Active error

This is normal.  Groupy 1 keys cannot activate Groupy 2 and we have never said otherwise.  When you purchase a product you purchase that product and updates for that version.  So buy Groupy 1.1, you get all the updates upto a theoretical Groupy 1.99.  But Groupy 2.x is a paid update.

Stardock have always charged for major updates, often with a discount available to those who purchased a prior version.  This can be checked on the Groupy page at the bottom on the Upgrade button.

I choose to upgrade from the email I bought Groupy, the price is still the same as buying new?

If I understand correctly. It is between  $15.98 (2x) vs $19.98 (2x), yes? So its not the same, discount around $4.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

You see it as a test picture

I really don't understand, how can a big company do this kind of nonsense. When I bought it, I remembered it as a lifetime upgrade. Now there is a new version to buy new, upgrade, the price is the same.

The funny thing is that the price is 9.99, but when I click on it, it is still 15.98. WTF?

I am quite annoyed with this kind of work.

The company has lost its reputation.

First, its free updates not upgrades. It is just like when Windows 10 move to Windows 11. You will need to purchase a new license for Windows 11 even you just purchase Windows 10 few days earlier. The point is, it is normal for any company to charge a new upgraded version of its software license. A lot of work need to done to make Start11 to work with Windows 11 properly.

Second, you are purchasing 2 license, yes? I saw your purchase icon have a 2x on it. So it a 2 units x $7.99 each. $7.99. Its $2 discount, no? It more or less 20% discount there.

So I really not sure what is your issue here.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

Firstly. Microsoft supports free upgrade of Windows 7 to 10 for free. Windows 10 to 11 is free.

Second. I don't buy 2 licenses. When I click upgrade, your system automatically adds 2 packages. I had to manually delete it myself. Is this an arbitrary act to mislead customers?

Third. In 2021, I had to spend about 10$ to buy Groupy. Evening recommend to many buyers. Now there's Groupy 2. I have to tell them how while I myself am quite annoyed with this kind of money making. I have to spend another 6$ to use it. While the feature is still tabs.

It's your job to make it run on Windows 11 and your responsibility. It's not your client's business.

What you do is like asking customers who used to trust your products to turn their backs on using other companies' products.

TranMingTrong, when there are major changes from one version to another (example: 3.xx to 4.0 = upgrade), Stardock charges. Between 3 and 4, no charge for updates. 

MS encouraged people to go to W10 from W7 and on certain machines from W10 to W11 as a migration ploy. But, if you buy a new machine, you pay for the new OS.

There's no secret to any of this, it's been written about many times in forums, yet people continue to misunderstand real world stuff: Salaries have to be paid. People don't work for free. Developing software to meet changing operating systems and to offer new and different features costs time and therefore, money. Therefore, when there's major change, there's a charge. 

I would just like to add that in the case of Start11 MSFT completely rewrote explorer so it shares almost no code whatsoever with previous versions.

This means a huge rewrite of Start* to support new features as well as making it work period. I can understand how moving from Start10 to Start11 would be major. 

EDIT:

I just realized the OP is referring to Groupy. While the above is true Groupy also relies on explorer and also adds a ton of new options.

Are you saying there is a surplus? Buy new, pay for it, of course. If you buy new Windows 10, you'll have to pay for it. This is an upgrade, upgrading Windows 10 to 11 is free.

The version is because you add the number. How much do you want to ver. While it is essentially a tab. Nothing more. Only change IU.

I bought Poweramp on the Play Store. Update how many ver already without paying anything.

While I do understand the frustration you have (I have about 35 paid apps I have to keep up) it's important to note that there are dozens of pay models used by software companies. Some charge a monthly service fee that you pay for no matter what. Most Offer an upgrade path where minor updates (1.0->1.1) are free while major Upgrades (1.0->2.0) cost a value. In most cases the Upgrade is heavily discounted as a loyalty reward.

Stardock has always used the same pay model and it's no different here. Unless your argument is that the latest groupy should not have been a major upgrade. I'm sure you could make a case for that but i would remind you as I said earlier that a lot of code had to be rewritten. While Groupy2 does in fact share some features with Groupy1 it also has several new ones.

Moral to the story here is comparing one companies pay model to another is not a good comparison. You could argue that because some software is 100% free then all software should be free. 

Also i'm confident that while you may need to bite the bullet this time, Groupy2 will be around for a long minute so you likely won't have to worry about it for a long time.

Ethical here is the time to buy. I have seen a lifetime purchase, free upgrade support later. Now, this Groupy 2 reappears. And to upgrade, you have to pay. Now I can't see those sentences anymore, they probably deleted them. So that no one can see.

They give me confidence that I have purchased and will receive an upgrade later. Now they release another version and have to pay extra. Do you think they have no morals or do I have no morals?

And, Stardock isn't Microsoft.

Stardock is a separate corporation and has its own rules on payment, rules shared by many other software companies, and they have been explained to you. They are the same rules that have been in effect for as long as I can remember this topic. They aren't about to change.

Are you serious?

You think or believe Stardock employs people to run around changing things you think you remember just to cheat you? That's astonishing.

You have an assortment of people (Stardock staff, customers, and a Moderator) challenging that belief. Were I you I'd rethink that assertion.

Well I'm not casting judgement on you (or anyone else). I've been using stardock  products for a very long time and I have never seen a lifetime free upgrade. Certainly not with groupy (been using it since day 1). I won't say you're wrong and perhaps someone else who knows more than I (Like DrJBHL and Basj already have) will chime in.

I sure do hope however that you continue with groupy2 as I think it is a great app and I'm sure it will be supported for quite a long time (likely long into Windows 12).

This is here to stop.

I lost faith in them. At the end of the 30-day trial, if I find it necessary, I pay more to upgrade.

I also don't buy any of their software. And also advise relatives or friends or groups not to buy.

Dear who!

Stardock have NEVER sold or advertised software which comes with a lifetime of upgrades regardless of major version.  It would make no economic sense.

You get a lifetime of upgrades for the version you purchased but major updates are a cost upgrade and you can use the version you purchased without any time restrictions (assuming you purchased a non subscription option)

I am afraid you are misremembering what you purchased

You are welcome to use the old version you purchased for as long as you want.