Purchasing Adobe Creative Suite and I have a question

jim_art · 03-31-2011, 01:42 PM

Hi, I have been working with a rag tag group of older versions of Adobe stuff and I am finally ready to move up and get the full new versions (my versions are to old to update.)

I have been checking the internet very regularly for pricing and I have consistently come up with one dealer that has exceptional pricing, they have great reviews (although I have heard that some of these reviews on these reviewing websites are generated by computers.) They also have an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau for what that may be worth. The pricing on this is pretty low (actually really low.) It is a full version and it is supposedly the disc version and the original packaging....all that good stuff.

So my question is has anyone on here done any business with an internet company called Software Media.

(If this post is against the rules sorry please delete, I am not trying advertise for the company, just trying to see if there is anyone who has directly had any business with this company. I do not presently know anyone that has purchased something from the company.)

If you have had any experience with this company let me know.

Thanks
Jim

hank_scorpio · 03-31-2011, 01:57 PM

Rule of thumb: If it's too good to be true then it usually is.

A lot of these places offer Education prices, where the EULA in some countries prohibit the use for commercial purposes. And they could also be bootleg versions. Or OEM versions that Adobe probably won't offer customer support should something go wrong.

You're better off just buying from a reputable Adobe dealer or directly from Adobe.

PrintDriver · 03-31-2011, 02:00 PM

Ask Adobe if they are a licensed reseller.

**Kool** · 03-31-2011, 02:03 PM

I've never used them but they look legit. They aren't offering those crazy low OEM type prices.

hank_scorpio · 03-31-2011, 02:12 PM

Sounds a bit iffy - seems to be done through Adobe Transaction Licensing Programme.

I'd contact Adobe and ask about this.

jim_art · 03-31-2011, 02:52 PM

Hey thanks for the fast response. I have found a couple of place I know for sure are legit and I have used them before for other products, but they are maybe 10-15% off. This pricing would allow me to purchase the software with the Total Training (not sure if that is worth it) but the price would still be below the lower end of the average...with the total training package.

I was under the understanding that Adobe did not answer questions about retailers. I am glad to know that do. I will contact them.

I really am hesitant to purchase things like this (especially worth so much) without some reasurrance, because I have already found several of the dealers that appeared to be legit, to not be legit. It is also amazing how long some of these companies that are selling improperly licensed software can remain in business and how they can have such "great reviews."

Thanks for the info so far and if anyone else know much about these guys let me know.

hank_scorpio · 03-31-2011, 02:55 PM

As I say, better off just ordering from the Adobe site if you have any doubts at all. At least you can be sure

sjpeer · 03-31-2011, 03:12 PM

I just saw this post and was interested because I'm looking to by the creative suite but can't pay full price. I was going to take a design class at a local college so I could get educational pricing (and I could probably use a refresher class anyway). This thread brought up two questions.

1) Can I not use the educational version for freelance work?
2) Are the OEM versions legit? I could care less about support from adobe if I could get the Master Suite for $350. Here's a link to one version I found that looks legit. *link removed*

**Virgo Nightingale** · 03-31-2011, 03:20 PM

In the US, educational versions can be used for commercial purposes.

You just might care about having support when you're having issues with the program and can't figure out how to fix them. It does happen.

mojoprime · 03-31-2011, 05:32 PM

be careful with those OEM versions. i was stupid and broke one time and got one, and it was legit as far as serial numbers and all were concerned, but it was a UK version. now, that's not the end of the world but our brothers across the pond use some different spellings -- it not only changed the interface but the dictionary -- and i couldn't change the default dictionary. so, caveat emptor.