365 Business Premium , move from reseller/CSP back to MS

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1101

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Topic # 223766 16-Oct-2017 16:48

Hi Guys

Office 365 Business Premium
How do I go about moving this away from resellers Lic controll , back to MS themselves.
I do have admin access , but want to move away from resellers .

The client doesnt want to go through the reseller to add licences etc .
The client would prefer to have full control, as per when you purchase direct from MS & can just
use credit card to add licenses .

Any help appreciated , MS were zero help and just said contact the NZ CSP Partner involved
The CSP partner were helpfull , and would help moving it to another reseller , but not so helpfull
when asked about moving it away from resellers/partners alltogether

I guess there could also be some issues with billing & contracts
Obviously , it needs to stay operating as is :email, file storage, sharepoint etc

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Reply # 1884463 16-Oct-2017 16:58

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This is easy. You have Admin access, so you simply need to add the licenses you require, and then have the CSP partner cancel their licenses.

I suggest liaising with the CSP partner to confirm when the billing period ends and making the change a few days before the end of the billing period (unless the license count is small so double-billing for part of the month is inconsequential).

If the relationship has deteriorated, you can remove the delegated authority that allows them to access your Admin portal. If the relationship is still good, leave it in place so they can assist with troubleshooting.

Source: We are a CSP partner supporting business clients.

Cheers
Mike

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Lias

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Reply # 1884552 16-Oct-2017 20:29

Just to hijack 1101 thread.. is it particularly hard to change a CSP, and is there any real benefit in using a CSP for 365, particularly if you are moving other stuff into an OVA?

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Reply # 1884594 16-Oct-2017 21:11

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Add new licenses from a new CSP partner, and once you see that you have twice the number of licenses you need, cancel the old CSP. Just check any agreement expiry dates with the old CSP. If the old CSP insists you have months to run on an agreement, drop them down to a quantity of 1 unit as there is no minimum quantity in an agreement.

A CSP partner can be invaluable for support when things go wrong, which they do from time to time.

I'm not familiar with the term/abbreviation OVA

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Reply # 1884666 16-Oct-2017 23:06

Dynamic:

I'm not familiar with the term/abbreviation OVA

Open Value Agreement aka Volume Licensing for people too small to get Enterprise Agreements

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Reply # 1884895 17-Oct-2017 10:00

Dynamic:

Hi

This is easy. You have Admin access, so you simply need to add the licenses you require, and then have the CSP partner cancel their licenses.

Thanks Mike

In admin centre, subscriptions :
"Contact MS CSP provider to renew, add user licenses ......"

off to the side of the page , where it couldnt fully seen unless scroll page to the right (ie partly out of veiwable page) :-)
there is the add subscriptions button . That goes to a link to add subscription services, but not to add licenses

The issue isnt with the CSP partner, they have tried to help, but are also sort of stuck in the middle, not directly involved .
The issue is with the CSP's reseller , that relationsonship has deteriorated to the point where the Clients manager no longer wants anything to do with them

I see the button to remove delegated authority, Im not sure what the consequences of that are.
Will that remove current CSP provided licences ?
If we do that, will that give us the ability to add licences directly (& pay MS directly) , will they have to now pay MS the monthly bill for 365 (assuming monthly)
And given I cant add licences in advance .....

I appreciate your help Mike
MS basicly fobbed me off . The CSP was of some help, but wouldnt provide specifics on moving away from the reseller/CSP .

Dynamic

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Reply # 1885001 17-Oct-2017 11:18

Below are a couple of screenshots from a relatives subscription that I look after.

Subscriptions: (click image to enlarge)

Purchase Services:

Check the License area and make a note of the numbers. I would suggest then using the Purchase Services area to add a license, and check the license becomes available as an extra license as shown in the Licenses area. Once you've confirmed these licenses are available, you may then have the confidence to purchase the remaining count.

From there you should be able to cancel the CSP licenses with your CSP reseller.

I would not remove the Delegated Authority of the CSP Distributor (Exeed, Rhipe, or Ingram I assume) until their licenses have been removed (unless the CSP partner recommends otherwise), but feel free to remove the Delegated Admin of the Reseller with whom the relationship has deteriorated, as they don't need to get access to your admin portal for billing purposes.

If they advise they cannot or will not remove the licenses, send them a formal letter advising that from the end of the current billing month you will no longer pay their CSP invoices. Make the problem theirs but make sure it is in writing with evidence, like a copy of the letter in a signature courier bag plus an emailed copy, keeping the proof of delivery from the courier company. If they advise you are under contract, then instruct them to reduce the license count to 1 for the remainder of the contract and ride it out.

