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Thread ID: 60551 2005-08-05 06:10:00 XP Home OEM on TradeMe - did I get screwed? braindead (1685) Press F1
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378635 2005-08-05 06:10:00 I recently bought an OEM copy of XP Home on TradeMe for $100. There was no mention on the 1-day auction page that it was not new. When it arrived, the CD was scratched on the data side. The XP version was 2002. A small PC case screw was taped to the CD jewel case and the thing had obviously been used and authorized to match a different mobo/hardware system than mine. When I questioned this with the seller I received a flame-vomit from him telling me I could more or less shove it. A nasty man! He then told me I could download another key off the net (Quote: "There are plenty of XP keys available there, he he").

TradeMe referred me to the Small Claims Court but that costs $36 up front plus my time and energy.

Microsoft say what the seller did is illegal.

Apart from Caveat Emptor and the fact that the money has already changed hands, did I get screwed and is there anything I can I do about it?

Would appreciate your take on this. Please don't tell me I'm stupid - I know that already :)

Cheers
braindead (1685)
378636 2005-08-05 06:13:00 Yes.

you are meant to purchase the full xp not oem if you are buying xp without hardware.

also put your complaint on the trademe fourms
Prescott (11)
378637 2005-08-05 06:15:00 You can buy the OEM version with SP2 for $163.99

Trevor :)
Trev (427)
378638 2005-08-05 06:16:00 try scambusters plod (107)
378639 2005-08-05 06:19:00 You say you are at "The Edge of Insanity", I hate to say it but you must be completly insain to buy a MS OS from TradeMe Rob99 (151)
378640 2005-08-05 06:24:00 Hey Rob99 - dude, that's not very useful info. Maybe you could reframe it so it doesn't look so much like a rebuke (turd). braindead (1685)
378641 2005-08-05 06:40:00 You say you are at "The Edge of Insanity", I hate to say it but you must be completly insain to buy a MS OS from TradeMeAnd whys that?
Are you suggesting we download them instead? Or buy them with a piece of hardware we don't need?
Myth (110)
378642 2005-08-05 06:43:00 He simply said that buying software that requires activation from Trademe is a stupid move.

Which it is.

A moment of clear thought and the buyer should expect to get ripped off, the crap is used and worthless.
Metla (12)
378643 2005-08-05 07:55:00 Why don't you pass on all the info you can gather on the tosser that sold it to you and pass it on to M$ piracy team
As you have already stated M$ said it was illegal
You have his:
Trading name
You may even have his real name from emails
Did he use a hotmail addy or a real one?
Bank account details (know anybody in your local branch of the bank you deposited the money into that might let slip a bit of info?)
TradeMe might have his address if he is address verified (and they will have to co-operate with an investigation into an illegal trade)

There will be nothing surer than M$ gladly weeding out dodgy Trade Me deals on their software.

I'd firstly gather as much info on the sucker as you can then email him with your intentions of potting him to M$, the police, Trade Me, and the small claims court if you can identify him and see if you can get your cash back
Also post bad feedback on trademe and post his reply to you as well so no -one will deal with him to the effect that he sold you illegal software.

In short make his existence a misery till he fronts up
It's just the way I am and if it happenned to me, I wouldn't stop till I'd tracked the greaseball down
bartsdadhomer (80)
378644 2005-08-05 08:23:00 Take advantage of that "Dob in a pirate, get a free copy of XP" deal :D Edward (31)
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