Whats the intent of the refund policy ?

[arjensmit79]

Now first of all, i must say that there being a refund at all is a bonus, so i wont complain in that sense. I am not angry, I am just comically surprised.

I played a game for 3 hours, barely enough to get a hang of the controls decided its not as fun as the "overwhelmingly positive" responses promised me and found the refund button. I figure "what the heck lets try that". It had the appropriate option to select "game is not fun".

I get the answer that 2 hours is the maximum. Is the refund option only intended for games that do not work properly on your machine or something like that ? Was it never intended to be for games "that are not fun" ? Is that option only there so those why against the intent of the policy try to get a refund for a perfectly functioning game because they dont think its fun so we can pick that option instead of lie about it not working or something ?

Because if it is for games that are not fun, the max should at very least be 5 hours, possibly 10. I now know its 2 hours, next time i might be tempted to make my verdict in 2 hours when i might not even properly understand the controls yet.

So yes. 2 hours. Not nearly enough to decide if a game is fun or not.

[Tsubame ⭐]

2 hours is way more than enough to see if the game is for you.

Also, reviews and video streaming, there is no excuse.

[UmmUmBurst]

Nx Machina の投稿を引用：

Shakey の投稿を引用：

I know it's my fault but I bought one during the sale and I fell asleep at the main menu. Woke up... four hours play time.

Which is not a flaw with the refund system.

Shakey の投稿を引用：

Should be achievement based.

Nope as achievements can trigger anytime.

Shakey の投稿を引用：

Another game I got a few months back was made by a Ukranian studio and it showed in the manual. Had to watch like three to four hours of youtube videos just to understand the illogical interface.

Both games I haven't tried to refund and I'm having fun with.... but the system is still bad.

Imagine if you spent hundreds or thousands of dollars at a physical store, and they wouldn't return a ten dollar item. You'd be livid and stop going there.

Refund policies post #5.

Never said it was a flaw with the refund system. Hence the "I know it's my fault." It's just bad customer service to have a time based refund policy that counts down AT THE MAIN MENU BRO.

Achievements can trigger anytime? So if I don't have the tutorial/first mission complete achievement and only 2.1 hours play time.... I should just go cry in a corner?

Thirdly, your quoting the refund policy to people who clearly know the refund policy. Like what is your actual deal dude?

Flat out, your wrong. I've worked enough customer service to know it's just a bad policy. Yet, people defend it like your a noob or something. Making the refund policy better ain't gonna hurt anyone bro lmao

[Nx Machina]

Shakey の投稿を引用：

Never said it was a flaw with the refund system. Hence the "I know it's my fault." It's just bad customer service to have a time based refund policy that counts down AT THE MAIN MENU BRO.

Achievements can trigger anytime? So if I don't have the tutorial/first mission complete achievement and only 2.1 hours play time.... I should just go cry in a corner?

Thirdly, your quoting the refund policy to people who clearly know the refund policy. Like what is your actual deal dude?

Flat out, your wrong. I've worked enough customer service to know it's just a bad policy. Yet, people defend it like your a noob or something. Making the refund policy better ain't gonna hurt anyone bro lmao

If you know the refund policy there is no reason to complain. Note: It does not have a clause for "i fell asleep."

Secondly if you "worked enough customer service" you follow the company policy.

And finally i also listed other refund policies which you seemingly overlooked.

[nullable]

arjensmit79 の投稿を引用：

Now first of all, i must say that there being a refund at all is a bonus, so i wont complain in that sense. I am not angry, I am just comically surprised.

I played a game for 3 hours, barely enough to get a hang of the controls decided its not as fun as the "overwhelmingly positive" responses promised me and found the refund button. I figure "what the heck lets try that". It had the appropriate option to select "game is not fun".

Ah yes. And let me guess now you're gears are turning over the refund system.

arjensmit79 の投稿を引用：

I get the answer that 2 hours is the maximum. Is the refund option only intended for games that do not work properly on your machine or something like that ? Was it never intended to be for games "that are not fun" ? Is that option only there so those why against the intent of the policy try to get a refund for a perfectly functioning game because they dont think its fun so we can pick that option instead of lie about it not working or something ?

The not fun option is informational only. You can refund for any reason, a game isn't fun is a valid reason. It doesn't imply the refund system is wrong, or not long enough to always play a game to determine if it's fun or not.

If you need to refund a game and aren't sure if it's fun or not because you didn't get to play it enough, then you'd pick a different reason wouldn't you? Or decide it's not fun (so far). Your concerns over the utility of the not fun option aren't a problem for Valve to solve.

