This thread is becoming so much fun.

The Diy's in this corner with threats to move to Harmony and Pronto...Nice Chioce

The CI's with support of URC and their decisions....Nice choice again

So when a new feature comes out on a newer model of your car are bitching at you local dealer for that to be added to your car???

I just bought this new ram truck last week and you didnt tell me that next week you would have a new year model with 3 cup holders in stead of my 1??? no you live with it or you go to wal-mart and buy a Bad ass add on cup holder and move on

when you buy your groceries...do you ask for a disccount??? NO YOU PAY FREAKING RETAIL..have you ever seen the markups on groceries??

How about gas...do drive all over town to save a buck??

Lets talk about doctors....Do you ask them for discounts on their services??? NO what about the meds they prescribe??? do you shop the net for a doctor when you need surgery?? nope..you go right down to the local doctor and have it doen..pay the HUGE amount they charge..Bitch a little and move on
Why do you have a family doctor?? its because you trust him on his diagnosis of your problems, you usually dont ask prices with him you dont ask for discounts with him either....

what about your clothes?? do you but from EBAY??? probably not

lets start looking at all the stuff you buy....do you shop the net for it?? couches, lawnmower, hairspray, carpet for your house, What about that new ring you just bought your wife...did you get that on QVC and ask for a discount??? Hell no..you bought a low quality ring at a serious mark up and passed it on to your wife hoping to get lucky that night

I dont sell URC..havent for awhile now. But I will continue to support the people who bought from me. I think what URC did was in good intentions, just was not done correctly, they should have mad an announcement stating they were going to remove the software, then offer a registration area on the website for those who bought properly the ability to download the newest versions, and those that did not buy properly the ability to still load the software but disable the update features and offer for a small price the ability to load an updatable version

When we were a dealer we were required to list the price at what we were told to..MAP, we never sold at the MAP price, we sold a bit lower and usually added a discount to a package price. If there is an issue with the remote we get a call, go to the home and fix it. replace it. whatever we need to do to make it right

So lets say you bought it from ebay...now the battery doesnt hold a charge after a week...what do you do?? call the ebay guy?? OH wait..he's gone now..so now where do you go...the local CI or dealer?? If you came to me and didnt buy from me I would tell you to go away..you didnt buy from me so I wont support you..ok so now you call URC and talk with them..they ask for a serial number..you dont have one due to unauthorized guy selling it on ebay...so now what?? you have to buy a battery at full pop?? probably...ok so now your mad at Local dealer, URC and ebay guy for what??? You trying to save a few dollars

We have lost countless hours with URC and poor RF with the MRF250 and MRF300 I would say we lost close to several thousand dollars in unbillable time troubleshooting to find the RF was an issue in our area, we did what we could to correct it and moved on, still sold the products and made clients happy. We then had a client request RTI so we tried it and BAM!!! we had a new remote line to use. Dropped URC until the RF was corrected. Well RTI is a dealer only line as well, the remotes have no learning capabilities, include no softwrae and are availbale to CI's only.

I dont really know what to say other than instead of Pissing and whining, bitching and moaning...just do what you need to do and get the software, move on and enjoy your remotes..you had no issues last week with it and loved it...so there was a removal of the software from the boxes and the website...all you need to do is contact whom ever you purchased the remote from and ask for a copy of the new software. If your dealer is gone contact URC and see what they require. I know Eric has posted on here and has mentioned what will be needed to get a copy. There will also be the Registartion for the non updatable version starting tomorrow

Lets all just take a deep breath, step back for a moment and recollect ourselves. Get ahold of yourselves and enjoy your remotes. its working now correct?? Yes it is..so what are you missing today that you didnt have last week..updates?? there havent been any new updates yet so its all still current and probably will be for another week or so

Discounts on groceries are clearly advertised, you don't have to ask. If I had to buy milk from an AD I'm sure it would cost more.

