3AppBonus is a scam. Okay, get a load of this.
I purchased the HP Elite on 7/27. Now we all know that PCs only come with a trial version of Microsoft Office, not a problem at all. I was going to purchase Microsoft Professional (which was around the 400.00 range); however, the staff member at Staples tried to save me some money and said that I should purchase Home and Student 2010 for 149.99 and that Microsoft has a promotion in which you can log on to their site, enter some information, and they will give you the additional applications that Home and Student does not have (Access, Outlook and Publisher) for free. Sounds like a deal, right? Wrong.
I purchased the Home and Student version, installed it, and the apps work perfectly. Then I went to the 3AppBonus site and proceeded to input my information, which included providing my city and state to look up my school in order to be verified and receive the 3 bonus apps. Guess what? No schools were listed to choose from. So I called, and the representative said to scan my school ID and send it in, and they would email me back the promotion code in order for me to receive the 3AppBonus. That was done, and the promotion code worked, so I could download the 3AppBonus. Once the applications were installed, I tried to open and use them, but that failed. First, when you open the app, it asks for the product key (which is the product key that came with my Home and Student purchase), and the app accepted it. Next, the app opens up and asks for the product key again. I entered it and the app accepted it; however, the app then displays a message that says "you will have to exit and restart the program." So I did that, except the app asked for the product key again. I went through all the steps just for the cycle to repeat itself.
So I called myphonesupport.com (a partner for Microsoft) for help, and the representative told me I needed to call Microsoft directly, because if it were a technical issue he could help, but instead I was having an application issue. (This did not make sense, but I said okay.) He proceeded to give me the number 1-800-642-008. I said there is a number missing. He said that in the United States there are six numbers that follow 800. I said no, there are 7 numbers after the 800. This went back and forth. He was international, however he told me that I did not understand (needless to say, outsourcing is a huge problem in our nation).
So I googled for an actual number and finally got through to Steve S (also international). He said no problem, he would do a remote desktop control and get into my computer to find the problem and correct it. As he was randomly clicking on things on my desktop (only once did he click on an MS app, Access, to see that it did ask for the product key), he proceeded to tell me that I had installed an app that does not allow my 3 free apps to run. I said okay, but I had only installed Skype and a Canon scanner. He still said I had installed something that is blocking my apps from running. While he was still on my desktop, I showed him that the apps that came with the Home and Student disk worked perfectly, and it is only the 3AppBonus that does not work. Long story short, he said, "I can fix this for you, but you will have to purchase a service plan: 1 year $150, 2 year $299, 3 year $399." I laughed and told him that this appbonus was a scam to get customers to pay more money to a company that has already cornered the market in software apps. He said I was misunderstanding. I said no, I understand completely: pay 799 for my PC, 149 for my Home and Student program (which has been used and cannot be returned, so I am out 149), and then pay more money for a service plan that will run out before I actually need to use it.
People, this is a scam at its finest. I am appalled that a company such as Microsoft would abuse customers, most of whom have no choice but to use their products, causing them to shell out more and more money. I want everyone to know to stay away from the 3AppBonus, as it is bogus. I am sure some Microsoft employees will reply (under fake names, of course) saying that the bonus apps worked just fine. Do not believe it, folks. Do not give this company more money than you have to; we all work hard for our income and should not be schemed out of money by a company that has more revenue than it needs! I plan on sending and posting wherever I can in an attempt to stop customer abuse.
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