The refund policy is clearly stated. It's just an option to refund a game. That's it. If you're reading more into and making up problems, you're free to stop at any time.

arjensmit79 の投稿を引用：

Because if it is for games that are not fun, the max should at very least be 5 hours, possibly 10. I now know its 2 hours, next time i might be tempted to make my verdict in 2 hours when i might not even properly understand the controls yet.

So yes. 2 hours. Not nearly enough to decide if a game is fun or not.

The refund policy isn't going to change because of your perception of the utility of the not fun option. If the game wasn't fun pick it, if you don't know, pick a different reason. The system isn't going to change so you can feel better about that specific option. That would be silly.

[Start_Running]

arjensmit79 の投稿を引用：

Now first of all, i must say that there being a refund at all is a bonus, so i wont complain in that sense. I am not angry, I am just comically surprised.

WHy? How? The policy is pretty straight forward.

arjensmit79 の投稿を引用：

I played a game for 3 hours, barely enough to get a hang of the controls decided its not as fun as the "overwhelmingly positive" responses promised me and found the refund button. I figure "what the heck lets try that". It had the appropriate option to select "game is not fun".

Review aggregates aren't promises. They are strictly on the YMMV, because if you actually read reviews you'll find there's people who don;t like the game.

arjensmit79 の投稿を引用：

I get the answer that 2 hours is the maximum. Is the refund option only intended for games that do not work properly on your machine or something like that ? Was it never intended to be for games "that are not fun" ? Is that option only there so those why against the intent of the policy try to get a refund for a perfectly functioning game because they dont think its fun so we can pick that option instead of lie about it not working or something ?

Yeah you can put the game not being fun if thats the decision you have come to within the two hour limit. WHat's so cionfusing about that? Many, if not most people can tell whether or not they're having fun with a game within the first two hours.

arjensmit79 の投稿を引用：

Because if it is for games that are not fun, the max should at very least be 5 hours, possibly 10. I now know its 2 hours, next time i might be tempted to make my verdict in 2 hours when i might not even properly understand the controls yet.

Why?
If you're playing the game for more that 2 hours you're clearly enjoying it :P WHy would you spend hours playing a game you aren'ty enjoying?

[Brian9824]

The refund rules have always been can refund for any reason. Not liking it, not working, etc, but its limited to 2 hours and not meant to demo games.

Just like you can't watch a movie and then ask for a refund for not liking it. Your supposed to research the movie first.

[Wizardhermit]

arjensmit79 の投稿を引用：

I played a game for 3 hours, barely enough to get a hang of the controls

If it takes you 3 hours to learn the controls I think maybe gaming is not for you.

[nullable]

Well to be fair some games are complex. It's just not a very good argument and has no relationship to the refund policy. The expectation that the refund window should be large enough to let you learn all the controls of even the most complex games is a made up requirement.

I mean I tend to go slow in games or drag my feet. Two hours would be a limited amount of time for me to play a game and develop opinions or expertise about it. Difference is I don't believe the refund policy needs to accommodate my playstyle.

But anyway, your gate keeping is even worse than some ignorant rube not having a grasp on the refund policy.

[Start_Running]

Wizardhermit の投稿を引用：

arjensmit79 の投稿を引用：

I played a game for 3 hours, barely enough to get a hang of the controls

If it takes you 3 hours to learn the controls I think maybe gaming is not for you.

To be fair some games are like that.

[Zaskar]

Shakey の投稿を引用：

Nx Machina の投稿を引用：

Which is not a flaw with the refund system.



Nope as achievements can trigger anytime.



Refund policies post #5.

Never said it was a flaw with the refund system. Hence the "I know it's my fault." It's just bad customer service to have a time based refund policy that counts down AT THE MAIN MENU BRO.

Achievements can trigger anytime? So if I don't have the tutorial/first mission complete achievement and only 2.1 hours play time.... I should just go cry in a corner?

Thirdly, your quoting the refund policy to people who clearly know the refund policy. Like what is your actual deal dude?

Flat out, your wrong. I've worked enough customer service to know it's just a bad policy. Yet, people defend it like your a noob or something. Making the refund policy better ain't gonna hurt anyone bro lmao

You do know that SAM exists, right ? You can unlock or even lock again achievements anytime you want. So, you finish the game, re-lock all your achievements and refund it ?

The refund policy being better hurts developpers/publishers, which are also customers of Valve as important as we are. The policy is actually fine. Reviews and YouTube exists and you can easily know if you're gonna like a game before buying with some rare exceptions.

