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Update – Laptops Direct

ByGarf

We eventually did hear back from Laptops direct. Amazingly, its sales team openly admits that it ignores the Microsoft EULA! So nil penguin points! But if there were a category for honesty then it would get plenty of penguins! The emails are in reverse order and since I guess the sales person is just “following orders“, his/her name and email has been withheld for privacy reasons:-

Subject: RE: [Fwd: RE: - Sales Enquiry]
Date: Tue, 14 Jul 2009 16:19:18 +0100
From: [Laptops Direct salesperson] 
To: '[removed]' 
References:

 

That is correct,

[Laptops Direct salesperson]


From: [removed] [mailto:[removed]@garfnet.org.uk]
Sent: 14 July 2009 16:16
To: [Laptops Direct salesperson]
Subject: Re: [Fwd: RE: – Sales Enquiry]

Dear [Laptops Direct salesperson],

Thank you for your reply.

So, just to confirm: Laptops Direct does not honour the Microsoft Vista
EULA with regard to providing a refund for unused Microsoft Windows
licenses on the equipment that it sells?

Yours sincerely,

Garfield Lucas


[Laptops Direct salesperson] wrote:

Hi,

As we are a reseller, all the machines do come pre loaded with Vista,
 we don’t unfortunately refund unused licenses,
it is however easy to just flatten the hard drive and remove the OS.

Hope this helps,

[Laptops Direct salesperson]


—–Original Message—–
From: [removed] [mailto:[removed]@garfnet.org.uk]
Sent: 14 July 2009 15:47
To: [Laptops Direct salesperson]
Subject: [Fwd: RE: – Sales Enquiry]

Dear [Laptops Direct salesperson], thank you for your email.

In brief we need some laptops. We were particularly interested in the
Lenovo C300N500 series. They represent very good value for money and
seem to be very robust and business-like. We also know from experience
that the Lenovo range is Linux-friendly and performs well on that
platform. The model we are interested in is:-

http://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/Lenovo_N500_Laptop_NS75SUK/version.asp?PID=1246

However we run a Microsoft-free business. This is partly to save money,
partly because we are sick of all the security issues and other
inconveniences and failures involving Microsoft’s products and partly
due to ethical reasons: i.e. we can no longer condone the way Microsoft
conducts its business.

So we need to know whether you supply your products _without_ Microsoft
products pre-installed, i.e. OS free? Or failing that, does your company
honour the Microsoft Vista EULA, that states:

“By using the software, you accept these terms. If you do not accept
them, do not use the software. Instead, return it to the retailer for a
refund or credit.”

That is, can we return the unwanted licences for a credit as per the
Microsoft End User License Agreement please?

Yours sincerely,

Garfield Lucas.

References:-

Microsoft Vista EULA:-
http://download.microsoft.com/documents/useterms/Windows%20Vista_Home%20Prem
ium_English_d16c019b-fa71-4fc9-a51d-a0621bddb153.pdf

Precedents for this:-

Dell Customer gets Windows refund:-
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2006/110706-dell-windows.html

Linux programmer paid to uninstall Windows:-
http://news.softpedia.com/news/Linux-Programmer-Paid-to-Uninstall-Windows-40133.shtml

How to return your unused Windows license and get your money back:-
http://www.cyberciti.biz/tips/how-to-get-a-windows-tax-refund.html


——– Original Message ——–
Subject:        RE: – Sales Enquiry
Date:   Mon, 13 Jul 2009 14:30:07 +0100
From:   [Laptops Direct salesperson]
To:     [removed]@garfnet.org.uk
References:    

Hi,

Thanks you for your enquiry, we are responding to emails, it is a very
busy time of year for us at the moment which is why we haven’t been able
to respond straight away, if you would like to let me know your query
regarding these machines I will be happy to help.

Sorry for the delay,

[Laptops Direct salesperson]

*[Laptops Direct salesperson]*
*Sales*
Telephone:  0844 4124 566
Email: [Laptops Direct salesperson]@buyitdirect.co.uk
Fax: 0870 167 0801
**
*buyitdirect.co.uk *
**
*Our Brands:***

laptopsdirect.co.uk
appliancesdirect.co.uk
iViewCameras.co.uk
serversdirect.co.uk
projectorsdirect.co.uk
directTVs.co.uk
acerdirect.co.uk
flattelly.co.uk
AirConDirect.co.uk

***Opening Times and Contact details
*
__
**


*From:* [removed]@garfnet.org.uk [mailto:[removed]@garfnet.org.uk]
*Sent:* 11 July 2009 17:44
*To:* Sales
*Subject:* – Sales Enquiry
Mail From : Laptops Direct
Subject : – Sales Enquiry
Customer Name : Garfield Lucas
Cutomer Email ID : [removed]@garfnet.org.uk
Cutomer Tel. No. : 023 80780133
Cutomer Order No. :
Nature of Enquiry : Sales Enquiry

Description : Dear Sir|Madam, I have written to your pre-sales team
THREE times between 2009-07-09 & 2009-07-10, via:-

http://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/Lenovo_N500__NS774UK/version.asp?refsource=ldawin

and

http://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/
GRADE_A1_-_Toshiba_Portege_M700-13A_Laptop_A1-PPM70E-0QG02DEN/version.asp

Yet you have not responded. Please can you explain why you do not want
our business? Thank you. Yours faithfully, Garfield Lucas.

 

So there you have it. Laptops Direct ignores the Microsoft EULA, and admits it. I have retained copies of the original emails with all the names, headers etc in tact, if anyone needs further proof!