I bought Vista Ultimate Full Retail on 27 July 09 from ebuyer.com. At the time, this qualified for the equivalent version of 7, ie 7 Ultimate Full Retail, due to the issue of bundling IE8 with the product and the EU antitrust investigation. This special offer ended on 1st September, because the EU allowed 7 to be shipped without stripping IE8 from the installation disc. At the time, the Ebuyer site had a webpage explaining the offer as described above, which was the same as all the other retailers had at the time. I tried claiming my copy of 7 from Ebuyer on 22 October, but they are not honouring their offer. At first they didn't seem to know much about it and pointed me to their Windows 7 offer page, which had now been changed and described obtaining 7 with various hardware offers, which is not the same at all. After several messages back and forth and eventually threatening them with Trading Standards, they finally shipped me Windows 7 - but it's the Upgrade edition, not the Full one I'm owed. I chased this again with them, but have received a reply that their product manager has apparently said that I've got the right edition. This is clearly wrong and I'm feeling ripped off and angry now. I now need some good solid evidence of the Full version that I'm owed to present to them, but unfortunately, I can't find it anywhere. Looking at the Microsoft site, on the UK FAQ page it says blandly that it's the equivalent version of 7, without clarifying Upgrade or Full and the US page, only lists the Upgrade as qualifying, which doesn't help me at all. Below is the UK page. Please click on the link What are the equivalent Windows 7 products for Windows Vista? on it. http://www.microsoft.com/UK/windows/buy/offers/upgrade-faq.aspx Please note that I also bought Vista Ultimate Full Retail from amazon.co.uk and received the correct version of 7 - Full Retail - when it was released, so my facts are definitely right. However, even Amazon's upgrade info page has now disappeared. I can't even find this info searching Bing or other search engines and the UK enthusiast sites don't seem to have this info either. It's unbelievable! I would be very grateful if someone could confirm the offer as it was and point me (preferably) to a Microsoft page that spells the offer out in black and white, as I've described it and any other info that would help me.

Anyone?

