Black Friday means many software deals, on Microsoft 365 and especially Microsoft Office. Here’s how to navigate the treacherous waters of Black Friday sales and ensure you get genuine products without falling prey to fraudulent offers and scams.
Recognizing Too-Good-To-Be-True Deals
It’s easy to be tempted by offers that seem too good to pass up. A Microsoft 365 or Microsoft Office suite priced significantly lower than its usual retail price should raise immediate red flags. Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Be aware of the current official Microsoft and regular ‘street’ price for your Microsoft 365 plan or Microsoft Office. Some ‘Black Friday’ offers are not much (or at all) different from the regular price.
Microsoft 365
Microsoft 365 subscriptions can be sold cheaper than Microsoft’s official price for both new customers and to extend existing plans.
Beware:
- Very cheap offers. Discounts of, say, 20% are possible but anything more than that is a red flag.
- Choose the right plan. If extending an existing subscription, make sure you buy the same type of Microsoft 365 plan – Family or Personal.
- Same country. You have to buy Microsoft 365 in the same country as your current subscription. In other words, no cross-border arbitrage.
15 month offers (instead of the usual 12) are usually good value.
If you find a good price, consider buying more than one pack to lock in savings for up to five years ahead.
More tips at Six simple steps for saving on renewals or first purchase of Microsoft 365
Beat the Microsoft 365 price increase
Microsoft 365 prices are likely to go up in 2025, they already have in some countries.
Any price rise will probably happen without warning. Savvy Office Watch readers have already bought some extra years of Microsoft 365, at a discount, to extend their existing plan at the current price. See Get Microsoft 365 for less money
Microsoft Office
The perpetual license Office 2024, 2021 etc is regularly sold at very cheap prices through an unofficial ‘grey’ market. See Ultra-cheap Microsoft Office deals, are they legal and work?
At this time, there are licences for the latest Office 2024 but also the older Office 2021 and Office 2019.
Office 2021/2019 offers might be cheaper but older versions of Office have less support time left.
- Office 2019 ends support in less than a year (October 2025).
- Office 2021 ends support in just under two years (October 2026).
- Office 2024 (released a few months ago) is supported until October 2029.
Check out our Microsoft Office support end dates checklist
Common Scams to Watch Out For
Beware of unfamiliar websites or third-party vendors.
Some sites have impressive looking logos, in particular alleging they are Microsoft Official Partners.
The Phishing Trap
Phishing scams are rampant during Black Friday. Scammers may send emails or create fake websites that mimic official Microsoft pages, luring you into providing personal and payment information. Always double-check the URL and look for secure HTTPS connections before entering any sensitive data.
Fake Software Downloads
Another common scam involves fake software downloads. Scammers offer downloadable versions of Microsoft 365 or Microsoft Office at a fraction of the regular price with software downloaded from some unknown site. These downloads often contain malware or are completely non-functional.
No matter who you buy from, stick to downloading software directly from Microsoft’s official site.
Counterfeit Physical Copies
Beware of sellers offering physical copies of Microsoft products with cheap or even hand-written labels. These could be counterfeit copies that either don’t work or worse, infect your system with harmful software. Always inspect the packaging for signs of tampering or low-quality printing.
Protecting Yourself Online
Use Secure Payment Methods
When making online purchases, use secure payment methods such as credit cards or trusted payment services like PayPal. These methods offer additional protection and make it easier to dispute fraudulent charges.
Make separate purchases / transactions for software. This makes it easier to ask for a refund or, as a last resort ‘chargeback’.
Read Reviews and Ratings
Before committing to a purchase, take the time to read reviews and ratings of the seller. Look for feedback from previous customers to gauge the reliability and authenticity of the vendor.
On ebay, look for sellers with many completed sales and a high rating (over 95%).
Enable Security Features
Make sure your computer’s security features, such as antivirus software and firewalls, are up to date. These tools can help detect and prevent malware infections from scam downloads.
Windows Defender (in Windows 11 and 10) is enough. No extra anti-virus software is necessary.
Get Microsoft 365 for less money
Ultra-cheap Microsoft Office deals, are they legal and work?
Microsoft Office support end dates checklist
Six simple steps for saving on renewals or first purchase of Microsoft 365
