I'll never buy software online again!

[ted]

I've spent the last week dealing with Win XP Pro and Nero software I purchased from a "reputable" online software distributor.
I finally went out and bought Win XP Pro from a retailers shelf and I'm up and running. Arrrggg!
The software keys didn't work from the "manufacturer".
The manufacturers admitted the codes were NOT pirated, but countless problems getting them registered was NOT worth what I saved.

I'm not saying they all are crop, just that I'll never TRY it again.
I wasn't so much trying to save a few bucks as I was trying to get them to me overnight and it cost me a week of down time with tech support and re-installs.

Buyer beware.

[Captain Obvious]

I've bought software online several times, and never had a problem.

[Matt]

Me too, always been lucky I guess!

[starbase1]

My experiences have also generally been good. In particular with products from very small outfits, such as content from Radiosity, IFW2 shaders, and other small LW add ons. The authors have been consistently helpful, in some cases extending the product to meet my needs at no extra charge.

Where I have had problems is when I want to move the product to a new PC, which often requires a new software key. Most suppliers have been very helpful, but it is still a huge pain in the arts.

With all the bits and pieces I now have, I am absolutely dreading my next hardware upgrade, and may well base everything on keeping the same C: drive...

The lightwave method with a hardware dongle, may be a little slow to get started, (though well within the grace period), but it does work very well in terms of making one copy portable to a new system, (and any add ons that are tied to it).

Nick

[mattclary]

So give us a naem, Ted! Most of us have bought software online, we need to know who to avoid.

Newegg.com has good prices and I've always gotten good service from them.

XP Pro, only $139.95

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16837102062

[Verlon]

Newegg....

Everyone I know who has bought hardware from them has had to return hardware to them.

Upwards of 20 people, mind you. Now Newegg handled the returns nicely, but I have to wonder why they have so many DOA parts...motherboards, RAM, Video cards, etc. I do not know about software, but I would be careful on the hardware front if you were in a hurry....

[ted]

I'm glad you guys have had luck. Due to lawsuit reasons I'll only say the name was like this...
e direct softwar
it might be missing a letter!:D
The odd thing is that Nero and Microsoft didn't want to followup on a piracy issue. I've been told that there are back door deals with some of these companies. Ya just never know.

[mattclary]

Newegg....

Everyone I know who has bought hardware from them has had to return hardware to them.

Upwards of 20 people, mind you. Now Newegg handled the returns nicely, but I have to wonder why they have so many DOA parts...motherboards, RAM, Video cards, etc. I do not know about software, but I would be careful on the hardware front if you were in a hurry....

Man, over the last 4-5 years, I have spent probably $5000-$6000 with them. I literaly order something from there on average of once a month (probably more, I do computer repairs on the side). I have only had to return one item to them, and it was because the wrong item got shipped (the wrong variant of a computer case). If you look them up on resellerratings.com, you will be hard pressed to find anyone who has as many feedbacks or as overall a positive rating.

Your statement sounds ludicrous. :rolleyes:


edit:
Since Febraury of 2002, I have spent $11,776.49 at Newegg.com. ONE computer case. And it was just the wrong variant.

[dwburman]

I've not had trouble buying stuff from online stores other than one time what I got wasn't what was in the picture... but if I remember correctly, it had all the features listed... and there was a disclaimer that said the photo might not match the product (an oem ATI radeon 9600 gfx card)

I've purchased several hardware bits from Newegg with no problems. Hard Drives, USB HDD enclosures, RAM and a few other things. From reading the product reviews it sounds like they're easy to deal with when/if you do need to return something. That says a lot. Of course, we don't have a Comp USA or Frys electronics within 2 hours of where I'm at so computer hardware at reasonable prices isn't as easy to find as it might be for you.

[lots]

I'm with Matt, I've assembled several computers from parts I got off newegg, and not a problem here. Only one DOA part, and its mostly because there was a bad batch of mobos that left gigabyte.. And the fix was simple, flash to latest BIOS and everythign was good.

I did recieve another bad item from newegg, however, I believe this was the fault of UPS and not fedex. I dont know how a whole corner of the hard drive gets crushed :P And it was my first UPS shipment from the egg... needless to say Fedex is much better.. The boxes actually arrive at my door in one piece :)

[mattclary]

I dont know how a whole corner of the hard drive gets crushed

LOL! I use the term "Ugly Personal Servants" ;)

[MiniFireDragon]

I too have bought parts from NewEgg and only until this past month had I had to return anything. And it's not because it was defective it was because the stuff I ordered didn't match the specs the manufacturer said they were. And somehow I ordered firewire drives over USB2.

[Jim_C]

Very frequent Newegg customer. Including over 30 external Maxtor drives.

Not a single problem.

[Jim_C]

On thing I have noticed about a few online sellers recently. They must have an auto reply that states your item is shipped, assuming it is in stock and all went well between your order time and the shipping guy.

3 times from 3 different vendors, I ordered, received a 'shipped' email within 4 hours, then within 36 hours received an email from an actual person stating it wasn't in stock and would ship asap.

