windows 10 pro keys selling for cheap = legit?

[luv2liv]

i see a guy on hardforum selling win 10 pro keys for $17 per machine.
i thought that was a pretty good deal! then i found someone selling for $6 on ebay, even better! so i bought one and it works as advertised
how is it possible? are these legit? activation went through fine.

 

[ViRGE]

Stolen keys from a MAK license. You've been scammed, and Microsoft will deactivate the keys sooner than later.

 

[luv2liv]

I didnt know what MAK is until googling. seems it is good for about 180 days. afterward the seller is pretty cleared of any ebay or paypal complaints. ouch
thanks.
so the cheapest legit place to buy is from newegg n amazon?

 

[ViRGE]

so the cheapest legit place to buy is from newegg n amazon?

Unfortunately, yes. Windows is one of those things where Microsoft sets a hard minimum price. (OEMs get it for less, but they have their own activation system)

 

[TeknoBug]

There was this Microsoft partnered site that sold them for $40+ (not OEM), can't remember the URL now though. I bought a Win 7 pro (works in activating Win 10 pro) from them before for a business laptop and it still works to this day.

I wouldn't trust the $17 or anything on ebay for that cheap.

 

[Ratman6161]

Price too low to be true = scam. A year or two ago I bought a copy of VMWare workstation for a ridiculously low price. I was very suspicious, but it was in Amazon.com. So I figured amazon wouldn't let pirated software on their site. So chose to download...through amazon. I unzipped the downloaded file and it was the VMware installers plus a warez style key generator which generates a key that gives you a non-expiring install but will not activate with VMware . Amazon was good about it and refunded my money and kicked the reseller off of amazon. But lesson learned.

 

[Ratman6161]

I didnt know what MAK is until googling. seems it is good for about 180 days. afterward the seller is pretty cleared of any ebay or paypal complaints. ouch
thanks.
so the cheapest legit place to buy is from newegg n amazon?

An MAK is a Multiple Access Key. Its what you get if you are a business and have a volume license agreement. Installs MAK keys can activate many copies of the product. For example one place I worked we bought 50 seats. Every time I activated a machine, MS incremented my total usage upwards by 1. I could log into the volume license site and see how many I had used. But MS had our account capped at 500. I assume this was to allow me to cycle machines, in and out of service, re-image etc. They make it a big enough number where legitimate users will never hit the cap.

I'm assuming the $17 "licenses" were from some IT guy who either accidentally or deliberately let his MAK key leak. Installs based on MAK keys will not expire. But sooner or later MS will figure out the key has been compromised and then, yes it probably will quit working .

 

[mikeymikec]

I just got a product key from it worked perfectly. I'm so excited to share my experience here. their customer service is 1st class and I will definitely be recommending the site and I will be using the site again.

Thank you for your recommendation of another shady product keys site.

 

[Puffnstuff]

I wonder about Kinguin as they have a good rating at resellerratings but at the top of the page they recommend using phone activation for their keys.

https://www.resellerratings.com/store/KINGUIN
https://www.kinguin.net/category/19429/windows-10-professional-oem-key/

 

[UsandThem]

I wonder about Kinguin as they have a good rating at resellerratings but at the top of the page they recommend using phone activation for their keys.

https://www.resellerratings.com/store/KINGUIN
https://www.kinguin.net/category/19429/windows-10-professional-oem-key/

Google them and you will see they are a marketplace for gray market keys just like any other place that sell keys like this. It will likely activate until one day it doesn't.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Steam/comments/4lfmty/warning_dont_buy_anything_from_kinguin_details/

 

[Puffnstuff]

Google them and you will see they are a marketplace for gray market keys just like any other place that sell keys like this. It will likely activate until one day it doesn't.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Steam/comments/4lfmty/warning_dont_buy_anything_from_kinguin_details/

I read through it and they did offer to make things right with the guy but he refused the refund so that's on him.

 

[UsandThem]

I read through it and they did offer to make things right with the guy but he refused the refund so that's on him.

There are many more user reviews, I just linked one. They are definitely a gray market just like any other place that sells software for significantly less than it should cost. However, I am not saying what they are doing is illegal (different laws in different locations). However, they are for sure not a legit or authorized retailer. Heck, they're really no different than the people who sell Windows keys on USB drives on every Craigslist location for $20. The code will activate, but there's no guarantee how long it will remain that way.

 

[Puffnstuff]

I would never use them myself. The last time I purchased retail software I went through VioSoftware, now RoyalBuyer, for my retail 7 ultimate but that was years ago and I got the retail package. I think that the safest way to buy the OS online is probably straight from MS.

 

[UsandThem]

I would never use them myself. The last time I purchased retail software I went through VioSoftware, now RoyalBuyer, for my retail 7 ultimate but that was years ago and I got the retail package. I think that the safest way to buy the OS online is probably straight from MS.

Good choice. I myself bought a retail Windows 10 USB from Jet when they offered 20% off new user coupon. $80 bucks and I don't have to worry about anything.

 

[Not So Mild]

I wonder about Kinguin as they have a good rating at resellerratings but at the top of the page they recommend using phone activation for their keys.

https://www.resellerratings.com/store/KINGUIN
https://www.kinguin.net/category/19429/windows-10-professional-oem-key/

I actually bought one from kinguin a few weeks ago. When I purchased it, they actually sent me a picture of the sticker with the code on it. I thought that was strange, but whatever. It was definitely an automated system from one of the more used sellers on the site.

I've never purchased keys from a gray market before, but I have a few friends who have with no issues. I guess we'll see in a few months if all is still going good, and if not, I'll just buy a new key.

 

[Puffnstuff]

Good choice. I myself bought a retail Windows 10 USB from Jet when they offered 20% off new user coupon. $80 bucks and I don't have to worry about anything.

I've taken advantage of Jet's new buyer 15% discount myself on some cartridges for my braun electric razor so I know they're good.

I actually bought one from kinguin a few weeks ago. When I purchased it, they actually sent me a picture of the sticker with the code on it. I thought that was strange, but whatever. It was definitely an automated system from one of the more used sellers on the site.

I've never purchased keys from a gray market before, but I have a few friends who have with no issues. I guess we'll see in a few months if all is still going good, and if not, I'll just buy a new key.

I hope that it works out for you never giving you any problems.

 

[andy2000]

I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of these sites are selling old Windows 7 keys taken from the COAs on scrap PCs. They still work to activate Windows 10.

 

[bakshe]

I wonder about Kinguin as they have a good rating at resellerratings but at the top of the page they recommend using phone activation for their keys.
https://www.resellerratings.com/store/KINGUIN
https://www.kinguin.net/category/19429/windows-10-professional-oem-key/

I actually bought one from kinguin a few weeks ago. When I purchased it, they actually sent me a picture of the sticker with the code on it. I thought that was strange, but whatever. It was definitely an automated system from one of the more used sellers on the site.
I've never purchased keys from a gray market before, but I have a few friends who have with no issues. I guess we'll see in a few months if all is still going good, and if not, I'll just buy a new key.

I visited the above link and it looks OK to me. I have an old PC with Windows XP SP3 i need to upgrade it to windows 7 Home premium, here i can find cheap OEM Keys should I buy them to upgrade my OS to windows 7. any suggestions