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buying photoshop cs3 on ebay

Bumblebeez SC Zone 7

16 years ago

I want to buy a newer copy of Photoshop for my windows xp pc.

This is new territory for me...the prices on ebay vary widely and I don't know what to look for.

I'm going to take some online course in Photoshop and the cs3 is what is required.

Any ideas as to what I should look for on ebay?

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Comments (5)

mike_kaiser_gw
16 years ago
If you are taking a course in Photoshop through a local educational institution, then you are probably entitled to the student discount. I believe it also presumes non-commercial use.

Otherwise, be careful.
debo_2006
16 years ago
Warning - Most of the listing on Ebay (of PS) are not licensed copies, meaning you can not upgrade or register them. Also, some of these pirated copies will work for a few months, then all of a sudden you can't execute them.

I purchased a copy almost two years ago for $250. Asked the seller if it was an authentic, registerable copy with a valid serial number and I was told yes (of course I was!!).

I received the copy and it looked authentic. As soon as I got it I called Adobe to check out the serial number for legitamacy. I was told it was not in their system as being an authentic copy so therefore I could not register it. I did this twice to ensure they were correct.

I contacted the seller and explained my findings. After going back and forth, I finally filed a complaint with PayPal and won. I warned the seller that I would keep the copy if he did not reply with his confirmed return address (twice). He never did so I kept the copy. I was refunded in full from PayPal. I believe the seller got a bundle of copies from another country.

While this copy has been running fine for me to this day, I can not register it for future upgrades. I'm a self taught graphic designer, and still learning PS too so I like to update my software every few years.

Just a word of warning if Ebay is offering it for less than $550.00, it's more than likely a pirated copy.

I learned the hard way and won't buy software from Ebay again.

You can purchase through the training program a student version for a fraction of the price - usually $150 or so. Worth checking out.
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Bumblebeez SC Zone 7
Original Author
16 years ago
I really appreciate the info. That is exactly what I needed to know. I plan on using the Photoshop for commercial use and this course would be continued career education so I don't want a student version but a discount would be nice.
sofaspud
16 years ago
Beez,

Mike is right, but I would check with your teacher or probably better, with the school's IT department. Sometimes software students buy through schools can be used commercially.

It also sounds like you might be under the impression that a student version is in some way less feature-rich than the version you can buy from your local retailer. I don't think that's the case. I think it's the full version at a lower cost because of the price breaks given to the schools by the manufacturer. After all, if you've learned graphic design in school using Photoshop, you are very likely to use Photoshop for a long time, so Adobe gets you hooked and will get revenue from you for upgrades. (this time it's good -- PS can't be beat)
Bumblebeez SC Zone 7
Original Author
16 years ago
I was somewhat under the impression that the student version was inferior (kinda like student art supplies which are junk)...so thanks for the heads up and the advice!

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