Previously used keys for brand new steam games....

[thealien2000uk]

i have bought several games from game the highstreet game retailer and when installing from disk or using the code from inside the sealed game package Steam reports that the key has already been attached to an account.... i took the games (orangebox and dishonored 2) and they refused a refund or an exchange due to the seal being broken and the codes have been used..... what the hell i just bought the games from their shop.... i believe someone in the shop is "borrowing" games and keeping them on their steam account then resealing the games and putting them back on the shop's shelves..... any idea what i can do ...i did report the orange box package to steam and provided scans of the original code etc a while ago but i received no come back.... any ideas.... i try to avoid steam games as they are a pain when crap like this happens...

[Snapjak]

Yeah, don't ever buy games from there again and warn other people. They're selling you worthless coasters.

[↑↑↓↓←→←→BASelect]

If you buy from steam you wouldn't have this problem. It's sad but true.

[thealien2000uk]

its just like i bought "monster hunter" the steam download knowing full well my pc is fully able to play it and it freezes on the loading screen every time... i've done all the uninstalling reinstalling crap... and it still wont play... steam is crap!... period... and you get no feed back from sending a "ticket"

[Xautos]

This is not an issue with valve or steam games and there is no blame to be had there, this is a seller of second hand games selling games with already used codes. as a customer you should never buy a second hand game with a code inside because the chances are it has been used already.

well, it's just a case of live and learn. if you are going to buy physical discs and games with codes, make sure they are new and unopened.

[Theblaze]

Originally posted by thealien2000uk:

its just like i bought "monster hunter" the steam download knowing full well my pc is fully able to play it and it freezes on the loading screen every time... i've done all the uninstalling reinstalling crap... and it still wont play... steam is crap!... period... and you get no feed back from sending a "ticket"

If a game doesn't run, it's either
A: The game itself
or
B: Your computer

And how do you expect Valve to give you support for games they haven't developed themself?.

If you need help regarding a third-party product, use the games hub or contact the game devs, which in this case (monster hunter), is NOT valve.

[Xautos]

Originally posted by Theblaze:

Originally posted by thealien2000uk:

its just like i bought "monster hunter" the steam download knowing full well my pc is fully able to play it and it freezes on the loading screen every time... i've done all the uninstalling reinstalling crap... and it still wont play... steam is crap!... period... and you get no feed back from sending a "ticket"

If a game doesn't run, it's either
A: The game itself
or
B: Your computer
and how do you expect Valve to give you support for games they haven't developed themself?.

If you need help regarding a third-party product, use the games hub or contact the game devs, which in this case (monster hunter, is NOT valve).

Whatever the issue is, it is better to consult the monster hunter forum hub on the issue and see if anyone can help there first.

Edit: Quick glance on MH:World forum:
https://steamcommunity.com/app/582010/discussions/0/1745594817430314295/

[Kargor]

If they are selling used games, it's actual fraud -- a games retailer should know that Steam games cannot be re-sold.

If they are selling new games, they have a crook in their midst taking the codes out of the packages and resealing them. You could probably do detective work by comparing the foil used on your box with the one on an original box, but that's not usually a customer's job...

If they refuse do return your money they are probably in the wrong, but they know you aren't going to go to court -- and even that could end up with an unexpected result.

[Xautos]

Originally posted by Kargor:

If they are selling used games, it's actual fraud -- a games retailer should know that Steam games cannot be re-sold.

If they are selling new games, they have a crook in their midst taking the codes out of the packages and resealing them. You could probably do detective work by comparing the foil used on your box with the one on an original box, but that's not usually a customer's job...

If they refuse do return your money they are probably in the wrong, but they know you aren't going to go to court -- and even that could end up with an unexpected result.

the least you can do is inform the local law enforcement about this little scam. if there are others who fell for it as well, there could be more than enough justification for law enforcement to raid the shop one day and find out what is really going on.

[thealien2000uk]

The Dishonored 2 game was bought as a new game sealed in the polythene wrapper... it was not a second hand game... it was completely sealed and had one of those sticky brakeaway tabs on it... and when i returned it they refused to replace or refund stating they don't refund or exchange if the seal is broken ... but you have to break their seal to get the disc out the dvd case....

[J4MESOX4D]

What was the retailer?

[↑↑↓↓←→←→BASelect]

Originally posted by J4MESOX4D:

What was the retailer?

highstreet game retailer

[reg1s7]

Why am I receiving a duplicate product code error when attempting to register the key?
This error indicates that the key you are registering has already been tied to a Steam account. It cannot be registered again.

...

If you are sure that you have never registered this key successfully, you will want to contact the retailer where the game was purchased to obtain a new copy of the game.

If the retailer is unable or unwilling to assist you, contact the game's publisher for further assistance.

https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=7480-wusf-3601#duplicate

[Brujeira]

Two words: Trading Standards. Contact them and let them investigate. Don’t buy games from there again until it’s sorted.

[thealien2000uk]

The retailer is GAME....(game.co.uk) and the game was NOT "preowned" as they call second hand games (which i wouldn't buy anyway).... Dishonored 2 (£29.99) .... I notified trading standards about the orange box collection... and heard nothing back from them... not a bean...

[Brujeira]

Originally posted by thealien2000uk:

The retailer is GAME....(game.co.uk) and the game was NOT "preowned" as they call second hand games (which i wouldn't buy anyway).... Dishonored 2 (£29.99) .... I notified trading standards about the orange box collection... and heard nothing back from them... not a bean...

Your other option is to escalate it to GAME’s head office. Trading Standards will get around to it when they have available manpower.