Don't get scammed! Ready to learn a language with Rosetta Stone?  Save yourself some trouble.  Take a few moments to learn about software piracy and scams before it's too late. Don't fall for the "too good to be true" deals on Rosetta Stone spoof websites. This video goes through a rip off website and shows shoppers how to spot signs of a scam. Shopping for Rosetta Stone language learning software on eBay?  Feeling uneasy about it? This video gives a detailed demonstration of how to check out an eBay seller before purchasing. Pirated Software:  Trick or Treat? Rosetta Stone software piracy has reached shocking proportions, and some of the junk copies are very convincing. Most now come with full color graphics on the box, discs, and accompanying materials.  Spoof websites often feature images lifted directly from Rosetta Stone's website, or that of an authorized Rosetta Stone retailer.  We've spoken to countless piracy victims, and they are surprisingly well educated--having convinced themselves that they've stumbled onto a great deal that others have overlooked. For lack of a few minutes of research, they end up in a panic about what sorts of viruses, malware, trojans, etc., may now be on their machines, in a dispute with their credit card companies or Paypal trying to get a refund, and in a state of shock when they realize that their sensitive personal information has been sold to every spammer and scammer with a nickel to spare.  So what can shoppers do? Know the facts.  Rosetta Stone does not move their product through "liquidation" sales or outlets. First of all, this is a fast-moving product line that has no need for liquidation.  And think about it.  If a publisher was going to negotiate a super sweet deal with a retailer, wouldn't they choose to partner with a big league business?  Legitimate retailers do not "liquidate" Rosetta Stone products through third parties.  Products purchased from the publisher can be returned for dealer credit, so there is no reason to take a loss and pass the product on through some backstreet peddler. Tell-tale signs of a pirated copy:   Sleeved Box with a Ridge Around the Top & Bottom. The packaging of a legitimate Rosetta Stone set features an outer box sleeve that lines up flush around the edges of the inner box. Headset Not Included. All legitimate Rosetta Stone sets include a headset with an attached microphone. Activation Card Not Included.  All legitimate Rosetta Stone sets come with at least one Activation Card.  Homeschool edition sets come with two Activation Cards. Activation Card is included, but the user is never prompted to enter the code during installation.  Authentic Rosetta Stone software will feature a special multi-field prompt requesting the activation code during installation. Activation Card is included, but the code doesn't work.  If you've double-checked your entry for typos and the activation code still doesn't work, you should contact Rosetta Stone to see if the code is valid. Seller's other listings or selling history (feedback) features other commonly pirated items.  Sometimes it's just obvious that a seller has been shopping at a Bootlegs-R-Us marketplace. P90X Sets, Beats by Dr. Dre, Ray Ban Sunglasses, Windows 7, Adobe Photoshop, and other commonly pirated items are often also sold by Rosetta Stone scammers. Sometimes they run gift card scams as well. Multiple Components on a Single Disc.  Some pirated copies of Rosetta Stone have more than one language or level on a single disc, or have all the Audio Companion files copied onto one disc. Suspicious English.  Pirated copies of Rosetta Stone sometimes contain incorrect spelling, punctuation, and capitalization, awkward phrases, and broken English on the package and support materials. Shipment From a Foreign Country.  Rosetta Stone does not export its products to Asia or Eastern Europe for distribution in the U.S.  Many shoppers believe that they are purchasing from a U.S. based retailer until their package arrives with a different country of origin shown on the parcel. Program Suddenly Stops Working.  Yes, this happens all the time.  Rosetta Stone offers cursory functionality prior to activation. (Remember that Activation Card thingy?)  Once the introductory use period is exhausted, the software will not continue without legitimate activation. Ebay listings that use only stock images lifted from an official site.  Scammers know that their risk of detection increases exponentially when they take their own pictures of the product. Ebay listings that use only product descriptions copied from an official site.  Again, the sellers offering pirated copies know that writing their own product descriptions based on the information on pirated packaging increases the risk of detection. It may also disclose the fact that they're shipping from a foreign country and don't actually speak (or write) English. "OEM" unit.  With Rosetta Stone, OEM is a code word for "pirated." Additional Information.  There are other "red flags" that we won't publish here, as we don't want to educate pirates on how to avoid detection.  If you're considering a particular listing, you can call us at 1-800-525-7252 and we'll be glad to look it over and let you know if we see any causes for concern.  Scammers:  Please don't bother calling us posing as customers, as we're not going to instruct you in these fine details over the phone, either.  This isn't our first rodeo. Ever wonder what a pirated copy of Rosetta Stone looks like? One eBay seller (who has since been removed from the site) was kind enough to create a video demonstration of the product and make it available for public viewing. While some bootleg Rosetta Stone sets are crudely packaged, others are quite convincing, as you'll see in this clip. The set featured here has been confirmed as a pirated copy, so if you've purchased one that looks just like this, you've been scammed. Jason Calhoun from Rosetta Stone's Anti-Piracy department shares his insights on the issues surrounding counterfeit software. Have you been a victim? You can Report Rosetta Stone Piracy HERE.

