Buying CD keys on Ebay or Amazon

[Schu]

Hello everyone!

I mostly buy my games on the Steam Store, but sometimes I would like to get a game for a cheap price without having to wait for a nice Steam Season Sale / Midweek Madness or Weekend Sale.

Is it legal to buy just the CD Key of a game on ebay and activate it on Steam?

What about Amazon? As it seems you can get "downloadable" full versions there too, which have to be activated on Steam. Is that legal according to the Steam Subscriber Agreement?

[woskis9161]

Pretty sure it isn't, as it COULD be fake.

[Τhe Rolling Cheese Wheel]

No one is stopping you, but if you happen to get a fake key or scammed key, don't expect Valve to give you any support.

[CKLX]

You really should check for retail price on game's official website or on Steam Store. It is obvious that no one can sell keys under retail price, unless they want to lose money.

[Satoru]

Originally posted by Schu:

Hello everyone!
Is it legal to buy just the CD Key of a game on ebay and activate it on Steam?

Legal? Yes

Good idea? ABSOLUTELY NOT. You can easily be scammed and ebay won't protect you because no 'physical good' is transferred.

What about Amazon? As it seems you can get "downloadable" full versions there too, which have to be activated on Steam. Is that legal according to the Steam Subscriber Agreement?

Amazon is an authorized Steam reseller. And thus games purchased from the Amazon Download Store are safe to purchase. I do so frequently.

Remember to only purchase from authorized Steam Resellers.

[Spawn of Totoro]

http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/downloadable.html

According to Ebay's policies, they aren't supposed to be selling key at all, unless they are authorized by the developer/publisher to do so.

Amazon offer Digital Downloads where they give you a Steam key as well. Not all include a Steam key. They are an authorized retailer and are allowed to do so.

[Warlord]

Originally posted by Schu:

Hello everyone!

I mostly buy my games on the Steam Store, but sometimes I would like to get a game for a cheap price without having to wait for a nice Steam Season Sale / Midweek Madness or Weekend Sale.

Is it legal to buy just the CD Key of a game on ebay and activate it on Steam?

What about Amazon? As it seems you can get "downloadable" full versions there too, which have to be activated on Steam. Is that legal according to the Steam Subscriber Agreement?

It's completely legit and don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

Amazon is an authorized distributor of PC games with far better prices than Steam rountinely on Steamworks games.

[Satoru]

Originally posted by Spawn of Totoro:

http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/downloadable.html

According to Ebay's policies, they aren't supposed to be selling key at all, unless they are authorized by the developer/publisher to do so.

But in terms of 'unauthorized' they really only talk about 'in game items and accounts' this makes sense in that such items are always the 'property' of the game company and thus are not subject to 'first sale doctrine'.

Otherwise selling game keys would be legal under the bolded part via first doctrine:

Software that you're authorized to sell online by the owner, the owner's authorized agent, or the law

Emphasis mine.

This is still not a good idea! But ebay can't really stop it via their own policies.

[^7ja^1co]

Do not buy keys from unauthorized retailers though, because then what happens is after a few months they will contact steam and say you stole their key (you only have the key, they have the original label/scratch card and what not) so they can prove they are the owners not you.
Happened to me with Serious Sam 3, my game got removed out of the sudden without any warning or info...

[Satoru]

Originally posted by Warlord:

It's completely legit and don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

Purchasing ebay cd-keys may be 'legit' but that doesn't make it a good idea by any stretch of the imagination.

Amazon is an authorized distributor of PC games with far better prices than Steam rountinely on Steamworks games.

While this is true, do not confuse purchasing from an authorized reseller, with a shady cd-key shop or an ebay seller. There is an entire multiverse of difference between them.

[Warlord]

Originally posted by Satoru:

Originally posted by Warlord:

It's completely legit and don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

Purchasing ebay cd-keys may be 'legit' but that doesn't make it a good idea by any stretch of the imagination.

Amazon is an authorized distributor of PC games with far better prices than Steam rountinely on Steamworks games.

While this is true, do not confuse purchasing from an authorized reseller, with a shady cd-key shop or an ebay seller. There is an entire multiverse of difference between them.

Good thing I didn't and I specifically included authorized distributor!

Anything else you want to add that is completely irrelevant to what I posted?

[Satoru]

Originally posted by Warlord:

Good thing I didn't and I specifically included authorized distributor!

Your posting makes it seem like ebay is an authroized distributor. they arent'. The Op asks about both ebay and Amazon, which requires DIFFERENT answers. Are you even reading the posts you quote?

[Warlord]

Originally posted by Satoru:

Originally posted by Warlord:

Good thing I didn't and I specifically included authorized distributor!

Your posting makes it seem like ebay is an authroized distributor. they arent'. Are you even reading the posts you quote?

I never mentioned ebay.

Apparently you need to work on reading comprehension instead of posting nonsense on internet forums.

Thanks.

[Satoru]

Originally posted by Warlord:

I never mentioned ebay.

Again are you reading the posts you quote. The OP asked if Ebay was safe. and if Amazon was safe. You quoted THE ENTIRE POST. Thus addressing BOTH issues.

Those are two ENTIRELY DIFFERENT scenarios and ebay is not 'legit' by any stretch. Your post can easily be construed to mean that ebay and Amazon are both safe. This is 1000% incorrect. Clarity is your friend.

Apparently you need to work on reading comprehension instead of posting nonsense on internet forums.

One should take one's own advice before dispensing it to others.

[pii]

Originally posted by Satoru:

Originally posted by Schu:

Hello everyone!
Is it legal to buy just the CD Key of a game on ebay and activate it on Steam?

Legal? Yes

Good idea? ABSOLUTELY NOT. You can easily be scammed and ebay won't protect you because no 'physical good' is transferred.

What about Amazon? As it seems you can get "downloadable" full versions there too, which have to be activated on Steam. Is that legal according to the Steam Subscriber Agreement?

Amazon is an authorized Steam reseller. And thus games purchased from the Amazon Download Store are safe to purchase. I do so frequently.

Remember to only purchase from authorized Steam Resellers.

I'm pretty sure buying on Amazon is very safe. Matter of fact they even have a return policy so I'm thinking of checking there first after getting screwed on X Rebirth.

[Warlord]

Originally posted by pii:

Originally posted by Satoru:

Legal? Yes

Good idea? ABSOLUTELY NOT. You can easily be scammed and ebay won't protect you because no 'physical good' is transferred.



Amazon is an authorized Steam reseller. And thus games purchased from the Amazon Download Store are safe to purchase. I do so frequently.

Remember to only purchase from authorized Steam Resellers.

I'm pretty sure buying on Amazon is very safe. Matter of fact they even have a return policy so I'm thinking of checking there first after getting screwed on X Rebirth.

Yes, Amazon has some top notch quality customer service unlike some others.......