steam treats customers like suckers, will not refund even for technical issues of the game

[shuyiken]

bought CK3 on the 25th, discovered technical issue in the game (font size and scaling), tried everything suggested on the forum, nothing worked, applied for refund on the 26th, won't refund me because "it was more then 2 hours game play" (it was not, proven by the only trophy i got was the "marry someone" from about one minute in the tutorial phase. but if you kept the game open, even with no game play, their system count that as "game play time"), asked me to contact paradox and screenshot proves, did that, sent all the screen shots to steam

from there they just keep repeating "over 2 hours, sorry" no matter how many times i sent proves, and forcibly close my refund request

i have reapplied for refund every day since 26th, and will keep do it

from browsing the forum i saw im not the only one got this treatment, this seems to be the general attitude they use towards their customers, once you paid and they have got the money, they treat you like suckers

be very careful when you spend money here, i only started using steam recently and unfortunately gave them too much trust.




Edit: UPDATE: steam still refuse to refund, which means money down the drain, which also means, I won’t be spending another penny on steam onward.

this is less about voting with your money, but more about…well, let’s just say there’s a business trick that we call “increase customer stickiness”, by treating customers like ♥♥♥♥, ignore customers rights, pushing outrageous practices, and just grabs whatever money you can for the corp. customers will leave in this process, but there will always be some customers who are willing to take whatever treatment, and by the end of the process, you are left with only them, and you can…well, give them whatever treatment. High customer stickiness is achieved. This is also called “fans washing”, the more you wash, and drive away normal sensible consumers, the “purer” cut of the fan base you are going to achieve, who will literally take whatever ♥♥♥♥ from you and blame themselves and defend you, all the while keep giving you money

pretty sweet, right?

because they can’t leave, they’ve already spent too much money and are in too deep, the sink cost is too high. I did a little walk around on steam community, and saw these suckers, these pathetic people actually enter simp contest to see who can take more ♥♥♥♥ from steam and proud they are good obedient little suckers, because they never defend their rights and just take ♥♥♥♥, they are proud that they are willing to lose money to steam, and slander those with self respect and don’t accept that. They are already well trained suckers and they want to bring anyone down to that level with them.

As I saw them, I immediately realized I can’t imagine myself sink to that low, I don’t want to end up like these suckers. To be honest, if not for this walk around, I might not have realized what kind of ♥♥♥♥ I’m in for. Thankfully this incident happened sooner rather than later, I’m only about 10 games in, I can still get out.

Also, during this walk around, I stumbled upon something really interesting: apparently there are about 15 “regulars” well known on the forums, that when they see any post criticizing steam, exposing outrageous practices, or sharing how they got screwed by steam, they reply with ♥♥♥ like speed(within matter of seconds, a speed that can’t be achieved if not monitoring the forums around the clock) to attack and recite a script that steam has no fault, it’s all the customer’s fault, and cheering on steam for screwing customers to "teach them". Basically trying to shut customers up and train customers to always think it’s their own fault and never question steam, aka simp training.

They will also come with this ♥♥♥ like speed to any post that mentions other gaming platforms have better service. Some say they are trolls, to be honest, if they are, that is just too sad, to have got so little attention they would even take verbal abuse over getting ignored, even that attention is good attention to them. It’s just too pathetic, so let’s put this possibility aside.

Others say they are bots, that’s possible. But bots paid by whom? Which brings it to another interesting observation: if you attack these bots back, you will immediately get banned, but no matter how much these bots attack people, they will never get banned. Which means only one answer: these bots are working closely with steam staffs. Which… is low even for steam. But if they are paid, it’s definitely less sad than if they are trolls who are so attention deprived they even crave negative attention, also less sad than if these are just self degrading simps doing unpaid work for steam.

Ps. Simps, no need to argue your case, you have already made your choice to be simps, no need to argue for validation of your choice. This post is for people who have doubts and suspicions about steam but don’t know any better. get out early while you can. I’m going to go back to use the more traditional way that allows me to actually own the game. or i will be purchasing digital directly from game developers and bypass the 30% cut that steam takes. and maybe supplementing from other game platforms, they have better policy and discounts than steam. Steam is not the only one.

