Should I Buy a Windows 10 Key on Kinguin?

[gumbob3]

I am building my own PC soon, and would like to have Windows 10 (instead of Ubuntu or other Linux Distribution). I would also NOT like to pay $100+ for Windows 10. My plan was to put the Windows 10 installer on a flash drive, and boot from it on my new PC. Then buy a Windows 10 Home Key from Kinguin.com, and enter it to get access to Windows 10. Kinguin is a popular site, uses PayPal, sells OEM keys, has Kinguin buyer protection for like $2, has very good seller ratings, and have sold hundreds of thousands (maybe millions?) of Windows 10 keys. I don't see why some people say it is so bad? So, is it okay to buy a Windows 10 key from them? Thanks! All help and responses are very much appreciated.

https://www.kinguin.net/category/22175/windows-10-home-oem-key/

 

[Corwin65]

Short answer no.

Those keys may work for some time, but Microsoft can disable them at any time.

 

[mcnumpty23]

comes up aall the time on here usually its g2a.com or something

if its way cheaper than it should be then its dodgy

key may work for a while then get blacklisted

 

[captaincharisma]

the problem with these sites is they never tell you where they get the keys from. they could be stolen, fake, or keys from some kind of crack or key generator. so yes, you may get a key that works but Microsoft may suddenly blacklist that key at any time.

 

[13thmonkey]

Agreed, no. The fact that they have to have a guarantee is very telling in my opinion.

 

[gumbob3]

Short answer no.

Those keys may work for some time, but Microsoft can disable them at any time.

What is the chance of Microsoft disabling a key that someone buys from Kinguin? Also, how do Kinguin people get these keys? If I'm running on a Kinguin Windows 10 key and it gets disabled, will I loose my data? Or what will happen?

 

[mcnumpty23]

pretty simple the old if it sounds too good to be true applies

do they say microsoft accredited seller on their web site?

if they dont then dont buy it

 

[captaincharisma]

Short answer no.

Those keys may work for some time, but Microsoft can disable them at any time.

What is the chance of Microsoft disabling a key that someone buys from Kinguin? Also, how do Kinguin people get these keys? If I'm running on a Kinguin Windows 10 key and it gets disabled, will I loose my data? Or what will happen?

it could be a couple days or a couple years. there is no way of telling if it is genuine or a set time they will blacklist it if it is. just suck it up and buy it

 

[mcnumpty23]

Short answer no.

Those keys may work for some time, but Microsoft can disable them at any time.

What is the chance of Microsoft disabling a key that someone buys from Kinguin? Also, how do Kinguin people get these keys? If I'm running on a Kinguin Windows 10 key and it gets disabled, will I loose my data? Or what will happen?

we cant give you specific odds

this gets asked all the time

some people go ahead any way and end up on here asking why all of a sudden their windows is saying non genuine

you asked we gave advice your choice in the end

 

[gumbob3]

So, is it best to buy directly from microsoft, or is there a cheaper place to get a legit key?

 

[mcnumpty23]

any legitimate retailer is fine

 

[captaincharisma]

So, is it best to buy directly from microsoft, or is there a cheaper place to get a legit key?

any legit retailer is fine. i know websites like newegg will e-mail you the key after you purchase it. they will still ship you a physical copy with the key but you don't have to wait for it to arrive before you can install it

 

[USAFRet]

Also, how do Kinguin people get these keys?

Reselling MSDN/TechNet licenses
Obtaining corporate licenses
And the biggie...money laundering. Buy a bunch licenses with stolen credit card numbers...sell them.
Eventually, when the credit card holder and their bank reverse the charges, the license is revoked. Meaning your license.

If you come across 'some dude' that has 1,500 licenses to sell cheap, you gotta ask yourself..where did these come from?
You're not buying from the company called Kinguin, rather you're buying from 'some dude'.
Just like buying from ebay or craigslist. You're are getting it from 'some dude'.

 

[13thmonkey]

Also, how do Kinguin people get these keys?

Reselling MSDN/TechNet licenses
Obtaining corporate licenses
And the biggie...money laundering. Buy a bunch licenses with stolen credit card numbers...sell them.
Eventually, when the credit card holder and their bank reverse the charges, the license is revoked. Meaning your license.

If you come across 'some dude' that has 1,500 licenses to sell cheap, you gotta ask yourself..where did these come from?
You're not buying from the company called Kinguin, rather you're buying from 'some dude'.
Just like buying from ebay or craigslist. You're are getting it from 'some dude'.

