FFH5 Premium Member join:2002-03-03 Tavistock NJ 4 edits
1 recommendation |
FFH5
Premium Member
2005-Jul-22 10:22 am
FTC should investigate and fine themThese bait and switch gambits come under FTC control. The company can be enjoined from such behavior and also be fined. The FTC should follow this up and take appropriate action. As to the users - buyer beware is still good advice. Very rarely do you ever get something for nothing. Edit: corrected FCC to FTC My Web PageJoin Red Room Forum | |
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| technick Premium Member join:2000-12-16 Wheat Ridge, CO |
technick
Premium Member
2005-Jul-22 10:25 am
Re: FCC should investigate and fine themThats bullshit! I signed up for it too, and never received a link to download it. But I also noticed at the same time I am starting to get some spam in my inbox. Has anyone else noticed spam? | |
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alexy
Anon
2005-Jul-22 10:32 am
Re: FCC should investigate and fine themNo more spam than usual, and none in the box used to register for X-CAD. I don't like what they are doing, but I've seen no evidence of the feared email harvesting scheme. There are LOTS cheaper ways to get 100,000 emails. | |
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| | BarneyBadAssBadasses Fight For Freedom Premium Member join:2004-05-07 00001 |
to technick
Technick,
um.. did you even think to use a 'JUNK' email account??? so I guess I have to answer no; I'm not getting any more junk e-mail than I usually get.. but it seems my 'JUNK' email account only gets junk, so how would I know?
Hmmmmm..... | |
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| | AMDUSER Premium Member join:2003-05-28 Earth, ARRIS CM8200 ARRIS SB6183
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to technick
said by technick:"..I signed up for it too, and never received a link to download it. But I also noticed at the same time I am starting to get some spam in my inbox. Has anyone else noticed spam? Never received a link to download, haven't received spam.. yet. Will report for spamming when it arrives. Hopefully they will get to finally meet Big, Bad, Bubba - in jail. | |
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to technick
You're getting SPAM? OMG!!! just kidding, but really, I used an old yahoo email that is nothing but spam and stuff, didn't really care about the CAD software, but thought, hey, 100,000 geeks can't be wrong? lol | |
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| | | hayabusa3303Over 200 mph Premium Member join:2005-06-29 Florence, SC |
Re: FCC should investigate and fine themIf you look at the SITE people it says in plain black and white... (You can download X-CAD, a fully functional, parametric, solid-modeling 3D MCAD application, for free on August 1, 2005.)
People it is still july when did august turn july? They might be full of hot air i see alot of poeple cant read. | |
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1 recommendation |
to FFH5
Re: FTC should investigate and fine themThis company was pretty deceitful, but how many ppl here actually need a CAD program? I understand the whole "free thing" but come on, you're going to get about 10 minutes of fun out of it before uninstalling it.
CAD programs are dull and technical unless you're an engineer/architect/enjoy designing stuff. | |
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| | guitarzan Premium Member join:2004-05-04 Skytop, PA |
Re: FTC should investigate and fine themsaid by HawkI911: how many ppl here actually need a CAD program? , you're going to get about 10 minutes of fun out of it before uninstalling it. Sure if the install takes 10 minutes.:D Like you posted.unless you're an engineer/architect/enjoy designing stuff. There is absolutely no "fun factor" in Cad if one has never used it before.More like 10 minutes of frustration,provided one tries that long. | |
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| BarneyBadAssBadasses Fight For Freedom Premium Member join:2004-05-07 00001 |
to FFH5
Hey, Old_Repub,
Dust off your army boots man, and kick thier ass:D | |
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-1 recommendation |
Fatal Vector
Anon
2005-Jul-22 10:34 am
SURPRISE! Fell for it, didn't you? You really should have known better. As if a company is going to give away a CAD program worth thousands of dollars. What was it P> T> Barnum said? There's a sucker born every minute.
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| | | Combat ChuckToo Many Cannibals Premium Member join:2001-11-29 Verona, PA 1 edit
1 recommendation |
Re: SURPRISE!said by Fatal Vector:
Fell for it, didn't you? You really should have known better. As if a company is going to give away a CAD program worth thousands of dollars. What was it P> T> Barnum said? There's a sucker born every minute. Fell for it, how? I imagine most of us (at least from this site) who signed up saw something similar coming and planned accordingly, and as of right now I haven't received any spam in the box I signed up with. The way I saw it, if it was true I get a new toy to play with; if they pulled what they did I just delete the addy I signed up with, nothing lost nothing gained. | |
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Fatal Vector
Anon
2005-Jul-22 4:01 pm
Re: SURPRISE! Point is, you went for it. It was FREE! What is it consumer advocates say? "If the deal looks too good to be true, it probably is".
