Problem with Adobe Serial Numbers

In late October 2021 I purchased directly from Adobe the Premiere Elements and Photoshop Elements bundle I've described in previous posts.  After payment, I received a confirmation from Adobe with download links and serial numbers. 

Both apps downloaded without problem.  When I attempted to open the apps, however, and was prompted for the serial numbers that would enable me to use them I received the same error message on both stating that the serial numbers had been "revoked."  I then embarked on a weeklong-plus round of calls and email messages back and forth with Adobe Customer Support, none of which succeeded in resolving my problem.  Finally, I allowed an Adobe tech support employee to do a screen share on my computer.  After only a moment she told me that there was no problem at all with my software, that the problem was instead that the serial numbers with which I had been furnished by Adobe were invalid, i.e., were not contained in the company's database.  She then proceeded to attempt to connect me with the Activations Department which never bothered to puck up the phone.

At that point I'd had enough.  I did an online search and was actually able to find an email address for Adobe's CEO, Shantanu Narayen, and forwarded to him a business-like letter of complaint I had formerly sent to Customer Service in which I had politely expressed my frustration with the situation.  The next day I received back an email from one Jitender Bisht, who identified himself as manager of the Executive Escalations Department, acknowledging my email to Mr. Narayen and apologizing for the inconvenience I'd experienced.  That was all it took.  Within hours I received an email from the Activations Department assigning me new serial numbers that worked without problem.

The point of all this is that even major tech companies such as Adobe - which, incidentally, is apparently now located in India, or at least all its major executives appear to be Indian nationals - can err in their sales of software and their service to customers.  In such situations, if their customer service departments cannot quickly resolve the problem, it may be best to attempt to contact an executive in a position of greater authority.  That approach certainly worked in this case.