Many customers ask us how our prices come about and where our licenses come from. Here we explain it openly.
Where our licenses come from
We buy our licenses from distributors and wholesalers in Europe. These include new licenses as well as licenses that companies no longer need, for example after restructuring or from surplus stock.
How our prices come about
Our prices are the result of a lean business model:
- Buying in large quantities: we buy licenses in large quantities and pass the volume advantage on to you.
- Purely digital delivery: no disc, no packaging, no shipping and no warehouse. These costs never arise for us.
- Lean processes: ordering, payment and delivery run largely automatically. This saves administration and staff costs.
- Small margin: we calculate with a small margin per license, so that you are happy to come back.
Is reselling licenses allowed?
Yes. Licenses for a one-time purchase were originally issued by the manufacturer to a first buyer, who paid for them in full. Reselling such licenses is permitted in the EU; the Court of Justice of the European Union confirmed this in 2012 (case C-128/11, UsedSoft).
Which license types there are
The license type you receive is stated in the description of each product:
- Retail license: the manufacturer’s retail version.
- OEM license: the same features as the retail version, originally intended for sale with new hardware.
- Volume license: intended for companies, activated with a product key.
- Subscription (e.g. Microsoft 365): valid for the stated term.
The software itself is the same for all license types. The differences lie in the term, the number of devices and transferability. These details are stated with each product.
What you receive after your purchase
- Download link to the matching software version
- Product key for online activation (login details for accounts, an activation package for Office for Mac)
- Step-by-step installation guide
- Invoice for your order
Note: we deliver digitally by email. A data carrier or a certificate of authenticity sticker (COA) is not included. On request, you can also get the software on a USB stick; just send us a message.
If activation does not work
We assign every key to the right version and edition before we send it. If activation still does not work, contact us. We help by email or via remote support (TeamViewer).
Trademarks
We mention Microsoft, Windows, Office and other product names only to describe the products. The trademark rights belong to the respective manufacturers.