Does that help, or am I off track?

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Reply # 1885084 17-Oct-2017 13:30

Thanks for that
I'll have another look at it when I get some time tommorow.

I werent sure it "purchase services" gave me the option of adding additional single licences

Mattmannz

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Reply # 1885178 17-Oct-2017 15:55

I have done a few CSP to CSP moves and CSP to standard and standard to CSP. All of them are pretty straight forward but when a CSP is involved then they HAVE to action the move for you.

We use a CSP to manage our clients and find the process quite hassle free - we have portal access to the CSP so can action everything without their involvement.

Not sure why you want to not use a CSP, I can't see why you wouldn't.

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Reply # 1885198 17-Oct-2017 16:30

Mattmannz:

Not sure why you want to not use a CSP, I can't see why you wouldn't.

Because having to email or ring someone when I want more licenses rather than clicking on a website is annoying. Kind of wish MS would ditch the entire license reselling model and just sell direct only. MS licensing would be so much easier if you could just login to a portal on azure, go "I want x many copies of Windows 10, x many 365 subs, x many CIS 2016 licenses, CAL's to suit, here's my credit card", and the pricing auto-scaled on your size... Plus I have a general aversion to middlemen clipping the ticket while providing little to no added value, aka "The Channel".

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Reply # 1885204 17-Oct-2017 16:43

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Lias: ....I have a general aversion to middlemen clipping the ticket while providing little to no added value, aka "The Channel".

For for most things you can buy direct (e.g. Dell web site or Azure/365 web sites) already. As a technology enthusiast or professional, you likely have the skills or knowledge to do your own research or upskilling to make smart technology purchases. A minority of SMB business Owners or Managers have these skills or experience.

"4 wheels move the body. 2 wheels move the soul."

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Reply # 1885265 17-Oct-2017 19:27

Dynamic:

Lias: ....I have a general aversion to middlemen clipping the ticket while providing little to no added value, aka "The Channel".

For for most things you can buy direct (e.g. Dell web site or Azure/365 web sites) already. As a technology enthusiast or professional, you likely have the skills or knowledge to do your own research or upskilling to make smart technology purchases. A minority of SMB business Owners or Managers have these skills or experience.

I don't object to paying where value is added such as services, but all too often it's just a bunch of tiers each tacking on a markup to some goods.

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Reply # 1885447 18-Oct-2017 09:08

Mattmannz:

Not sure why you want to not use a CSP, I can't see why you wouldn't.

Because the CSP resells to other IT companies , who then resell to the Public(companies)

So we get MS => CSP => Reseller => buyer . A chain like that is bound to cause issues ,with the way things are.
If MS would actually get involved when it gets messy, then it wouldnt be an issue

I my case , there are serious issues between the reseller & buyer . Im stuck in the middle to try & sort it out.
MS dont want to know . They said go to CSP. MS will not help .
CSP is not helping in sorting the mess: they really only want to deal with the reseller.

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Reply # 1885452 18-Oct-2017 09:22

Dynamic: A minority of SMB business Owners or Managers have these skills or experience.

And thats when the SMB would get their IT support to do it for them . There is no reason that their IT support couldnt buy
direct from MS on their behalf (using their CC if possible), and just charge for their time .
Its not an issue untill there's an issue :-)

yes SMB's often can't do this on there own,
but when you get MS->CSP->Resller , its just bad when they all arnt interested & pass the buck along the chain .

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Reply # 1885458 18-Oct-2017 09:31

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Yes the CSP Distributor (Exeed, Ingram, Rhipe, etc) will not deal directly with the end user. It's not their job, and there are very clear lines of delineation there. An equivalent might be asking Fulton Hogan to fix a pothole in your street. Yes they might be the ones who do the actual work, but the instruction would come via the City Council who pay the bills.

This leaves the client with the option of taking back control (as discussed above) or finding themselves another CSP Partner.

"4 wheels move the body. 2 wheels move the soul."

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Mattmannz

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Reply # 1885462 18-Oct-2017 09:35

1101:

Dynamic: A minority of SMB business Owners or Managers have these skills or experience.

And thats when the SMB would get their IT support to do it for them . There is no reason that their IT support couldnt buy
direct from MS on their behalf (using their CC if possible), and just charge for their time .
Its not an issue untill there's an issue :-)

yes SMB's often can't do this on there own,
but when you get MS->CSP->Resller , its just bad when they all arnt interested & pass the buck along the chain .

Your issues are not related to the CSP model - your issues are related to your relationship with the reseller.

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