Do Auran really want customers and to make money?

[gremlin1812]

G'Day All,
Do Auran really want customers and to make money or are they just playing power games with everyone? I recently purchased TRS2009 at a garage sale when I tried to register it I could not, it seems it had been already registered and I concede that as this product still seems to be sold by Auran, it is a fair call. Then a friend sent me a copy of TRS Ultimate Collection and TRS2004 purchased by him in original packaging sealed and unopened, I installed UTC, registered and updated/patched it. Then I tried to install TRS 2004 and guess what, it had already been registered!! Sealed and never opened? Is there a scam going on with registration numbers or what. The product had been purchased in the UK from Just Trains sealed and unopened and Auran say it has already been registered?
I was going to give this a try and if I liked it go for either TRS2009 or 2010 but with these kind of things going on I’m not to sure, add to that, that even with the registered product I cannot even download the smallest scenery item from the DLS and I think to myself will this happen if I was to get the newer product?
Auran could, once a product is no longer sold by them allow the purchase of a new registration number for those products, let’s face it no production cost, no post and packaging just an e mail with the new number, instant profit and that person would then be inclined to want to advance to the higher levels and purchase the latest products.
Yes I have raised a ticket and no I have no reply yet(won't hold my breath), but it has not been a week yet. I will just have to wait and see but that seems to be what a lot of people have to do judging from what I see on these forums, it seems so far that customer relations and customer service are not strong points of Auran.
Regards
Barrie

 

[JCitron]

Barnie,

Your best bet is to contact Auran directly regarding the serial number issue. Perhaps they can help you.

John

 

[domsarto]

This must be the first time I have ever defended Auran.

Purchased from Just Trains complain to Just Trains
Purchased from Auran complain to Auran

do gach bó a lao, chun gach leabhar a chlúdach
to every cow its calf, to every book its cover

 

[Smileyman]

Just because a game has plastic sealing on it doesn't mean it has never been opened or even sold.

Most stores like PC World and Staples for example, have the ability to reseal boxes and games so that they look like they've never been touched, and this isn't a new practice.

In fact, if you go into PC World you'll probably find some hardware like graphics cards that are marked as second-hand or refurbished, and the packaging on these boxes is as good as the packaging on the new boxes.

As John says, contact Auran and see what they can do for you, if anything.
If nothing else, at least they'll know who it was that took their Trainz back to the store AFTER registering it.

Smiley.

 

[Winglessbird]

Quote but it has not been a week yet.Unquote

Hi Barrie,
It will probably take about 2 weeks as the Help Desk is/was snowed under over Xmas.It raises a point that the games cant be transferred to someone else, but I fail to see why.Auran would already have their money,so there is no problem there,but perhaps it could get messy if some one sold you their version of Trainz,but still kept running it on their computer.As stated Auran will at least be able to see who has been a little naughty.

Dont be put off mate.Its a great Sim and 2010 is the best so far.

Regards Rusti

 

[johnwhelan]

G'Day All,
Do Auran really want customers and to make money or are they just playing power games with everyone? I recently purchased TRS2009 at a garage sale when I tried to register it I could not, it seems it had been already registered and I concede that as this product still seems to be sold by Auran, it is a fair call. Then a friend sent me a copy of TRS Ultimate Collection and TRS2004 purchased by him in original packaging sealed and unopened, I installed UTC, registered and updated/patched it. Then I tried to install TRS 2004 and guess what, it had already been registered!! Sealed and never opened? Is there a scam going on with registration numbers or what. The product had been purchased in the UK from Just Trains sealed and unopened and Auran say it has already been registered?
I was going to give this a try and if I liked it go for either TRS2009 or 2010 but with these kind of things going on I’m not to sure, add to that, that even with the registered product I cannot even download the smallest scenery item from the DLS and I think to myself will this happen if I was to get the newer product?
Auran could, once a product is no longer sold by them allow the purchase of a new registration number for those products, let’s face it no production cost, no post and packaging just an e mail with the new number, instant profit and that person would then be inclined to want to advance to the higher levels and purchase the latest products.
Yes I have raised a ticket and no I have no reply yet(won't hold my breath), but it has not been a week yet. I will just have to wait and see but that seems to be what a lot of people have to do judging from what I see on these forums, it seems so far that customer relations and customer service are not strong points of Auran.
Regards
Barrie

It's easier to order the download version directly from Auran that way you know its a legitimate copy and not a pirated version, they get a bit more money as well. The Just Trains UK version needs to live in your dvd drive because of the copy protection on it.