All 3 vendors sent the item within a week, but I found it odd.


eh....
Jim

[Mha8649]

Man, over the last 4-5 years, I have spent probably $5000-$6000 with them. I literaly order something from there on average of once a month (probably more, I do computer repairs on the side). I have only had to return one item to them, and it was because the wrong item got shipped (the wrong variant of a computer case). If you look them up on resellerratings.com, you will be hard pressed to find anyone who has as many feedbacks or as overall a positive rating.

Your statement sounds ludicrous. :rolleyes:


edit:
Since Febraury of 2002, I have spent $11,776.49 at Newegg.com. ONE computer case. And it was just the wrong variant.

I agree I have spent a few grand there just in the last year and have had no problems what so ever. My only complaint twords newegg would be that they have ups shipping there products now. Fedex is still an option but at a little higher price.

[Lamont]

Newegg....

Everyone I know who has bought hardware from them has had to return hardware to them.Really? I've bought upwards of $9,000 in hardware from them over the past 3 years and have had 0 returns.

I've ordered a Lian-Li case and the wheels didn't have the rubber grips in the box... the only problem I've had :)

About this software. What site is it?

[Verlon]

Hmmm.. don't know how we're so lucky in my neck of the woods.

ASUS motherboard-- DOA no sound and case with DOA Antec power supply
EVGA 7800 GT vidcard --DOA
512MB stick of ram -- DOA (cheap stuff)
1GB stick of ram --DOA (good stuff)


And that was in January....4 different people...4 different orders....4 different times, and 5 bad parts. Now one of those people, I could write off as maybe mishandling/not know what they were doing and ESD zapping the 512 stick.

The other three, however, DO have a pretty good idea about how this is done. These are people who work in FAB25 (where the original Athlons were made). I was physically present during those top two arrivals, and I know that proper precautions were taken there.

So, the statement may SOUND ludicrous, but it IS my experience. Again, Newegg handled the returns in all cases nicely. They even swapped brands on the motherboard without complaint. I wouldn't fault them for there returns.

However, I have seen a LOT of DOA parts, and if I were building a computer I wanted up and running ASAP, I would order the hardware from someone else (I know...you want it up ASAP, buy locally, but the fancy stuff often isn't on the shelves, and if I am going to special order it, I might as well save money doing it....).

And I have ordered quite a bit online myself, though I can't touch Matt's totals.

(nothing but love for you Matt....you seem like a cool guy in the forums...just explaining where I am coming from).

[caddy]

the fault of UPS and not fedex. I dont know how a whole corner of the hard drive gets crushed :P And it was my first UPS shipment from the egg... needless to say Fedex is much better..

Different folks have different experiences. The ONLY shipper I trust is UPS partly because they'll work for a delivery, FexEx gives up at the least difficulty and makes you go to the depot. I've had UPS drivers chase me down when I've just left the office and hand me the package at the next red light. DHL/Airborne is the worst, the most clueless drivers of all and the packages often look like they were kicked out the back of the plane during a fly-by. Given a choice between suppliers, I always go with the one that gives me the UPS option.

Oh, BTW, I love NewEgg. Never a problem and usually the best prices. Took all my business from CDW.

Cliff

[Jim_C]

DHL/Airborne is the worst, the most clueless drivers of all and the packages often look like they were kicked out the back of the plane during a fly-by.


Agreed. They recently destroyed 2 of 4 new Clay Packey AlphaSpots we ordered from Italy. Guy delivering was in jeans and flannel shirt and when he opened the back of his truck, boxes were EVERYWHERE! On top of each other etc. One of the AlphaSpots was laying on it's side in the middle of a pile while the box CLEARLY had arrows pointing him as to which way was up.

He just drug it off the truck like that, put it on a dolly and started shoving it about 50 yards across a gravel driveway instead of backing up to our loading dock.
I could just picture the innards of the machine vibrating around. Big red VERY FRAGILE written all over the boxes.

I went runing outside yelling "Whoa whoa!!" and told him to back up to the loading dock door(labeled very clearly 'Deliveries') where we have electric lifts. He gave me attitude like I was telling him how to do his job. Which actually I was.

End of story, 2 of 4 lights were broken beyond our repair.

Jim

[mattclary]

(nothing but love for you Matt....you seem like a cool guy in the forums...just explaining where I am coming from).

No problem, and I didn't mean to offend you either. It's the same thing I would say to my best friend. :thumbsup:

[lots]

Well for me, every box I've ever gotten from UPS has always come in some deformed manner. Maybe its just the Local UPS guys here, or something, but most boxes I get from them come in damaged. Luckily its not often that the contents of the box is damaged, but still, its kinda risky business *shrug*

Fedex has always delivered my boxes in perfect shape. They are also faster usually. The one problem is that whole having to go out and pick up the package if you missed the pickup time. That is fairly annoying. Luckily the office at my apt takes packages for me, so I dont ahve to go out to the depot :P

As for DHL, I've got no experience reciving items from them, only sending out (back to Dell mostly)

Oh well, either way shippers have thier problems. Its a balance between speediness and the ability to deliver undamaged goods...