Can MS trial versions of Software be sold?

  • Thread starter Thread starter MEL
  • Start date Start date
M

MEL

Has anyone ever seen a MS produced CD with a limited trial version of MS
FrontPage 2003? Can it be sold or is there something printed on the CD
prohibiting this type of transaction?

My thanks for your help.

Mary
 
No, you can't "sell" trial versions..they were free to begin with.
And, if someone tried to install a trial version, it would need a "new"
trial product key, which, if available (FP2003 trial isn't) it would die
after 60 days and no longer be able to activated.

: Has anyone ever seen a MS produced CD with a limited trial version of MS
: FrontPage 2003? Can it be sold or is there something printed on the CD
: prohibiting this type of transaction?
:
: My thanks for your help.
:
: Mary
:
:
:
 
MEL said:
Has anyone ever seen a MS produced CD with a limited trial version of MS
FrontPage 2003? Can it be sold or is there something printed on the CD
prohibiting this type of transaction?
Click to expand...

They can only charge you for shipping and handling costs (which they can
inflate way beyond their actual costs, something eBay sellers often do
to hike up the base price for their auction).

So were you dreaming last night and this is what you dreamt about, or do
you have an actual reason for asking? Were YOU expecting to sell
someone else's trialware, perhaps?
 
Were YOU expecting to sell
someone else's trialware, perhaps?
Click to expand...

No, I don't have such an item. I'm not certain I've ever even seen a trail
version for MS software (or other software for that matter).

My question was asked because I did unwittingly purchase a trail version of
MS FrontPage 2003 on eBay but didn't know it was trial ware. The listing
title read as if it was new, never installed MS FrontPage 2003. (and
technically it was! :-) The notation about it being trial ware was noted in
tiny text spaced far down on the listing description, placed as if it might
have been designed to be overlooked. :-)

I bought it on a "Buy It Now" and when I discovered in the next hour it was
trial ware, I informed the seller that I didn't want it. Of course, I
expected to have something deducted from my PayPal payment of $62.00 to
compensate the seller for my cancellation. Imagine my surprise when they
immediately charged me $37.38 in return fee's for a CD I never even had in
my possession! Someone mentioned to me that they wondered if it was even
legal to sell such software so that's why I ask.

Before anyone writes that I shouldn't be complaining, you are correct. I'm
only answering the question posed by the last poster to this thread. I
accept the mistake is mine. I've been a member of eBay for 10 years, so I'm
not a newbie and certainly know to read everything carefully, just missed
this one.

MEL
 
MEL said:
No, I don't have such an item. I'm not certain I've ever even seen a trail
version for MS software (or other software for that matter).

My question was asked because I did unwittingly purchase a trail version of
MS FrontPage 2003 on eBay but didn't know it was trial ware. The listing
title read as if it was new, never installed MS FrontPage 2003. (and
technically it was! :-) The notation about it being trial ware was noted in
tiny text spaced far down on the listing description, placed as if it might
have been designed to be overlooked. :-)

I bought it on a "Buy It Now" and when I discovered in the next hour it was
trial ware, I informed the seller that I didn't want it. Of course, I
expected to have something deducted from my PayPal payment of $62.00 to
compensate the seller for my cancellation. Imagine my surprise when they
immediately charged me $37.38 in return fee's for a CD I never even had in
my possession! Someone mentioned to me that they wondered if it was even
legal to sell such software so that's why I ask.

Before anyone writes that I shouldn't be complaining, you are correct. I'm
only answering the question posed by the last poster to this thread. I
accept the mistake is mine. I've been a member of eBay for 10 years, so I'm
not a newbie and certainly know to read everything carefully, just missed
this one.
Click to expand...

Got a link to the eBay auction?

eBay sellers are noted for *not* noting in their title that software is
a trial. However, as the buyer, you are required to read everything in
their auction description regardless of the font size, and if you have
any questions then you send them a message (also a good thing to do to
make sure that they will actually contact you AFTER the sale).

This is something to take up with eBay. The seller was selling they are
not allowed to sell, and even $62 is way to exorbitant a shipping and
handling fee that eBay would side with the buyer. Also, unless they
explicitly noted costs for returns then they can't charge anything.
They must note a restocking fee.
 
VanguardLH,

I did reply to you yesterday via the group but perhaps the forum moderator
felt this thread has gone on long enough or that it might not be appropriate
to continue it here. My original intent was not to discuss the specific's
publicly, only to inquire about the trial software.

If this is allowed to be posted and if you wish to have the auction link,
please send me a working email address and I'll be happy to forward
yesterday's reply to you as a private message.

mleek at sbcglobal dot net.
 
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