Buying Pro Tools on eBay

[scottkchurch]

Hi,

Is there any danger in buying Pro Tools on eBay? Is it allowed by Digidesign, and if you do buy one that is "New and Not Registered" will Digidesign let me register it? There always seems to be a few systems up there, but I don't know if it is safe?

Cheers,
Scott

[Lee Blaske]

Transferring registration is no problem. I'd be concerned about warranty, though. Warranty starts from the moment the equipment is bought (sales slip), not from when the warranty card is sent in.

Personally, if I was buying Digidesign cards that have been around and in use for awhile, I'd want to buy them from someone who didn't have their equipment operating in an iso box. I'd rather not get cooked cards. Hopefully, the seller would be honest about this.

Lee Blaske

[jeremyroberts]

I buy and sell on eBay quite a bit. It is perfectly OK with Digidesign to transfer ownership (and free) -- the seller needs to fill out a form. All media must be transferred as well (if you buy a used PT system, you also buy the license for the PT software associated with that system, including upgrades).

The key to trading on eBay is trusting your trading partner. Communication is everything. eBay feedback ratings are important. Using a credit card and/or paypal is important (never use a cashier's check or money order -- these can be forged). Credit card is best (no paypal) because you are protected 100%. A verbal conversation with the trading partner is key (before transaction occurs). There are a few "dealers" who use eBay as their storefront. You can trust these guys 100%.

Most important: if it looks like a shady deal, it probably is.

[Howardk]

Credit card is best (no paypal) because you are protected 100%.

What do you mean by this?

[jeremyroberts]

What do you mean by this?

If you use your credit card to buy something, the merchant must deliver exactly what you purchased, or you can initiate a chargeback. For the merchant, if the customer pays with a credit card and delivers the item with proof of delivery to the billing address, the merchant will get paid and has a strong challenge to any chargebacks. Paypal does not protect the merchant as well as simply running the credit card through your terminal. Paypal can protect the buyer, because you can use a credit card. NEVER paypal from your checking account. You have limited protection.

[AG]

Hey JR,
Speaking of ebay, you might be interested in this. I don't think the license allows this, but you'll correct me if I'm wrong.
_S

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...727220841&rd=1

[stereo type]

Check here for some useful information. Also, check the other items that have been sold by the seller. If the seller has sold many PT or audio items with good feedback, you stand a better chance of him being legit. If the seller has sold 4 cookbooks, 42 silverware sets and 23 other kitchen related items and now suddenly has an entire PT rig for sell, there's a good chance someone's ebay account has been stolen.

[jeremyroberts]

>>I don't think the license allows this

It doesn't. I'll see how high it it gets, then bid $1,000,000 before I contact vero. I'll offer the high bidder a good deal on a licensed copy.

thanks,

jr