paulc
03-24-2001, 09:18 AM
This really is a rant. It's not too hard to get a chargeback done and get my money back from Visa, so I don't really need much help. But half.com seems to be going the extra mile to protect at least one software pirate on their service. I made an order on half.com that has really gone wrong.
For about 2 months, the seller thewebsights (feedback at http://www.half.com/account/functions/view_seller.cfm?function=view_seller_rate.cfm&seller_id=63289 ) has been selling pirated copies of software and seems to have trouble sending out orders he takes. That alone would have been enough to get him banned forever from a place like ebay (which is strange because ebay owns half.com) and would most likely get the seller a nice visit from the FBI for selling pirated software. But not on half.com. This guy gets their protection instead. They have been deleting non-vulgar, true feedbacks for this user that describe his shady practices (not sending orders and of his software piracy).
This guy sent me CD-R copies of DOA2 and Q3A for the Sega Dreamcast (Q3A was an unmentioned "bonus gift"). I ordered DOA2 in "like new condition" "in original packaging." Obviously I didn't receive that. The info that I've dug up (his real name, email address and mailing address) have been sent to all parties who should be, uh "concerned," about this situation. Half.com seems to care the least. They will not issue a refund (that's why I'm ranting and just going to do a chargeback) until they do an investigation. They won't even do an investigation until I send back the pirated software to them at my own expense. No way. These copies are going to Sega as evidence against the seller and half.com. I have sent them pictures of the package (envelope, copied CD-Rs), but they seem to want to protect the illegal activity seller more than the people who are being defrauded. I can understand them wanting to deny all knowledge of piracy on half.com, but this won't work. People have been reporting this user for several weeks now and half.com still does nothing.
Maybe they haven't learned the lesson that the SPA taught ebay about pirated software. This situation will cause half.com a ton of money and honestly, I don't care how much this hurts them. I am raising a big stink and I hope half.com gets burned badly by the Sega, id software and the SPA. If they would have just shown a little respect for the situation I would have been satisfied with a refund. It's unbelievable that any legitimate business would not acknowlege this piracy and issue refunds immediately. This has been going on right in front of half.com for months and they don't care. Now I have filed a complaint with the BBB (not so much for their action, just to give them a deserved negative mark for service).
Oh well, half.com will be getting what's coming to them. Hopefully the illegal software seller will also get what's coming to him, too.
For about 2 months, the seller thewebsights (feedback at http://www.half.com/account/functions/view_seller.cfm?function=view_seller_rate.cfm&seller_id=63289 ) has been selling pirated copies of software and seems to have trouble sending out orders he takes. That alone would have been enough to get him banned forever from a place like ebay (which is strange because ebay owns half.com) and would most likely get the seller a nice visit from the FBI for selling pirated software. But not on half.com. This guy gets their protection instead. They have been deleting non-vulgar, true feedbacks for this user that describe his shady practices (not sending orders and of his software piracy).
This guy sent me CD-R copies of DOA2 and Q3A for the Sega Dreamcast (Q3A was an unmentioned "bonus gift"). I ordered DOA2 in "like new condition" "in original packaging." Obviously I didn't receive that. The info that I've dug up (his real name, email address and mailing address) have been sent to all parties who should be, uh "concerned," about this situation. Half.com seems to care the least. They will not issue a refund (that's why I'm ranting and just going to do a chargeback) until they do an investigation. They won't even do an investigation until I send back the pirated software to them at my own expense. No way. These copies are going to Sega as evidence against the seller and half.com. I have sent them pictures of the package (envelope, copied CD-Rs), but they seem to want to protect the illegal activity seller more than the people who are being defrauded. I can understand them wanting to deny all knowledge of piracy on half.com, but this won't work. People have been reporting this user for several weeks now and half.com still does nothing.
Maybe they haven't learned the lesson that the SPA taught ebay about pirated software. This situation will cause half.com a ton of money and honestly, I don't care how much this hurts them. I am raising a big stink and I hope half.com gets burned badly by the Sega, id software and the SPA. If they would have just shown a little respect for the situation I would have been satisfied with a refund. It's unbelievable that any legitimate business would not acknowlege this piracy and issue refunds immediately. This has been going on right in front of half.com for months and they don't care. Now I have filed a complaint with the BBB (not so much for their action, just to give them a deserved negative mark for service).
Oh well, half.com will be getting what's coming to them. Hopefully the illegal software seller will also get what's coming to him, too.