Emachines give $26 refund for Windows Return 73
jplove writes
"Chris Schoedel
wrote that she has received a $26 refund for returning a Windows license
to Emachines" The
strongly worded letter at the bottom might be a good model
to crib.
It's happening... (Score:1)
refund too low (Score:1)
We always paid $89.00 per copy of Windoze. (I know, what a waste of money)
What about the "hidden costs" of bundling? (Score:1)
I have personally received several hundred dollars from a major bank after asserting their mistake cost me time to resolve a problem they caused and that they should honor my time, just as they would their own. I asked a bank branch manager to spend two days idle sitting at their desk with me in order for their multibillion dollar corporation to realize the true cost of their mistake to my small business. They paid me $300 cash for my time. Out of what they call a customer satisfaction account.
It would be far cheaper for these companies to pay what the software is really worth, probably closer to $50-75, perhaps less if they are also peddling MSIE. After all the efforts of Chris to obtain her refund, which is clearly authorized by EULA, she should consider that $26 is an insult. She will set a bad precedent if she accepts that amount.
Better to continue to threaten legal action and push for $75.00. I would threaten them with small claims action and that I would ask the judge to determine what the company truly paid for the software, as well as put a value on her time for the companies attempts to avoid honoring the covenenant.
The simple issue is that it would cost them far more to represent themselves in small claims court rather than pay the $75.00. While this may be true for a small company who may not have that many claimants, the opposite is true with a large company, such as Compaq, Dell, or Gateway. It would be better for those companies, from an economic perspective, to force everyone into a small claims action. Then, only the lawyers will win. But, I am certain that a really good lawyer for the claimants could prove a valid argument for interstate fraud or something heavy like that which would greatly increase the damage award.
Twenty Six Bucks ? (Score:1)
Not to mention the hassle ..
$26 (Score:1)
For Windows AND MS Works???
Something tells me the OEMs will try to let this blow over by throwing a few bones.
OEM Pricing (Score:1)
Being a small VAR, I can tell you that purchasing OEM 98 through legit channels (i.e. Ingram Micro, Tech Data etc.) costs a lot more than Microsoft is saying. Here's a good breakdown of our costs:
OEM 98 $88.00 / copy
OEM 98 w/ Plus $102 / copy
MS Works 4.5 $22.00 / copy
Since we're small, we're not ordering 10,000 copies at a time, but, we do our fair share. I've never seen volume discounts below that - maybe if you're compaq and you purchase 500,000 units directly it gets down that low, but, for small VARs, it's much higher than what they are saying.
Slightly different EULA (Score:1)
Working as a technician for a major elextronics superstore, that may or may not be Best Buy, I have an oppurtunity to browse a couple dozen EULAs from different PC manufacturers a day. I have noticed more often than not that the agreement is directing the consumer to return the software to the store where they bought it.
Now I don't see that the retailer really should be held accountable by Microsoft and the PC maker that bundled that software. A huge chain like Best Buy probably wouldn't mind eating some refunds, but I do feel bad for smaller resellers who get caught in the middle.
Sue for lost productivity and service costs (Score:1)
It takes less than 5 minutes to remove windows. Its called fdisk.
I dunno about that one... (Score:1)
Is there some legal reason perhaps? (Score:1)
make this some sort of air-tight, you-bought-it-you're-stuck-with-it license, they would have done so. I can't help but wonder if there is some legal reason that they had to leave users an "out."
Yeah, it is about time. (Score:1)
Rockslides start with a single pebble.
Avalanches begin as tiny snowflakes.
It feels good to see this happening. Another facet of that
`Nuff sed
Da
$26 too low? Less than Windows, but legal.. (Score:1)
$26 is a RIP OFF (Score:1)
This translates to USD 62.90 according to Yahoos' financial section.
Are eMachines getting a better volume discount than Toshiba?
OEM's may not have to give refunds themselves (Score:1)
I find all too likely that M$ offers a %100 discount, ie you install %100 of your machines with Windows and you get a discount.
We shouldn't settle so easily (Score:1)
um... (Score:1)
--
She needs to find a smarter boyfriend (Score:1)
What moron installs an operating system without having a backup of real work? Two months of work without a backup?!?!?!!?!?!?!
--
Timur "too sexy for my code" Tabi, timur@tabi.org, http://www.tabi.org
We shouldn't settle so easily (Score:1)
--
$26 is actually NOT pretty close.. (Score:1)
Ever hear of "15% restocking fee"? Some stores (like Circuit City) try to pull that on you when you return stuff, even within 30 days, and even if it's obviously defective (like Packard Bell computers). Not that I'd be foolish enough to buy a Packard Bell computer from Circuit City, but my sister's roommate did, and they pulled that on her when she asked for a refund, even though it had some serious hardware problems.
-Jake
OEM Prices in Canada (Score:1)
Michael.
Linux on these machines (Score:1)
'bout 20-30% faster than a P100
t
Good Grief Man! (Score:1)
Good Grief Man! (Score:1)
time to find out oem pricing? (Score:1)
instant figuring out of MSFT's differential Win95 pricing scheme... hehe
OEM Pricing (Score:1)
Anyone?
26 Dollar refund for Windows 95 and MS Works? (Score:1)
maybe this price disclosure will cause OEM wars? (Score:1)
And...? (Score:1)
However, you may be correct, because Windows is licensed only for that computer, I think. Although, if so, the OEM should be able to get their money back from M$...yeah, right.
This is kind of off topic, but... (Score:1)
refund too low (Score:1)
refund too low (Score:1)
joedoe
$26 (Score:1)
Hey, that's with works, too.
Wonder how much the PC's with word on them are?
And...? (Score:1)
Software is more expensive in Australia (Score:1)
Wording of Chris's letter (Score:1)
Hear, hear! This is *exactly* the right way to word such things in letters of complaint. Saying you *will* sue if X is not done is considered a threat, and can in fact be actionable under the right circumstances. But saying that you are prepared to seek legal redress is completely fine, and probably the strongest way to express your intensions legally.
Sue for lost productivity and service costs (Score:1)
Chris
Emachine Pressure (Score:1)
Not too big a surprise after all (Score:1)
:-)
B.