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Refund4Freedom doesn't just help PC buyers in the quest to get Windows refunds; they have three key demands. Prevention is better than cure, right? The first demand is that “Device manufacturers and vendors should not impose an operating system or software on consumers, and should not force them to pay for software that they don't want.” This is central to the site’s message and purpose. However, it also wants to promote the idea that consumers should have the right to buy hardware without pre-installed software and see the price of the product with and without Windows, etc. Refund4Freedom also urges manufacturers and vendors to clearly outline the steps for requesting and obtaining a refund for pre-installed OSes and software. Of course, the process for consumers should be as friction-free as possible.
Whichever brand of PC you buy, and the above list is far from exhaustive, you should follow a deliberate rejection procedure. If you intend to shun Windows, Refund4Freedom tells users to start up the PC and take pictures showing the contract clauses addressing reimbursement. Do not format or erase the computer at this stage. The next step is to contact the manufacturer's customer service. Do this in a recordable way, and so email/messaging is encouraged for records.
Finally, and whatever the outcome, Refund4Freedom asks its readers to report their experience, good or bad, to the aforementioned AGCM. To inspire you, the site includes several user reports of success, and I note one user getting back as much as €150 from Acer (~$175). That was a combination of Windows license reimbursement and a larger legal fee refund. A more typical reimbursement level is roughly $60.
(Score: 3, Informative) by Bentonite on Monday August 31, @12:14AM (6 children)
It depends on sale price and the kind of anti-competitive contract the OEM has signed.
Typically, the base windows tax is $50-$100 USD, depending on the sale price of the hardware.
m$ offers a slight discount to the base windows tax if an OEM enters an anti-competitive agreement where a fixed amount is paid per unit sold, whether or not the computer comes with windows or not.
The bean counters of many laptop OEM's likely have entered such agreements, which is why by default all the laptops come with windows.
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Monday August 31, @06:06AM
The quoted $170 included a "and a larger legal fee refund" that was returned in the EU. I don't think that the US has similar rules.
(Score: 2, Interesting) by shrewdsheep on Monday August 31, @12:25PM (4 children)
Last year, I bought an x86 mini PC from a chinese brand for €120.- (intel, via amazon). Surprisingly, it came with win11 pre-installed which was momentarily deleted. I wonder how the numbers work out in such cases.
(Score: 3, Informative) by Freeman on Monday August 31, @02:31PM (3 children)
It's entirely possible the cost of Windows on that machine was €0 and/or something much lower than the €60 mentioned here. However, if it was a significant chunk of that €120 that would be insane.
Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
(Score: 3, Interesting) by Bentonite on Tuesday September 01, @01:58AM (2 children)
It was most likely a prohibited copy, or a resold id for significantly less.
But it also seems likely that m$ would charge ~€30 for an authorized copy for hardware at that price point, which would make the pre-tax price €90 and then adding the windows tax, makes the price €120.
Mini computers were surprisingly cheap to manufacture at scale (not much PCB area and minimal electrical components on the PCB), thus I wouldn't be surprised if profit could be made at a €90 sale price.
(Score: 2) by Freeman on Tuesday September 01, @02:07PM (1 child)
That's kinda crazy. At a €30 price point the M$ tax would be 25% of the total cost of the device.
Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
(Score: 2) by Bentonite on Tuesday September 01, @11:06PM
That's now on the low end of crazy.
microsoft is still in business and 50-100-200% tariffs are a thing (which is effectively a 50-100-200% tax) and much more - m$ demanding a fat 25% tax and getting it now would pale in comparison.