SoftwareKing

Full review
SoftwareKing sells software from major publishers, a lot of it academic editions and OEM versions and they say it’s legal. I read a number of opinions about selling AE and OEM software and couldn’t get a clear idea of when and when this is not acceptable to publishers. Anyway, if this was illegal, I figure that Microsoft, Adobe and others would have shut them down by now. In any case, SoftwareKing also sells full retail versions of software at good prices.

Reading the reviews at Epinions, this company is a mixed bag. Before deciding whether to order from them, I checked them out at the Better Business Bureau (an exercise I recommend for everyone). The results? A mixed bag.

The BBB in the U.S. gives SoftwareKing an unsatisfactory rating (as of the date of this review), primarily because of "failure to respond to a complaint." The BBB adds, however, that they have resolved most complaints presented to the bureau.

Interestingly, on their website SoftwareKing lists a Canadian office. The Better Business Bureau of Mainland B.C. reports that they not only have a satisfactory record, but that they're also a member.

I decided to give them a shot and ordered some software because of the great price. Worst case (non-delivery, wrong product, etc.), I could dispute the charge with my credit card company.

Before I ordered I sent them an email with a question about academic editions, which they answered promptly. So, I ordered Adobe Illustrator from them. The product arrived sooner than their estimated time and was exactly what I ordered. I installed it, activated it and registered it. Not a single problem.

I wasn't expecting the best, but my experience was good and I'll order from them again.