No wonder Ebay rules

[Twitch]

Without going into a long explanation, I need a copy of Windows XP Media Center Edition. You know now when you buy a PC you may not even get a disc with the OS on it.

So I go to a Best Buy. Call Circuit City, Staples and Office Max. None have it for sale!!! I didn't bother with Comp USA. Also, none even show it for sale in their online sites! And the customer service was basically a small cut above braindead.

I click up Ebay and there are a zillion for sale, most from a 99.4% positive company for a hair over $100. I am beginning to wonder why I bother with brick and mortar stores other than to get a close up view of something so I can buy it for much less on Ebay.:rage:

 

[Zach R.]

I hear you there.

My routine is starting to turn into where I go to these aforementioned "brick and mortar" stores, find something I like, write down the info in a small notebook I carry with me, then come home and search for it on ebay.

 

[Maj.Nick Danger]

Beware though,...

I got a copy of XP Pro on ebay for a little over a hundred,... <--- right?

WRONG!
About a year later, I get this "update" from Micro$oft that says, " You may be the victim of software counterfeiting",...
What!? :rage: I am supposedly not eligible to recieve updates from them now, but I still do get updates regularly! [huh]
The disc looks real enough and has all the right holographic BS on it according to their verification page, so I emailed them and sent pics,...but I have not heard a single sylable from Micro$oft. So far my OS still works, but there is this annoying nag screen that comes up every time I start my PC,..and the veiled threat from them that I am not getting all those vital security updates.
I'm seriously thinking about getting one of the versions of Linux, just in case.
Either the counterfeiters are really good, and ya really do get (almost) what ya pay for, or it's some kinda virus malware nonsense,...I dunno. :eusa_doh:

Anyway, it would pay for you to investigate the sellers of Windows discs carefully before you buy.

P.S. Our local computer store, Microcenter, does carry the real deal,...but for the princely sum of $300!!! CompUSA probably has it too, if you absolutely must go to an actual store.

 

[Pilgrim]

I've had very good luck buying software via Ebay too, but I have the advantage of being at a university; therefore I can legitimately buy the academic editions which are occasionally sold on Ebay.

And you did it in the right sequence - there are a LOT of people who buy at wholesale and sell at retail on Ebay. Unless you're buying something not available at retail (like vintage hats or clothing), it really pays to do some internet searching before budding. I've been surprised how often Amazon or another vendor has the item cheaper.

 

[Twitch]

Yes, I looked on the web for legitimate prices and found them to be about $120 from established sellers for the XP Media Edition so $106 on Ebay is right in there. The company has like 4,000+ sales on software and the only negative seen was regarding USPS shipping tardyness. Once it's shipped it's outta their hands. I figure they're ok for those reasons. Out of 3,800 sales in the last 12 months 22 were negative and all were about slow receiving of product.

But as I was in the CD/DVD replication industry I know that there are bogus replicas out there. Holograms or whatever it takes to look legitimate are done with hardware easily obtainable by anyone. Same deal on phoney credit cards' holograms and magnetic strips.

I have found it interesting that on websites like Bestbuy.com they have consumer ratings of individual stores visited. Some obviously have good customer service and others are staffed by dumbasses or lazyasses.

But when I figure my time, gas and frustration factor of real world shopping the virtual world beats it. There have been several years when I did all my Christmas shopping online.

 

[Pilgrim]

Yes, the really critical part of the MS software equation is getting a valid product key along with the disc. Without that key, it's going to be bad news.

 

[Doh!]

For a non-virtual computer store experience in the Los Angeles area, try Fry's. A couple of years ago, I was looking for a printer that could handle larger pieces of paper than 8.5 x 11, and theirs was the only store in town that met my needs. Plus, it was on sale.

http://www.frys.com/

 

[Twitch]

I simply gave up on retail and went online partly due to the fact that Comp USA and Frys are a bit distant for me. Also a word of warning from friends who have has service done- Fry's is bad for PC service, though good for selection and prices of other stuff.

The customer service or customer apathy is also a negative. At Best Buy the available person I asked for XP Media simply answered, "well, if it's not over there, we don't have it." No offer of even looking it up to see if they stock it or if they do, to order it, and she was standing at a computer terminal.

 

[Maj.Nick Danger]

If ya want something done right,...

That's why I opted to just build my own PC. Prices on some components were cheaper online and others were cheaper at the retail stores. As far as relying on the yahoos at the stores for service,..... Fergitaboudtitt!
They make a ton of money selling PCs without an OS disc. What a racket! All they have to do is wait about a year or so, and a lot of people end up bringing their "broken" PCs back for "repair". All the store has to do is reload the OS.

 

[Twitch]

Yeah Major Nick, I've always had a copy of my current OS until I got the XP Media Edition. I have XP Home Edition. I'm not too put out that I'm buying it but the little swaray contacting several retailer has reinforced my thoughts about them.

Retailers all cry about their overhead yet do little to entice us with anything beyond price. Even then "sale" items are often in short supply. I almost beat it out of some kid that the scanner Office Max had on special was one of just 2 the store had in stock to begin a sale! Is it bait and switch or just careless buying?

