It isn't MS, but the computer mfr that supplies the OEM OS (and supports
it). I am a MS Authorized Reseller and can tell you that the OEM WinXP Pro
cost me about the same as the Retail WinXP Pro Upgrade in the stores. Dell
and other large mfrs actually buy only the License and mfr the CDs/manuals
themselves so that they get a bigger discount, however the $150-200 (off the
shelf in Retail stores) cost of WinXP Pro Upgrade is not unreasonable at
all, and $100 less than buying a "Full Version" (which is essentially what
an OEM version is, other than the Licensing and Install restrictions).
If the end-user makes a mistake, it isn't up to the mfr to give them a free
ride, whether we are buying a car or a computer.
From what you stated, it is possible that Costco will take the systems back
and allow them to get what they needed, so they can luck out on at least
part of their problem. Costco is being overly generous in their "ask no
questions" policy of accepting returns, and I suspect that they eat the cost
of these returns when there is nothing really wrong/broken with the product.
To expect all stores to do that is totally unrealistic! Ask yourself what
you would do if a client of yours buys "the wrong thing", uses it for 5-6
months and then demands his money back? I know that as a small dealer, I'd
have to eat the expense 100% if I accepted merchandise back under those
circumstances, and you probably would too.
I am a computer consultant (who also sells HW/SW to my clients), but
probably much like you, by the time I've made initial contact with new
clients they have "made the mistakes" and are looking for the "cheap fix"!
If they came to us for advice in the first place, they could buy what they
actually needed and end up saving money . . . but that is an educational
thing that usually cost them $ to learn first. That sounds like where you
came in on this situation, right? All you can do is to educate them to use
your services for advice BEFORE buying equipment the next time!
--
Regards,
Len Segal, MCP
Microsoft - MVP
--------------
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I can see how one may be suspicious of stolen software,
but why does not MS not supply a decent upgrade price for
people who don't know when ordering, so they go to DELL
and go cheap. Then when they talk to a someone like me,
the realize there are two or three things that XP PRO
does that HOME does not. If they would order the
computer correctly, they would have paid another 70, even
though it is preinstalled OEM.
Dell PCs use genuine Microsoft® Windows®4
www.microsoft.com/piracy/howtotell
Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition¹²
Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional¹² [add $70 or
$3/month1] Recommended for Students
Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition w/ Microsoft® Plus!
[add $20 or $0.75/month1]
Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional w/ Microsoft® Plus!
[add $90 or $3/month1]
so Why Can't MS give a mistaken order for people who
don't know, say a 100 or discount (for students?!?) say
80; Right now, my people are saying NO to 200, but would
say YES to 100... More for Bill is the idea, yes? So why
not support Partners and People who are promoting MS
software... Like it or not, most people who complain
about it are using it to complain about it...
I keep trying to get people OFF win(98)tindows to XP
Pro. Just many people have gotten the original XP setup
incorrect as HOME, not PRO.
Thanks for your input. At Midnight PST, you must work as
I do... all the time.