[shuyiken]

steam deleted my discussion in the other thread about a real scenario i encountered a month ago, as it exposed their business model:

a month ago i bought a game that had technical issue, upon opening, couldnt even load. i researched on fixes and tested them until i realized it couldnt possibly be solved in 2 hours, so i applied for refund and barely made the cut off time

after that i kept tinkering with my computer, eventually believed i have got the right configuration, and re purchased the game

this time the game ran smoothly

seems perfect, right?

no. because if i still didnt manage to get it right, i would have to apply for refund a second time if i dont want to throw money in the water, but if you repeat this purchasing-refund- re purchasing to test if it works process 2 or 3 times, you will be judged as "abusing the system" and face penalty

so when games have technical issues that requires you to solve, the way to meet the 2 hours refund policy AND not wasting money on unplayable game? none

steam relies on a business model that customers will ♥♥♥♥ up to their money loss, i have got comments in the other thread of steam customers feel proud of themselves that they are willing to accept money loss from steam

when your customers are in a simp contest to see who simps the most for you, you have achieved high customer stickiness and can do pretty much whatever you want with customers like these

this is especially true for those who have a lot of games and spent a lot of money on steam and have all their games on steam and nowhere else, their sinking cost is too high, so they might as well do whatever steam says, never question it, and defend it over their own customer rights

steam could have implemented better customer service and refund policy that prevent system abusers, such as mandatory screenshots evidence when applying refund request, money only returned to steam wallet and can only be used on steam, etc, but they wont

they would rather get customers to ♥♥♥♥ up to money loss on unplayable game, because...as long as they have got the money

and you will find no shortage of steam simps(as i briefly browsed the discussion board on any complaint against steam), which is why customer rights here will never improve

if you are a customer among braindead, masochist people who have no self respect and not interested in their own rights, and actually proud of it, better know what you are in for or get out early

ps. steam might delete this comment too, we'll see

[shuyiken]

Diposting pertama kali oleh Nx Machina:

Refund policies - Take your pick.

Note: (***) same refund policy.

1) Steam - Within two weeks of purchase and with less than two hours of playtime. (***)

2) Epic - Games and products are eligible for refund within 14 days of purchase. However, you must have less than 2 hours of runtime on record. (***)

3) Ubisoft (UPDATED) - You can request a refund for a digital PC game within 14 days of your purchase, as long as the game has not been played for more than two hours. (***)

Previously it was: (You can request a refund for a digital order within 14 days of your purchase, as long as the content has not been launched).

4) EA Play - Whichever comes first.

a) Within 24 hours after you first launch the game.

b) Within 14 days from the day you bought it, if you have not launched the game.

c) Within 14 days from the release date if you pre-ordered the game, if you haven't launched it yet.

5) Blizzard - The game is newly purchased within the last 3 days. You haven't started the game; if the game has been played at all it won't qualify for a refund.

6) GOG - starting now, you can get a full refund up to 30 days after purchasing a product, even if you downloaded, launched, and played it. That's it. #

# (Open to abuse and they monitor for abuse and reserve the right to refuse a refund as do all PC stores).

GOG - https://ibb.co/ZzXPMwv

is this an advertisement for GOG?

because if you have real technical issues as i do and have evidence of it, you wont be worried that they monitor for abuse

epic also words their policy better: 2 hours of run time on record, instead of "2 hours play time"

EA's policy seems better for people with technical issue concerns, as you will definitely be able to judge whether the issue can be fixed or not wtihin 24 hrs

glad im not too deep in steam, thanks

[shuyiken]

Diposting pertama kali oleh JacquesPatat:

Also why create more then one thread for the same thing?
https://steamcommunity.com/discussions/forum/7/4843148768105377660/

because this is valid for both boards

[Start_Running]

Diposting pertama kali oleh shuyiken:

Diposting pertama kali oleh Nx Machina:

Refund policies - Take your pick.

Note: (***) same refund policy.

1) Steam - Within two weeks of purchase and with less than two hours of playtime. (***)

2) Epic - Games and products are eligible for refund within 14 days of purchase. However, you must have less than 2 hours of runtime on record. (***)

3) Ubisoft (UPDATED) - You can request a refund for a digital PC game within 14 days of your purchase, as long as the game has not been played for more than two hours. (***)

Previously it was: (You can request a refund for a digital order within 14 days of your purchase, as long as the content has not been launched).

4) EA Play - Whichever comes first.

a) Within 24 hours after you first launch the game.

b) Within 14 days from the day you bought it, if you have not launched the game.

c) Within 14 days from the release date if you pre-ordered the game, if you haven't launched it yet.

5) Blizzard - The game is newly purchased within the last 3 days. You haven't started the game; if the game has been played at all it won't qualify for a refund.

