OT: Be careful buying software using your MasterCard

Didn't you read the fine print-- that they were going out of business, and there were no exchanges or refunds??

No, this was bought in November BEFORE they announced they were closing shop. Unfortunately, when I tried to return it, they had announced their demise, and could care less about keeping good customer relations.

Ironically, the only other B&M I ever had problems with a software return was Egghead. Amex stood by me on that one.

Bob

Didn't you read the fine print-- that they were going out of business, and there were no exchanges or refunds??

Was the software OPENED?

If so, all they are required to do is give you another copy of the same software, or direct you to the manufacturer.

Bob,

Why would they care about customer relations? They are going out of business.

However, I bought a full set of living room furniture from Levitz four days before they announced bankruptcy. They were not "able" to deliver the furniture when it was originally scheduled (they probably didn't have funds to pay for it) and the order was rescheduled. Two days before the furniture was to be delivered, I called and found out - gee golly wiz.... - that the order was cancelled several weeks earlier. I had purchased this using my AMEX Card - the bill had already been fully paid (everyone wants the money up front) so I disputed it. AMEX (bless them) reversed the charge and saved me from going through the Bankruptcy filing. It might have help that I spend big bucks on AMEX.

As an FYI, I returned the Quicken 2008 software we were discussing the other day. If you'll remember, I had opened the box and installed it. Found it didn't meet my needs so I uninstalled it. I'd bought it at Sam's Club and they didn't even blink when I brought it back. They asked if there was anything wrong with it, I told them no, it just wasn't what I'd hoped, and by that time they'd credited my credit card account (Discover). Frankly, I'd gone in there thinking it would be more trouble than that.

Port

HIGGINS ... Pickering, why can't a store be more like a Costco? PICKERING Hmm? HIGGINS Yes... Why can't a store be more like a Costco? Costco is so honest, so thoroughly square; Eternally noble, historic'ly fair; Who, when you return, will always give your back a pat. Well, why can't a store be like that? Why does ev'ryone do what the others do? Can't a store learn to use its head? Why do they do ev'rything their others do? Why don't they grow up- well, like a Costco instead? Why can't a store take after a Costco? Costco is so pleasant, so easy to please; Whenever you are there, you're always at ease. Would you be slighted if I didn't buy for hours? PICKERING Of course not! HIGGINS Would you be livid if I only bought a thing or two? PICKERING Nonsense. HIGGINS Would you be wounded if I never bought your vouchers? PICKERING Never. HIGGINS Well, why can't a store be like you? One Costco in a million may slip a bit. Now and then there's one with slight defects; One, perhaps, whose truthfulness you doubt a bit. But by and large Costcos are a marvelous set! Why can't a store take after a Costco? Cause Costcos are so friendly, good natured and kind. A better store you never will find. If I were hours late for shopping, would you bellow? PICKERING Of course not! HIGGINS If I forgot a silly receipt, would you fuss? PICKERING Nonsense. HIGGINS Would you complain if I shopped at another fellow? PICKERING Never. HIGGINS Well, why can't a store be like us? [To Mrs. Pearce] Mrs. Pearce, you're a store... Why can't a store be more like a Costco? Costcos are so decent, such regular chaps. Ready to help you through any mishaps. Ready to buck you up whenever you are glum. Why can't a store be a chum? Why is thinking something stores never do? Why is logic never even tried? Manipulating their books is all they ever do. Why don't they straighten up the mess that's inside? Why can't a store behave like a Costco? If I was a store who'd been to a mall, Been hailed as a retailer by one and by all; Would I start niggling like a bathtub overflowing? And carry on as if my locale were in a tree? Would I run off and never tell me where I'm going? Why can't a store be like me?

Glad CompUSA closed. Never had good results with them.

Boy; that's a useful comment.

Many vendors have a policy of not accepting return on opened software. I'm surprised you were not aware of that policy, it is likely posted conspicuously around the store.

Sigh, I guess I'm going to have to go into the gruesome details. I usually get Acronis TrueImage 11 Home by Newegg download. I already had 5 licenses, but getting the T61p meant buying another. I'm pretty anal about licenses, so I keep track of machines and serial numbers:

11.0 a1300e 9J89H-TP3HL-ZV6A6-MDRCW-xxxx 11.0 d4100y 53RPG-4L2N6-Z2VFA-EDX3N-xxxx 11.0 d4995t 4DB95-Q4PD5-XKXTA-CAHMS-xxxx 11.0 dv5000 45J78-JYSHM-6EPC9-FPZX6-xxxx 11.0 T61 4FGRP-SQEVD-RP58P-D729G-xxxx 11.0 T61p 77DN9-874Z2-YGWUT-UB4PZ-xxx 11.0 X61s 8FCGU-DBK4A-5PJFG-PCYZJ-xxxx

Decided to get a physical CD from CompUSA because they had a $20 CompUSA rebate offer at Thanksgiving. I usually don't do rebates, partly due to the hassle, and mostly because of being burned in the past.

Sure enough, CompUSA denied the rebate, not surprising, since they were going out of business. I tried to return the software since I only bought it because of the rebate discount. The young man at returns told me that MANY people were coming in because of rejected rebates. The manager basically told me I had to talk to corporate to get satisfaction.

I won't attribute nefarious motives to the store, but I have to suspect that corporate had no intention of honoring rebates. It was only $50, but served as another reminder why I stopped doing rebates.

I'm sure this is more than most people wanted to know. And that's all I have to say about that.

Bob

"Bob Wang" wrote in news:Pe-dnY7kXe-yK1XanZ2dnUVZ snipped-for-privacy@comcast.com:

I hate rebates as well. Nevertheless, sometimes they are too good to pass up. Staples is very good with rebates, and Costco was too (haven't been there in a while). I bought a Garmin GPS through Amazon with extra software (Topo 2008) and because I had a previous GPS and Topo I qualified for 2 rebates totaling $80. I confirmed that by email with Garmin, and it took a while, but I did get both rebates.