Now, have someone crack your knuckles with a metal ruler, you naughty boy. A bayonet will do also.
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| | | | | Combat ChuckToo Many Cannibals Premium Member join:2001-11-29 Verona, PA 1 edit |
Re: SURPRISE!said by Fatal Vector:
Point is, you went for it. It was FREE! What is it consumer advocates say? "If the deal looks too good to be true, it probably is".
Now, have someone crack your knuckles with a metal ruler, you naughty boy. A bayonet will do also. No, I didn't "go for it", I wasn't deceived. Having seen what someone was quoted for solidworks, I knew full well that chances were X-cad would either suck or there would be some other stipulation. And I've lost nothing but the five minutes to set up an address at my domain and fill out the form. They tried to pick my pocket but since I had my hand on my wallet they were unsuccessful; but I still got to see a magic trick. | |
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| | | 2kmaroThink
join:2000-07-11 Oklahoma City, OK |
to Fatal Vector
I signed up for it, and invited others to do the same if they needed a 3D CAD program. I also went into it with eyes open and even in the face of their front page claim of not selling or giving away the email list their building up, I naturally created a throw-away email addy in the event that that was a bogus claim. Haven't been checking the "TO" addresses on the 100 or so junk emails I get every day (they go direct to DELETE folder and are deleted when I shut down the client), but perhaps I shall for a while to see if any comes into XCAD@...
As for getting the full copy, yes I hoped they'd be honest in their offer and provide what they said they would. But being the cynic that I am, I rather expected some fine print weasel words somewhere that I hadn't seen just yet. Time will tell. | |
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| lemekim Premium Member join:2002-02-11 Philadelphia, PA |
to FFH5
There is no such thing as free lunch =( | |
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| guitarzan Premium Member join:2004-05-04 Skytop, PA |
to FFH5
That offer was too good to be true.I thought of using my gmail account for a second or two.Smelling the coffee after those few seconds.I asked myself who in their right mind would give free copies of cad in exchange for an email.? let alone 100,000 copies? Glad i passed on that weasel deal If one would just think about the deal.Would you give someone an expensive cad program for practically nothing.? | |
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Orwell1984
Anon
2005-Jul-22 10:32 am
YeahI had a feeling. So glad I used a throw away. | |
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graycorgi
Premium Member
2005-Jul-22 10:39 am
Proof thatGmail's spam filter's work =) Haven't seen any spam hit my thunderbird inbox folder since this. | |
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oliphantI Have 8 Boobies Premium Member join:2004-11-26 Corona, CA |
oliphant
Premium Member
2005-Jul-22 10:41 am
TINSTAFLTrue then, true now. | |
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Free CAD software???Suckers.... this shouldn't have sounded right to anyone in the first place. | |
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| MIABye Premium Member join:2001-10-28 united state |
MIABye
Premium Member
2005-Jul-22 11:43 am
Re: Free CAD software???It did not sound right to me. I am now glad I went with that initial judgement and just watched everyone else sign up. | |
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| KearnstdSpace Elf Premium Member join:2002-01-22 Mullica Hill, NJ |
to Dagda1175
but companies wonder why people pirate, heck this one said it was a full version of their program then swung back with a spyware and adware encrusted one. | |
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Jovi Premium Member join:2000-02-24 Mount Joy, PA |
Jovi
Premium Member
2005-Jul-22 10:43 am
EmailDoes anyone have the email stating that it was free(after 100,000 sign-ups) and no internet connection required? I'd be interested in taking a look at that. Thanks | |
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| Combat ChuckToo Many Cannibals Premium Member join:2001-11-29 Verona, PA |
Re: EmailThis is the email I recieved after signing up: -- X-CAD Registration Confirmation Instructions Thank you for registering for the free X-CAD software. Please click the link below to verify your registration. » www.x-cad.net/optin.asp? ··· XXXXXXXXIt is very important that you verify your registration. Unverified registrations will not count towards the 100,000 needed to release the free X-CAD software. When 100,000 people register, you will receive an email message with instructions on how to download the free software. Spread the word and get your free 3D CAD software faster, tell all your colleagues and friends to register too! If you have any problems with this process, please contact info@x-cad.net. © 2005 All rights reserved. -- conveniently vague about what the software is, I think if you wanna discuss the legal aspects you'd be best to do so about the website. | |
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| | Jovi Premium Member join:2000-02-24 Mount Joy, PA 1 edit |
Jovi
Premium Member
2005-Jul-22 11:17 am
