the BIGGEST ripoff of all time....

I am a systems administrator for an office of 75 pcs. I just spoke to a female employee who was asking me questions on pcs and what to buy and not buy.

Then, she really got me flamed. She told me about the deal she just happened to get into. She just purchased 2 (TWO) 486DX computers, mouse, keyboard, monitor, computer.....for $250 a month for 48 months! No software cds, or disks, only the business' copy of Windows 95 installed, registered to that business...not her. They sold her two $50 computers and pirated windows. Then, they also had a contract signed to agree to pay $60 a week or $250 a month, and any changes or install of new hardware was to be done by them, at additional charges. No adding of software, scanners, printers, anything....unless told to them. I told her about how much she was getting ripped off (tactfully) and told her she needs to talk to the BBB and get ALL her money back, and get him shut down for piracy, infringement, misrepresentation, fraud, and being stupid.

I told her she could go to Gateway and get a 600-700 mhz fully loaded with registered software and printer/scanner/the works for probably a lease of $49 a month! She was enven more mad after I told her that. So, I told her just now to give those guys a call and to relay my number and info if they had any problems with what she has to tell them.

I told her I wouldnt even pay $60 a week for 20 of those POS's!!!!!! I am so steamed right now....


Anyone got input to this? Or what she should do?

This deal also included no tech support, no support, no warranties other than 90 days.



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Do one thing everyday that scares you!

WOW....what a ripoff. we SELL (not lease) better used computes for less than that

Holy Sh*t Mike,

WOW!! I still can not believe it. I have heard of ripoffs before, but this takes the cake and eats the damn thing too. I believe that you have it right in what she should do. However, she should try to be careful because this place might pick up shop and move if she is too agressive. Howevere, agressive is what she may need ot be. She might need your technical know how to back her up if she confronts them. They might try to use some tech jargon to try to throw her off guard, then they can play here when she is on the defensive. This is a tough one to call. This would have to be a kind of play it by ear situation. Telling them that she will bring in the BBB, Microsoft (because don't they have a web site or a phone number just for reporting piracy of MS products?), the local cops, and I think that software piracy is a federal offense. I could be wrong, but in the event that I am right, threaten to call in the FBI. Good luck on this one Mike, and let us know how this ones pans out.

WTF!!??

Man stuff like that get's to me. I think the # to MS piracy line is 800-R-U-LEGIT

$250 X 48????

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Cannot find REALITY.SYS. Universe halted

Paint your old laptop!

GULP....
start->run->calc->250*48=12000!!!!!!!!

that may be the single largest ripoff ihave heard, but how about this one:
a computer shop in my town got a large storefront, sold puters without windows licenses, sold p166 as pentium 3's, sold MS office SBE for $329(pre-loaded,no disks) and disappeared over night. did i mention all the long term service contracts he sold?
I think the woman who bought the 486 puters can get the deal squashed via the windows pre-loading, by the way. Screw the bbb, call the FBI

I'd like to know the name of this company. They deserve to be fined so heavily that they can no longer afford to operate. And I think I know just how to do that.

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There is no Spoon!

For real Mike???

Ditto to MAYHEM, that is just not right!

Can you say RRIIIIPPPPP OOOFFFFFFF?

I give away 486's, sell used Pentiums complete w/monitor, multimedia, etc. for $300.

I have actually heard of this before. The company justified by saying the had proprietary software and hardware in them. I looked at one and all I saw was Autocad and a 14.4 USR modem.

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Bill Gates? I never heard of him. Is he famous or something?

I've heard of wonderful "deals" like that and have seen the businesses go down quickly when they get nabbed.

Someone calls Microsoft on 'em, and before they can say "Holly lawsuit, Batman!" a FEDERAL Marshall walks up to the place of business, padlocks the doors, tells everybody to vacate the premesis, and court summons are SENT. The business goes to court and gets caught up in so many legal fees that the company folds before the case is even finished if not even heard in court.

Who do you think will win the legal wait with all the court fees - Microsoft or Joe Business, Inc.?

I can't STAND it when people get taken for a ride like that - gives the industry a bad name and all the people who work in retail a tough time getting a customer to trust them.

https://forums.windrivers.com/images.../2000/09/1.gif

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CUSTOMER.EXE cannot find file BRAIN.DLL - program will continue to talk anyway

[This message has been edited by klenath (edited September 01, 2000).]

OH Man that is baaaaaaddddd!!!!, I could buy a car with that amount of money, 12,000 bucks for 2 486s
Oh my I feel for the poor girl, I am in the midst of pricing out some sytems for people and I like to be honest, I wonder how thes "fly by mights " sleep at might
Ya call the FBI and Microsoft

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Format c:( I'm givin er all she's got cap'in !!! )

I am not sure, but they are off telephone road in houston, tx. Pristine or Prestige Computers, something like that. I am going to find out today whether or not she called that store or not last night. SO I will keep you posted. Thanks, guys and I appreciate any and all feedback you have on this matter.

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Do one thing everyday that scares you!

I heard something simular back in '93 or so.
(486 was king, and 586 soon to be called Pentium was comming)

A customer came in asking if we had some software on 5.25", and we did, a few bargain items. They had just purchased a 286/10 with a CGA monitor and 20MB hard drive from Radio Shack for $2199.99

Caveat Emptor...

This lady is truly unfortunate, but sometimes I wonder if some people get what they deserve for being stupid.

$250 * 48mo = $12,000 What was she thinking!?! or was she?

The funny thing is, did she learn her lesson, or will she just go out and do the same thing when she buys her next car?