Blade Borge
Well-known member
Well?
Would you buy Final Cut Studio from Ebay?
- Thread starter Blade Borge
- Start date
imgentertainment@mac
The Reverend
No!!! I would never buy software from Ebay unless you know the seller personally So you know for a fact that the software key hasn't been registered. I would just buy it from apple. You can get it at the edicational price of like $700. Well worth it you get the updates and never have any siral number problems.
bbalser
Veteran
Just remember that the educational license forbids you from making any money or publishing anything you produce with it.
But no, I'd never buy something like this on eBay used. And anyone selling a new one, or at least claiming to be selling a new copy for less than everyeone else, is selling a used copy re-wrapped, or a stolen copy. No one, and I mean NO ONE gets real discounts on Apple products.
But no, I'd never buy something like this on eBay used. And anyone selling a new one, or at least claiming to be selling a new copy for less than everyeone else, is selling a used copy re-wrapped, or a stolen copy. No one, and I mean NO ONE gets real discounts on Apple products.
adkimery
Veteran
I bought the Production Suite (FCP 4.5) off eBay for $999 after FCP 5/Studio started shipping. No problems at all.
Like w/anything else you shop for on eBay you need to be on your toes.
1. Only buy from a seller that has a ton of feedback (like over 1000 auctions) and great feedback (like 98% or 99% positive)
2. Make sure it's the actual retail product (not edu, not demo, not a burned copy, not an upgrade... unless you are shopping for an upgrade)
3. If it looks to good to be true it probably is
4. If it feels shady it probably is
The seller I bought my from is called "dealfirst-auctions" and I would buy from them again.
-A
Like w/anything else you shop for on eBay you need to be on your toes.
1. Only buy from a seller that has a ton of feedback (like over 1000 auctions) and great feedback (like 98% or 99% positive)
2. Make sure it's the actual retail product (not edu, not demo, not a burned copy, not an upgrade... unless you are shopping for an upgrade)
3. If it looks to good to be true it probably is
4. If it feels shady it probably is
The seller I bought my from is called "dealfirst-auctions" and I would buy from them again.
-A
KyleProhaska
Veteran
adkimery have you thought about getting the Crossgrade?
-Kyle
-Kyle
bbalser
Veteran
Correct, educational versions are not elegable for the Cross-Grade option. And the Cross-Grade option can only be gotten via Apple, as you have to send in your original install disk(s).
Personally, I just buy my software from authorized Apple resellers, or directly from Apple. May save a few bucks on eBay, but I know too many folks who've been burned for a few hundred bucks a pop there on software.
Personally, I just buy my software from authorized Apple resellers, or directly from Apple. May save a few bucks on eBay, but I know too many folks who've been burned for a few hundred bucks a pop there on software.
adkimery
Veteran
Yeah, finding a legit retail copy of the current version below retail price is pretty much impossible. Many people will try and pass off upgrades, demos, or edu versions as full retail versions. Or they'll try and sell you their burned copies.BenB said:
As it stands now I probably won't be heading back to eBay anytime soon 'cause I'm making enough money to pay for my upgrades, but back when I 'bout the Production Suite the cost ate up about 3-4 months of disposable income so shaving off $200 was a big help.
-A
vidled
DVXuser Sponsor
BenB said:
That is INCORRECT.
The crossgrade WILL work from certain Academic Versions of Apple's software.
"You must have purchased Final Cut Pro 4 Retail (M9038Z/A), Final Cut Pro 4 Upgrade from Final Cut Pro (M9039Z/A), Final Cut Pro 4 Upgrade from Final Cut Express (M9116Z/A), Final Cut Pro 4
Academic (M9153LL/A), Final Cut Pro HD Retail (M9038Z/B), Final Cut Pro HD Upgrade from Final Cut Pro 1,2,3 (M9039Z/B), Final Cut Pro HD Upgrade from Final Cut Express (M9116Z/B), Final Cut
Pro Academic HD (M9153LL/B) to participate in this program."
It can be done...
It can be done...
