ebay software

[fleetwood]

OK, a naive question here, but exactly whats the crack with the cheap software on ebay?
I'm not a regular ebayer, but can't help but be intrigued by the too good to be true offers such as "Adobe All In One-Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign+more!" for £14.95 (buy it now price).
Anyone bought anything like this?
What are you getting? Is it just a bunch of trial versions that are unuasble after 30 days, or are these useable (if somewhat of dubious origin) versions of software that would otherwise set you back £500+?
Interested in experiences of purchasers.

[pinbrook]

the too good to be true offers such as

the above probably sums it up...

unless you are prepared to lose 14.95 to find out I would assume the worst.

Did you see the Jonathan Maitland proggie on ebay last week, where he bought a load of stuff advertised as designer.

The vast majority was copies - as expected

[Duncan Rounding]

They're usually cracked copies of originals. Don't buy them unless you want unlicenced illegal software.

You will never see original software at such discounted prices.

I spend a lot of money on software (far too much!!) and it annoys me to see companies selling rip-off copies at a fraction of what I paid. It's hard to stop internet sites doing this in different coutries - but ebay?

Duncan

[jont]

You can often just win a link to the free download 30 day trial page on the Adobe et al website ... the listings will often be very carefully worded not to mention "full working licensed copy" just a list of features.

[fleetwood]

This is what I am guessing too Jont.
Just to clarify, I don't condone illegally copied software, I was just curious as to a) how they get away with advertising this on ebay, and b) what is actually being offered.
This started from looking for Crystal Reports 8.5 following advice from there very boards, to checkout ebay. There was actually a copy on offer, with the bid remaining at £5 up until the last 10 minutes, when it suddenly jumped to £100+, and appeared to have been bought by another software dealer!
Curious!!
I remain very, very wary of ebay.

[Duncan Allan]

They're usually cracked copies of originals. Don't buy them unless you want unlicenced illegal software.

You will never see original software at such discounted prices.

I spend a lot of money on software (far too much!!) and it annoys me to see companies selling rip-off copies at a fraction of what I paid. It's hard to stop internet sites doing this in different coutries - but ebay?

Duncan

There are a few exceptions to 'cheap' software where a few disclose they are EDUCATIONAL. These are legal full versions but you need to prove you are enrolled or work in the education field. Evening class count as well BTW.

Duncan Allan the other one!

[Mike Hughes]

Educational versions can also be bought / licensed by anyone who has family members in full time education. From what I remember, this includes children over the age of 6.

I believe though that the educational license excludes use for commercial / business purposes. As always, check before laying out any money.

Mike

[pnagames]

when you look for games / software in Ebay you have to be very carefull..

i started on ebay selling original games (console & pc) but i found that i could not compete with some other people that were offering the same game in 1/2 the price(very strange when my prices are better than high street shops and competitive to most online retailers) as buy it now and since my move to actinic and my online store.

The mysteries of ebay are endless. there are loopholes on everything and if you are not very carefull on the description of what you buying, the seller can sell you a pirate copy of a game/dvd without you even knowing it.

and what annoys me is that it makes it more difficult for us who are legal...

[chris ashdown]

To rub our noses in it you also never hear of any of these cowboys being done by tradeing standards, yet if you tried selling pirate equipment on Oxford street they would soon jump down on you

My other gripe is spam email, if the credit card companies had any honor they would get lists of companies who spam and remove their merchant accounts, could do the same with the sex industry move everyone of them to *.sex and remove merchant accounts for any found outside.

What could be simpler

[jont]

To rub our noses in it you also never hear of any of these cowboys being done by tradeing standards, yet if you tried selling pirate equipment on Oxford street they would soon jump down on you

Grrrr.... have a bricks and mortar shop and you are fair game for Customs, Trading Standards etc... work from a white van selling in pubs and car-boot sales then they seem to have more difficulty getting out of their offices and trudging around a field. Sore point.