Re: EmailI find it interesting the CEO says this in the press release: "It's amazing that vendors in this market rely upon customer-hostile policies such as encrypted file formats and forced product retirements/upgrades - and even more amazing: their customers stand for it. We believe these oppressive practices and the companies that engage in them have basically caused the industry to stagnate, and we're out to change things. "I also want to emphasize that Alibre Design Xpress is not a 'bait and switch' offer. We believe that by providing very high value software to a lot of people, and then engaging with them to learn from them -- while building trust by respecting their privacy and requests to opt-out of our communications -- we will increase sales of our flagship Alibre Design product family." » www.alibre.com/xpress/ne ··· p?source | |
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| | guitarzan Premium Member join:2004-05-04 Skytop, PA |
to Combat Chuck
said by Combat Chuck:Spread the word and get your free 3D CAD software faster, tell all your colleagues and friends to register too! With a statement like that in the offer.That yelled scam in big fonts. | |
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| | techjoe Premium Member join:2004-02-20 Lombard, IL |
to Combat Chuck
said by Combat Chuck:This is the email I recieved after signing up: -- X-CAD Registration Confirmation Instructions Thank you for registering for the free X-CAD software. Please click the link below to verify your registration. » www.x-cad.net/optin.asp? ··· XXXXXXXXIt is very important that you verify your registration. Unverified registrations will not count towards the 100,000 needed to release the free X-CAD software. When 100,000 people register, you will receive an email message with instructions on how to download the free software. Spread the word and get your free 3D CAD software faster, tell all your colleagues and friends to register too! If you have any problems with this process, please contact info@x-cad.net. © 2005 All rights reserved. -- conveniently vague about what the software is, I think if you wanna discuss the legal aspects you'd be best to do so about the website. Thanks to your participation in the X-CAD 100,000 Seat Giveaway we have reached the goal of 100,000 registrations early! Some of you may not have heard, we announced on Wednesday that Alibre is the company behind X-CAD and X-CAD is Alibre Design Xpress, the newest member of the Alibre Design product family. As of August 1, Alibre Design Xpress will be available to all for free. But, as one of the first 100,000 to register, you're getting a little more. For you Alibre Design Xpress will include all the features listed on the new Alibre Design Xpress site, plus: * Advanced part modeling, which includes features like shelling, 3D sketch, reference surfaces, etc. View the Alibre Design brochure on our web site for the full part modeling feature set. * Create and edit assemblies with up to 25 unique parts. You can open an assembly with more parts in read-only mode. * Create 2D drawings with standard orthographic views. All drawings are fully associative: you change the model and the drawing updates. * 3D import/export of all the standard formats Alibre Design supports, including STEP, SAT (ACIS), and IGES. DXF and DWG are supported in 2D, and STL is supported for export. All free versions of Alibre Design Xpress require an Internet connection and will display a banner of Google ads through a built-in web page. No third-party adware is installed on your system. If your Internet connection is lost we have taken steps to ensure that you can save your work. The Internet connection requirement can be turned off for a small fee. On August 1, you will receive instructions on how to download the software. We had hoped to release it to you sooner, but given the nature of software development, we are in the final stages of quality testing. At this time we expect all to be ready for the August 1 release. This is truly the best offer for parametric 3D CAD software available anywhere. When you get the download instructions, please complete the steps to download and install Alibre Design Xpress right away. The special offer you get as one of the first 100,000 expires on August 31, don't delay. If you are no longer interested in Alibre Design Xpress and would like to be removed from all future email communications and eligibility for the extra features offered to the first 100,000 registrants, you may Unsubscribe here. This isn't the end, there will be additional valuable incentives for engaging with us over time, so I encourage you to stay opted in to our email communications and participate in the short surveys and contests. We won't abuse your email address, we stand by our privacy policy and if you opt out, we won't send you messages. Best Regards, Greg Milliken President and CEO Alibre, Inc. This email as sent to: xxx@xxx.xxx This email was sent by Alibre Inc. 1701 N. Greenville Ave, STE 702, Richardson, Texas 75081 www.alibre.com ¦ phone 972.671.8492 ¦ fax 972.671.8493 Now I'm really excited? NOT! | |
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Primis1 join:2005-06-13 Coldwater, MI
1 recommendation |
Primis1
Member
2005-Jul-22 11:03 am
Alibre's Goiing-Away Party?Speculation over on the CNCZone forums (a machinists' forum) is that this might knowingly be/have been be the Last Hurrah for Alibre and that they're going under anyways. They release the adware version, someone continues getting a stream of advertising income form it (read CEO, execs, etc), they harvest email addresses to sell off to the highest spam bidder to supplement and ease that for now, and then they close up shop and call it good, not caring one way or another.
