[nylug-talk] How to get a Windows tax refund
Jay Sulzberger
jays at panix.com
Sat Jan 6 15:26:34 EST 2007
On Sat, 6 Jan 2007, Gregg Levine wrote:
> On 1/6/07, Jay Sulzberger <jays at panix.com> wrote:
>
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> Subject: Articles
> X-URL: http://community.linux.com/print.pl?sid=07/01/03/227237
>
>
> Linux.com
> The Enterprise Linux Resource
> http://community.linux.com/
>
> Title How to get a Windows tax refund
> Date 2007.01.05 13:02
> Author StoneLion
> Topic
>
> http://community.linux.com/article.pl?sid=07/01/03/227237
>
> If you buy a computer, you often pay for Microsoft Windows even if you
> didn't ask for it and aren't going to use it. This article shows you
> how to return your unused Windows license and get your money back,
> freeing yourself from the Windows tax.
>
> I recently purchased a new laptop computer from Dell. As a GNU/Linux
> user and believer in Free Software, I knew from the start that I
> wasn't going to run Microsoft Windows. Unfortunately, Dell didn't
> offer this laptop with Ubuntu or a no-OS option, so I tried getting my
> Windows refund from Dell after the purchase. After working with
> customer service, I received a refund of $52.50. In the course of
> getting my refund, I found some techniques worked better than others.
> By knowing what works, you may be able to get your refund quickly and
> easily.
>
> Be prepared and set realistic expectations
>
> Before you go down this route, be prepared. Getting your Windows
> refund may take several hours of work, after which you'll get a small
> amount of money -- nowhere near the full retail price of Windows on
> the store shelf. Though your win may be more of a victory for
> principle than your pocketbook, it is possible to win, and you'll have
> made an important stand.
>
> Getting a Windows refund only works if your computer is new. If you've
> booted into Windows once and hit the Accept button at the end of the
> Microsoft EULA, you're disqualified. Ideally you'll plan on getting
> your Windows refund before placing your order with the vendor. If you
> are ordering a new machine, first call the vendor to see if they offer
> a no-OS option. If they do, use it. If the machine does not come
> without an installed OS and you have to buy Windows, purchase the
> lowest-end Windows that you can. In my case, that meant buying the
> computer with Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition.
>
> When your computer arrives, document each step of unloading your
> computer. I took a tip from UK reporter Dave Mitchell, who received a
> Windows refund from Dell, and took pictures of myself at each step of
> the process, including opening the box and each and every page of the
> Microsoft EULA. I zoomed in on the relevant section about returning
> the license to the vendor. I also zoomed in on the radio button which
> says "Do Not Accept" and showed myself rejecting the license. This
> will add some time to your initial computer use, but is proof that you
> read and rejected the license.
>
> Before you make the call, have everything you need in front of you.
> You should have all the details of your order, including the order
> number, date purchased, and even your credit card number. You should
> have the computer's serial number and, in the case of Dell, its
> Express Service Code. Later in the process, you may need your Windows
> Certificate of Authenticity (COA) key. It's on the holographic label
> usually found on the bottom of the laptop. You might find it easier to
> just have the laptop itself handy.
>
> You'll also want to have the text of the EULA ready. You probably
> don't need the entire thing, but the specific wording about returning
> Windows to the vendor may become key.
>
> Lastly, you're going to want to have a pen and paper ready. If your
> phone is wireless, you'll want to be sure it's fully charged, and keep
> a beverage handy -- you could be on the phone a while.
>
> Preparing for the call
>
> By this time in the process, you're probably itching to get on the
> phone, get on your soapbox, and get your refund. Resist the urge.
> Remember that you're looking to exercise a legal right. You're not
> going to change anyone's mind about Free Software, and any extra time
> you spend in the process only takes you further from your goal.
>
> Be polite. A customer service representative is used to handling
> dozens of issues a day, but your issue is going to be outside the
> norm. The person on the other end of the phone is your representation
> on the company's side, so you want to keep him or her as happy as
> possible. Don't get angry, don't yell, don't be rude. If things become
> tense, disarm the situation with kindness, and, if it's appropriate, a
> joke.
>
> You will be put on hold. Dell is fairly good about not leaving folks
> on hold (especially business customers), but I was put on hold a
> number of times. There's nothing you can do about it, so just be
> polite and accept it. What you're asking for is so unusual that
> they'll probably need to call supervisors. Let them.
>
> Expect excuses. They're going to look for ways not to give you the
> refund. After all, they've never heard of this, so it must be
> impossible. My first customer service rep said that he couldn't refund
> my license because I wasn't charged for it. If you hear something like
> this, don't be discouraged, and don't take it as the final word. I'll
> tell you how to counter these sorts of arguments in a moment.
>
> Don't argue, escalate. If you find you're not getting anywhere with
> your customer service representative, or you're going over the same
> point several times, it's time to escalate. Remember our previous
> guideline of not being rude. You can ask to be transferred without
> making it into a confrontation. Be sympathetic: "I see that you're
> trying your best, but that you're not able to do anything else for me.
> Would it be possible for you to transfer me to someone else?"
>
> Be persistent. You'll probably have to speak with several people,
> repeat yourself, and hear lots of excuses about how you're not
> entitled to what you're asking for. You're in the right, and as long
> as you're in the pipeline, you're making progress. When you're not
> making any more progress, escalate.