6) GOG - starting now, you can get a full refund up to 30 days after purchasing a product, even if you downloaded, launched, and played it. That's it. #

# (Open to abuse and they monitor for abuse and reserve the right to refuse a refund as do all PC stores).

GOG - https://ibb.co/ZzXPMwv

is this an advertisement for GOG?

because if you have real technical issues as i do and have evidence of it, you wont be worried that they monitor for abuse

epic also words their policy better: 2 hours of run time on record, instead of "2 hours play time"

EA's policy seems better for people with technical issue concerns, as you will definitely be able to judge whether the issue can be fixed or not wtihin 24 hrs

glad im not too deep in steam, thanks

Giog's terms are basically identical to STeam's. BEcause that 30 days is not guaranteed. THe guarantee period is actually 2 weeks.


As for playtime vs run time. They are the same in this context. Both refer to using the software.

M8. The refund policy is fine. You just didn't act in a timely manner which is your own fault. No one elses

[Thermal Lance]

2 hours, 14 days.

If you went a bit over, a manual ticket might work. That said, if you got SEVERAL hours on top. Forget it.

[Start_Running]

Diposting pertama kali oleh shuyiken:

Diposting pertama kali oleh Start_Running:

Because GoG has no ability to track playtime. SO they can't usen it in their policy.
Which is one of the reason GOG doesn't have the same level of dev/pub support. And techincally, just like steam they can refuse tyou within that 2 week window if they suspect you are abusing the policy.


Wow. I guess name-calling is the only argument you have left hmm?
Sad. So sad.

if you are not someone who want to abuse the system, but have unplayable game from technical issue and have all the evidence, you will not mind a REASONABLE system that prevent abuse, which steam doesnt have

if you have a game breaking technical issue that can be demonstrated then you will usually get either one-off refund provided you ask for it in a reasonable time frame.

But what you describe sounds more like a difference of aesthetic preference.
Which is not a technical issue.

[Start_Running]

Diposting pertama kali oleh shuyiken:

Diposting pertama kali oleh Start_Running:

if you have a game breaking technical issue that can be demonstrated then you will usually get either one-off refund provided you ask for it in a reasonable time frame.

But what you describe sounds more like a difference of aesthetic preference.
Which is not a technical issue.

not aesthetic, but functional, if the text get to readable size, the scaling go off and buttons go out of the screen and cant be pressed or even seen

So basically the game doesn't work well at your chosen display settings.
As said you can try a manual ticket but at that point it's mostly up to the dev/pubs.

[↑↑↓↓←→←→BASelect]

The op is the type to buy something from target and then try to take it back after using it for a year.

[Crazy Tiger]

Diposting pertama kali oleh Why?:

The op is the type to buy something from target and then try to take it back after using it for a year.

Yeah, OP seems a tad confused to what a refund policy is. It's not there as a satisfaction guarantee and it's the responsibility of the customer to ensure they're within the policy. And a game not working on computer X doesn't equal a broken game, so when outside the policy OP is getting rightfully denied.

As said, they can try a manual ticket, but at this point they're overestimating what they're owed.

[xBCxRangers]

And people feel they should get into PC gaming? Pfft. Thank goodness i have never invested what others here have.

Thousands of dollars in games and equipment, can go poof, all because an owner wants it too. People have to be nuts.

Playing a few games here is okay, and i enjoy some of them, but in this day and age you need to be on consoles.

Sad to watch

[ImperatorPavel]

Diposting pertama kali oleh xBCxRangers:

And people feel they should get into PC gaming? Pfft. Thank goodness i have never invested what others here have.

Thousands of dollars in games and equipment, can go poof, all because an owner wants it too. People have to be nuts.

Playing a few games here is okay, and i enjoy some of them, but in this day and age you need to be on consoles.

Sad to watch

I mean, Xbox only allows refunds within 14 days and without "significant playtime".

PlayStation only allows refunds within 14 days and the content can't have been downloaded.

The Nintendo eShop only allows refunds if a game is legitimately broken

Being on consoles really doesn't get you anything here.

Sources:
https://support.xbox.com/en-US/help/subscriptions-billing/buy-games-apps/refund-orders

https://www.playstation.com/en-us/support/store/ps-store-refund-request/#eligibility

https://www.nintendo.com/en-gb/Support/Nintendo-Switch/Refund-for-Downloaded-Game-or-DLC-Wrong-Game-Didn-t-Like-Game-Accidental-Purchase--1379023.html

[xBCxRangers]

Diposting pertama kali oleh ImperatorPavel:

Diposting pertama kali oleh xBCxRangers:

And people feel they should get into PC gaming? Pfft. Thank goodness i have never invested what others here have.