*I first purchased a consumer line URC-200 from Circuit City

CONSUMER LINE PURCHASE:
I thought it was a nice remote programing was fairly simple, easier than my previous remote a Sony RM-VL1000 very simular in function, the main benefit over the Sony was the RF capabilities
But I had to contact URC customer service when I found this remote was unable to control one of my components, my Moxi DVR/cable box. I found out this remote was unable to control my cable box and it never would be able to...... OK this remote was no good to me now.

*One week later I purchased a professional line mx-800 from Comp-U-Plus

PROFESSIONAL LINE PURCHASE:
I bought my mx-800 after seeing a post from someone saying because of the "Live Update" this remote was now able to work the Moxi DVR/cablebox. So I saw with the "mx editor" on URC's site that indeed the Moxi was listed. I purchased my mx-800 and was very happy this was the easiest remote to use and program I have ever owned...
Most of what I read in the manuals I had already planned to do before I ever read to do it in the manual... I thought this was the best planned out, nicest and most user friendly remote I have ever seen.. Why on earth do they seem to think it needs to be programed by some professional?
But now the "Live Update" feature which made this remote a choice for me and even usable for me has been disconnected?

-------------------------
Eric Johnson, I think URC is marketing these remotes wrong, the mx-800 /mx-850 is not some complicated professional use only remote, *I have heard someone say a CI charged them $1000 for an mx-850 including the $400 for programming*... it is simpler to use than most programable remotes I have ever seen and the advanced features are wonderful.
I honestly believe URC should market these remotes differently, they are very user friendly. I think the mass market potential Circuit City / Best Buy and this form of retail is very good. Those who need the high end installers will still find them there, but those of us who appreciate a high end product will find them much easier too.

Rich

Not to rain on the CI parade or encourage the DIY'ers, I was able to upgrade my MX-950 Editor software via the URC web site with NO problems this morning (Aug 6) on two different computers (main and notebook). The update was to version 1.10.086, released on July 26, 2006.

Did URC screw up and forgot about the MX-950, change back to open updates, or what? I do my own remote programming but am not a CI. Bought URC stuff from both grey market (unknowingly) and authorized dealers (after joining this forum).

Bill

I beg to differ. If every discounted URC unauthorized remote left the internet tomorrow, there might be a few that complain. This has nothing to do with the complaints being brought here. The manufacturer is legally responsible to provide a functioning remote.

The fact that they will be removing the programming software from the box and will not even offer it freely on their website is the problem. Who the remote ends up with and how it got there is not the consumer's concern. It is URC's!! The only people that can't see this are the one's whose pocketbook have been affected by URC's ineptness in controlling their network.

1. No software with the remote - NONFUNCTIONING PRODUCT.!
2. Will not provide software for function of the product if you purchased from a source that we ALLOW our product to be sold to because of our own failure to control our distribution. - LAWSUIT

That is a big problem these days, nobody wants to take responsibility. They always want to blame somebody else for their own problems. I have been in the mfg & distribution business for 20 years. Trust me, the attorneys are getting ready to pounce hard on this one. In all honesty they should. If you make a product and sell it to the consumer (please no more comments about not marketed to the consumer. If the consumer wasn't buying these remotes, NONE of you would be in business) you had better back it up regardless of how it got to them. If I treated my customers in similar fashion we would have gone out of business years ago.

URC needs to solve it's problems quietly and take care of their ONLY customer - the consumer. While I don't think it is to late to do this, the hour glass is running.

I did the same thing for my MX-850 software yesterday. If you attempt to update again you will get the "not updateable" message alluded to in a previous entry.

Henry

Here's an interesting question. How does URC plan to keep a clear segregation of the Consumer and Professional lines when the Best Buy Mini Mags and Tweeter continue to be authorized dealers for both? It seems to me that customer perception of those merchants has a direct impact on their perception of the URC brand in general as well as the idea of separate lines. I find it hard to see the delineation that Eric is pushing when they retain 2 very large dealers that many folks see as just box movers.