The widespread warm body style of "sales" assisstence is simply a joke everywhere when you see bored zombie faces on these people.lol :rage:

 

[Willi_Goat]

I got a copy of XP Pro on ebay for a little over a hundred,... <--- right?

WRONG!
About a year later, I get this "update" from Micro$oft that says, " You may be the victim of software counterfeiting",...
What!? :rage: I am supposedly not eligible to recieve updates from them now, but I still do get updates regularly! [huh]
The disc looks real enough and has all the right holographic BS on it according to their verification page, so I emailed them and sent pics,...but I have not heard a single sylable from Micro$oft. So far my OS still works, but there is this annoying nag screen that comes up every time I start my PC,..and the veiled threat from them that I am not getting all those vital security updates.
I'm seriously thinking about getting one of the versions of Linux, just in case.
Either the counterfeiters are really good, and ya really do get (almost) what ya pay for, or it's some kinda virus malware nonsense,...I dunno. :eusa_doh:

Anyway, it would pay for you to investigate the sellers of Windows discs carefully before you buy.

P.S. Our local computer store, Microcenter, does carry the real deal,...but for the princely sum of $300!!! CompUSA probably has it too, if you absolutely must go to an actual store.

I went to an AMD Tech Tour not too long ago and Microsoft was part of the presentation. If you have the disc and packaging and it is a very good counterfeit Microsoft is supposed to either replace it or discount a valid cd key. I cannot remember which one exactly. One of the other attendees beat me to the question about 64 bit drivers, but that is getting too far off topic. Good luck with getting that resolved.

You are still getting the updates, system only, because they do not want your system possibly getting a worm, virus, etc., and sending that on to other systems.

I am with you. I have built my last three systems. At the Tech Tour, I built a server to run all the PCs in the house through. That way I can keep the kids out of the places they do not need to be. Of course that could backfire and my fiance might figure out how to lock me out of the lounge and eBay.

 

[Maj.Nick Danger]

I went to an AMD Tech Tour not too long ago and Microsoft was part of the presentation. If you have the disc and packaging and it is a very good counterfeit Microsoft is supposed to either replace it or discount a valid cd key. I cannot remember which one exactly. One of the other attendees beat me to the question about 64 bit drivers, but that is getting too far off topic. Good luck with getting that resolved.

You are still getting the updates, system only, because they do not want your system possibly getting a worm, virus, etc., and sending that on to other systems.

I am with you. I have built my last three systems. At the Tech Tour, I built a server to run all the PCs in the house through. That way I can keep the kids out of the places they do not need to be. Of course that could backfire and my fiance might figure out how to lock me out of the lounge and eBay.

Micro$oft will either send me a new disc and key,...IF I send them mine first! Or, they will "discount" a valid key for a mere $149.95. All at their discretion. The thing that really ticks me off, is that it took an entire year for this to all come out, and all this time I thought I had a legal setup.

 

[Pilgrim]

This whole discussion is why I don't download ONE MS update - their "Windows Authentication Update". I don't think it's any of their business to look over my shoulder and test my OS remotely.

I keep updates set to manual and never use the Express option - I always select Custom and omit that update.

 

[Willi_Goat]

Micro$oft will either send me a new disc and key,...IF I send them mine first! Or, they will "discount" a valid key for a mere $149.95. All at their discretion. The thing that really ticks me off, is that it took an entire year for this to all come out, and all this time I thought I had a legal setup.

I could not remember exactly that it was they would do. And of course it is their call on the counterfeit quality. It seems they just started cracking down heavily on it and that is why you just started seeing their warning. They have know about it for a few years, but waited until now to do much about it. I heard about the update issue at one of the conferences I went to about two years ago. This one a couple months ago is when they annouced the warning pop up. Unfortunately without much competition for an OS out there, Micro$oft has us by the, ahem, well you know.

 

[Maj.Nick Danger]

It's no wonder that they are constantly attacked by pirates! The scurvy dogs,...ahhrrggg.
I can't wait until this new OS of their's comes out, I bet it costs $500!

 

[Willi_Goat]

It's no wonder that they are constantly attacked by pirates! The scurvy dogs,...ahhrrggg.
I can't wait until this new OS of their's comes out, I bet it costs $500!

Just do not get it from eBay, and unless you want to get all new peripherals, stick with the 32 bit one. Or better yet, wait until the stop supporting XP all together.

A side note on Vista, the Microsoft rep was demonstrating it and it did not want to cooperate with him. Nothing like showing the new product and it now working right. lol

 

[Twitch]

Just as a side not XP home edition has been the best Windoze I've ever run. I've had no more than 5-6 freeze ups in 5 years.

The counterfeit thing knows no boundries. It truly doesn't require multimillion dollar equipment to produce replicas. Other brick and mortar retailers have been sold convincing counterfeits too.

The music industry works with replicators to alert them of current bogus trends and popular titles or labels being scammed too.

When it all comes out probably the most sophisticated phoney stuff comes from our wonderful global trading partner, China, RED China.

 

[Maj.Nick Danger]

Yep, China.

They probably account for 99 percent of all counterfeit software, CDs, etc. Maybe we should just let them produce all that stuff legally, we'd get it cheaper at K-Mart then.