How to handle people that don't understand office costs money?

[meanderer]

The burden of proof is on you to proof that he is indeed the person who put down that software in the first place.

For that client, offer 2 choices:
1. get legal and pony up, 2500 for license is like a month of rent for some office space (which is what I thought this thread was about XD )
2. uninstall all of those and train your workers with openoffice. I have made myself and my family go on openoffice and never looked back.
3. charge whatever time you spend with them so far and leave them be, probably the worst solution out of all.

 

[ATTech]

The burden of proof is on you to proof that he is indeed the person who put down that software in the first place.

Not if he's being sued for libel, which is the point I was making. This is assuming, of course, that you were replying to my thread.

 

[thecomputerguy]

I appreciate everyone's input. I have no intention of taking on any sort of legal obligation towards the previous technician. I am not about to put myself or the company I am working for into a legal situation I do not have the time or energy to pursue. It is unfortunate that the previous tech went the route of pirated software but that is his prerogative and I do believe that it will one day catch up with him but I am in no position to take that on.

What I have taken from this is exactly what I needed which was to get the customer setup with 4 with Home & Student 3 user packs and thunderbird considering they simply use IMAP.

Thank you everyone and I am enjoying reading the fire I lit with the technibble members and I am glad to see there are some of us still doing it the right way, and we are passionate about what we do, and how we do it.

 

[cyabro]

I appreciate everyone's input. I have no intention of taking on any sort of legal obligation towards the previous technician. I am not about to put myself or the company I am working for into a legal situation I do not have the time or energy to pursue. It is unfortunate that the previous tech went the route of pirated software but that is his prerogative and I do believe that it will one day catch up with him but I am in no position to take that on.

What I have taken from this is exactly what I needed which was to get the customer setup with 4 with Home & Student 3 user packs and thunderbird considering they simply use IMAP.

Thank you everyone and I am enjoying reading the fire I lit with the technibble members and I am glad to see there are some of us still doing it the right way, and we are passionate about what we do, and how we do it.

The Office Home & Student version can't be used in a commercial environment can it?

 

[JustMe]

What I have taken from this is exactly what I needed which was to get the customer setup with 4 with Home & Student 3 user packsand thunderbird considering they simply use IMAP.

Microsoft Home and Student edition cannot be used in a commercial enviornment.

Office Home and Student 2010 is licensed only for non-commercial use for members of your household. The software is not licensed for any commercial, nonprofit, or revenue-generating business activities.

Taken from Office 2010 Frequently Asked Questions

 

[parker.casey]

I am currently involved in a job with roughly 10 computers where the previous technician installed all pirated copies of office 2007 on every single computer. That technician has since been replaced by myself.

Unless I am missing something office is going to cost them about $220 for a single retail license so they get a CD, which they will want, and roughly $170 a pop for 9 more OEM licenses to make their copies legit.

The owner is extremely dissatisfied with this due to the fact that since MS has implemented their genuine utility it makes them very aware at different points that they are using pirated software and that then cant update which is obviously has its security issues.

I do want to make money on the job selling the product so if I were to put a small profit margin on each copy of office it would still amount to a dollar amount that makes the owners eyes pop and makes them less apt to spend money on other parts and labor I would make ACTUAL money off of.

Am I missing an easier way to make their copies legit copies without telling the customer they are about to spend ~$2000 just in software to continue doing what they are doing?

I always get the "well we only spent $400 on the computer!?!?"

(Home and Business (outlook is needed))

Personally, I would strongly suggest OpenOffice and Thunderbird+Lightning to replace Office + Outlook. Simply lay out the numbers and inform then that you won't touch or support illegal software (and MS WILL come down on you if you do...). More than once in a situation like that, it's turned out that the customer was actually a Microsoft agent just trying to see what I would respond with. If the customer doesn't want the costs, they'll go openoffice. If they want office that bad, they'll shut up and pay. If they don't want to, I'd refuse service until they remedy the legal situation one way or another.

 

[wimwauters]

Am I missing an easier way to make their copies legit copies without telling the customer they are about to spend ~$2000 just in software to continue doing what they are doing?

Teach your customers that Microsoft isn't cheap once they establish a monopoly or cartel. Then get them to try out Libreoffice and Thunderbird.

I always get the "well we only spent $400 on the computer!?!?"

Teach your customers that Windows is the most expensive component of most PCs. And Office is the most expensive component of most business laptops

Hardware & chip manufacturers spend loads of resources on getting us more efficient and capable hardware at lower prices, but Mickeysoft throws all that away with ever more bloated software and high prices

 

[stro]

I get people all the time, that when selling them a computer system, they act surprised when I tell them the the price doesn't include MS Office. Many times they feel it should be included and shouldn't have to pay extra for it because the last computer they bought 8 years ago came with it.

I just explain that even though several years ago it may have come with their computer, they still payed for it. I tell them that it was commonly included back when the average computer cost $1500 to $2000, but that due to competition, and PC manufacturers wanting to advertise the lowest price, they no longer include $200 worth of software for free in a system that only costs $400-$600.

This usually ends the discussion without the customer pushing it any further.

 

[thecomputerguy]

Microsoft Home and Student edition cannot be used in a commercial enviornment.


Taken from Office 2010 Frequently Asked Questions

Hmm well in that case they are going to love hearing they are about to drop 2k on software ... ughh thanks micro$oft

 

[DrewKill]

Depending on the situation Microsoft office can be worth the money. I was it all the time at my day job. I lot of advance excel & access data integration. I could not get by with OpenOffice. But my company starting supporting OpenOffice for users. Most people just want to write a Word doc or do a simple spreadsheet, and they don't need the advance features I do. For me I pay for office at home as well because I know it and it can do a the features I need.

