Warning issued about maker of DVD-copying software
Posted on 21/04/04 19:32 by Jan Willem                             
Warning issued about maker of DVD-copying software

The website StarTribune.com reports that The Better Business Bureau has warned consumers when buying software from 321 Studios. The company offers huge rebates on their software a widely used system in the United States (and personally I've not seen it much in Europe). The catch is that altough the rebate discounts are huge only a small percentage of the people really takes time to get their money from the rebate.

A consumer advisory from the bureau cited more than 70 complaints about the company since 2002, reporting problems getting promised rebates, poor customer service or software that did not work properly. The agency said the company had responded that the number of gripes was a small percentage of its client pool and that ``every effort is made to track and answer every case, usually with 100 percent satisfaction.''

Messages left Tuesday with 321 were not immediately returned. The bureau said a Florida man complained it took five months to get a promised $30 rebate from 321, and ``it took contacting the Better Business Bureau to finally get it.'' A California man told the bureau that since sending off last December for a $40 rebate that the form said would be received in four to eight weeks, he has e-mailed 321 four times to inquire about the reimbursement.

We expect that many people who complained probably got a ripper free version of the DVDxCopy software. Anyone who wants to purchase 321 Studios software without any rebate hassle and with the ripper module included can visit this website.

Source: StarTribune.com

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By willb3d, Wed 21 Apr 2004 20:47
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Smear campaign! 70 rebate problems since 2002...so two rebate problems per month? Not bad for a company selling hundreds, perhaps thousands of units each month.
By MadBob, Wed 21 Apr 2004 20:55
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unless you happen to be one of the people who didn't get a rebate! then we would hear you bitch.
By jef195, Wed 21 Apr 2004 21:04
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Two easy solutions either don't buy 'Crap' software.there are better alternatives(Free ones too!) or better go Dual Layer. devil
By icepax, Thu 22 Apr 2004 01:02
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Dual Layer it is!...
By megod, Thu 22 Apr 2004 02:08
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I sent a rebate in to 321 late January, No rebate yet. I thought being a not US Resident would not get it. Will have to Pursue it. cheers megod
By Roj, Thu 22 Apr 2004 04:15
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I am no fan of rebates. I think they're a ripoff. That being said, I have a great deal of respect for 3-2-1 Software. I own DVD Xcopy Platinum and it ain't the ripper free version. I've had several discussions with their extremely knowledgeable technical support staff (one such conversation led to me uninstalling a Windows Update patch that was supposedly to block a security hole in Windows Media Player but actually broke - perhaps intentionally? - DVD Xcopy Platinum) and found them nothing but forthcoming and helpful. I have had to reinstall my software on several machines due to machine rebuilds and have expired my installations a number of times and on each occasion they cheerfully reset the server so that I was able to install again. These are good people and they're fighting a very tough battle against unscrupulous and greedy foes on behalf of all of us and their line of business. To those who actually buy into rebates and don't pursue them: you get what your intelligence deserves.
By LoneWolf15, Thu 22 Apr 2004 17:54
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LoneWolf15I don't care for DVD X Copy compared to free programs like DVDShrink and DVD Decrypter. That said, the Better Business Bureau is a lousy organization that started up with noble ideals. You can pay to be on their "list of members" which makes you look like a quality vendor, whether you are or not. If you do pay them, it also takes a lot more work for consumer complaints to them to make you look bad. If you don't pay them when they call up and invite you to be a member (this is from personal experience at a former job) they may tell you politely about phone calls made to them regarding your business (whether those are good or bad, they won't say). 70 complaints over 2 years for a company that spans multiple countries is probably very little; I should bet that Microsoft, HP, and IBM have far more. This stinks to me of a smear, and nothing more.
By cperrywebrat, Wed 18 Aug 2004 05:28
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cperrywebratclown I have a copy of with the ripper from 321 Studios. I have been contacting the company for a year now repeatedly with nothing more than an automated FAQ on rebates. They absolutely had no intention of delivering, and it was only for $10, but still!!! However, the product was well worth the money even without the $10 rebate. I am now concerned with activations as they are reportedly out of business. Sooner or later that will make my product useless.

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