World wide the number of pirated copies of Trainz is regrettably substantial and compared to the cost of an item of model railway the cost of the software isn't that bad.

Cheerio John

 

[Red_Rattler]

In this case, Auran is NOT responsible

G'Day All,
Do Auran really want customers and to make money or are they just playing power games with everyone? I recently purchased TRS2009 at a garage sale when I tried to register it I could not, it seems it had been already registered and I concede that as this product still seems to be sold by Auran, it is a fair call.

In this case, Auran is NOT responsible, nor is it their fault, as you brought it second hand from a garage sale & as such Auran are unable to help.

Buying privately (from Queensland Fair Trading)

Buying privately
When you buy goods from a private person, rather than through a commercial store, there is no statutory cooling-off period or statutory warranty. This includes any goods you buy from a private person selling through newspaper classifieds, at a garage sale or online.

Private purchases are covered by the common law of contract.

- now could someone feel my head to see if I'm sick, for actually defending Auran for once! But second hand goods that have been brought from a trader have warranties (stautory [or implied]) While it may be different between states, Queensland is basically the same.

Gremlin, you list your location as the Eastern Creek, NSW, Australia, so why would you want to get the UK version for?

 

[gremlin1812]

"Gremlin, you list your location as the Eastern Creek, NSW, Australia, so why would you want to get the UK version for?"

If you read the post properly you would have seen that it was a gift from a friend in the UK.

 

[angelah]

2004

In my humble opinion 2004 (after installing the patches) was and still is the best of the series. But that's my owm view.... It has it's faults but it is such an easy version to use, like no CMP for a start, something that seems to generate its own series of problems even before you get to running Trainz.
I speak from experience having run the original Trainz, UTC, 2004, TC3 and 2006. I needed a considerable amount of help to get both TC3 and 2006's CMPs working and understanding them.
No such problem with 2004. Auran may still have a few copies knocking about they would like to sell and some Game stores still have stocks and they are very reasonably priced.
But of course you can yet again run into this problem of registration.
Considering what you get for your bucks any version of Trainz is well worth the money. Where else could you run trains in any country for as far as you like with as much stock as you can dream of for this cost - it's an absolute bargain!
And having criticised CMP, once you get the hang of it the thing works well, it's just the learning curve and there are plenty of folk on this forum who will help you if you get stuck.
So if you are unable to restore 2004 to use or cannot buy a new unregistered version of it, then go for one of the later versions, 2006 is going at bargain prices right now.
And they are (mostly) backwards compatible so no problems with content designed for earlier Trainz, well, not too many anyway, there are some, but it's not a total disaster.
Buying second hand stuff at car boot sales or similar places is a gamble. It seems you lost this time but don't let that stop you trying again. Once you get Trainz up and running you will quickly find a whole new world ready and waiting - and as many worlds as you want if you wish to sit down and make them yourself, something not many other Sims allow you to do to the degree you can in Trainz. Some screenies look like real railways and that must say it all!

Me? I run Trainz but not to see consists running round, that bores me. I create routes and love the challenge it provides for me, especially when working on a real route here in the UK.

Don't lose heart.

Angela

 

[fran1]

Just a point about the just trains version, as has been stated it (the CD) has to be in the drive to use the sim and consequently it will develop cracks and become unusable, as careful as you are with the disc.
Hope your problems are sorted soon.
9.95 AUD for 2004 + postage.

 

[patchy]

mmmmm,
what gets me is people are looking for the cheapist way of obtaining things
i'll bet you a million dollars this fellow was thinking i'll get away with this and been found out and you'll never here from him again
remember there is only about three thousand of us worldwide that take trainz seriously
cheers,
patchy

 

[gremlin1812]

Just a point about the just trains version, as has been stated it (the CD) has to be in the drive to use the sim and consequently it will develop cracks and become unusable, as careful as you are with the disc.
Hope your problems are sorted soon.
9.95 AUD for 2004 + postage.