I've been a Tweeter customer since i moved to the Atlanta market in 1998. Since that time, I've watched the chain erode from being a more higher end entity to much closer to a big box retailer like BB or CC. Salespeople are much less knowledgeable (and I've heard from more than one former employee that many of the best folks left after they changed the compensation program a few years back) and they don't sell as many exclusive or premium brands as they used to. At this point, I don't consider to be much above a BB especially now that BB is rolling out Mini Mags. I've actually bought a 950 to try out from Tweeter a few months ago and they didn't even ask if I needed or suggest programming. It seemed like a pretty straighforward retail experience.

As for the Mini Mags, I think those also blur the lines for URC and erode the status of the professional brand as being geared towards CIs. Anyone who's been to a Mini Mag knows what I mean. The first time you may see it as a special box within a box. But after a few trips you really just see it as another part of the same store. As the penetration of MMs continue and every BB has one, it really goes from something special to just another section in the store. Sure, they have their own reps, registers, and prodcuts line, but I think the many folks will quickly see through all that and not really differentiate. At the very least, there will be lots of further misconception about who the professional models are aimed at.

To me, if URC is intent on keeping this clear segregation, they need to address these 2 dealers. Otherwise, all the stuff they say here and on their site will continue to be contradicted in a very public way. On the other hand, these are the kind of dealers that don't really threaten the small CIs because. BB and Tweeter usually sell at MSRP and the quality of service and back end support is poor compared to what you'd expect from a CI. So, I wouldn't think that many CIs are pressing URC to have the pro units pulled from these guys.

As a result, the problem would only be one of image. Are they wiling to jeopardize that volume to retain the image Eric says they have and will maintain? My guess is that URC is reluctant to drop or really force the hand of 2 dealers that I'd guess move quite a few units. Let's see what they do on that front.

Jeff

I am just curious to see if you checked the website of the shingles you purchased to see if you actually purchased from an authorized dealer of the shingles. My point is most people would not think to do that, especially for a product that it only a couple hundred bucks. I would not have know about this if it wasn't for this forum. URC is not treating customers who did not know any better very well. For them to leave the remotes available for years on eBay (the same sellers have been selling there for years) is really a horrible way to treat your customers.

I have wrote them a letter and they did respond with a code for me to get the new software... I am not sure yet as to where this code works I did not see anything on their site and it does not look like something to use on URC's site either. I am still waitiing to hear back from my second email with the question as to where to use the code and they are closed for the weekend....

Yes, I could return the remote if that was my choice and I also have a one year warranty ..... I am not upset at all with Comp-U-Plus I hope they will get me the "New" software but I am still not sure. It's URC that has done this to me and every customer with their software based products... Very bad customer relations in my oppinion

The "Live Update" was something that enabled one of my "difficult to find a remote for" components, that was my decision to buy this remote, I am not happy to see it suddenly taken away from me. I don't want to discover in the future I make a change of components and this remote won't operate something as I only want to use THIS remote for my entire system.

I don't like being treated like a crook simply because my place of purchase was not from one of the what I am finding in this post to be the rudest distributors of a product that I've ever seen. I purchased URC's product from a store, not on the street, and not even off of ebay.

This was a terrible thing to do to all of their end users. I don't flame at message boards and have never written anything on posts here except to help others and sell my old used remotes. But URC I am mad as hell at this new policy as I am sure the majority of your products end users are or they will be some day when they find out they cannot get updates since they don't read these posts.

I also think most of the CI's that have been posting on this have been showing their true colors.... and most don't look very good at all...... glad I will NEVER use them.

I've been a URC owner for 4 years now, and won't debate this new policy, as others have hashed it out extensively. However, I'd like to focus on something I'm not seeing addressed here or in the policy itself, which makes me concerned. This is my first post, just for this new policy. I don't think it's quite so simplistic and black-and-white as URC's policy, and would like to hear how they plan to address many people in the following categories of AUTHORIZED purchasers who seem to be falling through the cracks:

All of these apply to those who made AUTHORIZED purchases but now seem to be neglected by URC's policy.

1. Buyers from an authorized dealer that now refuses to provide support. (i.e. the buyers are asking the dealer for support this week and are receiving replies of, "we only stock and sell the remotes, not provide software"--it's already happening)

2. Those who received their remotes as gifts, where the gift giver purchased from an authorized dealer but wouldn't even think of documenting for this long where they bought it from. (or the recipient doesn't even know who gave them the Christmas gift, etc)

3. Buyers from an authorized dealer that have lost or not kept their original sales receipt, as it was many, many years ago.

