COMBUSTION V4.0 FOR XP - $239.00 !!!!?!?!?!?

Former user wrote on 10/26/2005, 8:13 PM

Hopefully you won't have any problems with this source. The prices on their site sounds a little too good, and their deliver method (as downloadable ISO CD images) is a little dubious.

Here is their basic whois info:

iOEMStore Limited
NO.143-1 WUU YIH STREET NORTH
TAICHUNG, TAIWAN 404
TW
0890-024-368

Record expires on 08-29-2006
Record created on 08-29-2005

And and it appears they've only been in business for 8 weeks (at least that's when they registered the ioemstore domain). Also they only registered it for the minimum of one year.

Fingers crossed that everything works out okay...

Jim

FrigidNDEditing wrote on 10/26/2005, 9:13 PM

Paid through paypal - so I'm not too worried about there being money issues - and on a C.C. so I can always dispute it with them if nothing else.

Dave

FrigidNDEditing wrote on 10/26/2005, 10:56 PM

Better yet - i've contacted them and they have responded, I asked how they could offer this price, if it was academic etc... - they said it's a perpetual Commercial license.

I'm getting a better and better feeling about this - I've gotten my activation code and Key via email, and I'm going to be getting the rest of the download in the next hour or 2.

YAY!!!

Dave

farss wrote on 10/27/2005, 1:02 AM

You know if it's the real deal then it's certainly attractive. Conversely that's so close to the c3 to c4 upgrade price that ya gotta wonder.
The people I'd be asking are Autodesk, I'd imagine a few of their dealers are going to be asking them too.
From what I can see from the Autodesk site you can only buy the upgrade as a download.
Bob.

FrigidNDEditing wrote on 10/27/2005, 1:08 AM

I've emailed the Sales dept. of Autodesk about it - but it's all cleared out on mine - the only question now is if it's warez or something like that their selling then it'd have to go to dispute but I'll hope to get a reply from Auto desk tommorrow

Dave

FrigidNDEditing wrote on 10/27/2005, 7:15 AM

Called autodesk phone registration and they can't get the serial code to work but they didn't say it was warez or anything like that (may not know any better) Anyway - I'm not going to ask any more questions, I'm just going to go my merry way and the next time there's an upgrade I'll buy from a more "reputable" place and leave these guys in the dust.

However I will always think fondly on them for the joy they brought me in being able to get my foot in the door on this software :)

Dave

FrigidNDEditing wrote on 10/27/2005, 9:28 AM

yep it was a scam - they're pirates :) - kinda figured so after some further research.

I'll be disputing the purchase and getting another card issued I suppose.

oh well - I guess it was kinda worth a try.

Dave

Former user wrote on 10/27/2005, 9:49 AM

Well, if you used a credit card via PayPal then ioemstore.com doesn't (or shouldn't) have access to your credit card number. PayPal will just transfer the money to their account -- not give them your card number. Give PayPal a call and they can probably sort it out.

In fact, PayPal needs to know the details so that they can investigate the account and decide if they want to do business with them at all.

Good Luck :-)

Jim

FrigidNDEditing wrote on 10/27/2005, 10:08 AM

I spoke with their live help online and the guy/gal is plenty nice but kinda stupid - she gave me the *old address* they used to be under and that site had reviews saying they were pirate sellers all over about it. wish they had been available to tell me that in the first place. not that I didn't suspect something - just not warez. I guess I didn't know how much of a business there is for Warez out there, but in like Russia I guess it's 90% plus of homes AND businesses are using hacked software.

YIKES

GlennChan wrote on 10/27/2005, 10:22 AM

You may not be able to get your money back through your credit card's protection??

1. According to PayPal accepting their ToS (Terms of Service) in effect means you waive your rights to credit card consumer protection laws if you want to use their service, and that you may not issue a chargeback for unauthorized use of your credit card and PayPal account, or if you do, then they have the right to limit your account. Is this legal? We don't know. But it's how Paypal operates. See my credit card waiver page for more information.

see http://www.paypalsucks.com/
(Obviously a very biased site, but the information might be helpful.)

Quryous wrote on 10/27/2005, 2:47 PM

On the other hand, if you don't get what you were paying for, which, in this case, was a legitimate copy of the program, then PAYPAL protection is supposed to step in and protect you. So try that route. It has worked for me. The only problem is that they might look down their noses at you and say that you couldn't POSSIBLY have been expecting a legitimate copy of the program at THAT price, so you actually got what you paid for.

FrigidNDEditing wrote on 10/27/2005, 3:02 PM

First things first - I've emailed them asking them to stop the transaction, but if that doesn't work then I'll tell them why I thought it was legit (via the FAQ explanation that was given on their site - OEM software that was purchased from companies gone out of buisness and Certificate of Authority to sell via download)

That should sound legit enough.

Dave

farss wrote on 10/27/2005, 3:06 PM

Clearly these people are engaging in fraudulent behavior, if Paypal refuse to take action I'd say they're just as guilty. Not only should Paypal give you back your money they shouldn't be facilitating the fraud by providing the financial services, as should none of the other credit card companies that it appears they'll acccept payment from.

