eBay has confirmed that it sells Microsoft`s Windows 10 and Office software (SW) for USD 5 for overseas customers. However, domestic consumers are purchasing the SW for KRW 100,000 ~ 200,000 in Korea, which is pointed out as reverse discrimination.

eBay.com has dozens of items that sell Microsoft`s Windows 10 and Office SW for USD 5 on July 5. The latest version of Office 10, Word, Excel and PowerPoint, the latest version of Office, can be purchased and installed for only USD 5.

Once the foreign reseller pays for the goods, he or she installs the SW through the e-mail address and delivers the license key for use. However, since the overseas shopping mall does not ship to Korea, it is necessary to write the address of the overseas address and enter the email address to receive the license key. Customers from home and abroad who buy SWs from them are leaving a lot of time on eBay and community sites that they are purchasing a permanent version at a low price and using it normally. One Korean customer stated, "I paid for the Windows 10 and Office products with the address of the Korean embassy in Italy, and the license key was e-mailed and I am using it well."

The address of MS product distributors appeared in most European countries such as Italy, England and Germany. In response to a question about whether these vendors are global MS distributors or sales contractors, they answered ‘No.’ An expert in Korea said, "I checked SW that sells cheaply on eBay, and I checked with our head office, and I have been told that it is not a distributor or reseller of the country. We cannot know whether the sellers are individuals or corporations, and we cannot confirm whether they hold the license key or whether they are genuine, so consumers can buy the genuine products to prevent damages.”

As such, overseas sites are able to purchase MS products at low prices, while in Korea, Microsoft maintains its high price policy, which is a big complaint against reverse discrimination against domestic consumers. Last year, Microsoft sold USD 10 for USD 3.5 to its Venezuelan customer, whose online value fell sharply during Christmas, at a local corporation`s online market. An expert of the SW industry said, "It is urgent to find out the truth about the price difference between domestic and foreign genuine SW products and to find solutions."

By Hur Woo Young yenny@


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