
These aren't as desirable as retail keys, as you can only install an OEM on one machine, and one time only. As such, scams can happen, to the point where some gray market stores ask for an additional cost to protect your purchase.Īlso, a seller may put a key up for a low price because it's an OEM key. Gray market stores will often work like eBay, where individual people and small companies list the products.

A price cut like this doesn't come without a few downsides, after all.įirst, make sure you know who you're buying from. However, before you grab a key from a gray market store, consider why these keys are so cheap in the first place. While Microsoft sells Office 2019 for $149, and Amazon sells it for $109, Kinguin currently sells keys for as low as $35-a saving of $115 over Microsoft.

So, why bother with gray markets? Simple their unbeatable price.
