[polar21]

How do you feel about buying review materials from Ebay? I will be purchasing the Becker review.

[tbstew]

I should mention – My intent is also not to “preach,” just to gently caution. Anything I say to people reading this thread, I've also said to myself many times. My family has been on a horribly tight budget, so don't think I haven't been tempted to buy/sell used materials. But I want to be the best CPA I can be, and that means taking the ‘long road” sometimes. In the end, it's worth it.

AUD - 79
BEC - 88
REG - 87
FAR - 86 - Woot, all done!
Ethics - 100

[polar21]

Some interesting replies going on here regarding ethical v. unethical. To question the ethics of a future cpa by their means to purchasing an appropriate review course is a little extreme. FWIW, I purchased a new, sealed, review course not directly from the vendor and saved $1200. To me, that is smart business. To others, its unethical….

[Anonymous]

I think unethical is less the question. It is illegal.

[Sandra]

Well first off buying an unregistered/non-used course is NOT illegal or unethical. Becker can jump up and down about it all they want, but as long as the materials have not been used its a non-issue. I guess the question is how you would go about proving that the seller didn't secretly read the books.

However the law is really on the side of owners here for PHYSICAL items, ie books. You buy a software license, you buy “log in rights”, but physical items you own. The only real way for a company around this is to “lend” you the books for a fee and demand their return at a later time. The books for all review courses are yours to keep, therefore the ownership is transferred.

Legally you can eat your books if you so choose.

The issue, to Becker or another company, is unlikely to be people selling unused materials. The issue is that they want to get paid for use of their materials, instead of having 10 students share the same study pack. If no one has used the material there certainly is no ethicial issue here, nor a legal one. Finding ways around install restrictions (I saw someone selling an entire laptop with all the materials on it on CL) is unethical and illegal.

[oneFREAKINGpoint]

Legal and ethical issues aside, I've heard it's great closure to follow Becker's instruction to destroy the materials once you're done. I plan on having a lovely bonfire with mine. Some feelings money simply can't buy. 🙂

[Anonymous]

@oneFREAKINGpoint

I think it is on the thread below (I can't tell for sure because the YouTube video is blocked on the computer I am using) that someone posted a video of a Becker material bonfire.

https://www.another71.com/cpa-exam-forum/topic/with-no-offense-to-the-creators-of-the-reg-book-i-just-ripped-up

[jeff]

The long and short of it is that if you buy a product – make sure you agree with the terms of use before you purchase. It's their right to set the terms … It's your right to say no and buy something else if you disagree.

[Hitemup27]

I paid for Becker out of my own pocket. And paying that CC bill hurts. But you know what, that makes me appreciate it and study that much harder. I would never re-sell my material. I don't have a problem justly compensating someone for a product they have poured their efforts into making.

A - 93 - 10/25/2011
R - 92 - 1/17/2012
B - 91 - 5/31/2012
F - 93 - 10/1/2012
E - 90 - 11/17/2012

Processing...

[Author]

Replies