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webe3 · 02-19-2007, 02:11 PM

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OK, I got this email from this site today....and for all intents and purposes it seems to be a site that sells zipped downloads of full version OEM software. They sell Microsoft products, Adobe products....generally software that sells for hundreds of dollars more than what they are selling it for.

Now I know you can get OEM products much cheaper than you can retail products....but what sounded so "wrong" about this site, was when I read their FAQ and it stated that they gave you NO certificate of authenticity for something like a new version of windows XP.

A few years ago, I purchased an OEM version from a reputable retailer and it DID come with a certificate of authenticity....it came in the form of a small sticker that reads: you are required to affix this certificate of authenticity to the excterior of the pc" and then gave some numbers with it ....so unless the rules have somwhow changed I am wondering if that right there makes this site illegal in the US?

So am I wrong about this site and it being legally able to sell software like this?

Here is the site in question:

http://www.soft-rt.com/

And here is a FAQ where they explain about not giving a certificate of authenticity fora Microsoft product:

http://www.soft-rt.com/faq.php

This what they state on why they do not give out a certificate of authenticity on the site:

If I purchase your Windows or Office software, does it come with the Certificate of Authenticity?
No. We do not send COA, because its OEM-version. But we send you necessary serial numbers.

It just seems strange that they do not offer vista or office 2007 either and this is the reason they give:

wish buy Windows VISTA and Office 2007. Why you do not have these softwares?
Windows Vista and Office 2007 have many defects. We do not wish to sell to our clients the unfinished softwares. We sell only full working versions. So we can sell it only 3-6 month letter.

Seems a strange way of doing business. Especially in the US, where the laws are so strict on selling software legally.

Also look at the price for Auto CAD 2007... AutoCAD 2007
Retail Price: $3999.95
Our Price: $149.95
You Save: $3850

You save $3, 850???? Now THAT kinda seems absurd! Like I said, I know you can get OEM cheaper than retail...but I doubt if you can legally get it THAT much cheaper.

02-19-2007, 02:11 PM	#1 (permalink)
webe3 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 106	Does this site seem "fishy"to you?? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- OK, I got this email from this site today....and for all intents and purposes it seems to be a site that sells zipped downloads of full version OEM software. They sell Microsoft products, Adobe products....generally software that sells for hundreds of dollars more than what they are selling it for. Now I know you can get OEM products much cheaper than you can retail products....but what sounded so "wrong" about this site, was when I read their FAQ and it stated that they gave you NO certificate of authenticity for something like a new version of windows XP. A few years ago, I purchased an OEM version from a reputable retailer and it DID come with a certificate of authenticity....it came in the form of a small sticker that reads: you are required to affix this certificate of authenticity to the excterior of the pc" and then gave some numbers with it ....so unless the rules have somwhow changed I am wondering if that right there makes this site illegal in the US? So am I wrong about this site and it being legally able to sell software like this? Here is the site in question: http://www.soft-rt.com/ And here is a FAQ where they explain about not giving a certificate of authenticity fora Microsoft product: http://www.soft-rt.com/faq.php This what they state on why they do not give out a certificate of authenticity on the site: If I purchase your Windows or Office software, does it come with the Certificate of Authenticity? No. We do not send COA, because its OEM-version. But we send you necessary serial numbers. It just seems strange that they do not offer vista or office 2007 either and this is the reason they give: wish buy Windows VISTA and Office 2007. Why you do not have these softwares? Windows Vista and Office 2007 have many defects. We do not wish to sell to our clients the unfinished softwares. We sell only full working versions. So we can sell it only 3-6 month letter. Seems a strange way of doing business. Especially in the US, where the laws are so strict on selling software legally. Also look at the price for Auto CAD 2007... AutoCAD 2007 Retail Price: $3999.95 Our Price: $149.95 You Save: $3850 You save $3, 850???? Now THAT kinda seems absurd! Like I said, I know you can get OEM cheaper than retail...but I doubt if you can legally get it THAT much cheaper. __________________ System Specs: ATX generic case with Antec 550 watt power supply. ASUS A7N8X Deluxe Motherboard. Western Digital 7,200 RPM 40 gig IDE Hard Drive.(FAT 32- file system) AMD Athlon XP 2600 processor.(standard fan and heatsink-Thoroughbred Core-standard speed-NO OVERCLOCK) 1 gig of Samsung DDRAM(PC 2700- 333 mhz....2-512mb sticks running in dual channel mode).Ati Radeon 8x 9600 XT (8x is enabled on motherboard). Soundblaster Audigy 2 sound card. Motorola sb 5100 cable modem (Insight Communications-Cable Connection) Sony DRU 500 AX DVD- RECORDER.(records -R/-RW or +R/+RW and CD-R formats-4x-24x-4x) LG 52x32x52 CD Burner. Zip 100 internal drive and a generic 3.5 floppy drive. Windows XP Professional Operating System. I also have a bearpaw scanner, HP Deskjet 3520 inkjet printer and a KDS X Flat 17 inch CRT monitor. Last edited by webe3; 02-19-2007 at 04:21 PM.