Alibre also is allegedly was sued in back in 2000 by SolidWorks (a competitor) for employee tampering, stealing code, and misappropriation of other company/trade secrets from what I can glean from a little bit of scattered info referencing it.
Some reputation indeed. I'm growing less and less surprised by the second. | |
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Stumbles join:2002-12-17 Port Saint Lucie, FL |
Money for nothing and bits ain't either.LOL.
So people really thought they were going to give away something in the neighborhood of $1,000,000+ of product?
LOL, that's so funny. | |
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Re: Money for nothing and bits ain't either."So people really thought they were going to give away something in the neighborhood of $1,000,000+ of product? "
Yes sir....
Some washington based company you've probably never heard of called Microsoft did just that in its early days. But of course, they're bankrupt now and have entered the oblivion of obscurity. | |
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| | chanur Premium Member join:2001-02-26 Colorado Springs, CO |
chanur
Premium Member
2005-Jul-22 3:09 pm
Re: Money for nothing and bits ain't either.Ha, you get my laugh of the day award. | |
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| spamd Premium Member join:2001-04-22 Cherry Valley, IL
1 recommendation |
to Stumbles
said by Stumbles:LOL. So people really thought they were going to give away something in the neighborhood of $1,000,000+ of product? LOL, that's so funny. Why is that so funny???? Many companies do this daily. It's called marketing. Matter of fact giving away your product for free is probably the best marketing tool there is. If I can give away my product and can afford to do so. Then I also expect a more loyal customer in return. Keep in mind this type of marketing is for the long haul return in investment. Also another way they could make up some of the investment is to increase product price of the next version to help supplement the cost of the free version. Over time It will pay for it's self and them some. The problem with Alibre is there marketing tactics are criminal. | |
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| Taber join:2002-07-31 Millbrae, CA |
to Stumbles
$1mm is chump change in big business.
If you want to make a dent for your product to be used, then you do what you have to do. Too bad this company had to back out or weasel people into something else.
Well now they have a DB of 100,000+ emails and names... | |
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to Stumbles
said by Stumbles:LOL. So people really thought they were going to give away something in the neighborhood of $1,000,000+ of product? LOL, that's so funny. LOL, you are funny. All those that signed up deserve to get their full copy adware free software, if you think otherwise your an idiot and possibly have down syndrome like the execs at alibre. | |
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-1 recommendation |
Cheeseinamousetrap
Anon
2005-Jul-22 11:53 am
Only cheese in a mousetrap is free.Only cheese in a mousetrap is free.:) | |
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CPMBroadband, DSL, cable join:2001-08-24 Denver, CO |
CPM
Member
2005-Jul-22 12:09 pm
Money for nothingSing it.
Get your money for nothing and you spyware for free. Yeah, That is how you do it. Effect users computer with spyware.
Computer users are so dumb Stick it to them. Cus our company will have some fun.
Mass email. Mass Email. Them
I want my, I want my I want my IPO | |
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viperpa33sWhy Me? Premium Member join:2002-12-20 Bradenton, FL |
It goes to say.....Remember the old say, when something is to good to be true, it probably is. Some Attorney General would have a field day with this including the AG from the state of NY. This is on top of the FTC getting involved. This is not only false advertising but also deception. Now that they have access to 100,000+ emails, can't wait for what happens next.
