Re: Buying MS Office on Ebay

Hi BP - after having read the entire thread (I have no opinion one way or
the other about buying software via eBay - that is where I first bought
Office 97 Pro). However, to clear up a popular misconception, once you
purchase a product and then use that product to upgrade to a newer version,
the products "merge" into one single product and the qualifying product you
used to verify your eligibility to use the upgrade cannot be sold, lost or
destroyed. As it is now a part of the upgraded product, you are required to
keep it or your license to use it is invalid.

This will not apply if you wish to sell the latest upgrade of that software,
however, ALL qualifying products that you used for the upgrade must be sold
in the same package sale.

Just an FYI.


--?
Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]

Post all replies to the group to keep the discussion intact. All
unsolicited mail sent to my personal account will be deleted without
reading.

After furious head scratching, BP asked:

| "Edward W. Thompson" <thomeduk1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
| news:e8B%23tKOvFHA.3252@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
||
|| "BP" <replytoall@xxxxxxxx> wrote in message
|| news:tc-dnfEmiso-y7DeRVn-2w@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
|||
||| "Edward W. Thompson" <thomeduk1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
||| news:uiXClNBvFHA.2212@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
||||
|||| "Chris Schatte" <caschatte@xxxxxxx> wrote in message
|||| news:308C2019-7CE9-49A9-BAFE-A6DCDAF6F9D8@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
||||| BP,
||||| Why not just purchase a retail copy that you know is new and not
||||| activated
||||| by someone else previously? Retail copies of Office 2003 allow
||||| for 2 installs, one desktop and one mobile and is fully
||||| upgradable. OEM copies are
||||| bound to the system you install on only, non-transferrable to any
||||| other machine.
||||| Buying software previously owned is never a good idea. You could
||||| do a search
||||| on this group for the multitudes of problems people run into by
||||| purchasing
||||| software in this way...
|||||
||||| Chris Schatte
||||| --
||||| use the Office Online web based newsreader here:
||||| http://www.microsoft.com/office/community/en-us/default.mspx
||||| In Office System 2003 applications:
||||| Help/Assistance Pane/open Communities
|||||
|||||
||||| "BP" wrote:
|||||
|||||| I need to upgrade from my Office 97 suite. I am looking on Ebay
|||||| at Office
|||||| Pro 2003. There are many "new" full retail and OEM versions but
|||||| there are
|||||| also some "used" (previously installed) versions available at a
|||||| much lower
|||||| price. I know Office 2003 has an activation procedure. What are
|||||| the EULA and
|||||| practical restrictions/problems with buying someone else's
|||||| software in this
|||||| way.
|||||| TIA
||||||
|||| "Why not just purchase a retail copy"? To answer your question it
|||| is a simple matter of cost . Not everyone can afford the inflated
|||| price MS charges for their software, yet the widespread adoption
|||| of the MS software virtually obliges its use. The word monopoly
|||| comes to mind. Yes, I do know about Open Office.
||| I'm new to this group and I suddenly feel like I just walk in to a
||| new car dealership to ask about buying a used car from the
||| newspaper.
||| Can you suggest a newsgroup where I might find a little more
||| unbiased info on this matter?
|| Unfortunately, this is about as good as it gets. Why some post
|| unjustified remarks about buying software from Ebay, I can't say.
|| Yes, you can get burned by buying from ebay but if the item is not
|| accurately described or not delivered and you pay by Paypal you can
|| recover your money. I always buy from Ebay and although have had
|| one problem, I have never lost my money and do not conclude from one
|| problem that all Ebay transactions are fraught with risk. Most
|| people are honest, at least that is my experience.
||
|| The comments concerning OEM software is very relevant. Some, but
|| not all, OEM software is linked to a particular machine and cannot
|| be easily transfered to another. Just ask the vendor if the
|| software can be installed onto your machine. If it will not install
|| you can claim your money back on the basis of mis-representation.
| Thanks for the info. I have bought lots of used software on Ebay,
| mostly games, and have never had a problem either. You just learn to
| read carefully and skip the listings with sparse or squishy
| descriptions. The OEM issue is good to know. But what really concerns
| me now is the possibility that if I buy new, retail Office software
| that somehow I am restricted by the EULA from selling it some years
| down the road should I upgrade to a more current application. If my
| used software will only install on my machine (legally) then I don't
| really own a tangible product, do I? And if I build a new computer
| (something I do every couple of years) or upgrade hardware (often)
| the software I bought can't be (legally) installed? That's just
| retarded, in every sense of the word.


.

Relevant Pages

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