Here's why I think we all need to be so careful about this kind of thing. Firstly we all hate having to jump through an increasing number of hoops to 'activate' software that we've legitimately purchased. Now I wonder who'll be the first to complain if the next version of c4 needs a dongle to run?
Secondly, now these bastards are now using YOUR money to finance their dirty business. If you had simply pirated a copy at least you're not financing organised crime..
I suggest you not only complain to Paypal but also all the other credit card companies, I'd also talk to Autodesk and the police.

FrigidNDEditing wrote on 10/27/2005, 6:17 PM

I've emailed Paypal and I spoke with autodesk as well and I have spoken with the CC company but they said that nothing can be done unless it's already cleared.

I've decided that if I can't get my money back then I'm gonna use it and I'll make enough money with it to buy a new legit version so IMO, it will be stickin it to 'em cuz they want me to keep buying updates from them rather than somewhere else.

Dave

Sol M. wrote on 10/27/2005, 7:10 PM

Oh yeah, that's how you stick it to pirates-- use pirated software... ;p

boomhower wrote on 10/27/2005, 8:06 PM

Sorry to hear you got the ole' screw Dave....

Looking at these guys it appears there are three sites from a reverse IP:

www.Ioemstore.com
www.Oemzone.net
www.Softwarerush.biz

farss wrote on 10/27/2005, 8:07 PM

How appropriate, I just got a sample of the New Rockey4 USB dongle to try out!
If it hadn't been for this thread I'd have thrown it in the bin as I used to hate the whole idea of these things. Now I feel kind of justified locking my code down and making everyone pay for the added cost.
Bob.

GlennChan wrote on 10/27/2005, 8:28 PM

Dave:
Is it possible for you to empty your Paypal account and get your credit card company to do a chargeback?

Reading paypalsucks.com makes me extremely cynical about the company as will drain your account (ALL of it) if there is even a whiff of fraudulent activity attached to it.

Be sure you get all your money out of your Paypal account first before doing a chargeback. The chargeback will violate the Paypal TOS and they may just take your money. Do make sure they can't arbitrarily drain your bank account (i.e. you set things up so that they can withdraw money from it) just in case.
see http://paypalsucks.com/PayPalFormerEmployee1.shtml

Anyways, I may be unfairly cynical here. I do hope you get your money back!

FrigidNDEditing wrote on 10/27/2005, 8:57 PM

I simply paid via paypal with a CC - not with a Paypal account.

I didn't use a paypal account attached to the purchase at all.

Dave

Coursedesign wrote on 10/27/2005, 11:28 PM

My unqualified understanding:

The Visa & MC organizations tell card processors (banks, PayPal, etc.) what the rules are, and if the rules aren't followed they pursue it. I believe this means that card processors are not allowed to enter into agreements with their customers to change those basic rules. If they try anyway, they can lose their right to process Visa/MC.

For merchants: Delta Airlines has to post a $750,000,000 bond recently to continue to accept credit cards for airline tickets... Ouch!

It is absolutely key to pursue this as quickly as possible, that will make it easier. There is also an outside time limit after which you are hosed.

Videoguys.com seems to be the least expensive authorized U.S. reseller of Combustion right now, $775 for a Version 4 commercial license.

orca wrote on 10/28/2005, 5:56 PM

Here's the least expensive I could find.. from pricegrabber.com and it seems that it's legit. Too bad, even with that price I still don't have the budget to purchase it.

http://www.pricegrabber.com/user_sales_getprod.php?masterid=8193348&lot_id=1848688

Coursedesign wrote on 10/28/2005, 7:19 PM

Software Now doesn't have such low prices that they have to be warez, but customer service seems mixed judging from this feedback:

Reviewed by: crimsonchain, from MD

They also sell Acid Pro 5 full commercial version for $170...

epirb wrote on 10/28/2005, 9:31 PM

My own story way back in the day I bought a copy of premiere on ebay . Price was one of those too good to be true, but seller had a decent rating. Comunicated several times with the dealer they said they had three copies that the boxes had all been damged by water so all they had was the CD and key. Yada Yada
Paid via Pay Pal.
After winning the auction CD didnt arrive after 1 week and no answers to emails except I got emails from te other 2 buyers asking if I had recieved my copy.
We all got involved, and another week later a CD came in the mail.
A cheap copied CD o premiere. the others recieved same copies.
Bottom line after contacting Ebay, Pay Pal and even Adobe, who asked me to send them the copy and they would help trry and track the thief. No reimbursment, no one brought to justice, But one Big Lesson learned by yours truly.

Not sayin, give up the fight Dave, just many of us have been down the road of scammers and the tempting hope that the "Too Good to be True" may just be a diamond in the rough. More often than not its just a hunk o coal !

farss wrote on 10/29/2005, 4:58 AM

Makes you wonder if Autodesk, Adobe etc are genuinely interested in stamping out piracy. If they're not prepared to be seen to take these matters seriously then there's no way the industry can justify all the noise about kids pirating music, movies and video games.
Or perhaps we've reached the absurd moral quagmire where it's OK if it's organised crime making money out of theft but not if you're some kid knocking off a bit of music?