Stolen Credit Cards: Start-up Capital for the Enterprising Thief Stolen credit card scams are the rip-off du jour among swindlers at eBay these days, and Rosetta Stone shoppers seem to be a favorite target.  Since most of the victims we’ve spoken with had no idea how to spot the warning signs, we felt it was time to add a quick tutorial to our Buying Guide.  What looks like a steal of a deal to many shoppers literally is exactly that .  So how can you protect yourself? Check the seller’s feedback.  We mean really scrutinize it.  (They’re counting on the fact that you won’t investigate thoroughly.)  How long have they been a member?  Did they get their feedback as buyers or sellers?  Now look at the items for which the feedback was left. Did the seller buy a bunch of low-value or "private" items in a short period of time to boost his numbers? Items such as iPhone skins, screen protectors, minor electronics, video games, stylus sets, and blank discs often show up in the buying history of scammers. Check the feedback of the people who left feedback.  Were they all recently registered? Do they all have little or no feedback themselves?  Are the items for which feedback was left all low value products, minor technology accessories, or "private" listings?  If so, you’re probably looking at a ring of User IDs set up exclusively for the purpose of fooling shoppers by artificially inflating feedback. Check the seller’s registration location.  Do you really think some guy in Estonia has found an amazingly inexpensive source for legitimate Rosetta Stone software? Beware of sellers who can’t disclose their whereabouts for “security reasons”. Avoid listings in which the bulk of the text has obviously been copied from another seller or the Rosetta Stone website. This is a favorite technique for scammers in foreign countries to avoid disclosing the fact that they don't speak (or write) English. Don't buy stories about receiving two copies as gifts, or cousins who changed their minds. Legitimately obtained sets can be returned for a full refund. Don’t rely on scanned packing slips to confirm legitimacy.  They’re easy to come by, and the same scan can be used for bogus transactions all over the world since the personal information is blacked out. Watch out for short duration listings.  Scammers rely on speed and stealth to close the deal before they’re discovered. 24 hour listings are not permitted in the software category on eBay, so they'll often list their sets in the Audio Books or Textbooks categories for a quick getaway. Make note of listings that have peculiar phrases or broken English.  Many of these thieves are located in other countries. Be cautious about older User IDs that have been inactive for a long time and suddenly have brand new, unopened Rosetta Stone sets for sale. Dormant User IDs are a favorite (and easy) target for account takeovers by scammers. Most importantly, don’t ignore that inner voice that’s telling you if something seems too good to be true, it probably is! Now back to our regularly scheduled Buying Guide...

So you want to buy the Rosetta Stone^®? 

Great!  This program’s effective, engaging approach has led people all over the world down the path to language learning success.  Naturally you want to find the best deal, and there are some genuine bargains to be had.  Unfortunately, the phenomenal popularity of this software has tempted some less than ethical folks to try to get a piece of the action. Over the past couple of years, we’ve received countless phone calls and e-mails from customers who have either completed transactions or have been involved with “near misses” on deals that turned out to be too good to be true.  Because we openly invite customer contact in all of our listings, they call us to help them figure out what they actually got versus what they thought they were buying, or to find out how to purchase missing pieces, acquire software updates, report piracy, access tech support, and so forth.  We are happy to help in these situations, but it is sad to hear tales of hard earned dollars going down the drain.

We’ve put together the following guidelines as a quick tutorial on shopping for the Rosetta Stone^®.  It is not meant to scare anyone away from purchasing this product from the seller of their choice.  Rather, it is intended to provide customers with the information they need to shop safely and confidently. If you have any lingering questions after reading this, please feel free to call us at 1-800-525-7252, and we’ll be happy to answer them. 

Questions to Ask

Authorized Retailer:  Yes?  No?  Does it matter? 

Buying the Rosetta Stone from an authorized retailer does have its advantages.   But be advised:  Not everyone who claims to be an “authorized” Rosetta Stone dealer really is.  The good news is that this is incredibly easy to check on.  Simply click here and press "send", and we will give you the email address for the appropriate person to check with at Rosetta Stone regarding their retailers.  You can just email and ask, “Is so-and-so an authorized Rosetta Stone retailer?” and they can tell you yes or no.  (We will not initiate further contact, and your email address will not be shared with anyone.) 

Here’s another clue:  Authorized retailers must abide by the publisher’s pricing and marketing standards. Those who don’t are cast into outer darkness.  Okay, that’s an exaggeration, but they do have their reseller contracts pulled and all pending orders are cancelled. The promotional pricing you see in our listings are the lowest prices allowed.  The only other incentive authorized retailers are free to offer is free shipping.  If you see other enticements, you’re probably not dealing with an authorized retailer.

Is it the latest release?   

If you purchase the Rosetta Stone from an authorized dealer who has the product shipped to you directly from the publisher’s warehouse, you can be absolutely certain that you will receive a brand new copy of the latest version available for the specific product you purchased.  Micro-revisions are a common occurrence in software development, so this can be an important consideration.

That’s not to say that there’s anything wrong with purchasing older versions.  Even early generations of this software were wonderful. But consumers should be informed about where a product fits into the release timeline so they can bid or buy accordingly. 

Is it the Homeschool edition? 