They have disabled there forum feedback link. First indication of hiding something. | |
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POBRes Firma Mitescere Nescit Premium Member join:2003-02-13 Stepford, CA
1 recommendation |
POB
Premium Member
2005-Jul-22 1:06 pm
Common Sense 101If it seems too good to be true then it probably is. Live & learn, boys & girls. | |
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| spamd Premium Member join:2001-04-22 Cherry Valley, IL
1 recommendation |
spamd
Premium Member
2005-Jul-22 5:08 pm
Re: Common Sense 101said by POB:If it seems too good to be true then it probably is. Live & learn, boys & girls. While I do agree with that statement. But please do understand that most if not all 100,000 people who signed up used a secondary or spam email address. I think it's not a Live & learn situation here. It's more like lets catch a thief with his hand in the cookie jar. I signed up knowing that this could be a scam, but at the same time I wanted to see what Alibre ethics are like. And guess what we found out.. No serious harm done to us yet besides blatant lies and deceit from Alibre. | |
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Proof positive there is a sucker born every minuteGreat Job! | |
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hdmanFlt Rider Premium Member join:2003-11-25 Appleton, WI |
hdman
Premium Member
2005-Jul-22 3:45 pm
Thank God for SpamGourmet!!I too signed up for this offer, but never figured it would pan out. I used a free disposable email from » www.spamgourmet.com and gave them 4 shots at a legit email. I got spammed within 24 hours on that email address and the rest are getting gobbled up by Spam Gourmet. Goodby Alibre....looks like you won't be around long offering a freebie, then selling contact data to spammers. HDMan | |
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salzanExperienced Optimist Premium Member join:2004-01-08 WA State
1 recommendation |
salzan
Premium Member
2005-Jul-22 3:59 pm
No Spam HereOther than the email of confirmation, I've received no spam. If that was part of their plan, they may be doing a re-think after this scheme blew up in their faces.
They have until Aug. 1 to figure out how to deal with this PR fiasco, so something good may still come of it.
As for everyone with 20/20 hindsight, most of us had a pretty good idea of what we were doing. That still doesn't excuse the misleading actions of Alibre and we still have a right to expect them to live up to their promises.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained. | |
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Fatal vector
Anon
2005-Jul-22 4:15 pm
Re: No Spam Here Confess. You were all drooling over the prospect of free thousand dollar software. Greed will get you every time. Now, everyone get out their rulers and crack the knuckles of the person next to you 5 times.
Do it now.
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| | salzanExperienced Optimist Premium Member join:2004-01-08 WA State
1 recommendation |
salzan
Premium Member
2005-Jul-22 4:57 pm
Re: No Spam Heresaid by Fatal vector:
Confess. You were all drooling over the prospect of free thousand dollar software. Greed will get you every time. Personally, I hadn't set my sights that high. I did, however, expect to get a fully functional program without adware that didn't need to phone home or be connected to the internet to work. | |
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DoUSmellIt
Anon
2005-Jul-22 4:09 pm
Let;s do itWe should all file a combined lawsuit. The X-CAD site blatantly said it was for 3D cad software but if you go to look at the Alibre CAD Express (which is the product they are giving away) it says it is 2D design software. Not to mention all of the other deceiving claims they had on the x-cad site | |
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mikey03821
Anon
2005-Jul-22 4:30 pm
Re: Let;s do itLet's just hack the full version (non-ad) and make it freely available. Hey, all who signed up before 100,000 technically have a license for the full version. | |
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HRMGod Bless America MVM join:2002-02-03 Darien, CT |
HRM
MVM
2005-Jul-22 4:29 pm
I want my money backI want my money back | |
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Re: I want my money backWrong spot. | |
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Nagrom Nniuq |
LawsuitThose of us that are in the 100,000 really need to get organized and sue Alibre.
It should be a relatively simple lawsuit as we have obvious bait and switch and lying about the required internet connection.
If all of us got together on this they would have no choice but to settle.
Ideas? | |
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rodoke join:2003-10-28 Carbondale, IL |
rodoke
Member
2005-Jul-22 7:58 pm
Even Ray Charles could've seen this coming!I remember the original "FREE Software" thread. My question to them is: didn't the fact that the giveaway page had almost no information on the software in question tip any of you off? I mean, the site had no system requirements (beyond "Windows Something-or-other"), no feature lists, no independent reviews, not even any screenshots! | |
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SuckersI hope you did not use your 'clean' email accounts :D | |
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