Thousands of dollars in games and equipment, can go poof, all because an owner wants it too. People have to be nuts.

Playing a few games here is okay, and i enjoy some of them, but in this day and age you need to be on consoles.

Sad to watch

I mean, Xbox only allows refunds within 14 days and without "significant playtime".

PlayStation only allows refunds within 14 days and the content can't have been downloaded.

The Nintendo eShop only allows refunds if a game is legitimately broken

Being on consoles really doesn't get you anything here.

Sources:
https://support.xbox.com/en-US/help/subscriptions-billing/buy-games-apps/refund-orders

https://www.playstation.com/en-us/support/store/ps-store-refund-request/#eligibility

https://www.nintendo.com/en-gb/Support/Nintendo-Switch/Refund-for-Downloaded-Game-or-DLC-Wrong-Game-Didn-t-Like-Game-Accidental-Purchase--1379023.html

I got a refund for a game i had more than 30 days at Xbox. Most everything over there exceptions can be made. Sony is horrible with refunds i know that.

The question here isn't about refunds, it's losing access of the whole thing based on what Mr Newell demands of you. In a small company with no accountability to anyone but his lot of bar buddies.

Can't have that and invest all that money on games and equipment. You need a console as your main platform.

[HikariLight]

Diposting pertama kali oleh xBCxRangers:

Diposting pertama kali oleh ImperatorPavel:

I mean, Xbox only allows refunds within 14 days and without "significant playtime".

PlayStation only allows refunds within 14 days and the content can't have been downloaded.

The Nintendo eShop only allows refunds if a game is legitimately broken

Being on consoles really doesn't get you anything here.

Sources:
https://support.xbox.com/en-US/help/subscriptions-billing/buy-games-apps/refund-orders

https://www.playstation.com/en-us/support/store/ps-store-refund-request/#eligibility

https://www.nintendo.com/en-gb/Support/Nintendo-Switch/Refund-for-Downloaded-Game-or-DLC-Wrong-Game-Didn-t-Like-Game-Accidental-Purchase--1379023.html

I got a refund for a game i had more than 30 days at Xbox. Most everything over there exceptions can be made. Sony is horrible with refunds i know that.

The question here isn't about refunds, it's losing access of the whole thing based on what Mr Newell demands of you. In a small company with no accountability to anyone but his lot of bar buddies.

Can't have that and invest all that money on games and equipment. You need a console as your main platform.

No business is obligated to let you do whatever you want.
EVERY business has rules the users need to follow.
Not liking those rules doesn't mean you get to ignore them.

[Demon]

Sorry if I'm late on this as most has already been covered.

Valve does take in account that the developers can have a minimum and recommended disclosure on titles. If you purchase a title that might show you have neglected to follow this information neither Valve nor developer will refund product as this is your responsibility to know this on purchase.

As mentioned above there are settled time lines and settled conditions that can be settled between Valve and the developer preventing a refund.
I'm sorry this has happened to you but in the future please be aware of title requirements and disclosures of refunds.

I hope between the two you can get some type of help...:)

[xBCxRangers]

Diposting pertama kali oleh HikariLight:

Diposting pertama kali oleh xBCxRangers:

I got a refund for a game i had more than 30 days at Xbox. Most everything over there exceptions can be made. Sony is horrible with refunds i know that.

The question here isn't about refunds, it's losing access of the whole thing based on what Mr Newell demands of you. In a small company with no accountability to anyone but his lot of bar buddies.

Can't have that and invest all that money on games and equipment. You need a console as your main platform.

No business is obligated to let you do whatever you want.
EVERY business has rules the users need to follow.
Not liking those rules doesn't mean you get to ignore them.

I don't recall more than 40 years on consoles, following "any" rules. In fact, i can't remember the last time i even signed a TOS Agreement with Xbox.

There is no "if you don't upgrade to our next Xbox, you lose all your games", as they do here every some years with these OS changes.

There is no having to go to their forums, being i don't have issues with games i buy there. Only here, where we need to follow "their" rules.

Absolutely not.

It seems, they're accountable to their customers. Not the other way around. And as long as they are, they will get my money, and make Trillions.