupid manuever on me a year ago! I had a very old, aging Sony laptop (1Gb RAM!!!), and their software ran just ok.

    But... as soon as I upgraded it last year to a 4 Gb QuadCore E-I-E-I-O fire-breathing monster (for now), their stupid per-machine policy reared its flatulent-stinking head. MAN, do they STINK ON ICE!!! Very sly, veryslick, very shameful. And it's very good of you to "out them".

    They suck and should be run out of business. I discovered Easy Media Creator 10, and I have NEVER looked back at these discount stooges.

    Incidentally EMC 10 is not "problem-free", but it imports TiVo files PERFECTLY, with never a hiccup, and it yields beautifully edited completely professional ISO's or PSP-ready m4p's or iTouch-ready MP4's, etc, etc, etc.!!!

    And No..... I do not work for them, their tech support blows moose-nozzle as well, but at least their licensing strategy was NOT designed by retarded, money-grubbing slugs.
  • jaypaw
    If you have questions - you're mostly welcome!
  • Colin C
    I got multi AVG warnings when doing an install of this software. Threat was called "Thema". I emailed them abut this weeks ago, no reply. So, no spendee dollars!
  • Absolutely redonkulous. Good job on calling them out!
  • Here's an update on this topic:

    AVS4YOU provided me with a new license. However, when asked if they would change their policies, and stop using their license's vague verbiage to lull buyers into spending their money without knowing that they will never be able to use their software on another computer, they balked.

    Galina was willing to work with me on getting a new license, but further than that, no dice so far. I will keep this updated if something new happens.
  • Hello Rob,

    my name is Galina, I represent Online Media Technologies Ltd., the owner of avs4you.com

    Would you please spare me five minutes to let me correct the situation
    Today I found your report on this website and look into the issue.

    First, I'd like to express our apologies for inconvenience occured and for the negative emotions you got.
    Here I can say in return that we are always ready to do our best to help our clients in every situation! I understand that you can consider this only as words of
    an official representative of the company. But here on the other end we have thousands of happy users who express their gratitude for
    good software and timely service.

    All the information about our license agreement you can always find on our official site under FAQ page:
    http://support.avs4you.com/faq.aspx

    It's a pity that you have published your current key so we can not unblock it but we will contact you via e-mail to solve the problem

    If you have any questions or problems I invite you to write to me directly at Galina.Goduhina@avsmedia.net
    I sincerely believe that we can resolve all possible issues

    Best regards
    Galina Goduhina
    Chief of Technical Support Department
  • deb
    ROB YOU GO GET THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • I'm hoping they change their policies, and if not, I can at least raise some stink about it or get my money back. Argh.
  • That's lame. I've run into that situation several times and never had a problem getting the software in question reactivated on a new machine. You can't take a good product and then provide shitty customer service and sneak inane policies into the service agreement. People will turn away for something else more often than not. Dumbasses.
  • Guest
    Their response sounded like someone who doesn't speak English wrote it, lol
  • Ben
    Oh, and did I mention that Elden looks like a penis! Time for a trim there help desk boy...
  • Ben
    Wow, that's preposterous!! Their responses sounded awfully bot-like...
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