April 29, 2004 at 3:19 am
A client of mine who likes shopping on eBay is asking me:
Why should he pay $4999 for a SQL Server 1 CPU license when he can get a licensed copy for $1500 on eBay ?
Do you/would you/have you purchased your SQL Server software thru sites like eBay ?
Is there anything in the small print that would make this illegal?
April 30, 2004 at 5:13 am
Let me start off by saying that I don't have a week or so to read the MS EULA, so I don't know the fine print.
That having been said I would be extremely doubtful that it is legal to buy a copy of any MS product, use it, and then when you're done with it (assuming the seller really is done with it), resell it. I'm fairly certain MS covers that in the EULA.
Secondly I'd be very suspicious of anyone selling software for 1/3 of the original price. It's not like software wears out, gets mileage on it or dents in the fender. If I paid $4,999 for a software product and it was legal to resell it then I'd want to get most of my money back. The software is just as good for the buyer as it was for me, why would I settle for $.30 on the dollar? We (my wife and I) have sold lots of things (legally) on EBay and we get better return than that even on things that do have wear and tear, like children's clothing. I'd want at least $.75 on the dollar for a software product like that. Anybody selling software at such a low-ball price immediately raises my suspicion.
If you saw some guy on the street corner selling DVD's of current movies for $5 I'm sure you'd assume something was fishy. This is pretty much the same thing.
May 3, 2004 at 12:51 am
Hi,
I purchased a copy of SQL 2000 Standard 1 processor on Ebay about a year ago.
As part of the agreement with the seller, I sent the product to Microsoft for evaluation.
Microsoft sent it back with a certified letter stating the product was genuine.
I paid $2600 for it (it was a brand new in box)
Microsoft even stated over the phone that the product still had the original cellophane wrapping (unopened). I guess they have multiple check for authenticity.
From what I understand, the seller must include ALL of the pieces that were originally shipped for that specific product ID
If you can purchase the item on those terms, that would give you time to send it to Microsoft
Oh yeah, Make sure you use American Express to purchase it, if there is a problem they will take the money back from the seller if they give you any trouble
Good luck
Rick
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