Cheapest but legal ways to acquire Windows Licenses

[Big Head Tech]

So I work in the SaaS space so I have to be extremely careful with system building.  I've been building for years and while many local competitors use Kinguin/eBay, I have moved away from that.  Most systems I sell are unactivated and falls on the user to license the unit.  For many sales I do purchase a key but Windows 10 Home runs $100.  I've considered partnering with Microsoft but even some of the distribution channels I work with for my 9-5 job, their discounts are 10% off of MSRP so that is not a route either.

 

Lastly, I've considered MSDN licenses but those are not for resale.  So outside of dropping $100 for a system builder/oem key, is there any legitimate and cheaper avenue to take?  I will be incorporating soon and this is the final hurdle to overcome if possible.

[corrado33]

The ones sold on ebay for $10 are completely backed by ebay to be legit. 

 

What about OEM licenses? Aren't those cheaper? (But can never be reinstalled on another computer obviously.) 

[Snipergod87]

Retailers like amazon, newegg, microsoft are really the only way. so ~$90 per system.

Refurbishers can get different cheaper licenses.

If you are doing this as a business I would advise against Kinguin and ebay in case you ever get audited.

[Big Head Tech]

Just now, corrado33 said:

The ones sold on ebay for $10 are completely backed by ebay to be legit. 

 

What about OEM licenses? Aren't those cheaper? (But can never be reinstalled on another computer obviously.) 

No unfortunately it's against eBay's ToS.  Hence why when I have purchased in the past they show up as "game codes".

[Snipergod87]

2 minutes ago, corrado33 said:

The ones sold on ebay for $10 are completely backed by ebay to be legit. 

 

What about OEM licenses? Aren't those cheaper? (But can never be reinstalled on another computer obviously.) 

Not sure if that is true however just because it activated doesn't meant that it is legitimate sadly.

 

Only way to get cheaper licenses are through Microsoft Volume Licensing agreement which is meant for internal business use only.

 

If you are a non profit you can look at techsoup but again thats a VLSC agreement and key.

[corrado33]

Just now, Snaeb said:

No unfortunately it's against eBay's ToS.  Hence why when I have purchased in the past they show up as "game codes".

Ah ok. Did not know that. 

[Big Head Tech]

1 minute ago, Snipergod87 said:

Retailers like amazon, newegg, microsoft are really the only way. so ~$90 per system.

Refurbishers can get different cheaper licenses.

If you are doing this as a business I would advise against Kinguin and ebay in case you ever get audited.

Indeed, internally idc, but since I work professionally in the SaaS world I have to comply.  FYI to anyone reading, I've been building systems for years, nearly 700 systems.  I make a little money and for fun as well as my YouTube Channel.

[corrado33]

6 minutes ago, Snaeb said:

Indeed, internally idc, but since I work professionally in the SaaS world I have to comply.  FYI to anyone reading, I've been building systems for years, nearly 700 systems.  I make a little money and for fun as well as my YouTube Channel.

Why not drop microsoft a line? If you've build 700 PCs there may be some sort of small business deal they can make with you?

[Big Head Tech]

1 minute ago, corrado33 said:

Why not drop microsoft a line? If you've build 700 PCs there may be some sort of small business deal they can make with you?

Unfortunately that would be a conflict of interest with my work.  We are a channel company and our channel partners are almost all Microsoft Partners.  But even so, I would only get a discount moving large volumes and only 10% at best.

[AMD Lover]

I usually go to the computer recycle store and pick up desktops with Windows 7 Pro keys which work fine for Windows 10 clean installs then take the boxes back to the recycle after I peeled the tag off.

[XR6]

56 minutes ago, Snaeb said:

So I work in the SaaS space so I have to be extremely careful with system building.  I've been building for years and while many local competitors use Kinguin/eBay, I have moved away from that.  Most systems I sell are unactivated and falls on the user to license the unit.  For many sales I do purchase a key but Windows 10 Home runs $100.  I've considered partnering with Microsoft but even some of the distribution channels I work with for my 9-5 job, their discounts are 10% off of MSRP so that is not a route either.

 

Lastly, I've considered MSDN licenses but those are not for resale.  So outside of dropping $100 for a system builder/oem key, is there any legitimate and cheaper avenue to take?  I will be incorporating soon and this is the final hurdle to overcome if possible.

Not really. If you absolutely need it to be 100% legit then your only hope is dropping $100 on a key.

Sorry. 

[Canada EH]

Cheapest yet legal way to obtain Windows is to buy a oem system with o/s already installed.

 

 

How do you upgrade the components, there is a method to the madness, smart madness though.

Because O/S is locked to cpu and the mobo.

25 minutes ago, AMD Lover said:

I usually go to the computer recycle store and pick up desktops with Windows 7 Pro keys which work fine for Windows 10 clean installs then take the boxes back to the recycle after I peeled the tag off.

 

or what I typed ^

3 minutes ago, 1kv said:

Not really. If you absolutely need it to be 100% legit then your only hope is dropping $100 on a key.

Sorry. 

 

[XR6]

1 minute ago, Canada EH said:

Cheapest yet legal way to obtain Windows is to buy a oem system with o/s already installed.

Yep.

[Canada EH]

1 minute ago, 1kv said:

Yep.

 

Or just never activate the O/S which MS allowed consumers to do, even Linus does it!