In the 21st century it makes no sense that I can’t download Adobe product for the same price as their customers in the US and while individually there probably isn’t much I can do, I wonder if collectively we could organise ourselves to get Adobe to take notice of us?

For this reason there is a new Google Groups email list at http://groups.google.com/group/adobepricing the idea behind the group is to discuss ways to get Adobes attention and ultimately change what is an antiquated pricing policy.

If there are enough of us we may be able to use our numbers to get Adobe’s attention by organising disruptive events such as calling Adobe support or sending an email to complain, although this would need a large number of us to be effective.

If you think paying more for Adobe Software because you’re not living in the US is grossly unfair in a globalised world, please consider joining our group.

“First, finding how to contact Adobe by email is a friggin nightmare. For that, you suck.
Second, the international pricing policy of Adobe is discriminatory and sucks.
Third, I have worked out how to get your products at US Dollar prices anyway, and with your dollar so far down the shitter that you will need a mining licence to find it, I hope it hurts like hell that I figured it out.
Fourth, if I had not worked out how to get around your stupid international “lockout” system, I wouldn’t buy your products – period.
Fifth, the buying public have cottoned onto the global economy and have long since learned to treat your pricing practices with contempt. Just Google “Adobe price ripoff” for a selection of how much your company is hated.
Sixth, your business model is doomed to fail. You cannot keep on brazenly ripping off customers and think that they will keep taking it up the anus. People will stay away in droves and the first sign of a competitors product that will do for them what they need will see them vanish from your books.
Seventh, people HATE Indian call-centres, especially those that promise to look into your complaint and then do NOTHING.

So, in conclusion, I am happily spreading the word by the Internet so that all and sundry can use my workaround to get your software at the fair price. May all those whom came up with this outrageous ripoff policy suffer from acute, chronic pain in their rear passage – just as they are trying to give to us (unsuccessfully suckers.)”

My work around is simple. I Googled until I found a US address and telephone number (a restaurant in my case). Then I set up a Hotmail account. Then I logged into the US store for Adobe, set up an account using the bogus details and ordered the software. When it came time to pay for it I used a credit card because I know that Paypal will give away the fact that I’m outside the US. After this Adobe kindly sent me the serial numbers to the Hotmail account. I then downloaded a trial version from the Australian store and used the serial numbers to register it. No problems!

Hopefully they’ve fixed their pricing for the CS4 release.

Step 2: Wire them some money.

Step 3: Have them buy the software for you and mail it to you.

Step 4: Save lots of money.

It’s not that hard.