FAQ for Purchasing Via blindsoftware.com
Once you are finished reading this FAQ, press your back button, alt+left arrow, to return to the previous page to finish placing your order.
Q) How can I order a program as a gift for a friend from your company?
Q) Do you have a phone number I can call you at to place my order?
Q) Can I pay by using a check?
Q) How do I purchase a program using your website?
Q) Can I order a program on a CD so I don't have to download it and register it with an unlock code and just install it from the CD?
Q) I get an error when trying to order using my credit card and I know there is enough credit on it to purchase the program. What is going on?
Q) If I am not paying online with my credit card, Why do I have to place an actual order using your shopping cart system?
Q) I keep getting an error on your secure order form and I can't complete my order. Why is this happening?
Q) I am very confused. What is meant by shareware, a product id, serial number, and an unlock code?
Q) How can I order a program as a gift for a friend from your company?
A) It's quite simple. When you place an order for the program using our secure order form, in the product id box type the word none and then in the section entitled email a gift, type your friend's email address in the "Friend's email address" box. Your receipt for the purchase will be emailed to you and your friend will be emailed the unlock code. The unlock code email sent to your friend will inform them that you have purchased the program for them as a gift. It's that easy!
Q) Do you have a phone number I can call you at to place my order?
A) Yes, to purchase a program over the telephone with a sales representative, feel free to call our sales office at 559-224-2436 between the hours of 9 AM to 5 PM Pacific Standard Time Monday through Friday. Those hours equate to 12 PM to 8 PM Eastern Standard Time, 10 AM to 6 PM Mountain Standard Time, and 11 AM to 7 PM Central Standard Time.
Q) Can I pay by using a check?
A) Yes. When you start your order, and you are asked how you would like to pay, select "Check - by US or UK checks or International Money Orders". After this, continue to place an order for the program by using our shopping cart system. At the end of the order, we give you the mailing address to send your check to.
Q) How do I purchase a program using your website?
A) Read each webpage top to bottom since they explain everything. However, you can place an order for a program in a few simple steps which are:
* Select the program you want to purchase
* Select how you would like to pay for the program
* Select if you want a backup copy of the program to be mailed to you on CD
* Click the link to go to the secure order form
* Fill out the order form then click the purchase button at the bottom
* You will be given a receipt to print and also one emailed to you
Q) Can I order a program on a CD so I don't have to download it and register it with an unlock code and just install it from the CD?
A) Yes and no. We offer our programs primarily as downloads. BSC is a download center for software. We aren't like other companies who offer their programs on CD only. We offer our programs as downloads and require a person to register a copy of the program by supplying a product id when placing an order for the program then an unlock code is emailed to you to register the copy of the program. However, we do offer the option to purchase a backup copy of the program setup file on CD when you place an order. However, it is only a backup copy of the program setup file and any other computer you install it on you will have to register the copy.
Q) I get an error when trying to order using my credit card and I know there is enough credit on it to purchase the program. What is going on?
A) Typically this happens because there is a communication failure between your bank and our processing company. If you try several times with the same card, perhaps try a different credit card to see if that helps.
Q) If I am not paying online with my credit card, Why do I have to place an actual order using your shopping cart system?
A) The processing company we use requires an order reference number so they can track and complete each order. The only way you can get an order reference number assigned to you, is to place an actual order using our shopping cart system. The order reference number is different for every single order/person so it is unique. This is a standard practise for nearly all online shopping cart systems. For example, if you, Bob, pay by check, when you mail in your check payment, you also include your order reference number so our processing company can look it up to see exactly what program you ordered. Bob's order reference number is unique and so is Sally's so there is never a mix up. Our processing company receives lots of check orders daily from companies world wide so an order reference number is an absolute necessity. Once our processing company gets your check, they cash it and once it clears, they look up the order reference number to see which program you purchased and then notify us to email out the unlock code for the program you ordered.
Q) I keep getting an error on your secure order form and I can't complete my order. Why is this happening?
A) Typically this happens for several reasons. First, you need to enable cookies in your web browser. If cookies are disabled, our shopping cart system will not work with your web browser such as Internet Explorer. Once you have finished placing your order, you can disable cookies again and clean them off of your computer. We only use cookies to keep track of your selections such as how you want to pay and if you want the software mailed to you on CD. A second reason this may happen is because you are putting spaces or dashes in your credit card number on the order form. Your credit card number should be all one word and contain no dashes. A third reason this may be happening is the way you are inputting your address on the order form. Instead of putting Apartment 3, try Apt. 3. Make certain you are typing the address the exact way it appears on your credit card. If you don't, the order will not go through.
Q) I am very confused. What is meant by shareware, a product id, serial number, and an unlock code?
A) If you are new to the concept of purchasing software over the internet, it can be overwhelming but exciting as you learn! Simply put, shareware means software that you can download and install on your computer and "try before you buy". Some standards for shareware trials include: can try it so many days, can start the program for so many times, can use only parts of the program while other parts are not accessible, etc. The main idea of a trial period is to give you the chance to try the program out to see if you like it. At the end of the trial period, if you want to continue to use the program, or have access to more features of the program, you must purchase a license to use the program or uninstall it.
When you purchase a license to operate the program, this allows you to use the program with absolutely no restrictions and you are classified as a registered user. Important! Statements like I purchased *program name* are not legal. You have not purchased the program, nor do you own the program, you have purchased a license to use the program. Any software on your computer that you "purchased" you do not own but rather have purchased a license to operate the program. At anytime you violate the license agreement, the company that owns the software can cancel your license to use the software. When you install any software on your computer, you are asked to agree to a license. In this license agreement, the company states what you can and can not do with the software. For example, you can install *program name* on only one computer or… you can install *program name* on two computers only. Owning software is a common misconception by computer users. Again, you don't own it, you have purchased a license to use the software. Keep this in mind when "purchasing software" either at a retail store or on the internet. Please read the license agreement that you agree to when installing a program on your computer!
Now back to the concept of shareware and purchasing a license to use it. Typically, there are four easy steps in this process. Those steps are:
* download and install the software on your computer and try it out.
* If you decide to purchase a license to use the program, you submit a code to the shareware author, sometimes called a product id or serial number, when placing your order.
* The shareware author gets your order and then emails back to you an unlock code based on the product id/serial number you submitted to him or her.
* You take the unlock code and enter it into a box on a registration screen within the program then press enter to unlock the program so you can use it with no restrictions. At this point, you are considered a registered user of the program.
Any shareware program comes with documentation that explains how to purchase a license to use the software and how to get your product id/serial number to submit when you place your order but you have to read! Yes, that's correct, read the docs which we all hate! Grin. Most registration screens are found under the help menu accessed with alt+h. It has been a trend/standard to put most registration screens under the help menu for shareware programs. However, registration screens do not have to be placed only under the help menu, they can be found elsewhere depending on where the shareware author decides to place it. If you press enter on the registration option under the help menu, or where ever the registration option is found, typically a screen appears that allows you to tab around and see your product id number or where you can put in your unlock code.
Some shareware programs don't require a product id or serial number but by far most do. You can read on what exactly the shareware author requires from you prior to ordering a license to use the program by reading the help file or documentation file that came with the shareware program.