From: 868gilreath@gw.wmich.edu
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games
Subject: Software return policy
Date: 7 Oct 92 17:26:48 EST
Organization: Western Michigan University

In article <BvI1H3.Ezo@undergrad.math.waterloo.edu>, rcsteele@leibniz.uwaterloo.ca (Robert C Steele) writes:
> In article <1992Oct1.161238.12212@b11.b11.ingr.com>, ross@kaos.b11.ingr.com (Ross Erickson) writes:
>> >> Yes. Stop piracy.
>>         ^^^^^^^^^^^
>> 
>> >It is quite obvious that you are not a serious gamer, one that buy many
>> 
>> This is both insulting and condescending.  You have no idea or way of
>> knowing what another person's gaming habits are.  
>> 
>> >games each month.  I have bought close to a hundred PC games so far, do 
>> 
>> Let's see.  100 games x $30-40 dollars a pop would be $3,000 to $4,000
>> total.  Hmmmmmm
>> 
>> >you know how messy my table is with so many manuals and key-disks?  Some
>> >games even demand both key disk AND manual protection! 
>> 
>> "You pays yer money....You take yer chances..."
>> >
>> >If you have a game that use up up all 640meg, or even 1/2, or 1/10th of
>> >the CD, fine, I have to insert the CD each time.  But a 3.5meg game and you
>> >expect me to trouble with the CD each time?
>> 
>> Take it back to the store and with a receipt they will give you your
>> money back.
>> >
>> >Do you own a CD-ROM drive?  Do you know what is a caddy?  
>> >1) I have to take out the caddy from the drive, 
>> >2) take the current CD out and 
>> >3) put it back into its case, 
>> >4) take the game CD out of its case,
>> >5) put it into the caddy,
>> >6) and insert the caddy back into the CD-ROM drive.
>> 
>> Forgive me, but what's your point??  I don't think you can get CTS
>> from doing this.  I've had a CD-ROM drive for a long time now (around
>> 20-30 CDs or so) and this is not a problem.  It takes maybe 10
>> seconds.  Don't you plan to play for longer than 10 minutes?
>> >
>> >Perhaps they should have a police officer check your driver's license
>> >each time before you are allowed to drive, heh? 
>> 
>> Hardly a fair analogy.  Keys are a better analogy.  Doesn't it really
>> p*ss you off that you have to put some keys in your car to start it?
>> Why not get in and go??
>> 
>> >I apologise if I seem rude, it was not meant for you.  But I am often
>> >get insulted by paying good money for bad games, and to top things off,
>> 
>> RETURN THEM!!!
>> 
> I don't know about you.  But any software store I've ever been in has required
> the package to be unopened and in the original boxes to be able to be returned
> to the store.  Too late once you find out it has key disk copy protection.
> 
> Rob

Well I know of one software store firsthand that doesn't require this: 
Babbages.  How do I know?  I work for them.  Although I have to admit that
with all of the problems we've had with the system lately, I wouldn't be 
suprised if management isn't thinking about eliminating open boxed returns.

In the past, the ability to return products that one does not like has 
earned Babbages much respect from many of its customers.  Unfortunately
there are a few bad eggs out there (you know who you are), who are bent on
ruining this for others.

So for all of you out there who have (legitimately) taken advantage of 
Babbage's policy, you know who to blame if it is revoked.

Scott Werner

(The views expressed above are my own, and not meant to represent those of
Babbages management or other employees.)