>
> Don't settle. At several points in my communications with customer
> service, I was offered coupons, even in excess of what I was asking
> for, but coupons aren't money. Politely explain that you're looking
> for a refund in cash (or credit back to your credit card).
>
> Use the precedents. If you're in the UK, you can mention reporter Dave
> Mitchell as someone whose already received a Windows refund. If you're
> in the US, you can use me. If they've given refunds to the two of us,
> why not you?
>
> During the call, you may find that the customer service representative
> will come back to you with several excuses about why you're not
> entitled to your refund. I've compiled a list of them, some which I
> heard and others which I didn't, and good responses to them.
>
> "You can't return the operating system because the computer can't work
> without it."
>
> That's the easiest argument to counter. Explain that you run GNU/Linux
> (or FreeBSD, or whatever operating system you've replaced Windows
> with).
>
> "You didn't pay anything for Windows."
>
> Since the price of Windows was included in the price of the computer,
> they may try to argue that you didn't pay anything for it. This one is
> easy to debunk. Windows costs money -- everyone knows that. Once you
> establish that Windows does indeed cost money (and you can't get it
> for free) then the only remaining issue is how much you paid. Since
> Microsoft contracts out with hardware vendors, there's no actual way
> to know how much Windows costs a given retailer. This being the case,
> I was asking for the price of an OEM copy of Windows XP Home SP2 that
> I found on Newegg, which was $89. In the end they gave me $52.50. I
> don't know if this is really how much Windows costs, but it's a
> non-trivial amount and I can well imagine that one of the world's
> largest computer makers can get a good deal on Windows licenses from
> Microsoft.
>
> "You bought the bundle."
>
> They may tell your purchase was a bundle, that Windows came on the
> computer as a packaged set and you can't return one without the other.
> What you have on your side to counter this is the license itself,
> which says that you may choose to not accept the license and return it
> to the vendor. No matter what they say regarding a bundle, the legal
> wording of the license is clear. I heard the B word several times, and
> each time I explained the terms of the license to them, with the
> license wording at hand in case I needed to quote it verbatim. If the
> customer representative tries to cut the conversation short saying
> it's a bundle, stay polite, but explain that the license is quite
> clear and that you're just going by the legal wording and exercising
> your right to return the operating system.
>
> "How about a coupon?"
>
> I was offered coupons several times. I'm guessing that coupons are
> easy to give to customers as a way to keep them happy. While you're
> rejecting the coupons, realize that this is a small victory. All you
> have to do at that point is ask for cash.
>
> "You need to return the CD."
>
> As a condition to getting my Windows refund, I was required to give
> the COA key to the customer representative and return the Windows CD
> itself. Dell was kind enough to pay for shipping of the CD, so all I
> had to pay for was the envelope. Your vendor may not be as generous
> regarding the shipping, but by this time, you've won.
>
> You win - or not
>
> If you're not working with Dell, you may not have the same success. In
> this case, you might need to take another tack. Small claims court may
> be an option. You file paperwork with the court, pay a small fee, and
> show up in court with all your documentation. You'll need to make your
> case quickly and succinctly. You may also want to contact the Better
> Business Bureau for help. Many reputable businesses take the BBB
> seriously and may be more willing to work with you after it has
> contacted them. In any case, you'll be spending time and money to
> resolve the issue, but so will the vendor, so they're likely to look
> for an amiable solution as quickly as possible.
>
> To summarize:
> * You're only eligible for a refund on new computers
> * Document everything
> * Be prepared
> * Be polite
> * Be persistent
> * Be gracious
>
> If you follow these guidelines, you're likely to come out with a
> working computer without the Windows tax.
>
> I would be remiss if I did not offer a special thank you to Dell.
> Despite my initial difficulties, Dell eventually came through. After
> hearing stories on the Net about folks having to bring their vendor to
> small claims court, I'm happy I picked a company with reasonable
> policies and people. I especially want to thank Seema, the floor
> manager who worked with me on my case and offered me the refund.
>
> Links
> _________________________________________________________________
>
> 1. "Dave Mitchell" -
> http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/6144782.stm
> 2. "Small claims court may be an option" -
> http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/7040
> _________________________________________________________________
>
> � Copyright 2007 - LiNUX.COM, All Rights Reserved
> _________________________________________________________________
>
> printed from Linux.com, How to get a Windows tax refund on 2007-01-06
> 09:58:49
>
>
> _____________________________________________________________________________
> Hire expert Linux talent by posting jobs here :: http://jobs.nylug.org
> The nylug-talk mailing list is at nylug-talk at nylug.org
> The list archive is at http://nylug.org/pipermail/nylug-talk
> To subscribe or unsubscribe: http://nylug.org/mailman/listinfo/nylug-talk
>
>
>
Hello!
Well done Jay. However that does not cover one unique issue. Dell does
indeed sell a no OS machine. You just need to insist on asking for it.
Its a specie of Dell Dimension that's currently available. There was
an entry for it in Linux Journal sometime last year.
--
Gregg C Levine gregg.drwho8 at gmail.com
"This signature was once found posting rude
messages in English in the Moscow subway."
Ah, Serge Wroclawski is the refund getter here.
I do not know whether Dell sells any home computer without a
Microsoft OS. Certainly they do not sell one at a lower price
than the same computer with a Microsoft OS already installed. On
the Dell website, only Microsoft OSes are advertised.
oo--JS.
More information about the nylug-talk
mailing list