The laundering could easily be supporting terrorism, easy to move, easy to sell on, all digital.

 

[gumbob3]

I talked to support from Kinguin, and she told me that all of their sellers are verified, and have partnerships with Microsoft to get the licenses in bulk.

 

[USAFRet]

I talked to support from Kinguin, and she told me that all of their sellers are verified, and have partnerships with Microsoft to get the licenses in bulk.

That's like the guy in the Walmart parking lot with the 70" Sony 4k, selling it for $200, telling you it is 'legit'.

From Kinguins 'competitor', G2A (or possibly the same company):
--------------------
MS & G2A
Quote:
Dear Valued customer,
You have reached Microsoft Customer Service, South East Asia. My name is Rizky and I would address your enquiry. As I understand it, you have inquiry for Microsoft Windows 8 Pro from G2A website. If my understanding is inaccurate, please let me know.
For this information, we have to inform you that it is not recommended by Microsoft to make purchases of these softwares as they are not official and genuine versions that are support by Microsoft activation. Microsoft does not have any vendor agreements with G2A or any of it’s resellers and so this in direct conflict to the Microsoft software license agreement since they are not an authorized electronic supplier of genuine Microsoft software. We cannot verify the genuine sales of the G2A third party seller but without authorization from Microsoft they cannot be genuine supplier.
Sincerely, it was a pleasure helping you. If ever you need further assistance please don’t hesitate to send us an email and we will be more than happy to help you.
Thank you for contacting Microsoft. Have a nice day!
Regards,
Rizky
Customer Service Representative
Microsoft Customer Service, South East Asia (SEA)
-------------------------


You can if you want.
I wouldn't.

 

[13thmonkey]

That's rubbish. MS does not do bulk with that level of discount.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Steam/comments/4lfmty/warning_dont_buy_anything_from_kinguin_details/
http://www.polygon.com/2015/2/9/8006693/the-truth-behind-those-mysteriously-cheap-gray-market-game-codes
https://lockesjourney.wordpress.com/2016/03/17/the-hard-truth-about-g2a-kinguin-and-grey-market-keys/

 

[mcnumpty23]

wonder just what what you would actually find if you popped along to


8/F, On Hing Building, 1 OnHing Terrace, Central Hong Kong

 

[USAFRet]

wonder just what what you would actually find if you popped along to


8/F, On Hing Building, 1 OnHing Terrace, Central Hong Kong

Probably a server farm and a post office box.

 

[gumbob3]

I decided to contact a Microsoft Support Tech myself, and I was quite surprised by what she told me about Kinguin. Take a look for yourself. Here is the link to the screenshot: https://postimg.org/image/b3abxavd9/

 

[13thmonkey]

So at the start of this thread, you asked 'should you'

We've said, no, no, no, no and no.

You keep coming back with 'are you sure', so i'm not sure why you asked the question.

At the end of the day it's your license, they might be a reseller, but given their model of being a market place, them being a reseller is not that relevant.

Ask them if the reseller you are using is recognised... and the credit card that they used to pay for it.

 

[mcnumpty23]

i just did live chat out of curiousity as well

 

[mcnumpty23]

note i asked do microsoft approve them--not just do they sell license keys

to me theres a big difference in the 2

 

[captaincharisma]

I decided to contact a Microsoft Support Tech myself, and I was quite surprised by what she told me about Kinguin. Take a look for yourself. Here is the link to the screenshot: https://postimg.org/image/b3abxavd9/

if you just ended up contacting |MS why did ask on here anyway? all you are doing now is wasting peoples time and bandwidth. you came here you to ask a question and we answered it for you. its not our fault you didn't like the answer. we are not yes men

 

[gumbob3]

I decided to contact a Microsoft Support Tech myself, and I was quite surprised by what she told me about Kinguin. Take a look for yourself. Here is the link to the screenshot: https://postimg.org/image/b3abxavd9/

if you just ended up contacting |MS why did ask on here anyway? all you are doing now is wasting peoples time and bandwidth. you came here you to ask a question and we answered it for you. its not our fault you didn't like the answer. we are not yes men

I didn't realize there were lots of different opinions. I thought there was a generally accepted answer to the question, but there isn't. Now I realize that I'm not buying from Kinguin, I'm buying from a seller. Just like eBay. You can't ask if eBay is a legit place.