Thinking of buying from eBay?

>if it was a pirate copy, it could well have had a hacked registration module.

true. no way to tell for an average person, until a problem like this occurs.

Again, if it was a pirate copy, it could well have had a hacked registration module.

> "However - this program sailed through the registration process without a hitch. It was only 9 months later that Adobe decided this copy was pirated."

Not to cast aspersions, but this claim smells funny to me, or there's info you have left outwhether by intention or notwhich would serve to deodorize it.

> Now wait just one minute here.

ok.

> Do NOT put words in my mouth.

I was putting forth a scenario as an EXAMPLE. i never put words in your mouth. you asked a question, i answered and now you want to get all huffy with me?

> Now that I know, I will never buy from Amazon again, and I have bought a lot.

I was trying avoid that impression. i buy tons from there. the point i was trying to make is just be careful. same as you would anywhere else! would you consider buying the stereo from a guy out of the trunk of his car when it's parked in front of circuit city or best buy? if so, then you take your chances. why would ANYone consider it? well to save a buck of course. so just because i picked $100 out of the air as an example when maybe it was $50 or $25 doesn't invalidate my example. if she WASN'T trying to get over, she would've bought directly from amazon instead of a 3rd party. the same reason anyone might buy from the guy with the stereos in the trunk instead of walking in the store.

for the record, I believe she has a BIG beef with amazon, especially if she does a lot of business there. I'd talk to them and then escalate to a manager. I BET you they'd give her her money back if she pushes hard enough. repeat... the front line drones won't be able to help her, but a customer service manager might.

>All of your barbs are failing to address the issue.

I flung no barbs. sorry if you got that impression. YOU specifically asked ME for my opinion, and i gave it.

>Adobe accepted the serial number when she registered it. 9 months later, when she wanted to sell the program, Adobe told her it was a pirate copy.

THAT'S a problem. did you mention that before? if so i missed it. (reading back i see you did say: "she installed and registered it".) I believe adobe should bear some responsibility there if they indeed accepted it as a valid # at one point. if they registered it at first they should probably stick by that. i'd escalate with adobe in that case.

>"Sometimes you just get screwed." THAT is your solution to this mess?

no, that's my answer to your question. is it wrong? if you think it is, i'd like to live in the world where you're living. someitmes you DO get screwed, everyone does.

like john said, i don't work for adobe and no one else here does either. this is a user to user forum.

>and was not expecting the members here to be rude.

was i rude? please go back and read my post. i went out of my way NOT to be rude about a sensitive situation and in fact apologized ahead of time when i felt i had to state something bluntly to get the point i was making across clearly. WHO'S being rude here?

>However - this program sailed through the registration process without a hitch. It was only 9 months later that Adobe decided this copy was pirated.

again, that's a problem to take up with adobe, and maybe a lawyer if she's so inclined.

so sorry if i appeared rude. you seemed to me to be an adult so i tried to respond in an adult manner, in an adult matter. if i knew you were going to react so childishly, i would've not bothered to respond at all.

Some of the pirated versions have a hacked activation and registration system that makes it look like it is being activated or registered with Adobe when it isn't. If you use the Adobe registration system, you will get a confirmation screen that says there will be a followup email with a free bonus (font or training video) -- although the email sometimes comes months later. Do you remember getting that screen and the email offer?

Adobe do not confirm valid serials over the phone. Some of the 'customer services' agents have been found to confirm if a serial is _registered_ or not, which is not the same as confirm if the serial is legal or valid. Just because it activates does not mean that it is legal, or belongs to that particular product build.

Amazon is reputable - a question mark hangs over some of the third party sellers on there - especially since some of them are effectively using Amazons product description of the legal product to shift illegal product. :(

> ... was not expecting the members here to be rude.

You should see it when we do real rude! :)

You will have to excuse me, I am a newbie to this Adobe forum, and was not expecting the members here to be rude. I can see people who have purchased a pirated copy of Adobe programs would be "stuck" with it.

However - this program sailed through the registration process without a hitch. It was only 9 months later that Adobe decided this copy was pirated. If Adobe won't own up to their shoddy business practices of changing their mind months later, then I would be very leery of BUYING any Adobe product. And I think as others discover just what is going on with Adobe, they just might start feeling the same way.
Jane Anderson

Jane, you are not talking to Adobe here, just some users trying to pass on information.

Don't shoot the messenger!

It's a hard world out there and we have seen dozens of people complaining here about software that turns out to be pirated. All we can do is try and warn others.

I'm sure Amazon have covered their backside with some small print about the legitimacy of resellers, but that doesn't help people who didn't notice it.

Dave is right CAVEAT EMPTOR!

Now wait just one minute here. First of all I did not mention what price she paid. She bought from Amazon because like you and like me, Amazon offers "nothing but great service" as you say. Well let's see - does she think she is special? No. Does she deserve a $100 discount? I did not even say the price she paid. Do NOT put words in my mouth. She bought from Amazon because she wanted to buy from a reputable place.

I was not aware that "private parties" are allowed to use Amazon to screw Amazon's customers. And obviously she was not either. caveat emptor my eye, Amazon brags about their resellers and how if it is not right, then they will fix it. Well they sure did. Now that I know, I will never buy from Amazon again, and I have bought a lot. But this woman didn't know.

All of your barbs are failing to address the issue. Adobe accepted the serial number when she registered it. 9 months later, when she wanted to sell the program, Adobe told her it was a pirate copy. "Sometimes you just get screwed." THAT is your solution to this mess?
Jane Anderson

dave milbut - 8:27pm Mar 28, 08 PST (#22 of 23) Edited: 28-Mar-2008 at 08:30pm

right. "private seller" is the key phrase there.

I've had nothing but great service from amazon over the years and recommend them to anyone who'll listen.

sometimes you just get screwed, i guess. you can lessen the chances of that i suppose, but my working assumption is if you think the deal is too good to be true, it probably is. for instance, if your friend saves $100 dollars over the "regular" "buy from amazon" price by going with a reseller, then i don't know what to tell you except why would she think she could get a legit copy for $100 less than anyone else? does she think she's special and that she deserves a $100 discount?

in other words, and to be blunt (sorry) she felt like she was "getting over" by getting the app for less than regular price. everyone says, a good deal is a good deal, right? sometimes that pays off, and sometimes the seller "gets over" on the buyer and is long gone before they're even aware of it.

caveat emptor.