I see on Ebay many listings for product key only for Office 2016. My question is where do the customers obtain the Office 2016 software that need the product key?
Is the Office 2016 without product key available free or available at reduced price?
best, Aaron

What typically happens is that you purchase the product key, then download Office from Microsoft. Beware, though, there are 'retailers' out there who are illegitimately 'selling' keys to corporate licences for Office. This allows the same key to be used for multiple installations. Be especially wary if the asking price seems way lower than retail. When MS finds out what's going on, such keys are liable to be invalidated.

__________________
Cheers,
Paul Edstein
[Fmr MS MVP - Word]

Many of the MS Office for sale on eBay are not legitimate such as copies that are register under a MS account where one must log into a MS account using a provided name and password. Others are educational versions where one must be a student in order to use. Some may be part of corporate licensing which can not be legally sold and only used by employees of a corporation, etc.

Some are sold from overseas in other countries which may not be covered by US Copyright laws.

However there are methods to determine the legitimacy of a Microsoft software products such as contacting Microsoft asking them, providing them with a key, etc.

I'm uncertain about selling used copies and transferring the license to another person to be used on another PC. There are different types of licensing for Microsoft Products. I'm no expert on MS softwares and installations. However have been installing and using legally licensed Microsoft products since DOS 1.x. Before DOS I was running machines with CP/M versions 1.4 and 2.2. Typical cost of a PC back in those days was from ~$1500.00 to over ~$3,000.00. In 2018 dollars which would equate to ~$4,344.00 to over ~$8,689.00.


See Article "Copy". "Move" or "Transfer" an Office installation to another computer.

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/...79111d1?auth=1

The mere fact a product key is legitimate - even when confirmed as such by MS (which you'll only be able to do after purchasing it) - does not guarantee the legitimacy of the sale, for the reasons I outlined.

__________________
Cheers,
Paul Edstein
[Fmr MS MVP - Word]

Ok your probably right about what you stated.

After messaging the seller about the validity of the Microsoft Licensing with the eBay seller I receive a reply.

These are acquired from my husbands work-place he works with the Microsoft partnership program, this is how we are able to offer you this great item at a great price, otherwise you would have paid a lot more at large retail stores like Staples or Office Depot. Please note: Often times a live chat Microsoft representative will says things to persuade you to purchase additional or new softwares from them or they simply just do not know.

So I don't really know One Hundred percent about the Microsoft Office 2016 legitimacy as I'm taking the sellers word about it.

In business and then private world requires a certain amount of trust. If you're not able to trust anyone then one may likely end up as a failure.

But I guess your right there's really no way to determine one hundred percent the legitimacy of software.

I think perhaps to become closer to one hundred percent "known" legitimacy would to purchase directly from Microsoft or a Microsoft Certified Reseller, who potentially could sell you some software (with or without their knowledge) that is stolen.

In the case you cite, the sale is almost certainly bogus and, even though the license might be valid now, MS is liable to revoke it (by invalidating the Product Key) once they become aware of its abuse.

__________________
Cheers,
Paul Edstein
[Fmr MS MVP - Word]

The transaction has been reported to Microsoft with key code and the seller's id name and address. So if it's bogus, Microsoft should notify me so I'm able to obtain a refund.

If the license is revoked I'll be requesting a refund from the seller. If the seller won't issue a refund the transaction based on return details this item is covered by eBay Money Back Guarantee

eBay in the past has issues refunds themselves on items where there were problems with a seller issuing a refund. Most of them ended up losing their eBay membership. I suppose if what you say about the software is true Microsoft potentially could sue and/or open a criminal or civil case against the seller.