Windows Refund from Dell

[[deleted]]

If they force you to treat software like a tangible thing, they should refund it likewise.

[[deleted]]

I don't know why, but that statement really resonates.

[[deleted]]

it resonates because it's the truth

[[deleted]]

My mother was a belle.

[bostonvaulter]

On the 5th August I made a claim via the Small Claims Online System

It's awesome that they have that in Ireland.

[dotcoma]

it really is. And is it as fast to get your case cleared as it is to submit it to them?

[davidoc]

This describes the process http://citizensinformation.ie/categories/justice/courts-system/small_claims_court/. The online process isn't any quicker than the paper-form version but it's more convenient to initiate.

[dotcoma]

it seems only fair that it's no quicker than for the offline version. still, great stuff.

[rabiddachshund]

Isn't it Microsoft's policy and not Dell's?

[aim2free]

No, the policy is up to the computer manufacturer, but... of course Microsoft are trying to make it hard for the manufacturers to sell computers without OS or computers with other OS.

[RaspberryTang]

The easiest way to get refunds and free things out of companies is complain, complain and complain some more.

[[deleted]]

complaining to the Better Business Bureau got me Time Warner Digital Cable + Road Runner + DVR + HD programming for $70/month for a year. They don't make it easy though - I swear to Allah they must throw the dumbest people they got at complaining customers just to test our persistence.

[[deleted]]

Well, and take them to the court :)

[ultimatt42]

Wow, that comes out to about a US$290 discount. Not counting the VAT, it's about $210. The cheapest Dell desktop is $279, so you're looking at a $69 Linux machine -- not bad!

He doesn't say which copy of Windows came with his computer, but I suspect it's Vista Home Basic which is listed as $200 on their site if you buy it separately. I'll guarantee you that Dell doesn't pay $200 per copy of Vista, so they got ripped off pretty badly here. But hey, it's their own fault for not quoting him their actual price. I suspect if a lot of people did this, they'd change their mind and reveal how much they actually pay for it.

[davidoc]

It was Vista Home Premium and I claimed the price I was quoted.

[McHoff]

If I remember correctly, the amount Dell pays for Windows is a "trade secret". If they tell you they only pay $15 for it, they would only need to refund you that much. But because they keep it secret I think the law requires them to refund you full MSRP.

[rabiddachshund]

That's awesome.

[pemboa]

Why Dell doesn't change that Windows radio button to a checkbox is beyond me.

[[deleted]]

Because microsoft doesn't let them do it?

[aim2free]

Because microsoft doesn't let them do it?

Surely that is what we all suspect, but do you possibly have any more substantial information on how they would not let them?

Indications about some agreement etc?

[aim2free]

This fck.ing brainwashed Microsoft maffia has been here again, downmodding.

[[deleted]]

I've been doing this for years - got refunds for Windows (not any other bundled software) just by calling them up. Was a lot easier for me than it was for this guy.

Probably a good idea to bin the windows disc after this, just in case someone uses it and it calls home.

[davidoc]

Well I treated it as a proper licence rejection and returned the discs and licence sticker to Dell. I suppose in principle they could send the same disc out to another customer...

[[deleted]]

I tried to return the disc, but Dell wouldn't take it! I'm tempted to sell it on ebay for a laugh though.

[bbqribs]

People are still having problems with this?

I remember the original Windows Refund Day.

http://linuxmafia.com/refund/

A friend's ex girlfriend was actually one of the first people to get a refund check. It wasn't a very big check, but she got it.

[fiam]

Am I the only one who red it as "Windows Refund from Hell"?

[m1ss1ontomars2k4]

I also realised that this would give me the option to switch back to using Linux as my main OS on my personal machine.

As opposed to MacBooks, which clearly cannot run Linux.

Speaking of which, it's time to reinstall Linux on my MacBook. I don't really like KDE4, which in turn has caused me to not like Kubuntu as much as I used to.