IT

Watch Out For These Dirty Tricks From Discounted Software Resellers

Author: Michael Crider / Source: howtogeek.com

Low-price listings for expensive software like Microsoft Office or Adobe Creative Suite are usually too good to be true—especially on secondary markets like Craigslist or eBay. Let’s take a look at some of the ways scammers try to rip you off.

You Might Be Getting an OEM Licensed Product

Okay, so this one isn’t so much a scam as it is something to watch for.

OEM stands for “Original Equipment Manufacturer.” Sometimes, this term is used to refer to the brand of a manufacturer—for example, the “OEM” for a Dell computer as a whole is, well, Dell. But more often it refers to the original supplier of products or parts to someone who resells them. So if your Dell computer has an Intel motherboard, Intel is the OEM for that specific part.=

The reason this is important is because software, especially Windows and Office packages from Microsoft, are often sold with an “OEM license.” This gives manufacturers like Dell the right to install that copy of the software on one machine, and only one machine. These licenses are specifically meant for use on a single computer, by a single user who buys that computer through retail channels.

OEM licenses are sold at a heavy discount, often in batches of thousands or more, but they can only be used once. Unlike conventional copies of Windows or Office, an OEM copy is bound to the hardware upon which it was originally installed and can’t be transferred, even with a valid license code.

OEM licenses often pop up on secondary markets. Microsoft used to sell them directly to consumers, in fact, but doesn’t for Windows 10—the only place to buy these discounted copies is on secondary retail markets like eBay, Amazon, and Newegg.

You can buy and activate the software normally, and you might save a few bucks while doing so, but remember the limitations:

Microsoft OEM licenses can’t be used to upgrade from an older version of Windows, only for a clean install
OEM licenses are bound to one computer, and cannot be transferred to another for upgrades or new purchases
OEM software doesn’t get support directly from Microsoft, because it’s intended to be used by manufacturers who supply support along with the hardware

Between these limitations and the extra hassle of buying from a third party, it’s typically not worth the small amount of money you’ll save.

You also need to be especially careful when buying OEM licensed software from used marketplaces or marketplaces without stellar reputations. Sometimes, people will sell OEM licensed software that has already been used on other hardware. Sometimes, they’ll even sell this software as though it were new, or was not OEM software, but a regular license. If you buy used OEM software, you run the risk of not being able to install it on your system at all.