Thinking of buying from eBay?

[BobLevine]

Edited October 23, 2008

The original article that this post referred to has expired but there's still quite a bit of good information in this thread.

The point is that eBay software is a risky purchase with much of it illegally pirated.

Bob

[Guest]

Kelibath wrote:

I was happy with that. Amazon sells the student version for £150 so I was unsurprised to find it on eBay for similar prices

Prices on Amazon are no guide because there are resellers there too!

Does the software work? You didn't say.  If not you have a legitimate cause for a refund.

[Kelibath]

It works except for the pointer/cursor, which flickers constantly and so is useless for drawing with.

I wanted tech support through Adobe but can't get it until they consider the registration completed - that's the issue.

As far as  buying from Amazon is concerned I am referencing the official Amazon price not the resellers - buying PS CS4 direct from amazon as a student costs £150.

[Guest]

See if there are newer drivers for your mouse.

If the mouse is a logitech with setpoint that may be causing the issues.

Adjust the pointer speed in windows and turn off display pointer trails.

Also, if you have a tablet near by keep the pen away from the mouse.

If you have a plain jane mouse try using that.

[Kelibath]

Thanks for the advice everyone.. unfortunately as I said I have already lost £300 and already own a copy of PS, therefore I certainly couldn't afford to buy the full version now.

My mouse is a Sweex; I don't know exactly what you mean by setpoint though.

Should I adjust the pointer speed up or down?

Otherwise - I have no pointer trails on, and the mouse is a plain USB wired optical mouse. I've tried removing the mouse entirely and the pointer still flickers so I doubt it's anything to do with where I've positioned my hardware. I have the latest drivers for my tablet (which also has an integral mouse, but I am not using it).

Any other ideas?

[Guest]

Update PS CS4 to 11.0.1

Update your video card drivers

If you have another hard drive installed put the PS scratch disk on that to speed things up.

If your video card cannot support opengl, turn off opengl in PS.

Defrag your hard drive

If your mouse is set to full fast try backing it back to like maybe 3/4

If you have another USB mouse try that to see if it changes. But if it works in other software it should be fine.

[Guest]

There's something wrong with the way the jiveware deals with this thread.

EDIT: That message seems to have got it over the speed bump!

[Guest]

Bump!

I thought this was made a sticky – couldn't find it there.

[Guest]

BUMP!

[Ritz_Cracker]

I too purchased from Ebay, the key to a good ending is not to sign off until after you install and verify the software is working and not a trial or a pirate copy.  I had a priate copy and when I tried to register it, I believe Adobe then sent a kill program file to my computer.  I cannot uninstall the entire CS4 Suite or any program in it.  I am locked out of every program and when I try to delete a folder or any file in a folder, I get an error message, "The folder or file cannot be deleted because it is open somewhere else" in my computer.  If I try to reinstall, I get the error message "Bridge needs to be disabled prior to installation."  Does anyone out there have suggestions or a fix to this problem?

I have tried numerous times to get information from Adobe and all I get is some tech in India sitting in front of a monitor, reading from a prepared script in a binder.  This is lousy product support.  If I have to reformat my hard drive to get rid of the bad programs, I will probably give everyone I know a copy of the suite and tell them it works fine but just don't try to register the numbers with Adobe.  I am truly pissed off as I purchased the product in good faith as well.  I think Adobe has a oblagation to anyone who uses the programs, pitrate copy or not, it is just not good business to do otherwise.  And finally, if you have to use the dispute process in Ebay, follow the rules, don't close the case untill you are satisfied the product is good, or registered.  I had to write a number of times to get my position stated and did get a refund from Ebay.  And thanks for the tip on making sure the numbers are good with adobe prior to purchase.

[rogleale]

It is pretty ridiculous to suggest:

a.  That Adobe sent a "Kill" message to your computer.

b.  That Adobe should be under any obligation to support users of pirate software.

If you fill your Ford diesel car with gasoline and the motor blows-up - are Ford under an obligation to repair it?

Roger

[Vibrant_coder15D5]

With 4 and no doubt 5 if you use a serial number that isn't correct then Adobe send you an E mail telling you that the serial number isn't correct and put a stop on this. you then cant use the product until you get a genuine serial number. Many purchases of Photoshop CS 4 from E Bay where illegal copies that looked genuine. It wasn't until you got this me sage from Adobe did you realise that it was a pirate version.

I suspect that CS5 will be the same.

As they say if it looks cheap to buy then its probably not genuine.

Philip Davies

[Ritz_Cracker]

The issue here is one of reasonable expectation. I have owned and used Adobe products for over 15 years. I have programed in 4 different languages and have been using computers for over thirty five years. For the most part I try not to think of myself as a cabbage head that just fell off the back of the truck. I am not a conspiracy theorist, but the ability to send down the pipe malicious hacks, cracks, spyware, malware, is done everyday millions of times. Why do you purchase virus protection if this is not so? If I have gotten beyond the firewall, for all intents I own your computer. Give me access to your computer on or offline and If you have saved passwords, your bank account will empty and your credit card statements will max out before you get your next bill even if all you see is dots where the account and card numbers appear.

