CS3 Extended activation error 194:8

Question

So I bought a legit copy o photoshop
Albeit I bouhgt it from ebay, but it is definitely legit - not pirated , but a mfr sealed professionally produced copy of CS3 extended
I popped it open and found what I expected the documentation the DVD case with the training video and the serial number on the back.
I installed CS3 extended and plugged in my serial number and was greeted with a shiny green check mark (please note this is not just some generic photoshop liscence it is recognized by the software itself).
Then I began the activation nightmare that I am currently having.
I clicked activate
Activate now
Then I got an error telling me to pease try activating by calling customer care.
I did that I went through the automated system with m serial numberand activation key and then it said it was unable to process so I retried.  Still no luck, then I got a live person on the phone.
Here is what they told me:
You do not have a valid serial number...
Odd, I thought, since your software recognized it as a valid liscence.  I tried it in several other photoshop programs only to be greeted by a red x (liscence invalid) so the serial number I have is legit for photoshop CS3 extended, it just won't activate.
I tried to tell them that.  I asked them what proof they needed from me barcode copy of serial number scan of packaging anything.
They told me I needed the reciept from an authorized reseller.
I'm afraid I didn't see in the liscence agreement where the agreement between provider and end user was limited by their distributorship.
Thank you to me too for buyinga legitimate copy and not going with a free alternative (paint.net as been fine in the past thank you).
So I continued the discussion until I finally asked for a supervisor who was slightly more willing to talk about a way we could resolve the activation problem.
I am stuck getting the original reciept from the seller to prove to Adobe that their product was in fact original purchased from them.  You have to be kidding???!!!?!?!
It is unactivated so we aren't even talking about a liscence transfer this product is supposed to be registered to me.
And that still doesn't answer the question of how the serial number is recognized by the software and installation (meaning the serial to DVD matches) and the customer service people claim it is not valid.  I even asked them to tell me if it was a liscence used as a known pirated copy or something that should invalidate it, but all they can tell me is that it is not valid for the product.
If that is the case why print it on the label and affix it to the software?
On the other hand perhaps it is just a database error on their part.
What if I bought it from london drugs and lost the reciept how woul they handle that.
There has to be a way to fix it, or is it really that they are unwilling to do anything for a customer.

Answer 1

To quote from that particular forum:
29. Mar 29, 2008 9:59 AM in response to: Bob Levine
Re: Thinking of buying from eBay?
Some of the pirated versions have a hacked activation and registration system that makes it look like it is being activated or registered with Adobe when it isn't. If you use the Adobe registration system, you will get a confirmation screen that says there will be a followup email with a free bonus (font or training video) -- although the email sometimes comes months later. Do you remember getting that screen and the email offer?
At least one f the two copies got that far, so what I am guessing is that one copy is a fake and one is legit, or there is a problem with legit copies printed in singapore due to piracy and or a mfr defect.
It still baffles me that accepting the liscence agreement activating the product and registering it do not gaurantee that it is in fact legitmate.  I think after all those hoops the ownes once again should lie with Adobe I did everything in good faith to ensure I have a legitimate copy.   (Sans buying from adobe or the local london drugs.)
Perhaps the seller will replace my "defective copy" or whatever you want to call it, or maybe in his batch of legitimate copies he did inadvertantly end up with a well produced pirated copy.
Still reading that forum.  I am very interested
And yes I did send an email to adob piracy containing as much info about the suspected "illegal" copy as possible.
I'm prepared to cover the bses and worst case scenario I file a dispute with paypal and then purchase a second copy directly from Adobe I am in any event entitled to educational liscenced products which save me a bundle as is.