 

[MobileTechie]

Simply lay out the numbers and inform then that you won't touch or support illegal software (and MS WILL come down on you if you do...). More than once in a situation like that, it's turned out that the customer was actually a Microsoft agent just trying to see what I would respond with.

I'm struggling to be believe that MS would try to sue a technician for working on what turns out to be non-licensed software. Surely only the people who installed it or use it have a legal relationship with MS, not someone who works on it?

Are there any actual cases to evidence this?

I would refuse to install or reinstall unlicensed software. I wouldn't offer to circumvent any protection measures on it. But it seems to be that is where my obligations stop. I'm not responsible for other people's software purchases. Are you saying that it's somehow illegal to say remove a virus from a copy of pirated Windows?

 

[techroc]

I'm struggling to be believe that MS would try to sue a technician for working on what turns out to be non-licensed software. Surely only the people who installed it or use it have a legal relationship with MS, not someone who works on it?

Are there any actual cases to evidence this?

I would refuse to install or reinstall unlicensed software. I wouldn't offer to circumvent any protection measures on it. But it seems to be that is where my obligations stop. I'm not responsible for other people's software purchases. Are you saying that it's somehow illegal to say remove a virus from a copy of pirated Windows?

I'd say check for an authorized license and notify the user/client about the issue. Then, maybe you can provide a newer version of Windows that is compatible with their PC.

They will have less issues with more protection (updates/patches) possessing a legit copy. I'm sure letting them know about the illegal software will change their minds. If their computer is from a manufacturer then try looking for the MS license sticker, and install the version of Windows with the license on the sticker of the computer if available.

I'm not 100% sure about this either, would definitely be a gray area.

 

[JustMe]

I'm struggling to be believe that MS would try to sue a technician for working on what turns out to be non-licensed software. Surely only the people who installed it or use it have a legal relationship with MS, not someone who works on it?

Are there any actual cases to evidence this?

I believe that Microsoft will go after the owner of the computers. Your liability comes into play if the owner feels that you are somehow responsible (directly or indirectly) for his being non-compliant.

 

[techroc]

I believe that Microsoft will go after the owner of the computers. Your liability comes into play if the owner feels that you are somehow responsible (directly or indirectly) for his being non-compliant.

Microsoft tries to go after the computers that use unauthorized licenses with WGA. If you see WGA notifications while accessing a client's computer, I would notify the client and have them purchase a new key. If not, refuse the business to save yourself the headache of any lawsuits in the future

 

[MobileTechie]

Microsoft tries to go after the computers that use unauthorized licenses with WGA. If you see WGA notifications while accessing a client's computer, I would notify the client and have them purchase a new key. If not, refuse the business to save yourself the headache of any lawsuits in the future

Yes but that was the question I was asking. Is there actually any risk of a lawsuit for a technician working on previously installed non-licenced software. Selling it or installing it yes, but merely supporting it? I'm not so sure.

 

[techroc]

Yes but that was the question I was asking. Is there actually any risk of a lawsuit for a technician working on previously installed non-licenced software. Selling it or installing it yes, but merely supporting it? I'm not so sure.

It's a gray area and I would notify the owner that the computer has an illegal copy of Microsoft Windows running on it (sometimes they have a legit license sticker somewhere on the case and don't know about it). If they want a free OS they should use Linux or another open source OS

 

[Cybjun]

Yes but that was the question I was asking. Is there actually any risk of a lawsuit for a technician working on previously installed non-licenced software. Selling it or installing it yes, but merely supporting it? I'm not so sure.

I have been told that as a Microsoft Partner if a system comes in with pirated copy of windows I'm not allow to do any support work the only service I'm told we are allowed to offer is a fresh install of the correct or a new licensed version and/or backing up of the data.

I currently dont know any way to really identify pirated office at a glance. If I have no disc, and no CoA on the case I don't really question if its pirated. However right now I have a system with one of the best fake office 2003 professional disc i've ever seen. Am I going to load it? No, I will inform the client that is non-genuine and suggest they contact Microsoft.

 

[MobileTechie]

I have been told that as a Microsoft Partner if a system comes in with pirated copy of windows I'm not allow to do any support work the only service I'm told we are allowed to offer is a fresh install of the correct or a new licensed version and/or backing up of the data.

That may well be true: that as a member of their Partner programme you have signed up to maintain certain standards re: working on non-licenced software.

But it doesn't mean that non-partners are legally required to abide by similar standards.

 

[DCGPX]

Yes but that was the question I was asking. Is there actually any risk of a lawsuit for a technician working on previously installed non-licenced software. Selling it or installing it yes, but merely supporting it? I'm not so sure.

I agree this is somewhat murky waters. I've had systems come in with WGA coming up Non-Genuine. I simply advise client what it means, offer to get legit key.

If they refuse it goes down on my WO as such. I still continue to work on it but explicitly explain that if system goes pear shaped I can only reload a legit copy if thats where repair leads to and they risk an unusable system if it gets to that stage and dont want to get a key. Doubt they'd leave with a lump of metal, they'd get a key.

Would I get sued? doubtful it as my WO contains advise given, the fact I've refused to repair using anything other than legit copy is in my favour.

Other may disagree with my approach but Im not turning custom away provided I dont step over into using pirate copies to keep a system going.

My way of doing this kind of work.

 

[baccart]

Suggest using Open Office and Thunderbird as free alternatives. You make money setting everything up and they get functional and legal software.

and then get calls to support when they are not able to edit/ do formulas like they could in office.