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Is it possible to buy a used Komplete 2-14 Ultimate and upgrade to Komplete 15 Ultimate?

JoshtheComposer
JoshtheComposer Member Posts: 8 Newcomer
in Komplete General

I've found deals on Komplete 12 (and other versions) Ultimate on eBay. So I'm really curious to know if I can buy this and upgrade to Komplete 15 Ultimate for $399 (or $200 on summer sale) Anyone know? Also, does NI send a physical product in the mail when you buy Komplete? I didn't think so until I saw physical products marked as "Komplete X Ultimate" selling on ebay.

Thanks.

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Best Answer

  • Vocalpoint
    Vocalpoint Member Posts: 3,442 Expert
    edited 12:54AM Answer ✓

    Theoretically it will work but if you do not get a valid unregistered serial to add to your NI account OR a valid transferred serial to your NI account from the seller - you have basically bought nothing.

    And there is no physical product here in 2025. Ten years ago yes- but now Komplete is a digital purchase.

    Buyer beware for anything on the third party market.

    VP

Answers

  • Vocalpoint
    Vocalpoint Member Posts: 3,442 Expert
    edited 12:54AM Answer ✓

    Theoretically it will work but if you do not get a valid unregistered serial to add to your NI account OR a valid transferred serial to your NI account from the seller - you have basically bought nothing.

    And there is no physical product here in 2025. Ten years ago yes- but now Komplete is a digital purchase.

    Buyer beware for anything on the third party market.

    VP

  • red_nick
    red_nick Member Posts: 313 Pro
    edited 4:17AM

    What vocalpoint said. Plus make sure you don't just buy a physical disk without a license.

  • JoshtheComposer
    JoshtheComposer Member Posts: 8 Newcomer

    Good to know, thanks @red_nick and @Vocalpoint

  • Kubrak
    Kubrak Member Posts: 3,130 Expert
    edited 3:55PM

    @JoshtheComposer

    It works for sure. It is what I have done several times.

    But, one has to be careful not to get scammed. Just media (installation discs) may be sort of handy, but licence-wise they has no value. One needs licence to be registered on his NI account.

    Mostly it is done by Licence Transfer, seller provides you with Licence Transfer Code and using that one moves licences from seller´s account to his own account.

    Rarely seller may offer Licence Number. It may happen and it may be OK. But also, the Licence Number may be useless as it is already registered at someone´s account….

    Another thing to be carefull is to buy the correct licence. There are not just licences for Komplete Ultimate, there are also Komplete Ultimate Crossgrade/Upgrade/Update licences and they are not usable without having appropriate Base Product (it may be NI hardware, lower thier of Komplete, lower version, selected NI software,…).

    So, one has to know, how things work. Then buying old version for few bucks and upgrading/updating it at sale time may save a lot of money…

  • JoshtheComposer
    JoshtheComposer Member Posts: 8 Newcomer
    https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/219764#Comment_219764

    Ah I see. So what I need to find then is a product that:

    -Is marked correctly as Komplete X Ultimate (not upgrade/update but the actual Ultimate)

    -Comes with an UNLICENSED product key or something

    Is that correct?

    Thanks.

  • Vocalpoint
    Vocalpoint Member Posts: 3,442 Expert
    edited 5:21PM

    Ideally - in order to qualify" for any upgrade or update - you need a base product.

    For Komplete - this is almost always a "full" license - not an update or an upgrade. There are other NI products that can be used as a "base" but that is beyond the scope of this thread.

    Example:

    This one would be a dead end - because it is clearly an upgrade:

    Native Instruments Komplete 7 12 disc set | eBay

    Where this one has possible potential:

    Native Instruments Komplete 12 | eBay

    But it is impossible to know if this package has ever been registered. Or if the previous owner (if there was one) can transfer the actual product ID via the NI System

    This also presents as New - but it is hard to tell from the single photo if this is the manual or a non-shrink wrapped box or what it is.

    Again - buyer beware when dealing with this type of purchase. Ask tons of questions before sending a dime.

    VP

  • JoshtheComposer
    JoshtheComposer Member Posts: 8 Newcomer

    I see, thanks for the links, those helped clarify some things. So just to verify, if I contacted the seller of the base product (second link) to ensure that the package wasn't registered or could be transferred, then I could buy it and upgrade for $399 (or less on sale)?

  • JoshtheComposer
    JoshtheComposer Member Posts: 8 Newcomer

    Oh and I would also need to check to see if it was the correct version, Standard or Ultimate.

  • Vocalpoint
    Vocalpoint Member Posts: 3,442 Expert
    https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/219788#Comment_219788

    The second link appears to be Standard.

    So you would need to first cut a deal on the K12 package - get it registered to your NI account and then hit the NI Shop (while still logged in) to see what your “update” price would be for K15 Standard.

    This would be the end game in a perfect world.

    VP

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