The core content is the same in both the Personal and the Homeschool edition.  The same material is taught at the same pace.  The Rosetta Stone Homeschool edition is very  popular among adult non-homeschoolers because it can be installed on two computers (with up to 5 users on each--for a total of 10 users), and the most popular languages include print-on-demand workbook pages.  There’s nothing juvenile or educratic about the Homeschool edition, so there’s really no drawback to purchasing it for use by an adult.  The Homeschool edition will be identified as such right on the retail box.  The Version 4 (TOTALe) Personal edition program is the same as Version 3, but it includes a one-person subscription to online components, including studio coaching sessions, an iPhone app, and access to online games and activities.  The duration of the subscription varies from 3 months to 15 months, depending on which bundle is purchased. (Rosetta Stone online games and activities can also be accessed free at www.rworld.com .)   The V4 Personal edition can be installed on one computer.

Is the Audio Companion^TM included?  

As of January 1, 2009, all new Rosetta Stone Version 3 or 4 sets include the Audio Companion^TM CDs. Older packages that don't include the Audio Companion will probably continue to surface and circulate for some time, so this is an especially important question to ask when comparison shopping.

Where did you get it?

Product sourcing is naturally a concern in the software market.  Legitimate sellers should be able to give you a straight answer about this without acting like you’re asking them to give away trade secrets.

Does it come in the original, unopened box, and are all the components included?  Has it ever been activated?

Nobody wants to purchase a “new” customer return without understanding what they’re getting.

Will you guarantee this product’s authenticity?

As far as we’re concerned the only acceptable answer to this question is a resounding “Yes!”  Bootlegging is stealing. Do you really want to do business with a thief? Furthermore, do you really want to expose your computer system and sensitive personal information to the viruses, malware, spyware, and corrupt code that can come along with bootlegged software?

If you've already been burned by a bootleg purchase, please consider reporting your experience to Rosetta Stone.  Doing so will help put the bad guys out of business, and submitting the information is very easy.  Simply click on the "Report Piracy" link on Rosetta Stone's Anti-Piracy Page.

How can you sell this "new" software so cheaply?

We sometimes see "new" and supposedly freshly acquired (latest release) Rosetta Stone sets being offered at prices well below dealer cost. Since Rosetta Stone sets can be returned to authorized retailers for a full refund, we can't understand why anyone would go through the hassle of marketing a legitimate recent purchase only to take a substantial loss.  Many of these sets are offered as a third party scam, others may be stolen, as a few of our own customers have had their sets swiped.  Please make sure the product you're purchasing was acquired honestly.  If the listing includes a tale about it being a gift or personal purchase that was never used, check to see if this is the only Rosetta Stone set the seller has offered.  For current listings, just click the "View Seller's Other Items" link next to the User ID.  To search for the seller's completed listings, click the small "Advanced Search" link beside the main eBay search field, then click "By Seller" in the left-hand column, check the box to show completed items, and paste in the User ID.

General Shopping Considerations

Be cautious of listings that come with only the CDs. 

Ask lots of questions.  It is theoretically possible that a seller has lost the packaging and all of the printed materials.  If the seller has sold more than one set of just CDs a little extra investigation is warranted. (Check the seller's completed item sales.)  He should be able to offer a viable and verifiable explanation for how he came to own these stragglers.

Is good feedback enough? 

The eBay feedback system is an excellent means of gauging the integrity of sellers.  We certainly rely on ours to give customers confidence in dealing with us.  But it must be coupled with common sense.  According to the folks we’ve spoken with, many of the problems with their purchases didn’t come to light until weeks or sometimes months after the transaction was completed.  Positive feedback was left for the seller in the first flush of excitement, and only later when they got down to the nitty gritty of trying to activate and use the program, contacting tech support, etc., did they realize that all was not right.

What is the Explorer?

We are shocked at what the Rosetta Stone Explorer has been selling for on eBay lately.  We are even more surprised by what some sellers have claimed as the original retail price on this product.  We carried the Explorer until it was discontinued a several years back.  The retail price was twenty-something dollars (it’s been a long time), and we sold it new for $19.

We have always thought of the Explorer as an extended demo version.  The full Level 1 Version 2 program of Rosetta Stone included 92 chapters of material.  An Explorer edition used to be available for each language that Rosetta Stone offered.  These included the first 22 chapters (approximately 25%) of Level 1, Version 2.  The software was identical as far as function was concerned, but it didn’t come with any of the printed materials.  It was an economical option for users who needed to test the waters before making a long term commitment to language learning.  Obviously, all Explorers are old versions.

What is the PowerPac? 

The Rosetta Stone PowerPac was a combination of seven Explorers (Spanish, French, German, Italian, Russian, Chinese, and Japanese) on a single disc.  It was discontinued at the same time as the Explorer.  The retail price was around $48, and we sold it new for $39

Can the competition be trusted? 

Finders-Keepers is one of three authorized retailers selling Rosetta Stone on eBay.  We enjoy fair, friendly competition with other Rosetta Stone sellers, and feel that the pie is big enough for all the good guys to get a slice.  We just want to make sure customers aren’t left with a bad taste in their mouths.