Screwed by Newegg.com w/ OEM software

[Homerboy]

recently purchased some new PCs for the office along with MS Office Basic.
I have an issue and went to utilize MS online assistance and after entering my product ID I was told that the ID I entered is not supported in the country I selected (United States).

 

[DaveSimmons]

Ddi you contact Newegg customer service?

 

[rbV5]

Are OEM versions even elegible for support?

 

[Homerboy]

emailed em ya

I read a review on there too from a guy who had similar issue. Called MS support and was told his Id was registered to newegg. His only resolution was to pay the $35 to MS.

My email:

I've been a long time buyer from newegg (in fact I just purchased some items today). regardless I recently purchased an OEM version of MS Office Basic along with some PCs for my employer. I'm having issues with function in MS Excel 2003 and decided Id use MS's online help. After entering my product ID number, I was told that the ID # I entered is not supported in the country I selected (United States). Is this correct? Is newegg selling non-US software? I refuse to pay MS $35 for resolution on an issue that should be covered by my original purchase from newegg.com

Please advise.

 

[Homerboy]

Originally posted by: rbV5
Are OEM versions even elegible for support?

I certainly thought so.

 

[rbV5]

Originally posted by: Homerboy

Originally posted by: rbV5
Are OEM versions even elegible for support?

I certainly thought so.

I could be wrong, but IIRC, OEM support is obtained from the PC builder not MS.

 

[drag]

MS doesn't support OEM software as far as I know.

When you buy the OEM software you go to gateway or whatever for the software. Since your the OEM builder your OEM support. I think that is how it goes.

If you want retail style end-user support you have to buy retail end-user software.

 

[Homerboy]

Hmmm guess that makes sense.
Seems odd that MS would allow places like newegg etc to sell it then. Im sure it gets ugly.
Ill see what newegg says I guess.

 

[Homerboy]

Well then I may as well ask you guys..
anyone know whats up with this?

 

[DaveSimmons]

> anyone know
No idea, but did you search the knowledge base at microsoft.com ?

 

[Homerboy]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
> anyone know
No idea, but did you search the knowledge base at microsoft.com ?

yes I have and the only needle I can find in that haystack is this.
However I DO know she has the proper rights to that directory as I set her up and she can save/edit/delete etc from any other program to that network drive.

 

[DGath]

"After entering my product ID number, I was told that the ID # I entered is not supported in the country I selected (United States). Is this correct?"

lol... I remember another thread about how NewEgg screwed this other guy because they sold him a HDD that wasn't supposed to be sold in the US and WD or Maxtor refused to RMA it. Things are getting kinda shady over there.

 

[rbV5]

Originally posted by: DGath
"After entering my product ID number, I was told that the ID # I entered is not supported in the country I selected (United States). Is this correct?"

lol... I remember another thread about how NewEgg screwed this other guy because they sold him a HDD that wasn't supposed to be sold in the US and WD or Maxtor refused to RMA it. Things are getting kinda shady over there.

How exactly is it shady? MS doesn't support OEM software. IIRC, Newegg made good on the HDD immediately after being informed of the problem, the poster hadn't even tried to contact them before posting the thread. Did you even read this thread?

 

[John]

Originally posted by: rbV5

Originally posted by: Homerboy

Originally posted by: rbV5
Are OEM versions even elegible for support?

I certainly thought so.

I could be wrong, but IIRC, OEM support is obtained from the PC builder not MS.

You are correct. Please keep in mind that OEM Software does not retain the support options normally available in the Retail versions. This usually applies to all vendors, not just Microsoft.

 

[DGath]

Originally posted by: rbV5

Originally posted by: DGath
"After entering my product ID number, I was told that the ID # I entered is not supported in the country I selected (United States). Is this correct?"

lol... I remember another thread about how NewEgg screwed this other guy because they sold him a HDD that wasn't supposed to be sold in the US and WD or Maxtor refused to RMA it. Things are getting kinda shady over there.

How exactly is it shady? MS doesn't support OEM software. IIRC, Newegg made good on the HDD immediately after being informed of the problem, the poster hadn't even tried to contact them before posting the thread. Did you even read this thread?