Hello,
Right now, it's very possible to purchase one of the crossgrade fulfillment packages off of eBay. The crossgrade packages are legit full retail versions of the current FCP Studio; discs only, manuals as pdfs on disc. It seems as though a lot of people managed to get (or had) copies of the previous individual apps, and have crossgraded them. Prices in the early days were about $999, but some have gone for under $700 lately.
I have to agree with just about all of adkimery's points on purchasing something like this off eBay, though. Positive feedback percentage should be 100% or just under, but with fewer than 50 transactions (I actually think that 1000 transactions with 99.9% feedback is a double-edged sword; at that level, they don't have much reason to be afraid of screwing you, 'cause a negative report will only bring them down to 99.8% or so).
Also, see if the seller has sold other copies of FCP, and what feedback they've gotten on those specific transactions. If it's good, you _should_ be able to expect that the buyers haven't felt burned by what showed up in the mail.
Beyond that, I agree with adkimery's points 100%. As always, caveat emptor.
Happy hunting!
Catalyst
It can be done...
Hello,
Right now, it's very possible to purchase one of the crossgrade fulfillment packages off of eBay. The crossgrade packages are legit full retail versions of the current FCP Studio; discs only, manuals as pdfs on disc. It seems as though a lot of people managed to get (or had) copies of the previous individual apps, and have crossgraded them. Prices in the early days were about $999, but some have gone for under $700 lately.
I have to agree with just about all of adkimery's points on purchasing something like this off eBay, though. Positive feedback percentage should be 100% or just under, but with fewer than 50 transactions (I actually think that 1000 transactions with 99.9% feedback is a double-edged sword; at that level, they don't have much reason to be afraid of screwing you, 'cause a negative report will only bring them down to 99.8% or so).
Also, see if the seller has sold other copies of FCP, and what feedback they've gotten on those specific transactions. If it's good, you _should_ be able to expect that the buyers haven't felt burned by what showed up in the mail.
Beyond that, I agree with adkimery's points 100%. As always, caveat emptor.
Happy hunting!
Catalyst
adkimery said:
I bought FCP Studio Upgrade from Production Suite, with manuals in an unopened box for £50 from eBay UK.
It asked for codes from Production Suite which I supplied, and it authorised and updated in Software Update.
I was amazed.
It is, however, pre-Universal Binary, and cannot be crossgraded, as I don't have receipts either for FCP Studio Upgrade or for Production Suite. This is annoying, as I'm getting a Mac Pro this week, and will need the Universal Binary Version. How do I get it cheap then? Hmmm...
It asked for codes from Production Suite which I supplied, and it authorised and updated in Software Update.
I was amazed.
It is, however, pre-Universal Binary, and cannot be crossgraded, as I don't have receipts either for FCP Studio Upgrade or for Production Suite. This is annoying, as I'm getting a Mac Pro this week, and will need the Universal Binary Version. How do I get it cheap then? Hmmm...
bbalser
Veteran
If you are a student, or a school, you're not making money, you're learning the system and how to edit, thus, they're giving students and schools a break. So, yes, to learn in preperation for entering the work world where you will hopfully find a job with a company that has already purchsed the full license version of the software and thus make money. Lots of software companies do this, it's not an Apple only thing.
I guess thats true in general. I understand that $699 is a tremendous price cut, saving $600 is a big break, but, as an eligable student making a few bucks on the side doing interviews and live perfomances for cheap (it still pays for food) i dont want to worry about charging the performers for their edited footage. Should i not charge for editing if i use the academic version? Im aware of other less expensive software and i know that i wouldn't need 5.1 to edit simple projects like these, but if i can afford the 5.1 academic version i dont see why i would get anything else. Does anyone else have this problem? Sorry for hijacking : D
Nathyn
Low Budget Ninja
I don't know any student that doesn't use their acad version software to make money. When they get this software they immediately try to make a film or start shooting events. Does Apple really think you're not going to make money with something you just dropped $500 for and can't upgrade. Get real. And people (non-students) do buy Acad-versions on eBay specifically to make money with.
-Nate
-Nate