To find out more about the software we offer, check out our FAQs: Click on a question below to show or hide its answer, or to expand all answers please click here.
The basement is designed for both students and their parents to buy low-cost educational software for use at home. The licensee of the software must be a full-time school student in the UK. College students will be able to buy from the basement very soon.
No, the licensee of the software must be a full-time school student in the UK, and software has been designed for home use only. If your school is not already buying at similar prices, then take a look at the Microsoft Schools Blog guide to getting the best deal. You can also look at Adobe's website to compare their deals.
The basement is a special initiative that RM has launched for students to purchase educational software at discount rates. As a Microsoft gold certified partner and Adobe authorised reseller, we are allowed to offer hugely discounted software to students and their parents, encouraging the use of ICT to boost learning and achievement. These unbeatable deals stem from our strong, long-term relationships with Microsoft and Adobe - and they benefit everyone!
Because the basement is made to deliver massive savings for you. It's all about you - and about us offering the best value deals for students just like you!
The basement is all about encouraging students to use ICT at home, as well as at school, to boost learning experiences and outcomes. We do this by guaranteeing top-quality educational software at rock-bottom prices, to make new learning opportunities as accessible and affordable as possible for you.
Buying software from this site benefits everyone. Every time you buy at the basement:
Because our special educational discounts are only available to learners - and their parents - who are current students of the schools associated with this initiative. So we need you to register and agree to our terms and conditions.
Registration is really easy and you only have to do it once. Next time you visit the basement, you can just use your login name and password to start shopping straight away!
There are some important points to bear in mind when looking for the correct school.
The first is that schools are listed by their area in the country, rather than by town/city. Hence schools in London are found under 'Greater London', schools in Newcastle-upon-Tyne under 'Tyne and Wear', and so on.
The second is that schools are listed alphabetically within each region; this also applies to schools whose name begins with 'The', which are listed under 'T'.
Because Microsoft restricts its volume licensing initiatives to operating system upgrade products, we are only able to sell the upgrades at the basement.
So, for example, you can buy the Windows Vista Business upgrade at a hugely discounted rate. But if you need the full operating system product, you will need to purchase it elsewhere at the standard retail price.
You are only allowed to buy one copy of each version of the software per registered user. This means that, if you purchase more than one copy of the software, each copy needs to be registered to a different user. However, each piece of software can only be installed on to one computer. You cannot register two copies of the software for one learner.
Yes, because your software comes with a perpetual licence. The licence doesn't expire when you leave full-time education, so you can continue to use the applications and the software will always belong to you.
You can buy at the basement using your credit or debit card and the online transaction is totally safe.
We use secure encrypted transmission of your payment details, so no-one can see or record your credit or debit card number. And we never store any payment card information.
Yes, confirmation of your order will be automatically emailed to you when you complete your purchase. This confirmation email will also double as your receipt.
Microsoft Your software will be supplied on a CD or DVD along with a licensing key, which you will need to successfully install it. Find the licensing key code (on an orange sticker on the back of the CD or DVD sleeve), insert the CD or DVD into your computer and just follow the on-screen instructions.
Adobe The box contains the product CD and a form, which the student needs to complete and send to Adobe to receive the serial number via email. The box does not contain a serial number or manuals for the program.
Since the key for each individual CD or DVD we send is unique, it will not be possible for us to re-supply it if it has been lost. It is therefore essential not to discard the licensing key until the software has installed successfully. We regret that we are unable to receive a CD or DVD back in to stock once purchased.
