Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Hosted links are dead - abandon The Linkup

My hosted links are dead even though the files have been transferred to The Linkup.

John Hood promised MediaMax links would work until December 2008. Ending them then was enough of a betrayal of customers who have stuck with this company despite all its failings. But links are dead now, today, depite the promises. Sadly, just what we have come to expect as customer service.

I signed up to MediaMax for hosting my podcast. It has now fallen silent. Click on any of the links on various websites and you get a 'page not found' warning.

Thanks guys. I'm off and advising everyone who reads this blog not to sign up to The Linkup.

Use an alternative service. Even if it promises less than The Linkup it can only be better in the long run.

28 comments:

Anonymous said...

Now HERE'S some more interesting stuff about this name-changing company that's busybusybusy ripping off about 25,000 customers (an estimate several years old based on numbers floating around the net, check for yourself):

http://nirvanix.nfshost.com/

Watch out for THIS company "Nirvanix", similar to MediaMess, run by the same guy, and located only TWO HUNDRED FEET from MediaMax! Hmmmmmmm......

Wouldn't it be a good idea to find the names of these dozen people who "run" The Linkup, and post them? Seems like it might be a bit harder to change your OWN name than it is to change your company name.

Dee said...

I wasn't aware that such a promise had been made to host files until the end of this year, clearly another statement made with an intent to engage in fraud, and no intention of keeping it in place.

Not all of my files were moved, as promised, but I've already bailed.

Elisa said...

Mediamax didn't learn anything from its previous disastrous move from Streamload.

Linkup is in beta, yet we were all "forced" to the change without any option. I was a MediaMax paying customer, but never received an email or any sort of notification that my service was being "upgraded".

I tried in a panic to download and retrieve the few (since not all of my files were successfully transferred to Linkup) files that appeared to remain intact, but now it turns out that their MediaMax batch downloader/uploader doesn't work on the Linkup. So I have to download each of my files one by one.

Don't these people ever learn? After the Streamload to Mediamax disaster I figured it could at least never get worse.

It did.

Anonymous said...

I canceled My account. I've never seen such blatant disregard for customers in My life. Will be going to ibackup.com.

Anonymous said...

You idiots...Nirvanix is a legally and structurally SEPARATE corporation. It is one of the backends for MediaMax. Two hundred feet from MediaMax? That makes sense. What's the problem? There was a lot of crossover concerning employees. But rest assured, it's a separate company. MediaMax pays Nirvanix for their storage and processing services. Learn to research first, pal. You clearly don't understand corporate restructuring very well, do you?

/Not meant to instigate, merely to inform harshlu.

Luzo Orbit said...

Funny, I'm guessing John Hood has been here a couple of times to leave 'much improved' votes on the current poll about The Linkup service (can't believe anyone else believes that), but no response to the comments.

No response to the comments on the official The Linkup blog either.

It is amazing how they have learned nothing from past fiascos.

At the time of writing the poll is showing about 50% of Mediamax customers are leaving. Though perhaps that is what Mr. Hood wants and this is all a cunning plan to clear space on the servers.

Anonymous said...

From a few posts above:

"Not meant to instigate, merely to inform"

That's why you opened with "You idiots", right?

What other backends do you know of for The Linkup? Are their owners also high-ups from MediaMax?

"Learn to research first, pal." Let's let the customers/rape victims do their own research, BUDDY. My point is that since companies can just "restructure" and avoid all previous responsibility, our only defense is INFORMATION.

So far, I have heard no real apologies from this company about their completely substandard service. I have heard of no employees quitting because they don't agree with the company practices.

Because this is a huge CASH COW: offer a service, collect money from more than 25,000 customers, don't deliver the service you offered, change your name. Lather, rinse, repeat.

Through this wonderful tool called the internet, we can collect and disperse plenty of information about the PEOPLE who perpetrated this fraud, and make future customers think twice about whether or not they will do business with them (or their related companies) in the future.

There's a picture of a few MediaMaxers in the middle of this page, in case you happen to run into them in person, and would like to thank them for their great work:

http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20060804/news_1b4streamloa.html

Anonymous said...

It's not just hosted links that are toast... I've got tons of stuff that's missing in my account. I can't say I'm happy at all. Maybe I should just wipe it all and just call it a day.

Supposedly they will get everyone's files up by the end of the month was it? I don't hold much hope for that.

Anonymous said...

