Re: WAVES TLC - Theft & Loss Coverage

After I posted, I read the Wave TOS on the new "TLC" program.

I'd rather fill out a rebate coupon, cutting and glueing a UPC bar code from the box, than to comply with this labyrinth of eligibility requirements. For instance, WAVES will not honor a theft claim in the second half of the annual maintenance contract agreement.

What kind of stipulation is that? After reading the long list of other legal exemptions, you come to realize even if you jump through all their hoops, they have a clause where, essentially, they will come through only half the time during the annual paid contract!

I bought WAVES through a major national retailer, one who purchases multiple pages of ads in every pro audio magazine. To their credit, they have gone to bat for me several times over this issue, but still WAVES will not budge.

In the past, they fought other battles with WAVES over the WUP maintenance program. WAVES did relent on some issue on that matter. I think the problem was high fees, and no renewal after a lapse. Now WAVES will renew WUP after a lapse, without requiring payment of back fees.

I've heard nothing but good about WAVES product performance, though I do think their bundles are grossly bloated and overstated. Anybody can include 40 processors instead of 8 if they count Versions 1-6 as 6 separate plug-ins.

BUYER BEWARE: WAVES is a company who regards their customers as thieves. Between the cop who investigated my theft to my treatment at the hands of WAVES afterwards, I feel totally violated.

BTW - I am not adverse to dongles. Before this theft, I liked the fact that they allow me to use my software on multiple computers, something generally not possible with challenge-response copy protection. But I was always troubled that WAVES opted out of the iLok key replacement program.

My attitude is about the company, not about the product. But I am learning a lesson I've heard the president of my company express about vendors many, many times. Price is not the most important factor, and neither is quality. There are some people who are not worth dealing with just because of who they are. WAVES is like that - at this point if I were to win back my Diamond bundle, I don't know that I would find space for it on my hard drive, and I don't have enough regard for the company that I would wish them on somebody else via eBay.