Ummm.... yes, I read it. Go back and read the thread and tell me who it was that told him to contact Newegg?

Bottom line, it appears these products are not supposed to be sold in the US and Newegg appears to be doing so. Of course they are going to resolve the problem by giving him a proper drive, but that still doesn't justify them screwing up in the first place.

I like NewEgg because of their prices, but that is about it. Their customer service sucks, but luckily they make it extremely easy to RMA cause they sold me bad RAM and a bad video card in the same order.

 

[rbV5]

Ummm.... yes, I read it. Go back and read the thread and tell me who it was that told him to contact Newegg?

So what? my point is that he posted his thread instead of contacting Newegg first. Newegg made it right as soon as they knew about the issue. You call that bad customer service, and now you call them shady because Microsoft doesn't support OEM software as if its Neweggs fault. Seems like you have some sort of comprehension issues.

Their customer service sucks, but luckily they make it extremely easy to RMA cause they sold me bad RAM and a bad video card in the same order.

Yea, piss poor customer service there as well. What an ingrate

 

[DaveSimmons]

Originally posted by: DGath
Their customer service sucks, but luckily they make it extremely easy to RMA. cause they sold me bad RAM and a bad video card in the same order.

You contradicted yourself there. The "shady" companies make it almost impossible to RMA defective products while Newegg provides great service.

You can't reasonably blame Newegg for defective parts -- no one tests for manufacturer defects in parts before shipment unless you specifically pay them for assembly and testing services.

 

[DGath]

Originally posted by: rbV5

Ummm.... yes, I read it. Go back and read the thread and tell me who it was that told him to contact Newegg?

So what? my point is that he posted his thread instead of contacting Newegg first. Newegg made it right as soon as they knew about the issue. You call that bad customer service, and now you call them shady because Microsoft doesn't support OEM software as if its Neweggs fault. Seems like you have some sort of comprehension issues.

I don't care what they did after they sold him something they shouldn't have, the bottom line is they shouldn't have sold it to him in the first place. And this isn't the first instance.

I never said anything about Microsoft not supporting OEM software. That's perfectly fine that they don't, makes sense to me, and that isn't NewEgg's fault either. If you are smart enough to build a computer, you are smart enough to know what OEM is. My beef is that it appears they sold him something they shouldn't have... "I was told that the ID I entered is not supported in the country I selected (United States)."

Newegg is the only company that I've heard multiple problems with them selling non-US products in the US. Something's not right here. That's why I call it shady.

Also, still waiting for a post from you without a junior high insult as well.

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons

Originally posted by: DGath
You contradicted yourself there. The "shady" companies make it almost impossible to RMA defective products while Newegg provides great service.

I wasn't aware that "shady" wasn't a broad term that couldn't be applied to things besides RMAs. I haven't had great experiences with Newegg or their customer service. Seems like every order takes a few days to go through because their CC validation never seems to work until they check it manually and tell me "I'm not quite sure why this didn't go through automatically." I don't have that problem with any other websites, so it's not the user. Whenever I've called for various reasons, I've had two types of people... a) not friendly... b) not knowlegable. I'm sure I haven't talked to everyone there, and I'm sure there are some good people there, I've just sampled some of the bad apples. I do tech support over the phone, so maybe I'm just a bit more picky, but it's not that hard to make the conversation a little more pleasant. Once again, not something that I've experienced with too many other companies.

NewEgg is unique in their own way, they have great prices & selection, but lack in other areas from my experience. However, as long as their strengths continue to outweight their weaknesses, I'll still continue to buy from them.

 

[Gagabiji]

I think NewEgg has better service than MANY other online retailers.