Why, here's a page that lists the names of a BUNCH of MediaMax people:

http://www.webaward.org/winner.asp?eid=6747

Of course, I wouldn't send any bad vibes toward the web designers that won the award, they did a fine job (evidently you CAN polish a turd!).

But look at all the OTHER people there.

Save the page.

Write down the names.

Spread the word.

Anonymous said...

Everyone- It's not a betrayal of trust but a bug. We are working to fix it as we speak.

Anon- Nirvanix and Mediamax (parent company of The Linkup) are separate companies that spun out of Streamload. Different investors, different employees, different management. There is no connection.

elisa- all 4 million customers were emailed. my guess is that it ended up in your spam folder.

luzo- wrong on both counts. my first visit here...but i'll be back.

anon- our corporate name hasn't changed just the name of the site. we're still MediaMax, Inc.
As we've said repeatedly, only Steve and I moved over to run MediaMax. Everyone else is still with Streamload/Nirvanix so it would be inaccurate and unfair to blame anyone on that list but us since they don't work here and never have.

Everyone- Yes we learned our lesson. That's why everyone was informed ahead of time that we were not moving Free accounts (via email); that we were going to take some time moving files (our blog); that it would take even longer to move files because the Mover wasn't working (our blog). I certainly apologize for any issues you're currently having but links will be restored and files WILL appear. They already are. I know I'm going to get beat up here, but I've always kept my word and that's all I have to offer.

Anonymous said...

Everyone- It's not a betrayal of trust but a bug. We are working to fix it as we speak.

Anon- Nirvanix and Mediamax (parent company of The Linkup) are separate companies that spun out of Streamload. Different investors, different employees, different management. There is no connection.

elisa- all 4 million customers were emailed. my guess is that it ended up in your spam folder.

luzo- wrong on both counts. my first visit here...but i'll be back.

anon- our corporate name hasn't changed just the name of the site. we're still MediaMax, Inc.
As we've said repeatedly, only Steve and I moved over to run MediaMax. Everyone else is still with Streamload/Nirvanix so it would be inaccurate and unfair to blame anyone on that list but us since they don't work here and never have.

Everyone- Yes we learned our lesson. That's why everyone was informed ahead of time that we were not moving Free accounts (via email); that we were going to take some time moving files (our blog); that it would take even longer to move files because the Mover wasn't working (our blog). I certainly apologize for any issues you're currently having but links will be restored and files WILL appear. They already are. I know I'm going to get beat up here, but I've always kept my word and that's all I have to offer.

Anonymous said...

You have been repeating the same mantra for three years now.

Do you think we are all stupid?

No matter how many times you change your company name and re-brand, your product does not work, it's that simple.

Stop lying to us and start been honest about the shambles that are representing.

The momentum to get your company a bad name is gathering and I hope we can put you out of business very quickly.

You are causing a lot of people a lot of problems, as well as taking thier money and that is just wrong.

Anonymous said...

I was member since 2003.I cancelled as well.I beta tested and told them if this did not work its over for thousands of folks.Good riddance Mediamax /Link up


John Hood your word has as much value as money with Saddam's picture on it

Anonymous said...

John Hood.

I have been a member since 2002 and this is a conversion/mess up too far for me. The service is so far removed from the one I signed up for that I no longer recognise it.

I will be cancelling well before my next renewal date.

I shall also be contacting my bank to ensure that you do not fraudulently charge me come that time.

Anonymous said...

Hey, Kendra from Box.net here - truly sorry to hear what's going on (or not going on, as the case may be). We just wanted to extend an offer to check us out, and let you know that there is a legit service out there for your online storage. The best part- we're not going anywhere. Just follow the link: Box 20% Discount Offer

AnthonyG said...

Dear John Hood

The point about the switch to the Linkup is that a service that used to work no longer works. I have paid for access to file links that no longer exist, and not one of my files has appeared in the Linkup.

To force a change to a system that does not work, and then to say it will be okay in the end but we have some bugs right now - this is behaviour of someone who is either unable to manage a business or who has criminal intent.

To force that change with the tiny amount of notice provided (what about people who were on holiday for example?), can only be regarded as malicious behaviour.

How dare Mediamax claim to be a safe place to backup files when overnight those files are no longer available to paying customers?

Anonymous said...

Hmm...the link to a nice picture of the MediaMax perps has "mysteriously" DISAPPEARED...