At first I was a bit angry and upset and perhaps spoke a bit irrationally, but anyone who has had this happen to them would probably do likewise. And yes, Adobe does have an obligation here as it sold a product registration system that "HAS" been hacked. And yes, in the end I will probably end up reformatting the hard drive.

The number of reply's to this issue more than documents lousy customer support on Adobe's part. Since I have hacked systems in the past and know of what I speak of, let's debate this issue reasonably and look for a fix that solves the problem. If you tell your neighbor your homes alarm codes and he also knows the combination to your hidden safe behind the painting on the wall. Who would you first suspect if when you came home after a 5 minute round trip to the corner convenience store , you find your door unlocked, your safe is open and all your money is gone?

[BobLevine]

Seriously, your arguments are getting more and more lame.

If I was crazy enough to give all that info out, I'd be blaming myself for being an idiot!

And that simply gets back to the definition of "reasonable expectation" No authorized seller of Adobe software will be able to offer any more than 5-10% of the list price. This is a fact!

Any more of discount than that and from an ebay seller should set off alarm bells.

Bob

[Ritz_Cracker]

You are missing the point. Should I decide to start bloging and casting dispersions about Adobe, I don't resolve the issue. What I am looking for is solutions, not assigning blame.

[David Ayars]

James Svos wrote:

The number of reply's to this issue more than documents lousy customer support on Adobe's part.

Yes, you and Bob are right--it all too often sucks, even with authorized purchases. The software is mind-numbingly complex and it is very difficult to untangle the hopelessly snarled ball of yarn that issues can become. That probably is the one thing in your posts that most everybody here--maybe even Adobe itself--would agree to. And I understand the irrational anger that comes with being tricked, ripped off, and seriously inconvenienced.  Assuming you've run your security software, tried a System Restore if permitted, and otherwise done all you can do, consider cutting your losses, backing up data and getting on with an R&R.

[Ritz_Cracker]

Thank you. You are right, perhaps if enough feedback is accrued, a positive outcome might result.

[Vibrant_coder15D5]

YES the only way to remove the prog is to reformat and start again even reset points don't .

Yes you can check with Adobe to se if your number is genuine before you load the prog.

If you exxxppppect to buy Adobe at well below the advertised price you cant expect them to help you out if things go wrong. Its their way of protecting themselves.

If you are buying of E BAy ask the seller the followiong question first

"Is this a legal copy and if it won't register as such will you refund the purchase cost"

Get the answer yes and then use paypal.

Should you get mesaage from Adobe regarding illegal serial number then make a screen copy or print it and scan it in again. Send both the sellers reply to refund and the copy of Adobe refusal to disputes section and refund will be given quickly.

Philip Davies

[Guest]

philipjdavies wrote:

If you are buying of E BAy ask the seller the followiong question first

"Is this a legal copy and if it won't register as such will you refund the purchase cost"

Get the answer yes and then use paypal.

Should you get mesaage from Adobe regarding illegal serial number then make a screen copy or print it and scan it in again. Send both the sellers reply to refund and the copy of Adobe refusal to disputes section and refund will be given quickly.

That's all very well but the best advice is

DON'T BUY PHOTOSHOP FROM EBAY!

[Vibrant_coder15D5]

Why there are genuine people selling on  EBAY yes they are in the upper price bracket and you have to watch that they are not student versions.

Otherwise it is no different than buying from shop that id prepared to share their profit with you.Adobe mulyi licience.

Especially if as camera club or even a federation you are buying multiple copies far in excess of Adodpe liciencing numbers

Philip D

[tkhor]

What about an upgrade from a legal CS2 to CS5 from Amazon.com? Would it work outside the US? I live in Singapore and had some difficluty purchasing the upgrade from Adobe online; told I am registered in Singapore and have to register with a new ID for the US!

Khor

[rogleale]

Hi Khor,

I have bought all my up-dates since CS from Amazon, mainly because I like to have a DVD of the programme, but often because the Amazon price is a few $$  lower than the Adobe download for the area I live in.  All have been genuine, and have caused no problems.  I too have been told that I cannot use my Adobe ID to buy anywhere other than in France, where my e-mail address is, I have no problem buying from Amazon.

Roger

[tkhor]

Hi Roger

Thanks. I might do that since I am in the US for another week. Have you upgraded to PS CS5? If so, have you found a significant improvement?

Regards

Khor

[Vibrant_coder15D5]

There are some remarkable changes in CS5 at present I am using the 30 day trial copy to see if it is worth upgrading normally I do this on even numbers. however the first is in the healing brush. You can run your brush over an unwanted item car in the street and in front of you it vanishes and is replaced as if it was never there .Second portraiture how often have you found the arm or the hands should have been moved

Now you can yes place it where you feel it should be it moves and you never realised it was in the wrong place.

As one who enters internationals these two alone move the goal posts for getting awards. So its time to save the pennies and invest. There must be plenty more just not found them yet.

[rogleale]

Hi Khor,

I upgraded as soon as I could and it does seem like a significant upgrade to me.  Apart from all the flashy things like Puppet Warp and Content Aware fill two really useful improvements are the HDR Pro tools, and the improved refine edge tools.  What surprised me most was the speed it opens at, so much faster than CS 4 on my machine at least.

Roger

[tkhor]

Hi Roger

Thanks for the feed back. Looks like I should get the upgrade from Amazon.

Regards

Khor