 

[Softballslug]

I wasn't aware that "shady" wasn't a broad term that couldn't be applied to things besides RMAs. I haven't had great experiences with Newegg or their customer service. Seems like every order takes a few days to go through because their CC validation never seems to work until they check it manually and tell me "I'm not quite sure why this didn't go through automatically." I don't have that problem with any other websites, so it's not the user. Whenever I've called for various reasons, I've had two types of people... a) not friendly... b) not knowlegable. I'm sure I haven't talked to everyone there, and I'm sure there are some good people there, I've just sampled some of the bad apples. I do tech support over the phone, so maybe I'm just a bit more picky, but it's not that hard to make the conversation a little more pleasant. Once again, not something that I've experienced with too many other companies. NewEgg is unique in their own way, they have great prices & selection, but lack in other areas from my experience. However, as long as their strengths continue to outweight their weaknesses, I'll still continue to buy from them.

I'm raising the BS flag on that statement. I have ordered literally almost $100,000 worth of items from NewEgg in the last 3-4 years and have NEVER not had a CC go through..... They also have some of the best customer service I have seen. I have never had an RMA refused.

 

[onelin]

OEM software is cheaper for a reason. that sums it up.

 

[Wuzup101]

Lol... maybe it is the user... no offence... but there are way more people here that haven't had problems with newegg and their CC. Maybe you should contact your credit card company? The only problem I've ever had was when ordering $2600+ of equipment at one time last summer. CC was refused b/c CC company has a special feature for online buying when the purchase is huge... just so people don't spend large amounts of money w/ a stolen CC. That was my fualt... not neweggs.

 

[QueBert]

Originally posted by: SirDude
I think NewEgg has better service than MANY other online retailers.

That's really not saying much

I find Newegg to be the online equivlent of Fry's, huge selection but never have/carry exactly what I want. And service isn't the best (but not the worst either)

 

[erikistired]

Originally posted by: rbV5

Originally posted by: DGath
"After entering my product ID number, I was told that the ID # I entered is not supported in the country I selected (United States). Is this correct?"

lol... I remember another thread about how NewEgg screwed this other guy because they sold him a HDD that wasn't supposed to be sold in the US and WD or Maxtor refused to RMA it. Things are getting kinda shady over there.

How exactly is it shady? MS doesn't support OEM software. IIRC, Newegg made good on the HDD immediately after being informed of the problem, the poster hadn't even tried to contact them before posting the thread. Did you even read this thread?

ms aren't saying they won't support it because it's OEM, they are saying that won't support it because support isn't availible for said product in the country it was sold in. to me that's a little shady. if they had said "sorry we don't support oem software" it'd be a different thing altogether. i do realize that they don't support oem software (like many software vendors) but this is the second time newegg has been caught selling merchandise that apparently wasn't meant for sale in the U.S. perhaps that's how they offer such great prices? don't know, don't care. as long as newegg is willing to support their customers, i'll vote for lower prices.

 

[erikistired]

Originally posted by: Softballslug

I wasn't aware that "shady" wasn't a broad term that couldn't be applied to things besides RMAs. I haven't had great experiences with Newegg or their customer service. <STRONG>Seems like every order takes a few days to go through because their CC validation never seems to work until they check it manually and tell me "I'm not quite sure why this didn't go through automatically.</STRONG>" I don't have that problem with any other websites, so it's not the user. Whenever I've called for various reasons, I've had two types of people... a) not friendly... b) not knowlegable. I'm sure I haven't talked to everyone there, and I'm sure there are some good people there, I've just sampled some of the bad apples. I do tech support over the phone, so maybe I'm just a bit more picky, but it's not that hard to make the conversation a little more pleasant. Once again, not something that I've experienced with too many other companies. NewEgg is unique in their own way, they have great prices & selection, but lack in other areas from my experience. However, as long as their strengths continue to outweight their weaknesses, I'll still continue to buy from them.

I'm raising the BS flag on that statement. I have ordered literally almost $100,000 worth of items from NewEgg in the last 3-4 years and have NEVER not had a CC go through..... They also have some of the best customer service I have seen. I have never had an RMA refused.

yeah if you want your order to go through same day pay the 2.99 fee for rush ordering. i've never had an order not get shipped the same day if i use the rush option. if i don't tho it seems to take 2-3 days, usually in the "retrieving item from warehouse" stage. never had a problem with CC tho.