selling downloads, with key

Need a suitable cart

[Pibs]

Hi,

I'm revamping my site and how I go about selling 2 downloadable products. Before it was just a link from within the member's area but I'm moving to a free membership thing and looking for a new system for sales.

Yes, I've searched this forum, only 2 posts on the topic I can find, neither answered my problem.

I'm amazed it's so hard to find this kind of functionality because so many onlines stores do this - basically what I want it for a visitor to be able to download a trial version of a product, if they like it they buy it at which point they can unlock their timed-out demo version.

I have found some software that will do this, I think, but it's kinnda complicated. My main concern is something that uses the customer's computer 'fingerprint' to lock the file to that one computer.

The software I've found does that no problem - but I cannot see how it prevents someone just passing the url around to download it. The fact it's locked to your machine is pretty meaningless if locked to lots of machines for free. :o/

There are plenty of shopping carts around that handle downloadable products with expiring links and so on. Nice. But then they give out a version that anyone could copy and give to anyone.

What I need is a system that does both.

A download link unique to you, expiring or whatever, that allows you to download a file unique to you that won't work on someone else's computer.

Why is it so difficult to find something that does this?

Linklok do something that apparantly does everything I need - except it relies on a list being given to the credit card company. I use paypal and I'm not aware of them offering any such service (I wasn't aware CC companies do either?)

Any ideas? Preferably low cost?

P

[Corey Bryant]

Have you checked out Clickbank or Digital River?

-Corey

[Pibs]

I wouldn't use Clickbank, too many scams seem to hang around them like flies.

Digitial river looks good, I think, but would prefer an in-house solution.

Linklok could do it, but I need to find something compatible with thier system, other than the expensive one they suggest. Have found one for $50 but not sure if compatible..

P

[lexipixel]

Have you looked at PayLoadz?

I've bought using it, but never sold using it...

[Pibs]

Mmm, would prefer in house, and am not keen on any kind of monthly fee. A percentage of sales, fine, monthly fee, no.

They want both :o/

Thanks though :o)

P

[lexipixel]

A percentage of sales, fine, monthly fee, no.

I read it to say "either or"... but then 15% is steep anyway --- plus you have to factor in that you would need to pay the (2.3 - 2.9) PayPal fee on top of that.

[Leosghost]

Look at the system used by autodesk for their maya software ..uses mac address confirmation ( and other things ) hooked into the elements which make up it's registration system ( and it's calls made during the .exe file's compiling the resources necessary for the app to run )..and is exceedingly difficult to defeat although not impossible ..but enough to deter the average P2p sharer ..

Also the system used by pixologic on their zbrush2 app ..again it's not invulnerable but is very nicely wrapped and defeats most attempts to tamper and redistribute it ..in their case I can't remember if they made their own install routine pack or if it was someone else ( I think it was the latter case )..it does not depend upon connection to the "tubes" to be authenticated but does a very good job of maintaining it's integrity ..( I've got both ..legit..the price of Maya8 in "UL"..price really hurts ..but it is really sweet and worth the money ..got it for my son ..the zbrush for it's price is amazing but I'd have to de-install it and re-install it to see the name of the people who made the installer for them ..or put it on another machine ..just to see it ..and I respect the app to much to play fast and loose with their EULA ;-) ..search for it ..run an install and note the name of the people who made it for them ..then ask them how much to protect your baby? ) ..

Most of the better protection is around the high end 3D software such as the autodesk stuff used as the base in many major released movies ( OK ..so Pixar etc also "roll some of their own".. but it's based on that which autodesk has been busy aquirring for the last 5 years or so ) or other very complex and expensive apps ..most involves authentification online and the ability to lock it to one machine much better than for example 'doze ..( Redmond would rather you used a pirated doze than linux ..they can make most people "'doze OS dependant" easier that way )

Any protection can be defeated eventually and spread around ..if you make your product reasonably priced and your protection depend on more than just a couple of "n" jumps then those who do diss it just for curiosity probably wont release to the dot ru's etc what they find anyway ..also giving away a free version and then selling the extra bells and whistles as the shareware in a different download tends to remove you from the listings at most of the warez sites ..

Digital river are probably the ones who are the closest involved with selling the works of the programmers who know the most about dissing other peoples apps so they are the best bet for an all in one solution ..IMO