I just got scammed with beta key from Kinguin, a note for VMT developer

[Bavanity]

Hello.
Store name on Kinguin is gt4

I just want to alert the developer that I just paid the same price as the current Steam price for a free valfaris mecha therion beta key that was not disclosed as such in any way shape or form on the product listing. Because it was full price and the seller had almost 100% feedback and over 50 thousand transactions, I thought I was safe this time.

When I got burned by Kinguin in the past, I fought it vigilantly, and I learned from some internet research that they were not always honest and I decided not to use them again. But I managed to get a refund in credit for that time I got burned, and thought I would use said credit today (was about half the cost of the game, the rest I paid with PayPal) and then request them to close my account. Usually when a game is one euro and is 20 on Steam, there are massive red flags, for example. But on a new title with only one key in stock, from a highly rated store charging full price, I really thought I was likely going to get a retail key.

But, of course, my very last transaction with them was yet another scam.

If it's any consolation, I bought both Slain and Valfaris as a double dip on both my Switch and then PC a year later, and I also bought the physical limited edition of Valfaris from Signature edition games for Switch, and all those transactions were direct and definitely legit, so I hope you at least know I have supported you and would not purposely EVER pay for an NFR key.

I understand if you need to revoke the beta key, but I thought it was more important to alert you WHO specifically is charging not only money but full price for free review or beta keys you have given out. Maybe it can help you be more wary in future as you hand those keys out with to whom they are going to.

Anyway, at least that's it, I will never, ever be scammed by those a holes again, ever. Lesson well learned.

Peace.

[ko]

Don't buy keys from Kinguin or similarly shady sites. Lesson learned, as you say yourself.

[Bavanity]

Did you read what I wrote? Like, seriously?
I was using the $15 credit I had from a refund for a previous bs purchase and wanted to close my account, and I thought this particular transaction might be safe due to the seller feedback and price being a full price. Again, lesson learned, sure - and I will never use them again. Only GMG, Fanatical, IndeiGala, Steam Direct or Humble from now on. THAT'S IT. I know this.

[Bavanity]

So what I have done is offered buying it for an online friend directly at Steam, this way I still support the dev (and we know it will go on heavy sale next year) at the current price.

I am just waiting for reply if he wants the game.

Is that fair? I can't do better than that.

I think it's also fair to ask dev if he plans to revoke the key however, cause I want the game, so that will be 32 AUD * 2 (one for me and one for friend) plus Kinguin $30 AUD.

All this cause of those asses. I am sure they will credit me but then it just goes around and around, doesn't it? Keeps me in the game so to speak. So...... if they had refunded it on my card, I would have asked myself for the dev and steam to revoke key and I'd have repurchased it direct, but they never refund the damn card do they? Always this credit nonsense. All I wanted to do was use it and close the account, honestly.

So this way, if I still buy it direct from steam as a friend gift, I am still supporting the dev. I can't think of any other way to make it fair as of right now, as I know for a fact that others are waiting for when it's 5 or $10, so dev wouldn't have gotten that sale now anyhow.

Does this balance things out? Or am I still evil to some? Seriously.

[Bavanity]

And I still feel there is some real value in this topic because the dev can know the key code and look to who they originally gave that to and how it might be making its way only these grey market sites.
Maybe if devs can learn who resells NFR keys they can cut said people off in future. I never would have made this topic and embarrassed myself otherwise, I feel truly terrible about it all.

Edit, read text that friend still wants game, I have gone ahead and purchased it as a gift for 32.85 AUD direct from Steam as a surprise as it's also on his wish list.

So that's done. I have supported dev and bought my first gift steam game LOL.

Hope we're all cool now.

[Candyman2000]

bruh that's the risk you take when you use gray market sellers you got scammed move on. smart person would learn from it.

[Candyman2000]

you get that many devs would rather you just straight up pirated their games then use gray market key sellers, fraudulent sales from stolen credit cards usually get clawed back and then the devs end up having to deal with charge back fees on top of that they have to take time resolving these issues.

[Candyman2000]

https://unknownworlds.com/blog/beware-shady-key-resellers-and-discount-steam-keys/

[Bavanity]

Originally posted by Candyman2000:

bruh that's the risk you take when you use gray market sellers you got scammed move on. smart person would learn from it.

You're a condescending troll. I am way smarter than you could ever dream of being.

[kuhpunkt]

Originally posted by Bavanity:

Originally posted by Candyman2000:

bruh that's the risk you take when you use gray market sellers you got scammed move on. smart person would learn from it.

You're a condescending troll. I am way smarter than you could ever dream of being.

Telling other people how smart you are... when you use Kinguin.

[serpentine78]

Out of curiosity, have you ever tried CDkeys.com or Instant Gaming (.com)? I have purchased tons of games from them (at super cheap prices) and have never had a code fail.