Downloads of Junk

Is there anything more frustrating that a so called "free download" only to find that in order to make it run, you need to pay for it??  Or worse:  You download some free program to enable you to do something unique only to get unwanted add-ons that mess up your web browser, activate your security, and generally mess up the current status of your computer?   

That happened to me today.

I like to print labels for the DVDs I create of my photographs.  It adds a nice touch, and allows me to put some kind of archival dates on the photos.  But I ran out of the Avery kind, and my store is no longer carrying them.  So I stopped into a Staples store today.  They don't carry the Avery brand either, only the Memorex brand.  Ok.  I figured I could give it a try - it says right on the package that I can download a free software program to help me print these.  (Of course, you can ONLY use their program as the layout of the circles is different .... )  

I downloaded the program, accepted all their "terms" -- and ended up with a mess that had my security scanning my computer for 40 minutes trying to locate the issues.  In the end, I had to manually remove all of these items from the files it created.  *smh*  Ok.  So I wasn't smart enough to catch the fine print about loading all this crap ........  Went back and downloaded the program again, reading every fine print note, clicking on every link allowable, then clicking "decline" on every single one of their ""offers"".    So far, so good, I was able to install the program successfully.  Only to find that my very first attempt to add a photo to the template, it claimed "not enough memory".  Say what?

Ok.  That was it.  3 hours or more of time invested in something that I cannot use without a lot of aggravation and finagling.  Why should it be this hard??????  Back to Avery products, that's for sure.  I know for a fact their templates work.  I was able to find them online and purchased a pack.  They won't be here until March 1st, but that's better than nothing.  

Total frustration on my part.

Why would a reputable company like Memorex have a download like this?  exPressit is the program, and it's ... useless.  I know in this digital age that people mostly expect things to be emailed to them, or at the very least, stuck on a flash drive.  But DVDs are cheaper, and they work for the older generation who can't operate the flash drives properly.  

In the end, you get what you pay for.

I'll be returning those labels to Staples tomorrow.