many sites have a StackSocial skin "marketplace"
scroll to the bottom. "Powered by Stack Commerce"
don't let the GameStop URL make you believe these have any more legitimacy than if they were on StackSocial.com.
very likely grey market license keys same as any other CDKey reseller.
this one is Seller: "Retail King" via Stack Social via GameStop
YMMV/Buyer Beware.
doesn't mean it won't work. but just good to know what you're getting.
Yup, gray market keys - might as well pirate.
Once I got to know about https://app.diagrams.net/, the need to have Visio wasn't need anymore. And draw.io is free to use.
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GameSpot = Woot = Groupon = Stack Social = Popular Science Marketplace = PC World Marketplace = etc.
U.S. based marketplace sites do well selling these global recycled off-license install codes because they can charge significantly more for these codes, while offering nothing more in return (except its site brand recognition). Instead, people should pay $2-$5 and donate the extra to a local charity or your pocket.
The global install code reseller (likely another name version of "NerdUsed") sells the same recycled global codes on non-US sites for 75% less. The Marketplace Seller offers zero added value. They only do credit card processing.
Install codes are not software license ownership proofs, just like a car key is not proof of exclusive car ownership.
Bitching and singling out other groups without even offering up a single actually viable solution. Gen Z, millennial, or an X still in your mom's basement?
many sites have a StackSocial skin "marketplace"
scroll to the bottom. "Powered by Stack Commerce"
don't let the GameStop URL make you believe these have any more legitimacy than if they were on StackSocial.com.
very likely grey market license keys same as any other CDKey reseller.
this one is Seller: "Retail King" via Stack Social via GameStop
YMMV/Buyer Beware.
doesn't mean it won't work. but just good to know what you're getting.
Every time these posts come up we get the comments about how this is gray market / just like piracy / etc. This is not true. I'm not just saying that - I have friends that work at Microsoft (not in the Office division, but they chat with others there) and I have talked about this with them. Yes, the folks in Redmond are not going to advertise that this is a legitimate way to get a copy of their software, but it is usually legal. Notice how Microsoft is not shutting them down? Trust me, Microsoft has the ability to do so if they want this to go away.
Microsoft's game plan is to ignore it (making noise will only underscore the option) and know that the vast majority will buy into their subscription model. But you are not going to get a call from Microsoft that the product is illegal. There are advantages to the subscription that this simply does not have, such as being able to install it on multiple machines.
That typed -- sometimes they are illegal licenses and Microsoft will kill it if that is true. This one appears to be the standard StackSocial variety that is perfectly legal. You will want to immediately apply the license but if you need a single copy of either of these products, this is an "acceptable" way to go about it.
Every time these posts come up we get the comments about how this is gray market / just like piracy / etc. This is not true. I'm not just saying that - I have friends that work at Microsoft (not in the Office division, but they chat with others there) and I have talked about this with them. Yes, the folks in Redmond are not going to advertise that this is a legitimate way to get a copy of their software, but it is usually legal. Notice how Microsoft is not shutting them down? Trust me, Microsoft has the ability to do so if they want this to go away.
Microsoft's game plan is to ignore it (making noise will only underscore the option) and know that the vast majority will buy into their subscription model. But you are not going to get a call from Microsoft that the product is illegal. There are advantages to the subscription that this simply does not have, such as being able to install it on multiple machines.
That typed -- sometimes they are illegal licenses and Microsoft will kill it if that is true. This one appears to be the standard StackSocial variety that is perfectly legal. You will want to immediately apply the license but if you need a single copy of either of these products, this is an "acceptable" way to go about it.
jp
I've wondered how these work now that the keys have to be tied to an MS account. Prior to Office 2021 the shady office keys were volume licenses and didn't require an MS account to activate so the software would activate, but eventually the key would become inactivated when the seller dropped the volume licenses and you were SOL if you needed to reinstall. Now that these are activated through an MS account they are truly permanent and there's really no way anyone could get away with TOS violations undetected. It's interesting too that stack social limits you to only purchasing 2 license, forever. I bought two several years ago and every now and then I check one of these deals and it won't allow me to buy again regardless of which affiliate it is through.
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many sites have a StackSocial skin "marketplace"
scroll to the bottom. "Powered by Stack Commerce"
don't let the GameStop URL make you believe these have any more legitimacy than if they were on StackSocial.com.
very likely grey market license keys same as any other CDKey reseller.
this one is Seller: "Retail King" via Stack Social via GameStop
YMMV/Buyer Beware.
doesn't mean it won't work. but just good to know what you're getting.
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Yes, Royal CD Keys, mentioned it in my first sentence.
U.S. based marketplace sites do well selling these global recycled off-license install codes because they can charge significantly more for these codes, while offering nothing more in return (except its site brand recognition). Instead, people should pay $2-$5 and donate the extra to a local charity or your pocket.
The global install code reseller (likely another name version of "NerdUsed") sells the same recycled global codes on non-US sites for 75% less. The Marketplace Seller offers zero added value. They only do credit card processing.
Install codes are not software license ownership proofs, just like a car key is not proof of exclusive car ownership.
many sites have a StackSocial skin "marketplace"
scroll to the bottom. "Powered by Stack Commerce"
don't let the GameStop URL make you believe these have any more legitimacy than if they were on StackSocial.com.
very likely grey market license keys same as any other CDKey reseller.
this one is Seller: "Retail King" via Stack Social via GameStop
YMMV/Buyer Beware.
doesn't mean it won't work. but just good to know what you're getting.
Microsoft's game plan is to ignore it (making noise will only underscore the option) and know that the vast majority will buy into their subscription model. But you are not going to get a call from Microsoft that the product is illegal. There are advantages to the subscription that this simply does not have, such as being able to install it on multiple machines.
That typed -- sometimes they are illegal licenses and Microsoft will kill it if that is true. This one appears to be the standard StackSocial variety that is perfectly legal. You will want to immediately apply the license but if you need a single copy of either of these products, this is an "acceptable" way to go about it.
jp
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Microsoft's game plan is to ignore it (making noise will only underscore the option) and know that the vast majority will buy into their subscription model. But you are not going to get a call from Microsoft that the product is illegal. There are advantages to the subscription that this simply does not have, such as being able to install it on multiple machines.
That typed -- sometimes they are illegal licenses and Microsoft will kill it if that is true. This one appears to be the standard StackSocial variety that is perfectly legal. You will want to immediately apply the license but if you need a single copy of either of these products, this is an "acceptable" way to go about it.
jp
I've wondered how these work now that the keys have to be tied to an MS account. Prior to Office 2021 the shady office keys were volume licenses and didn't require an MS account to activate so the software would activate, but eventually the key would become inactivated when the seller dropped the volume licenses and you were SOL if you needed to reinstall. Now that these are activated through an MS account they are truly permanent and there's really no way anyone could get away with TOS violations undetected. It's interesting too that stack social limits you to only purchasing 2 license, forever. I bought two several years ago and every now and then I check one of these deals and it won't allow me to buy again regardless of which affiliate it is through.