F.A.R ethical question

[slag]

Lets say you need an antivirus solution and you want to buy a copy of McAfee. You go to the store and the store has it for $20.00 with a $20.00 MIR making it free (as shown on the ad).

You go home and download a warez version instead since while you know you would submit the rebate, its not aways a given that the rebate house will process it and they might "lose" it or something. Besides, its FAR, so why not just skip the middleman and download your own copy.

Is it still stealing?

A neighbor and I are in disagreement over this.

 

[Cattlegod]

haha, this is almost highly technical forum worthy.

 

[Gravity]

Well, you didn't pay tax on the warez, did you?

Interesting argument though. Perhaps you are saving the merchant and the manufacturer some time and effort. The merch has to sell you the product and the manufacturer has to process the rebate.

Hmm....interesting point indeed.

<---pulls up lawnchair...orders pizza.

 

[TechnoKid]

the distribution and download of the warezed version of the antiviri software is illegal in itself.

 

[Heisenberg]

Yes. Or no.

 

[RaynorWolfcastle]

If you don't haev a legal CD key that McAfee generated, it's illegal. period.

 

[ActuaryTm]

Originally posted by: slag
A neighbor and I are in disagreement over this.

Mental note: never move to Kansas (even though that seemed more than obvious).

 

[RaynorWolfcastle]

Originally posted by: Heisenberg
Yes. Or no.

I expected no less of someone named Heisenberg 😛

 

[Schadenfroh]

I have made money money after mail in rebates/price matches before, i feel no guilt, they should have checked their policy better

 

[AyashiKaibutsu]

It's illegal. Chances are someone is getting your money other then the people providing the rebate.

 

[FoBoT]

Originally posted by: slag


Is it still stealing?

it is the wrong course of action

install from the CD you purchased

have a nice day

 

[Gravity]

Another point to consider;

The rebate is to clear the shelves of the product at a discount so that new product can be placed on the shelves.

You are not helping the manufcaturer if you are not taking the product off the shelf, which is the intent of the rebate.

Also, manufaturers depend on some consumers failing to send in their rebates therefore actually profiting from the sale of the items.

I'm curious to guess what percentage of purchasers send in their rebates and then, when sent in, what percent complies with the conditions of the rebate.

 

[Cattlegod]

Originally posted by: RaynorWolfcastle
If you don't haev a legal CD key that McAfee generated, it's illegal. period.

I don't think that was his question. It is obvious it is illegal, it is a question of how moral it is.