Run any program you buy through a virus checker. For your money, the service virus checks each program and ensures that all disks are included. Most of its programs can be registered or upgraded. The company says it doesn't sell any software whose licensing agreement prohibits its resale or transfer. These flea market-like events are held on weekends at racetracks, convention centers and college campuses.
Vendors range from regional distributors trying to clear out inventory to individual entrepreneurs.
Check newspaper or magazine ads for shows near you. These programs are meant to be shared so you can try before you buy. If you use a program regularly, you're asked to send the developer a registration fee, which is the equivalent of buying it. Registration fees are usually lower than the prices of commercial programs, though any given program may not be as polished or feature-laden as its commercial equivalent. With the popularity of the Internet, many shareware catalog companies have gone out of business.