Seen a Rogue on the loose? Get in touch with our Roguemeister: JOHN SCHRAG jschrag@wweek.com (503) 243-2122 FAX: (503) 243-1115 The ranks of the ethically challenged swelled recently as Microsoft and scores of its eagle-eyed customers in Oregon and California raised the flag of Roguedom. Just before the holidays, the software sultanate offered consumers an attractive deal: Sign up for three years of Microsoft's MSN Internet service and get a $400 rebate on purchases at Staples, Office Depot, Best Buy (an electronics superstore) and other specific retailers across the country. Savvy consumers in California and Oregon discovered that laws in their states allowed them to get the rebate and immediately cancel the service with no penalty. In other words, for those willing to stiff Bill Gates, the offer equaled free money. After a Jan. 5 San Jose Mercury News article publicized the loophole, customers swarmed participating stores in CalifOregon. In our view, neither side in Microsoft's mistake acted very responsibly. Oregon consumers who called MSN customer service operators to verify that they could legally rip off the company were warned that cancellation could negatively affect their credit rating. When pressed, neither customer service representatives nor Microsoft spokesman Tom Pilla could explain to WW why legal behavior would blemish a consumer's credit rating. It's either a hollow threat or a case of baffling logic. Consumers who gleefully snatched up Palm Pilots, printers and monitors insist they broke no laws. They're right. But taking goods you haven't paid for is Roguish, tempting as it may be. The fact that the unwilling donor is valued at nearly $600 billion shouldn't be a factor on the ethics scale. Pilla refuses to say how much the loophole cost, and officials at participating stores in Portland also are keeping mum, but it's safe to say that not since the Los Angeles riots have so many electronic devices changed hands for free. Microsoft suspended the program in Oregon and California on Jan. 7. It will soon offer the rebates here again, Pilla says, this time with a penalty for early cancellation. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Willamette Week | originally published January 26, 2000