New Windows 10 OEM packs with a "scratchy" covering the product key

Forums › Microsoft Windows › New Windows 10 OEM packs with a "scratchy" covering the product key

Spong

1005 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#207360 20-Dec-2016 17:04

Last week I received my seconds Windows 10 OEM pack with the product key on the COA sticker covered in silver paint, similar to a "scratchy". I can see the reason for this, but IMHO it's been badly implemented. Despite care in removing it, I managed to damage two of the product key characters underneath, leaving me with around 36x36=1296 guesses as to what they could be!

You wouldn't believe the nightmare I've been through to get this replaced. Firstly my supplier told me to call MS, and they told me to go back to my supplier, and they told be to go back to MS and then so on. After about 2x hours of my time and photos sent, I seem to have finally got a reasonable response, but it sure puts a bad taste in my mouth, considering MS have been giving free Win10 upgrades to millions over the last year, and I've bought hundreds of legal licenses for $200+ each over the last 23 years.

Tivo upgrades to operate with the new OzTivo EPG, support and service. Over 400 performed here so far. See: www.hillcrest.net.nz

mattwnz

20141 posts

Uber Geek

#1692934 20-Dec-2016 17:18

Imo It is up to the retailer to sort it out, as the product was faulty of you couldn't really remove the silver coating without also removing the numbers. Retailers should tell customers to go to the manufacturer under the CGA and it also isn't good service on top of that.

gzt

17104 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1692947 20-Dec-2016 17:58

It's not the best service from your supplier.

Dairyxox

1594 posts

Uber Geek

#1692958 20-Dec-2016 19:02

I had the same thing happen with office 365 retail from Warehouse Stationary. Eventually someone from warehouse stationary took responsibility, but I wasn't happy with the fix. He just "guessed" the missing number a few times until it activated.

I blame Microsoft for the poor quality product.

Spong

1005 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#1693013 20-Dec-2016 21:42

I agree, it's a very poorly implemented scheme, obviously designed to prevent someone viewing (or stealing) the product keys prior to sale to the system builder (me). I've removed the "scratchy" from hundreds of cheapo scratchy cards and competition cards, and never had a problem before, and these must be produced very cheaply.

Why can't Microsoft do the same on a license card that often costs $100 to $300? Then when things go wrong, one has to jump through multiple hoops to convince Microsoft and the Distributor that you're not "trying it on". Also over the years they've made these keys harder and harder to read without glasses, which is discriminatory towards those of us with 57 year old eyes.

Tivo upgrades to operate with the new OzTivo EPG, support and service. Over 400 performed here so far. See: www.hillcrest.net.nz

cynnicallemon

370 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1693045 21-Dec-2016 06:10

Dairyxox: I had the same thing happen with office 365 retail from Warehouse Stationary. Eventually someone from warehouse stationary took responsibility, but I wasn't happy with the fix. He just "guessed" the missing number a few times until it activated.

I blame Microsoft for the poor quality product.

In general I would also blame the customer for accepting a "bad product" too. Unfortunately if customers accept inferior ways of doing things then nothing will change.

amiga500

1484 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1693143 21-Dec-2016 10:54

Unfortunately, another example of how quality control is less than stellar at MS. Can you imagine Steve Jobs allowing such a foul up to have happened at Apple?

What would be wrong with placing the OEM pack in a sealed plastic box with the warning to not accept the product if the plastic shrink wrap is missing or damaged?

Here's another one. MS have changed the update catalog site to allow any browser to access the Win 7 convenience rollups, which is to their credit. However, if you go to the site with IE 11 you get the message that 'an addon failed to run'. It is necessary to run IE 11 as Administrator for it to work. Now, this has been a fault for months & it has not been fixed when I used it a month or so ago. On the forums there are a heap of posts about this issue and other work-arounds. Apparently, you can get the site to work on IE 11 if you type in a slightly different name!

It seems amazing to me that MS can't get quality issues like this sorted. Sure, Windows is a smaller part of their business model, but they still make billions each year from the Windows product.

networkn

Networkn
32349 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1693146 21-Dec-2016 11:01

These stupid scratchy things are just a nightmare!

@nathan where can we provide feedback?

Equinox IT

Cloud spending continues to surge globally, but most organisations haven’t made the changes necessary to maximise the value and cost-efficiency benefits of their cloud investments. Download the whitepaper From Overspend to Advantage now.

Dairyxox

1594 posts

Uber Geek

#1693148 21-Dec-2016 11:07

cynnicallemon:

Dairyxox: I had the same thing happen with office 365 retail from Warehouse Stationary. Eventually someone from warehouse stationary took responsibility, but I wasn't happy with the fix. He just "guessed" the missing number a few times until it activated.

I blame Microsoft for the poor quality product.

In general I would also blame the customer for accepting a "bad product" too. Unfortunately if customers accept inferior ways of doing things then nothing will change.

I get what you're saying, but its not like buying bread, yogurt or even a car, where you can just 'vote with your wallet' and buy another brand. MS Office is MS office and something of a monopoly.

Customers shouldn't have to pay good money, and then get blamed for not getting into a fight with the company to sort it out. I spoke to Microsoft at the time and they were dismissive, and unapologetic.

networkn

Networkn
32349 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1693161 21-Dec-2016 11:45

Dairyxox:

I spoke to Microsoft at the time and they were dismissive, and unapologetic.

Unfortunately, I have found Microsoft to be like this for the past few years on most things. There are exceptions and good people, but in general, they have a plan in mind and woe betide anyone who tries to suggest it's not right.