Buying Used Software

[Anonymous]

Hello,

I am looking for buying a used software of ArchiCAD. After I find someone to buy from, how can I make sure the software I am going to buy is genuine?

Thank you

[Gerald Hoffman]

Archicad is only usable with a hardware dongle. The program itself is free to use in Demo mode. The dongle will be registered with the Archicad supplier and depending on where you are in the world will have a transfer fee. I would get the dongle registration number and call the Archicad supplier in your area and confirm it is a valid key and what the costs for transfer would be. Do not but any software without a valid hardware dongle.

Cheers,

[Anonymous]

Gerald,

What do you mean by "transfer fee"? Isn't this included with the license I buy?
I mean, if I have a real dongle (after I verify it with Graphisoft) then what's the problem?

[Karl Ottenstein]

See this thread/wish concerning fees for US re-sales:
http://archicad-talk.graphisoft.com/viewtopic.php?t=28712

It appears that you are posting from Israeli IP addresses ... even though you list "us" as your location. Please post your correct location if you want to continue to participate on these forums. (Required by the forum Etiquette.) The answer to most questions here depends on the version of the software, platform and policies that apply to the country of use.

Karl

[Anonymous]

Wow, I've just read the whole thread and this is unbelievable.

Karl, you wrote there
"As far as I and anyone on these forums knew, the license transfer fee was $475. The only purpose of the fee was to change the ownership on Graphisoft US's records so that the buyer could purchase upgrades or subscriptions. If the buyer did not care about upgrading - well, they just used the key."

Does this mean people can buy a used software and use it without the permission to upgrade it? Or does GS's policy is that you can't use the software anyway without buying a new registration code?

If this is really the case, then I the second you buy a new software, its value goes down to zero immediately. This sounds too weird

[Karl Ottenstein]

Jet wrote:
Does this mean people can buy a used software and use it without the permission to upgrade it? Or does GS's policy is that you can't use the software anyway without buying a new registration code?

The reseller for each country/region determines the policies there.

You can certainly use a copy that is still registered to someone else, but until the license is transferred to your name, you cannot get technical support or upgrades - the original owner is still the registered owner.

As you read in that thread, some countries charge nothing for this. The US/Canadian users are charged an outrageous fee. You'll have to find out what the story is for Israel:
http://www.graphisoft.com/purchase/africa_middle_east/israel.html

Karl

[Erika Epstein]

I believe the first copy of archicad that you own must have been bought directly from graphisoft. At least that used to be the case. Again, check with your reseller.

[Karl Ottenstein]

Erika wrote:
I believe the first copy of archicad that you own must have been bought directly from graphisoft. At least that used to be the case. Again, check with your reseller.

I've never heard of that one, Erika ... I know of quite a few people, myself included, whose first copy was purchased second-hand....

Cheers,
Karl

[Erika Epstein]

Very Interesting. Policy has changed since I first bought it. I was told you could not get support unless you bought your first copy from them.
Verrry Interesting.

[Aaron Bourgoin]

Move to Canada Erika!

we're much friendlier.