I've watched this thread with interest as I have 3 volume licences for Office Pro Plus 2010, 2013 and 2016 which I got through the Microsoft HUP scheme when I was still working, the most I think I paid was £9.95 for the 2016 licence and all three are still valid today.

The average person on the street wouldn't have a clue about Microsoft volume licence keys (why would they) as the licence key is no different than a retail licence key. For those considering purchasing via these types of web site I can see the attraction compared to the regular retail pricing. Depends if you are a risk taker as it may or may not pay off.

Edit: corrected a spelling mistake.

Edited by deleted (Thu 13-Jul-23 16:52:21)

My last installation was Office Pro 2010 that I bought on the MS scheme for users on a corporate licence at work. That was over 10 years ago and it cost me £10. The only reason I've changed is because I started getting warnings about that version being past EOL and no longer updating (much like me). Each component downloaded to my PC on first run. Must say I was impressed with how well it all went.

The scheme you are talking about sounds very much like the Microsoft Home User Programme (HUP) scheme which Microsoft offer to corporates with an SA agreement in place. I think in recent years its been renamed Workplace Discount Programme (WDP).

Edited by deleted (Thu 13-Jul-23 17:25:36)

In reply to a post by andynormancx:

As I understand it you've bought something that isn't supposed to be sold/licensed that way and may very well stop working in future.

You are of course correct about the licensing and "sources" aspect but the reality is once that software is activated, it will not subsequently get revoked by Microsoft.

As far as I'm aware, Microsoft have never and don't even have the mechanisms to revoke software activation (not to be confused with subscription services).

Reactivating in the future is of course a different matter.