l purchased a complete ECU that was flashed by FVD. This was the complete ECU that had the immobiliser information transferred to the ECU. I bought this from the original owner who put his original ECU back on his car when he sold it. I had my cars immobiliser information transferred to this ECU so it would run in my car. Everything worked fine until the dealer flashed over the FVD program. I contacted FVD for a re-flash of this ECU and they told me because I was not the original owner, I would have to pay the full price instead of the update price for a re-flash.
I feel that this is wrong because only one ECU uses the licensed flash at anytime, just like a single use license of any other software can be transferred to any other computer or car for single use on that car or computer.
I operate a school that trains California licensed smog technicians. We also test Porsches and other cars to insure they are in compliance with emission requirements before the actual test.
I think the attitude displayed by FVD and some other tuners displays poor customer service. Make no mistake about this, a second owner is still a customer. I use to recommend FVD as the tuner of choice for ECU flashes and other Porsche performance parts. Now I recommend other tuners that are customer service oriented and this has cost FVD at least five sales and counting.
To all the tuners out there, your customer service will make you or break you.
Don't be too short sighted.

 

I probably have $10K just in 3 different tuner flashes.... all gone and erased... so don't feel bad.

The tune stays with the car.... he could have done that to 10 other ecus.... lets just clone and sell them... how do you know he didn't do that? Is that right? if not then buying a single such ecu is not either. You copied intellectual property on a Vin not authorized by FVD... do not expect them to extend the service to anyone other then the original Vin ... what is not fair about it?

 

The tune is the property of the person who purchased it. They can sell it with the car or or sell it separately if it is for single use. In my case, I bought the separate ECU with the tune already on the ECU. The first owner replaced the FVD flashed ECU with his original ECU supplied with the car once he sold it. Intellectual property law allows for the transfer of a license from one device to another as long as it is for single use. It does not matter if it is software, a motion picture or any other intellectual property.
Apparentley the tuners have not been challenged in court and maybe they should be so this issue can be settled once and for all.

 

Lets just say legally you are correct.... but that still doesn't obligate FVD to extend a new tune to a different VIN... even if its the same owner.... yet in this case it is not... Heck, let me get a 996 for 2 years... drive around... then get a 997 and expect FVD to swap the program form the 996 - give me a credit and put it on the 997... Then when Im bored and want to move into a GTR.... let me call them and say, can you please put the flash on the GTR?.... don't you see anything wrong here? yet in this case its even worse because your the 3rd party expecting the service as if you were the original owner...
Most of the software in the music business that Im in only extends to the original purchaser not to the person who bought the laptop with the software on the laptop via Ebay( and in some cases only to one computer- BINGO)... yet in this case a person wanted to make money on his flash - the fvd flash... he had someone copy it to another ecu.... thats not called recouping funds thats called making money.... I dont see how you can expect any company to extend another program that was copied by someone to another ecu after it was erased by the dealer... why don't you ask the dealer to refund the money?
like I said I have been on both sides of the coin more then once..

 

Most of the software in the music business that Im in only extends to the original purchaser not to the person who bought the laptop with the software on the laptop via Ebay( and in some cases only to one computer- BINGO)... yet in this case a person wanted to make money on his flash - the fvd flash... he had someone copy it to another ecu.... thats not called recouping funds thats called making money.... I dont see how you can expect any company to extend another program that was copied by someone to another ecu after it was erased by the dealer... why don't you ask the dealer to refund the money?
like I said I have been on both sides of the coin more then once..
__________________

Nobody copied any software in this case. FVD sold the ECU...the entire ECU with the flash on it. The original owner replaced his original ECU when he sold his car and sold the FVD ECU to me.
FVD does not have to sell me an update at the update price...you are correct on that point.
I am saying that is shortsighted on the part of FVD because they have lost and will lose many more sales because of their poor customer service.
It is not about the money, it it always about how you treat your customers.

 

Interesting subject. I'm an Architect. When I design a home for someone, they do not own the design - I do. They get to utilize the design for their purpose. They can sell their home, but they cannot sell the design. I would say that if you remove the ECU and sell the ECU as a whole,you should be well within your rights as a purchaser of the product. If you make copies, however, you have now stolen the intellectual property rights of the programmer.

 

He's missing the point... he admitted that he "Bought" the ecu from the original owner which was only working on his car.... for his VIN... .... he then took it to someone else... changed the immobilizer codes and ran it on his car... then when he took it to the Porsche dealer for work they erased the tune.... he now is complaining that FVD has poor customer service because they do not want to give him a new program( that was never originally on his car but on the previous owners)... that tune was only meant for the original VIN... now if that happened to the original owner I can understand that....

I dare him to call any tuner and ask if they will honor his request... anyone and I bet not one will honor it.... thus I guess we all have poor customer service...
Yes, its a loophole hes trying to argue.. although no ecu was copied the codes were change to work on another car....
I think I need to start a new business... anyone? lol J/K

 

Well that is pushing it. I guess my analogy wouldn't apply here. It's kind of hard to have a custom home built and lose the design!

I could use a good 3d modeler Mark!

 

Im not winning a popularity contest... nor am I working for FVD.... but I say it as I see it...

I only use a $30 angle grinder and a hammer