4. Owners who bought it from another owner that bought it from an authorized dealer.

5. Buyers of A/V components from authorized dealers where the component came PACKAGED with a URC remote.

6. Buyers from authorized dealers who have since gone out of business.

I have two MX-700 remotes, one of which falls into category #5 above. I bought a $6,000 Parasound C1 A/V controller that came packaged with an MX-700 remote control. I bought it from an authorized Parasound sales source as listed directly on Parasound's website. (www.parasound.com) However, the place I bought it from does NOT sell for URC directly, (as with many other Parasound dealers) so I don't have access to URC support. I have never contacted URC for instructions on how to program my MX-700; I have done all work myself, and frankly, I'm disappointed in URC's publicly released statement about this new control program, saying that these remotes are not intended for the end-user use, they are intended for CI's only. Well, I feel that situation #5 as listed directly contradicts that. Clearly, by URC packaging these remote controls in MORE THAN ONE manufacturer's components, they intend for their products to be installed and used by end-users. Otherwise, every authorized seller of these other manufacturers that package URC products would also be required to customize and install the URC product contained in it, fully trained by URC like actual URC dealers, before handing over the component to the end user.

Again, I'm not debating whether UNAUTHORIZED buyers should be supported. I'm only wondering how URC intends to support us AUTHORIZED buyers that don't fit neatly into URC's stated policy. I'm also the moderator of a large club of Parasound owners that are all concerned, wondering the same thing. I'm sure there are many other owners out there of other manufacturer products that also came packaged with URC remotes, that are wondering the same thing. Not to mention those that fit into categories #1-4 above, or others I'm not thinking of.

I've had an E-mail question to URC in for a couple days now, about how they will address these, but have not heard back. I'll withold final judgment on thie policy until this is addressed, at the least.

Hey cruzin...

Eric keeps saying that most of those unauthorized remotes are stolen.

so whatever few Mr CCD CI expert sells won't even cover five minutes of URCs defence to state AGs actions let alone a potential class action.

We gotta take that one particular CI's two sales as his total for the month!

LOL

When I bought my last car, it came with a warranty. All bugs and Mfgs problems (includinging things the mfg had advertised/promised would work) were fixed at no charge and I was provided with a free loaner while the mfgs errors were fixed. One of my previous new cars had bugs in year five. Those bugs were fixed at no charge, again I was provided with a loaner car.

When I purchase groceries, I look at the flyers/ads and purchase at the lowest VALUE price taking all factors into consideration.

When I buy clothes the same thing, I watch for sales. Sears may have Dockers pants at $75 where The Bay may have the SAME PANTS for $40. Guess where I buy and it certainly is not the $75 MSRP!!!

When I go to the Dr I pick the one who is the best fit and experience in the field I need...I SHOP AROUND as some doctors, just as some CIs are incompetent. (Though real Drs have more than part high school).

When I buy carpet, furniture or anything, I shop around and YES I GET a price LESS than MSRP. I buy my gas based on the DISCOUNT coupon available at the time I need gas. Gas is $1.17 here per litre. I frequently get a $0.15/litre discount.

Are you that lacking that you do not realize this goes on in ALMOST every industry?????

I note based on your very professional web page that you are truely my image of a Custom Installer.

What a wonderful web page! LOL

http://www.carrollcustomdesigns.com/

And I just LOVE your Scrapbooking link!!!!!

Wait!

You are not allowed to pour or use the milk once you purchase it from most CIs UNLESS you simply pour it in a glass and do nothing but drink it. No modifying it by adding anything to it such as cereal, Nestle Quick, etc!!!

"How about gas...do drive all over town to save a buck??"

Yes, drive to the next town to fill it up. It's roughly 10p per litre cheaper, and even after driving there and back still save more money than the distance there and back (usually fill up if drive through anyway)

So yes, look around for cheapest petrol.