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General discussion

IS THIS A SCAM

Mar 31, 2011 2:11AM PDT

ON 03/29/11 I purchased Ashampoo WinOptimizer 7 for $2.49 through a deal offered by CNET. Today I received an email from CNET telling me Ashampoo WinOptmizer 8 is now available. Is this just a coincidence or a scam? Can someone tell me if I download version 8 will I have to pay the $49.99 purchase price or do I get it for free as an update since I own version 7. Thanks

Discussion is locked

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Intruding here,
Mar 31, 2011 5:40AM PDT
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Maybe not a scam but...
Mar 31, 2011 10:00AM PDT

Maybe it wasn't a scam, but I bought it and the new version was released today! I doubt that CNET will be able to convince me that it didn't know about this. Of course, I can "upgrade" for $19.99, since I'm such a loyal Ashampoo customer. Tell me... how pissed off should I be at both this and the fact that Ashampoo has been deluging my inbox with "special offers" since I bought Version 7? C'mon CNET, I expected more from you.

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Do this then
Apr 1, 2011 1:27AM PDT

Keep and use version 7 and wait until the "give away" price happens again. That is your clue that a new version is imminent. You can buy the old or wait for the new. Personally, I've not found that very much happens from one version to another with a lot of software. In fact, patches often come out quite soon with new versions. Don't be taken by that those "last chance to save" offers. You can see the same happen with hardware too. Deep discounts for printers and such usually precede the introduction of a new line at full retail price. I'll often buy the older line as it's been around to collect a lot of reviews. The new stuff has no history. The type of bait that used to attract customers changes very slowly...and only when so many have felt the sharp hook that they no longer bite. Maybe it would be better to try and feel happy with a good price than to feel "had" because the product was about to be replaced by a newer (but probably largely the same) offering.

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Thanks, but I'm still annoyed
Apr 1, 2011 4:20AM PDT

I have no plans to purchase the newer version. There's lots of freeware out there that does pretty much the same thing. It was the price that attracted me, and the many emails which followed (from which I've unsubscribed, since) that annoyed me. If CNET had said "this is your opportunity to get this for a great price because I new version will be coming out soon" I would probably still have bought it, but I wouldn't have been annoyed. It's a nice addition to the registry cleaners I already have on board. Think I'll stick with well-reviewed freeware and donate the money to those developers.

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Is this a scam
Apr 1, 2011 4:31AM PDT

I agree. We should have been told up front that version 8 was being released the next day.

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Not going to happen
Apr 1, 2011 5:56AM PDT

And I seriously doubt that the release date was leaked to Cnet. This is why consumers need to watch and be vigilant when they think a price is too good to be true. Microsoft, on the other hand, does seem to announce release dates but will offer free upgrades to those who would wait. They also don't tend to drop their prices much on older software. Folks complain about that too. Of course, if you read about registry cleaners in these forums, you'll find them not to be recommended for casual use (if for any use at all). None of this stuff is new and it's really up to the consumer to do a good job with their homework.