Counterfeit Software

[donaldfleming]

I’m on a tight budget and looking to buy Microsoft Office software, hopefully at a cost of around a third less than charged by the larger online retailers such as Amazon.

In this regard, I’ve been monitoring items for sale on Amazon Marketplace and eBay. However, I’ve been advised (rightly or wrongly) that most of the software on eBay is counterfeit.

If this is the case, would it apply to software that is factory sealed and has a product key and certificate of authenticity?

Does anyone have a view on this?

Also, can anyone recommend a reputable online retailer that charges less than Amazon?

[birddog_61]

Depending on what your doing Open Office might work for you and its free. You should give it a look and see what you think, you can download it and give it a try if you don't like it uninstall and buy MS office.

[jdeb]

Why don't you just use open office.org, (free) and it works? If you have to have MS Office, they have student additions...

Newegg.com - Microsoft Office 2010 Home & Student 3-User

I would never buy used software.

[glc]

Home and Student is a well-known way to save - and I've never heard of a problem using it if you technically do not qualify for its use. It's not like actual "academic" software that requires ID to buy.

[David M]

If you are going to take the Ebay route, buy from a business that has very high ratings and a very large sales volume. Make sure they have a no-hassle return policy for software....(which is unlikely since if it is sealed you have to open it) Never buy software from an individual. Just as Walmart is the place where people with stretch pants go shopping, Ebay is the place where the crooks go to sell their pirated or gray market software.

[Spools]

Also, you can access Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and OneNote online using Microsoft's Skydrive. All you need is a Live.com email address. You also get 25Gb of storage for documents. The only drawback, of course, is that you would need internet access to do any work.

[Dave in Houston]

Regarding the Home and Student version, I believe that Office 2003 was the last version that included Microsoft Outlook, if that makes a difference to you. But at $120 for three users, it's a bargain if you ask me.

[strollin]

In addition to Skydrive, there's also Google Docs (on-line) which can do much of what MS Office can do.

[rwest]

For MS software that requires licensing, I like Craigs list. Ebay sellers can come from anywhere. And usually requires mail. Craigslist is local and involves making arrangements to meet. At this point you can inspect the product yourself for sealed. You can choose to buy or not buy upon personally visullay inspecting and handling the product.

Just be sure to meet in a public place, and bring a friend. Never agree to go their home, or come to yours. I have used Craigs list quite often for different items and have never had any problems with someone not agreeing to these terms.

I have also used ebay and have had one bad experience out of about ten. The problem is ussually with communication and having to deal with mail. My wife has had about two bad experiences out of about 50 using ebay. Nethier one of us has had a bad experince from craiglist. But we stick to the basic rules:

1.meet in a public place, and bring a friend. Never agree to go their home, or come to yours.

2.Do not give out any personal information. First name only. Never give your phone # or address.

3.If you have to break one of these two rules it's not worth the risk.

[EzyStvy]

Originally Posted by donaldfleming If this is the case, would it apply to software that is factory sealed and has a product key and certificate of authenticity?

It would depend on which factory did the sealing

Granted - in theory, "factory sealed" would mean the original manufacture - aka Microsoft. Could also mean Dell, HP, Sony, IBM etc if the cd's came with a new pc.

As I mentioned in your other thread - I personaly don't gamble with 100 dollar bills. Saving money is great... But losing money from a scammer isn't too much fun.

[David M]

I have to disagree about not going to their home for a Craigslist transaction. If you go to their home and they rip you off, you know where send your hit men.

[Strider]

Craiglist can just as bad as Ebay and even more dangerous. Heck, here in Michigan a person was killed after answering an ad from Craiglist. If you do business through Craiglist, make it a public place (Shopping Mall for example) where there are a lot of people roaming around.

[edfair]

In the stuff I've bought off ebay auctions the ones purchased from large sellers with good feedback have been very satisfactory. Those from individuals run about 1/3 misrepresented and although usable they are not exactly what was described.

I've only had 2 cases of outright fraud, probably less than 1/2%. YMMV.

[mikeymm]

There's also LibreOffice

[toomyg]

I have had problems with both ebay and craigslist so it is a matter of how you do the deal no matter who your dealing with THROW