S'okay, I saved the whole thing. I'll post it somewhere for everyone to see.

Meanwhile here's a bit more on the "sister" company, Nirvanix. WATCH these people and their companies.


http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20070906/news_1b6nirvanix.html

Anonymous said...

http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/
20070906/news_1b6nirvanix.html

Anonymous said...

http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/
20060804/news_1b4streamloa.html

Here's the full link to the pic - nothing vanished mysteriously, just a partial link...

Anonymous said...

Two weeks in and I still have no files transferred from Mediamax.

What happened to the part where you said that we would have some files come changeover time and the rest over the next 30 days?

This really is totally unacceptable.

I'm just waiting for you to announce that you have transferred all the files over to the new server. I'm sure that many accounts will remain empty and that will be your way of saying 'oops, we lost your files, you are SOL' without actually having to say it.

Whatever, I'm outta here. Not paying for this crap anymore.

Anonymous said...

By the way, the ONLY guy who doesn't badmouth the Linkup (besides Mr Hood), who posts as "basicatheist" here and there, is named GARY. If you go to this page here:

http://www.restoretherepublic.com/component/option,com_
comprofiler/task,userProfile/user,4780/

and go to the "Connections" tab at the bottom, there is a picture of him standing under some street signs.

This same picture was used on the MediaMax page for job opportunities. Probably not many customers visited that page, but I did. And I remember seeing this pic among about a dozen others (of then-current MediaMax employee avatars), because it actually showed a person and not some dorky cartoon character.

Of course, now that MediaMax page is impossible to find (though I'm still trying!).

Though there may be some other explanation (including my faulty memory - but I think NOT), what I come up with, is that he WORKS FOR MEDIAMAX/LINKUP.

Oops - gotcha, Gary. In Troy, NC.

Your posts always were too transparent, anyway.

Anonymous said...

http://www.restoretherepublic.com/
component/option,com_comprofiler/
task,userProfile/user,4780/

Anonymous said...

I would like to know why I cannot delete my credit card information.

Seeing as I do not trust you guys to actually cancel my account when I ask you to, I decided to try and delete my card and was told that I could not.

So why can't I do it? Is this another way of holding me hostage? I would sooner go and cancel my card than let you charlatans charge me again!

Anonymous said...

NO SH*T!

I logged in and changed my credit card info, so these SOB's couldn't charge me any additional times (like has been posted several times by others). I certainly don't plan on paying for a service that doesn't work - let alone double- or triple-paying!

When I went back later, by information had reverted back to my previous info!

Are they trying to turn this into a FEDERAL case, or something?!?

Anonymous said...

For all the good that the Better Business Bureau does (not really that much), here's a link to their report on the UNSATISFACTORY company MediaMax/Linkup:

http://sandiego.bbb.org/
WWWRoot/Report.aspx?site=26&bbb=
1186&firm=20005831

Let's keep spreading the good word!

l.k. said...

I'm forwarding this post I made to Linkup/Mediamax whatever. They are complete scumbags:

I was a "MediaMax" victim. Where countless times I'd upload basic files, and countless times I'd have clients WAITING, and sometimes SCREAMING at me to simply 'burn it on a CD and get a taxi to deliver the file"

MediaMax has cost my career/job so much pain/hassle/headaches. The CEO of Mediamax could personally get on his knees and BEG ME to go back to that company and I NEVER WILL.

The reason why they changed their named to "TheLinkup" is simple: Mediamax as a brand name is a CANCER.

Ever since I switched over to Yousendit and their blessed "Yousendit express" in which a seperate application is used to upload files...I now don't have to freak out if my browser suddenly crashes.

It costs me $30 a month for yousendit business and it's WORTH EVERY SINGLE PENNY.

If you're serious about sending files and if your career/job is on the line: Don't be an idiot: You get what you pay for

- Lucas

Anonymous said...

I'm thinking of actually writing a BOOK about this scandal - it is SOOO crazy.

Anyone who wants to participate, please leave me a message at my contact form here:

http://nirvanix.nfshost.com/contact-us/

I swear. If you want to contribute your testimony to the project it would be greatly appreciated, or if you have already written things online and you don't mind me using them in the book, please drop me a note with a link and your email.

I'm gonna publish it through Amazon's "CreateSpace" service. I'm 100% serious! This has gone on long enough - it is time to sink the MediaMax/Streamload/Nirvanix/StinkUp/etc ship for good!

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