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Amazon UK Refunds Windows License Fee, With Little Hassle

Posted by timothy on from the obey-lord-good-idea dept.

christian.einfeldt writes "Alan Lord, a FOSS computer consultant based in the UK, has announced that Amazon UK honored his request for a refund of the Microsoft license fee portion of the cost of a new Asus netbook PC that came with Microsoft Windows XP. Lord details the steps that he took to obtain a refund of 40.00 GBP for the cost of the EULA, complete with links to click to request a refund. Lord's refund comes 10 years after the initial flurry of activity surrounding EULA discounts, started by a blog post by Australian computer consultant Geoffrey Bennett which appeared on Slashdot on 18 January 1999. That Slashdot story led to mainstream press coverage, such as stories in CNN, the New York Times Online, and the San Francisco Chronicle, to name just a few. The issue quieted down for a few years, but has started to gain some momentum again in recent years, with judges in France, Italy, and Israel awarding refunds. But if Lord's experience is any indication, getting a refund through Amazon might be as easy as filling out a few forms, at least in the UK, without any need to go to court."

18 of 194 comments (clear)

  1. US? by Niris · · Score: 3, Interesting

    So this should work in the US, too? I'm looking to buy a new laptop sooner or later, but I sure as hell won't be using Windows. A refund would be prettty awesome.

    1. Re:US? by poetmatt · · Score: 3, Interesting

      The thing is, I imagine the license fee is quite variable. I've heard 40$ us, 80$ us, and other numbers, not to mention based on the version of windows that happens to be included (you'd not expect the same for ultimate vs home edition).

      Anyone else care to correct me or provide more info (I'm sure people are more familiar with this than I am)

    2. Re:US? by GigsVT · · Score: 4, Insightful

      The best trolling has a kernel of truth.

      But the point is that we shouldn't be forced to choose hardware based on what OS we want, or pay $40 more than we needed to.

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    3. Re:US? by I'm+not+really+here · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Who? If I want the exact hardware I see for my new netbook, but cannot buy it anywhere without the OS as part of the price, am I not completely limited in my choices? Should any hardware manufacturer be able to tell me explicitly what software I must buy with my hard earned money? Should I not be able to say "Don't want it..." and get a reduced price, even if the reduction is only $40? Shouldn't I have the choice to say "whatever you paid to have that software installed, I don't want it, so don't pay to install it, and pass me the price difference" ?

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    4. Re:US? by Fross · · Score: 3, Informative

      The problem is, historically at least, Microsoft strong-arms the OEMs into ONLY supplying machines with Windows - if they refuse, MS refuse to provide them with a license. Yes, anticompetitive and probably illegal, but that's the way it was for a long time.

      OEMs won't upset 95% of their business to appease the other 5%, and most of the people who want Windows want it preinstalled, so the OEM needs the license to do so. OEMs who offer non-Windows installs are much the minority right now, but at least it's a foot in the door.

    5. Re:US? by value_added · · Score: 3, Insightful

      If you don't like the manufacturers' policies, buy from someone else.

      And while we're at it, we'll be sure to change our cable/DSL providers because we don't agree with their policies.

      If I may, I'd suggest you stop to consider the effects of monopoly power (both on the macro and micro level), and then examine how politics (both social and governmental) factor into the equation.

      Complex problems can sometimes have simple solutions, but this isn't one of them.

    6. Re:US? by PitaBred · · Score: 3, Insightful

      The problem is that Microsoft is a monopoly. If you had the selection of cars that you did in computers, the only way you could get a sedan would be to get it from Ford. Would you think it is a "free market" if Ford forced all the people who wanted sedans to pay for a GPS system as well as a spoiler? Hey, you can go elsewhere and get a bicycle or whatever. You're not "forced" to buy a sedan...

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    7. Re:US? by Fross · · Score: 4, Interesting

      The issue is the OEMs being strongarmed into forcing it into builds whether people want it or not. Imagine whenever you bought a car, from any manufacturer, you got beaded seat covers in them. And you hate beaded seat covers. And you still had to pay for them, even if you threw them away immediately. You tried to get them to sell you the car without beaded seat covers to save $40, and they refused, because if they didn't, the beaded seat cover manufacturers would stop licensing them to sell them, then they couldn't sell cars to the other people who DID want beaded seat covers.

      Sounds a bit ridiculous that way, huh? Despite the fact 95% of people dislike beaded seat covers I'm sure :)

    8. Re:US? by rockout · · Score: 3, Interesting

      and at least 10 different local companies (who also sell built to spec PCs, sans OS if I want).

      Not exactly. I'm casual friends with a guy who co-owns one of those local shops. They do sell built-to-spec PCs. They're basically forced to sign a contract with MS that states that if they sell PCs with Windows on them, than EVERY pc they sell will have Windows on it. In other words, they're not allowed to sell PCs with no OS or with only Linux pre-installed. Micrsoft says "You wanna sell PCs with no OS? No problem. But you won't be getting OEM copies of Windows from us. Good luck."

      I'm just saying, if you're a local shop that plays by Microsoft's rules, it's not as easy as you think to get people PCs with any alternatives. Sure, you could blow off that particular rule, at your own peril.

