Fathers Beware

[dawman]

Bought my son a Vestax Typhoon DJ COntroller surface with NI Trakto software.
Guitar Center has been selling these, and knowingingly reselling them after people have returned them.
I counted 8 units that have benn returned just recently.

Here's the problem.
You buy the unit and take it home, install the software, and it tells you the serial number has already been issued issued.
No problem, just call NI and they will issue another serial number.
Nope.................they blame Vestax, so at least they provide the number to a phone nobody ever answers.
So I then track down the Regional distributors, and each one of those helpful chaps hands you off to another phone that nobody answers.
After 2 days I finally track down the Parts Manager who assured me he would get the new serial number by days end and email it to us.........Nope.
I have called each day and left a message and then again today yet a new charming person says the parts manager cannot do that, but he, can so I waited all day, no email.
So I am returning this worthless product and getting my money back.
So before buying any of this crap that has 3rd party software support you better make sure it can register the serial number for an activation key before leaving the store.

Other than that, its a remarkarble disposable controller thats sure to please the lucky person who can actually get an activation key.

[dante]

Good tip.

Similar bad service, my new laptop failed so I took it back to retailer instead of returning it to manufacturer ( ACER ) to get retailer to make an image and data backup to a 500gb drive ( cost me $150 ) ... that took just over a week. Then the retailer sent it to ACER which took another 4 days transit and now ACER have had it over a week and tell me they've had to order a replacement mainboard.

So in the nearly 2 months since I bought it, Ive had 3 weeks use out of 8 and still waiting.

So before you exit a laptop or computer shop, be sure to find out the process in event of failure. Is it a single point of return ? ACER will by default wipe your harddrive but not back it up first, so you have to get the retailer to do it, paying and waiting extra for it in the process.

[siriusbliss]

Yup, unfortunate lesson is to avoid ALL 'bundled' deals - especially with regard to two-party software integrated with hardware.
Neither side supports the other UNLESS there are direct co-developed drivers, etc. that either/both companies have worked on together.

Whenever I buy a laptop I make sure I get a Windblows installer disc and backup image from the onset.
I've learned this the hard way when dealing with Dell years ago. I have to admit now that Apple has this down to an art. The Mac Air comes with a little USB thumbdrive with full boot image ready to run if/when the compooter takes a crapper.

Good luck with all future deals guys.

Greg

[valis]

Fwiw Traktor is 50% off on the NI cart and many web retailers atm (like audiomidi.com), so Traktor Pro is the same $99 the upgrade would have been for the version that came with that device to begin with. I suspect they're about to release a v2, so you might as well take advantage of the sale now while you can.