Star letter

Thought I would drop you a useful tip regarding Kaspersky software. I’ve always used Kaspersky Total Security, and each time I’ve purchased a copy with five licences. As I’m sure most PC Pro readers do, I shop around for the best price, which varies each year depending on what offers are running at that time.

I had an email from Kaspersky six weeks before my last subscription expired, warning me to renew and advising that, instead of the list price, I would get a discount. The list price was £59, which the discount took down to £41, but looking on Amazon I could actually buy a five-seat licence there for around £28. Fortunately, I had plenty of time – so I put it on hold.

Three weeks later, Kaspersky contacted me with a better discount, dropping the price to £28. I made a note to renew the following week. However, before I did, I received a further email from Kaspersky with its last offer – 70% off, bringing down the price of a five-machine licence to just £18.

I think the moral of this story is to just hang on in there. Kaspersky wants your business, and some money is better than no money. John M Edwards

PC Pro editor-in-chief Tim Danton replies: That’s very good advice indeed! Frequently, firms operating in highly competitive markets – as the anti-malware market is – recognise that any customer lost to their competition might never return, putting future income at risk. Further, even such low prices may deliver a profit when the marginal cost of providing you with the service you’re paying for is likely low, and you’re helping feed back about new and evolving malware by having your machine on Kaspersky’s radar. Oh, and keep an eye out for our exclusive reader offers (such as the one for Norton on p41)!