Refunds aren't demos.

[Xedhadeaus]

I think with the nature of open hardware, being able to see if a game even runs is something that should be necessary. The 14 day window is also nice if you're more interested in the deal.

There are definitely a lot of games with character customization, cutscenes, tutorial levels, prologues, and etc that will stomp out those two hours. In those cases, I'd recommend no commentary walkthroughs.

[Start_Running]

Xedhadeaus の投稿を引用：

I think with the nature of open hardware, being able to see if a game even runs is something that should be necessary. The 14 day window is also nice if you're more interested in the deal.

There are definitely a lot of games with character customization, cutscenes, tutorial levels, prologues, and etc that will stomp out those two hours. In those cases, I'd recommend no commentary walkthroughs.

Tutorials are not seperate from the game m8. They are literally part of the game. Because news flash EVERYTHING in a game before the final encounter...is a tutorial for the final encounter. SO bastically 95% of every game ever made is a tutorial. And how long you spend tweaking the eye bropwas of your character (which will ironically be hidden under gaudy overdesignerd armour) is your choice. Cutscenes, well if the game has unskippable cutscenes that's basically a mark in the 'Refund this column' and uit gets one for each such cutscene.

Unskippable cutscenes pretty much say the devs are so full of themselves that they will force you to sit through their fanfiction performance, and that the devs don't intend for you to actually replay the game.

[Kargor]

arjensmit79 の投稿を引用：

Now first of all, i must say that there being a refund at all is a bonus, so i wont complain in that sense. I am not angry, I am just comically surprised.

I played a game for 3 hours, barely enough to get a hang of the controls decided its not as fun as the "overwhelmingly positive" responses promised me and found the refund button. I figure "what the heck lets try that". It had the appropriate option to select "game is not fun".

Refunds are not demos, regardless of options that you might be able to select.

The basic idea: you run the game, it doesn't work, you're too lazy to figure out why, so you return it. Takes less than 5 minutes of playtime.

[Zoopy]

Depends on where you live. In Germany I've often gotten refunds approved with up to 3 hours of playtime. Once even with 4 hours.

Also, the whole idea that refunds aren't intended to "demo" games is so silly when Valve themselves have always advertised that refunds are issued for "any reason".

You can request a refund for nearly any purchase on Steam—for any reason. Maybe your PC doesn't meet the hardware requirements; maybe you bought a game by mistake; maybe you played the title for an hour and just didn't like it.

It doesn't matter. Valve will, upon request via help.steampowered.com, issue a refund for any reason, if the request is made within the required return period, and, in the case of games, if the title has been played for less than two hours.

https://store.steampowered.com/steam_refunds

[Judgmental Amaterasu]

Shakey の投稿を引用：

Nx Machina の投稿を引用：

Which is not a flaw with the refund system.



Nope as achievements can trigger anytime.



Refund policies post #5.

Never said it was a flaw with the refund system. Hence the "I know it's my fault." It's just bad customer service to have a time based refund policy that counts down AT THE MAIN MENU BRO.

Achievements can trigger anytime? So if I don't have the tutorial/first mission complete achievement and only 2.1 hours play time.... I should just go cry in a corner?

Thirdly, your quoting the refund policy to people who clearly know the refund policy. Like what is your actual deal dude?

Flat out, your wrong. I've worked enough customer service to know it's just a bad policy. Yet, people defend it like your a noob or something. Making the refund policy better ain't gonna hurt anyone bro lmao

No it's not "BaD cUsToMeR sErViCe". Refunds aren't meant to be a demo system for people to lazy to do research. That money isn't some magical plant that no one is going to miss when you take it back.

Zoopy の投稿を引用：

Depends on where you live. In Germany I've often gotten refunds approved with up to 3 hours of playtime. Once even with 4 hours.

Also, the whole idea that refunds aren't intended to "demo" games is so silly when Valve themselves have always advertised that refunds are issued for "any reason".

You can request a refund for nearly any purchase on Steam—for any reason. Maybe your PC doesn't meet the hardware requirements; maybe you bought a game by mistake; maybe you played the title for an hour and just didn't like it.

It doesn't matter. Valve will, upon request via help.steampowered.com, issue a refund for any reason, if the request is made within the required return period, and, in the case of games, if the title has been played for less than two hours.

https://store.steampowered.com/steam_refunds

And Valve will also remove your ability to get refunds when you abuse the system so that "BUT VALVE SAID" is a complete cop out.