These are few common totally unethical sales tactics in fashion these days used by Microsoft Arabia and its authorized retailers since the new directive on piracy was issued by Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (CITC) few months ago. These people will do anything to keep meeting ridiculous sales targets assigned to them by their bosses at M$.

1. Sales men showing up at office doors spoofing non-existent authority to audit computers for pirate software. Unaware people simply fall into trap and fail to answer their techno-garble complicated questions.

2. Tele-marketing calls highlighting non-existent directives supposedly issued by CITC or any other legislative body authorizing Microsoft to conduct random audits of any organization suspected to use non-licensed Microsoft software.

3. During an in person sales meeting, a generally threatening or humiliative attitude is taken by salesmen instead of collaborative one; issuing verbal warnings of reporting user to Microsoft or CITC and even abusive language. M$ is projected as an authority above law which can get done anything it wants. Which simply isn’t true?

4. Trying to negotiate deals at ridiculously inflated prices often estimated by size and profits of company. Arguing that those with higher capital pay higher premium for licensing. WTF?? This feels like forced "taxation".

5. I've had a sales man in my office trying to forcefully self me Vista Business Edition. His logic, once a new version is released the previous licenses are void. And I must get Vista whether I choose to use it or not ie: continue with WinXP. And while old products and their licenses are void after released on new one, the latest license will still cover all previous OS’s of Windows family. Similarly the same chap was also trying to pre-sell Windows 2008 Licenses which is totally non-existent at the moment.

Lets get it straight, software piracy is a crime recognized by law however any ministry or authority is not a sales-agent for Microsoft roaming around busting people who haven’t made their "contribution" to billy boy. Infact, for one to be persecuted they must be caught red-handed possessing pirate software. The law does not extend to intellectual products whose developers do not have a retail representative / outlet / agency in Saudi Arabia. It common sense that something not sold or supported with in a country cannot be acquired in regular retail fashion. In addition, Saudi Arabia is a secretive society which does not recognize an authority of private enterprise to enforce its on rules beyond its premises.

It makes no sense to argue that M$ not aware of actions by their authorized retail partners. This has been going for some time now and every one is aware. Even the bidet in my office knows this. Perhaps it has something to do with poor sales figure of Vista that M$ is forced to take invasive sales policy.

These sales men are simply taking “lack of knowledge” advantage by average i-Tard who knows little about licensing issues when confronted off-guard and fears embarrassment in front of bosses.

microsoft has choosen a very crooked business model that they work through number of local representatives and partners. One cant walk into microsoft arabia and demand to shop a product or support. You MUST go through a parterner or rep agent. Incase you contact them directly, they will assign a suitable rep agent or partner in your area. This enables them to keep their back clean and blame everything in third party. However undercover every one knows all bad ideas are under M$ Arabia awareness and they simply choose not the care because they are able to get away with it