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Karl Seguin

.NET From Ottawa, Ontario

How Microsoft tried to screw me out of $30.00

I have the lofty goal of becoming more financially responsible. Since I'm a Microsoft fanboy, I figure I'll buy Microsoft Money 2008. I head over to the website and see that Plus Premium is $49.99USD - same as the equivalent Quickens. I click on the "download now" which adds Money 2008 to my shopping card for $79.99. WTF?

It turns out $49.99 is only the manufacturer's suggested retail price - which I guess Microsoft expects everyone to follow except themselves.

So I bought Quickens.


UPDATE
Turns out there's a $30 mail-in-rebate, but from the page I was on, it isn't at all clear:
http://www.microsoft.com/money/ProductDetails.aspx?pid=004&active_tab=Compare
 



Comments

Scott said:

Saving $30 is the first step towards fiscal responsibility! Good job, Karl! :)

# September 5, 2007 10:42 PM

jdn said:

It clearly says "minus $30 mail-in rebate" on the site.

# September 5, 2007 11:05 PM

Max Pool said:

Don't worry Karl, you aren't alone.  

Turns out MSFT has tried to screw a lot people out of  $40,000 by attempting to sell MOSS 2007 for Internet Sites.

# September 5, 2007 11:07 PM

karl said:

jdn: Damnit!

In my own defense, I was on:

www.microsoft.com/.../ProductDetails.aspx

and I would not call it "clear" at all.

Next to the price is a footnote which says:

** Estimated Retail Price. Actual retail prices may vary. Mail in rebate details

And when you click on the "rebate details" it doesn't say anything about $30.00.

# September 5, 2007 11:11 PM

jdn said:

I would agree that on that page, it isn't clear.  I went immediately to the home page when I saw the post, where it is clear.

# September 5, 2007 11:27 PM

James said:

Doh!  Sux2BU

# September 6, 2007 4:57 AM

Jeff said:

Better than being screwed by Apple for $200.... ;)

# September 6, 2007 7:31 AM

Jim said:

You should have bought it from BuyCheapSoftware.com and saved yourself some hassles.

# September 6, 2007 10:02 AM

Tim Hibbard said:

I've used quicken and money, and I like quicken much better.

# September 6, 2007 12:13 PM

An observer said:

Insteresting post that applies to this: see item 5 in www.hanselman.com/.../BlogInteresting32WaysToKeepYourBlogFromSucking.aspx.

# September 6, 2007 6:53 PM

Jay Kimble said:

Hey Observer,

None of us on CodeBetter follow that rule (especially yours truly).  And sometimes we're not so nice to each other....  We're equal opportunity!

# September 7, 2007 9:30 AM

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