Hi there!YES!!!! someone else had a similar experience. My story contains a link which may be useful... I had a similar experience with ebuyers Windows Vista/7 option. I am a longstanding, loyal customer of ebuyer.co.uk and have been very happy with my experience up until a recent incident. In September I made the decision to buy, (from ebuyer) a new computer and spent several hundred pounds choosing my preferred components and building the computer myself. I had installed a 64 bit version of Windows XP, with which I was very content, with a view to upgrading to Windows 7 on its release. However during the time I had spent choosing various components for my computer I could not help but be attracted to an advertisment which was placed on the ebuyer website (which I learnt was regurgitated Microsoft marketing see it here: http://FastFreeFileHosting.com/file/29027/ebuyer-windows-7-offer-xps.html ). This made the claim that it was pointless waiting for Windows 7 to be released as by buying Windows Vista today one would automatically get upgraded to Windows 7 on its release, a good deal I thought, I didn't want Windows Vista (in the slightest), however since I would receive windows 7 in any case I was persuaded. I proceeded to follow the link on the advert and was promptly taken to a selection of copies of Windows Vista, I carefully selected the 64 bit, business edition, taking note of which version of Windows 7 this would entitle me to from the original advert, I paid and received my order after a few days (98!), all part of the service I have come to expect from ebuyer over the years. On receipt of my copy of Windows Vista I could see no mention of a free upgrade to Windows 7 (which I thought strange), so I promptly telephoned ebuyer customer services who after putting me on hold for several minutes and checking with various supervisors informed me that it was a manufacterer offer and that I would be contacted with details of how to claim my free upgrade up on release of Windows 7 in late October (the 22nd), although slightly sceptical I accepted this and decided to install and register my copy of Windows Vista, though fortunately I took the precaution of saving the ebuyer page which stated this offer so that I could use it as evidence should I need to (and it seems that I do!) in the future. I spent a slightly frustrated month using Windows Vista, counting the days until Windows 7s release, and nearer to the time telephoned to ask if there was any more information on how or when I may receive my free upgrade... This time I spoke to a customer relations manager, who was very pleasant and reassured me, he also sent me a weblink to the site where I could claim my new copy when it came to October the 22nd (http://www.microsoft.com/windows/buy/offers/upgrade-option.aspx Finally the day rolled round, I attempted to register for my free upgrade on the Microsoft website as advised and was greeted on the site by a form which required a Windows 7 voucher code! I immediately telephoned ebuyer and again spoke to to the same customer services advisor, after an extremely long telephone call, between myself, ebuyer and Microsoft it emerged that (as I had initially suspected) the copy of Vista that I had received was ineligible for the upgrade. I was then informed by the customer service advisor that unfortunately ebuyer would not be able to provide me with a copy of Windows 7 (as my product was ineligible) and that I could not return my copy of Vista as it had been registered. He went on to explain that despite me having followed the link on the ebuyer advertisment, this would have taken me to 'all of ebuyer's Vista products' and that I had clearly selected the incorrect item, that I should have selected the copy of Windows Vista with an 'upgrade option'. In addition he explained that he was sorry that the ebuyer offer link did not direct me to the correct product but that it was 'an internal matter' and would be looked into, and that the advice given to me by the ebuyer customer services was incorrect when I initially queried whether I had received the wrong product was incorrect, but there was 'nothing he could do'. I am therefore writing today to either claim a full refund for my copy of Vista, or to claim my rightful copy of Windows 7. I am deeply upset at my treatment during this time having spent several hours on the telephone to both ebuyer and Microsoft for what (and there is no doubt about this) is an error of the part of the yourselves, and to now be denied the product I was promised is frankly outrageous. Particularly as during my most recent conversation ebuyer had the audacity to imply that I was somehow at fault! that by following the link on the promotion page, ordering a copy of Vista, then on receipt actually telephoning ebuyer to confirm that this was the correct copy, I had somehow reneged on my duty as a careful customer, and that I should have paid more attention when choosing the product - despite receiving incorrect advice from ebuyer! Clearly there can be no denying that ebuyer is at fault, I did above and beyond what any normal customer would do, checked and double checked with ebuyer and it is unbelievable that ebuyer's understanding of the situation is that I am at fault! I am therefore wrote to ebuyer with the anticipation of either a full refund (Vista) or a copy of Windows 7 however the were unrepentent... the formal response: Many thanks for the attached xps image. This image shows the standard Windows 7 promotion page which was used on our website prior to the release of Microsoft Windows 7. If you followed the link from this page to our Microsoft Windows Vista product pages these would simply show all versions of Windows Vista which were available to purchase at that time with those eligible for the upgrade being clearly advertised as such. The attached page does not show that Ebuyer has in anyway incorrectly described or mis-sold the product you ordered from us. Unfortunately the package which you have ordered was not at any stage advertised as being eligible for the Microsoft Windows 7 upgrade program and as such Ebuyer is not able to nor obliged to provide you with an upgrade to Microsoft Windows 7. I do apologise for the fact that you feel you were given incorrect information when speaking to our Customer Support team after completing your order, and can assure you that this will be passed across to the Customer Support supervisor to be taken up during training. I feel certain that this may have been caused by simple confusion on the part of the advisor with regard to the upgrade program, however this does not affect your rights to a return or upgrade which were not advertised at the time of purchase. If you are at all unsure about which product you should be purchasing, or feel that the information provided on our website is at all unclear then we have a dedicated pre-sales advice team who can confirm details for you and we would urge you to make use of their services. .... anyone else in the same situation? any advice on how to take the matter forward? I feel that any human being with an ounze of intelligence can see that the consumer is not at fault here, my feeling is that either ebuyer are dreadful at dealing with complaints and therefore decide to forfeit customer satisfaction for short term gain or there are so many people that they have mis-sold this OEM vista copy without the windows 7 upgrade that if the reimburse one person it will actually cost them thousands of pounds!!

mwofsa You are dead wrong your logic, the upgrades come via manufacturer the NOT the reseller of said PC, and as you do not buy a PC but purchased partsyou are not entitled to anything. YOU are themanufacturer in your case.

Bubbapcguy, That is absolute nonsense, the offer stated 'Buying a new PC then buy today and get windows 7 free when it is released, BUT THEN IT WENT ON TO STATE... already have a PC? why wait? buy windows vista today and receive your copy of windows 7 on its release'... so I was buying under the premise that I already had a PC...

nonsense?? I think not I suggest you go back and reread the MS info.Read the fine print.

QuantumBit, let me get this straight... You got a full edition of Vista Ultimate and an Upgrade edition of Windows 7 Ultimate, right?If you do not have the original ad copy from ebuyer printed out, showing an explicit and clear description that you're supposed to get a non-upgrade version then you're probably out of luck. If the word "upgrade" appeared anywhere in their ad copy, then I'd suggest you got exactly what they offered. It's a shame that you had to fight with them about it to get them to deliver on their offer, though. Sounds like a money grubbing company, and they're surely not making any points now that you and mwofsa haveexposed their shady practices to the world. I have a friend in England and I'm going to advise him to avoid ebuyer.com.Logically speaking, though, is it a big problem? The upgrade edition has all the software on it, it just makes sure you're installing it as an upgrade rather than a brand new copy on another system. Yes, I understand a clean install might be more difficult if you have to go through Vista first.-Noel

Unfortunately this thread was locked due to violations of the code of conduct and trolling activity. Ronnie Vernon MVP Forum Moderator