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  2. Obvious by javilon · · Score: 5, Insightful

    To me, of all things that have been considered as a remedy against Microsoft monopoly abuse, the only one that is logical and practical would be to stop them from bundling hardware and software. I can't understand why this hasn't been done by either the EU or USA.

    Software and hardware are clearly two different markets. You can install Windows in hardware from a number of vendors, and you can install a number of operating systems on a PC.

    So you would buy a computer and you would get two receipts, one for the machine and another one for the OS. The OS can even be preinstalled on the machine and you would only get an activation key with your receipt. If you don't want the operating system, you just buy the hardware and don't pay for the activation key.

    What really makes me mad is that the only reason this is not considered by the authorities is because Linux is not commercial, so they are not losing money from Microsoft's monopoly abuse. Only companies matter to government. The fact that the public would benefit from an operating system market where Linux would be allowed to compete on equals grounds is not relevant to the government because there is no single company making money from Linux.

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    When his defense asked, "Which computer has Jon Johansen trespassed upon?" the answer was: "His own."
    1. Re:Obvious by Seth+Kriticos · · Score: 4, Informative

      Now where do you get that from? There are vendors that sell boxed and/or subscription based Linux distributions (most known are Red Hat and Novel (SuSE), but there are others too).

      And there is a lot more money in support, money that actually is helpful for the local economy.

      Also there are other commercial operating systems that are sold (e.g. QNX).

      They just don't have the power and ruthlessness of OEM bribery and monopoly like Microsoft, but they are there.

    2. Re:Obvious by jedidiah · · Score: 4, Informative

      > If you want to play any media on it that isn't opensource, it's not as simple as just trying to play the video and automatically finding the codec.

      This is simpler under Linux than it is Windows, and far simpler than MacOS.

      Ubuntu has staked the heart of this particular bit of FUD.

      --
      A Pirate and a Puritan look the same on a balance sheet.
  3. More specific how? by omnichad · · Score: 3, Interesting

    US means United States according to the ISO 3166-1 International standard for 2-letter country code abbreviations. Is there some other standard I don't know about? These same codes that are used to define the TLDs of every country that has one... Why am I feeding the trolls?

  4. variable by clarkn0va · · Score: 3, Informative

    From what I've read, the range of refunds given has been variable if not arbitrary. This thread on the ubuntu forums is an interesting place to start reading about some differenct experiences people have had.

    I was also interested to learn recently that it is possible to buy machines with no OS from some vendors. The college I work for has this ability through our Dell rep. This post in the above-mentioned thread is particularly interesting, as it claims that anybody can request and receive a new computer without an OS from several vendors.

    --
    I am literally 3000 tokens away from the chaotic crossbow --Stephen
    1. Re:variable by scubamage · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Really? I remember arguing with dell for close to an hour a few years ago that I didn't want an OS. I told them I wanted a blank hard drive. They told me they couldn't do it. I asked to speak to a manager, and they affirmed the lower person's statement. Maybe this has changed since?

    2. Re:variable by Christophotron · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I think that is a very weak argument. How is it any more difficult to test? If Windows is preinstalled, then the EULA must be accepted before the computer will be able to do anything. Why wouldn't they test using a LiveCD or LiveUSB of some sort, that has nothing to do with the installed OS and can run a series of pre-defined tests? I fully support OEMs (including Apple) being required to sell computers with blank hard drives in them (and refunding the "OS fee") if that option is chosen by the purchaser.

  5. The holy license refund of Amazon? by Hurricane78 · · Score: 3, Funny

    And the Lord spake, saying, "First shalt thou take out the Holy License, then shalt thou count to 40 GBP, no more, no less. 40.00 GBP shall be the number thou shalt count, and the number of the counting shall be 40. 50 shalt thou not count, neither count thou 30, excepting that thou then proceedest on to 40. 60 is right out. Once the 40.00 GBP, being the 40th number, be reached, then lobbest thou thy Holy License of Windows towards thy Amazon, who being naughty in my sight, shall snuff it." Amen.

    --
    Any sufficiently advanced intelligence is indistinguishable from stupidity.
  6. Chat with Newegg Customer Support by Polarism · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Copy Print Exit 4:58:39 PM CustomerChristian Initial Question/Comment: Rebates 4:58:44 PM SystemSystem Jeremy has joined this session! 4:58:44 PM SystemSystem Connected with Jeremy 4:58:44 PM SystemSystem Hello my name is Jeremy. How may I help you today? 4:59:20 PM CustomerChristian Hi there, I was reading an article about how amazon refunded the microsoft OS price for a netbook that was purchased. http://www.theopensourcerer.com/2009/07/21/getting-your-microsoft-tax-refunded-1010-for-amazon-uk/ 4:59:35 PM CustomerChristian I was wondering whether Newegg would do that on a laptop I ordered, because I don't accept the EULA. 5:00:34 PM AgentJeremy We do not offer this return. 5:01:02 PM CustomerChristian Didn't think so. :) Perhaps one day when EULA's are challenged in court we can get this fixed. Until then, viva la microsoft tax eh? ;) 5:01:49 PM AgentJeremy Do you have any other questions, or is there anything else I can assist you with today? 5:01:53 PM CustomerChristian Nope, thanks. Send Session ID: 658231 Question40 Pick one of the following options: OK Cancel Timeout40 Do you wish to continue this chat session? Continue Session End Session

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