Using a Microsoft Gold Partner

[K0608]

Hi,
Is there any reason not to use a Microsoft partner for a Microsoft Office 365 subscription? It's a bit cheaper than getting it directly from Microsoft, so seems to make sense. A company called Byte Software Services got in touch with quotes days after I signed up to a trial of Microsoft Business Premium package.

 

[Chris Ashdown]

You would have their help as well as microsoft so two avenues for assistance i guess and a bit cheaper as well

 

[Nico Albrecht]

If you buy from a partner you do not get the support from Microsoft. Similar to OEM..you solely rely on your partner to provide support. Most resellers offer less functionality than buying from Microsoft Are you sure you getting all the features?

 

[K0608]

If you buy from a partner you do not get the support from Microsoft. Similar to OEM..you solely rely on your partner to provide support. Most resellers offer less functionality than buying from Microsoft Are you sure you getting all the features?

Thanks for the reply. When setting up my Office 365 trial, I spent close to 6 hours chatting to a Microsoft rep, who was extremely helpful. Sounds like by going with a partner I wouldn't have such a personal service, where time clearly didn't matter.

 

[Nico Albrecht]

I am a MS partner as well and the pricing I am getting is not worth the hassle for me to even offer it. You need to flog many subscriptions to make any money on it. All of my clients bought it from MS and I look after it and charge accordingly. Also for an example GoDAddy is a gold reseller for 365 but their product they sell is very limited and more expensive than MS.

 

[K0608]

Hi, I asked the reseller about support, and they said that they don't offer any support themselves, and that it would come directly from MS, which sounds good.

 

[EmC007]

This all sounds a bit confused. Microsoft Partners who sell Microsoft 365 under the Cloud Service Provider programme are obliged to provide support and when they cannot help they refer to their CSP distributor. Our company has been providing Office 365 under the CSP programme and have successfully built valued added services around this model. We do typically provide a suite of services as we generally find SMBs don't have the knowledge or inclination to go through it themselves.
However that said anyone can purchase 365 direct from Microsoft via their website and can subsequently seek local support from a Microsoft Partner.