I have it running (albeit unregistered without the CD no problems) and the pack was definitly a new (2 CD) pack compleat with Just trains technical suport registration card and the Auran TRS2004 booklet. I have also raised a ticket with Just Trains.
I'll just wait and see what happens, but Just Trains are a reputable company and just do not pass off second hand stuff.
Regards
Barrie

 

[Red_Rattler]

I'll just wait and see what happens, but Just Trains are a reputable company and just do not pass off second hand stuff.

What has Auran got to do with, as you brought it privately?

 

[Baureihe41]

What has Auran got to do with, as you brought it privately?

Do you write bRought instead of bought on purpose? If yes, why?

 

[VinnyBarb]

Do you write bRought instead of bought on purpose? If yes, why?

Sheeeesh......., it is just a bl**dy typo, no need to get your knickers in a knot over it .

Your post was a useless exercise and is serving no purpose, I guess as my reply to yours is too (just in case there is a reply to this) .

Re the purchase, as said, if bought from a garage sale (privately), there is nothing one can do re the serial already being used. However, having said that, I am sure Just Trains can sort this out one way or another, although they are not obliged to do so. If not, there is always AURAN's shop (link to it somewhere on the forum web site) where you will find all sorts of cheap bargains of different Trainz versions. I bought the Ultimate Trainz collection some time ago, where one gets 3 different Trainz versions in one package, I don't know if this is still available.

Cheers

VinnyBarb

 

[Red_Rattler]

I wasn't going to reply as I believe I don't need to, but I will.

Do you write bRought instead of bought on purpose? If yes, why?

Sheeeesh......., it is just a bl**dy typo, no need to get your knickers in a knot over it .

Um no it was not a typing error, as to me anyway it sounds better than "bought." EG: Sometimes English grammar (& quite often spelling) is strange. If you take it even further, you could say that Trainz is not spelt correctly, or a "proper" word.

You could take it down to which spelling of colour/color is correct (Yanks win on that one! :hehe: )

I thourt this thread was about a person who thourt he was having troble buying a product from a garbage, um ur garage sale, etc. :hehe:

PS: Shhhhhh!, don't tell him, but "um" was added on purpose!

 

[gremlin1812]

OK, this is all getting a bit out of hand.
1- I did buy a copy of TRS2009 at a garage sale and concede that it, due to policy cannot be registered. I have accepted this and it is not the issue for me.

2- I was given Trainz UTC and TRS2004 as a gift, it was from a friend in the UK and was purchased from Just Trains. These were brand new boxed sets, UTC installed and registered without problem, but, TRS2004 did not, when I attempted to register, it said the number had already been registered, this is the issue as this is genuine fresh out of the box brand new copy(not the original UK version). I have raised tickets with both Auran and Just Trains and am awaiting the result.

3- As far as buying trs2010, I am currently unemployed (retrenched) and have a family to support so I have to be careful with our dollars and cannot justify spending the dollars where at this point I see only problems.

Lets just see the outcome of the support tickets that have been raised.
Someone suggested looking at the Auran shop If you want TRS2010 and associated products OK but anything else just does not raise a mention.

At this point I will just push on with UTC and see what makes things tick.
Regards
Barrie

Edit - I found the rest of the products at the shop, nicely hidden down the bottom on a little unobtrusive button.

 

[Alco_P-A]

There is a way around your game problem. You could go to non auran sites and DL content on a flash drive or cd and then install it in your game. If you are registerd with auran, DL the content thru FTP then onto again a flash drive or cd then you can install in your game. Worth a try.

 

[rjhowie]

Is it some kind of human failing that gets us all hot under the collar? Any time someone has a problem or a sale query it quickly raises to hot house level in discussion. Gremlin is right about being concerned this is getting out of hand a wee bit. I know gremlin feels a bit miffed (understandably) but he is waiting to see if he gets a response so let's see if he gets it?

 

[VinnyBarb]

A typo? Two different posts and three times the same typo? Yeah right! Besides, are you Red_Rattler? Nope, so I suggest you shut up and let the one I asked answer my question.

Who stepped on your toes? No need to get aggressive here, this is just a friendly forum. Anyway who appointed you as the resident SPELLCHECKER, typo or otherwise? If someone (Red Rattler for example) likes to spell HIS words HIS way, that is HIS business! Its meanings were still clear to anyone, if it was no to you, this is just your bad luck.

I still stand by my comments that yours was a useless post/reply.

Just to get back on topic, I fully agree with the poster rjhowie2, a perfect example one can find above .