Software pricing.

[PaulB]

I came across this site while researching graphic software prices. If it wasn't for the If-it-sounds-too-good-to-be-true mantra, I'd buy all my S/W here. Has anyone heard of this site?

[ChrisGreaves]

Has anyone heard of this site?

Not me; not until now.
"Download" cuts out Overhead, as Seth Godin is so fond of pointing out.
I'm old-fashioned; I don't see a bricks-and-mortar address anywhere.
On The other hand they seems to have many different packages on show there, so maybe they have built a potentially successful enterprise by setting out to do software sales efficiently in a big way.
I doubt that MSoft would let them get away with Pirated copies.

[Leif]

Has anyone heard of this site?

Nope - but I came across Warning: These are internet scams :: software-supreme.com which shows it is just a month old, and according to software-supreme.com | WOT Reputation Scorecard, the server is located in HK.

The words 'plague' and 'avoid like' spring to mind...

[Argus]

A quick search gives; Hong Kong IP (starts with 112, didn't have to search for that one, and yep, APNIC points to a HK ISP, but that doesn’t tell us much about where the, ehm, business is); seems to be cheap OEM software, as the site title says. For example a check for the latest MSFT OS gives 3 versions and 32/64 thus 6 products, but the information on the individual pages says nothing if it's OEM or not, so one has to go on the site description "OEM Software". And OEM versions are cheaper, no matter where you buy them.

But I wouldn't trust 'em one bit.

According to this thread:
http://419.myfreeforum.org/software_sup ... t4460.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

it's a software download fraud of some sort. I don't know, pirated or something else, I guess.

[PaulB]

Thanks for your input. Makes you wonder, though. If I could find the site so easily and you guys could identify it so quickly as a potential fraud, why have Microsoft, Google, Adobe et al. not come down on them like a ton of bricks?

[HansV]

I guess it would be very difficult, if not impossible to do so with a company that operates from China.

[Argus]

... why have Microsoft, Google, Adobe et al. not come down on them like a ton of bricks?

I don't know, but as Leif mentioned, this incarnation of the site has only been around for a month; and also, it's another jurisdiction. Companies, no matter how global they might be, have to obey local laws as well, and then it might take some time to get things done, if possible.

[viking33]

I came across this site while researching graphic software prices. If it wasn't for the If-it-sounds-too-good-to-be-true mantra, I'd buy all my S/W here. Has anyone heard of this site?

Don't know anything about this site but Chris mentions "no brick and mortar" address. Clicking on "About Us," brings up this pic and address. ( of course, anyone could display whatever they want but not necessarily a true factual address )

Capture9.PNG

[ChrisGreaves]

... Chris mentions "no brick and mortar" address.

Just quoting my canny 70-year old Accountant, who has "seen it all".
He has a few very plain guidelines.
"No bricks and mortar?" is one of them.

[viking33]

Along the lines of my last post, here is a snapshot of my winter retreat in the islands.

slide5.jpg

[BobH]

This thread calls to mind a question.

Does anyone know of a reliable online source for vetting etailers? Something like the BBB in the States or a Snopes work-alike for establishing the bona fides of online sellers?

[Hey Jude]

I think it is called "Wire Fraud" and the Federal Trade Commission aka FTC handles reporting of it, as well as the Federal Bureau of Investigation aka FBI http://www.ftc.gov/opa/1999/02/hare3.shtm

There is also a site called econsumer.gov where you can post online complaints about online transactions with foreign companies as well http://www.econsumer.gov/english/

You can submit a complaint here https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/ Here you can file a complaint and "internet" is one of the aspects that is listed

I know our law office has used these sites to file complaints on behalf of clients.

[PaulB]

...a snapshot of my winter retreat in the islands.

So you're the new guy who just moved in up the block?

[ChrisGreaves]

Clicking on "About Us," brings up this pic and address.

Well, Chris has got nothing better to do on a Saturday night but fire up Google maps, key in "3700 mansell road, georgia, usa" and drag street view into the argument (grin)

The building is, oh dear!, hidden behind a row of trees, but a little pop-up label says "Impact Marketing".

[viking33]

...a snapshot of my winter retreat in the islands.

So you're the new guy who just moved in up the block?

The place with the security agents in black SUVs parked in inconspicuous locations. They will probably stop in to talk with you shortly!

[jscher2000]

This is a handy site for doing a little research on domain names: http://whois.domaintools.com/software-supreme.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Unfortunately, some of the more interesting services require a paid subscription.

One of the curious/suspicious features of the site is that it states "Copyright © 2005-2010 software-supreme.com" but the domain was just registered to the current owner on 12/07/2010. It probably is part of a group of sites that has operated for many years but keeps moving from domain to domain.

It's also interesting to search the phone number: http://blog.unmaskparasites.com/2010/12 ... re-stores/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

And of course, I don't think it's ever legal to sell OEM software via download; the entire basis for OEM licensing is that the software accompanies or is installed on some hardware.