Buying Steam Games on Ebay

[hannibal.tx]

I purchased Modern Warfare 2 on Ebay and the seller did not tell me Steam was required. I already have a steam account and I attempted to load the game onto Steam. I got a message from Steam that the serial number has already been registered. My game was factory sealed and everything was brand new looking. I took the serial number from the back of the game booklet. Has anyone else ever had this problem? How can a sealed game be already registered. Are fake software producers this good? I am really tired of getting burned on software from Amazon, Ebay and Walmart.

[XBL Laberbacke]

Then stop buying there.

[Poppi !!]

Nope ~ I'm not a EBay user. Best option is to buy directly from a digital service and avoid this type of issue altogether. If $ is a factor, they all have good sales quite often. Don't know what you'll do with the one you bought.

[J4MESOX4D]

Never buy modern PC games either physical or digital on eBay. If you get burned like this; you have a monumental task of resolving it and even then you may be unsuccesful as the burden of proof would be on you.

Dodgy sellers can obtain seemingly worthless physical PC editions, have them re-sealed to appear new and then sell for a profit. Becuase Steam and eBay aren't networked; there is no way for the consumer to tell if the game is legit until the seal is broken and then you have a situation where it's your word against theirs if the code is used and Valve can't really help.

Physical editions should only be purchased through reputable retailers and digital ones through online retailers showcased here https://isthereanydeal.com/

[FeilDOW]

Shrink wrap machines are a thing, open the box use key and re-shrink wrap than sell on E-bay.

I would very rarely buy from ebay but never pc games.

[RGX12]

Also, be sure to file a claim through Ebay's buyer protection program; you might be able to get a refund.

[Start_Running]

Originally posted by hannibal.tx:

I purchased Modern Warfare 2 on Ebay and the seller did not tell me Steam was required. I already have a steam account and I attempted to load the game onto Steam. I got a message from Steam that the serial number has already been registered. My game was factory sealed and everything was brand new looking. I took the serial number from the back of the game booklet. Has anyone else ever had this problem? How can a sealed game be already registered. Are fake software producers this good? I am really tired of getting burned on software from Amazon, Ebay and Walmart.

The previous owner obviously opened the box and copied the key down. You do know that sell the machines that ceal those boxes right?

[Hamer]

Actually everything that was just said, no offense, is completely wrong. I have sold Steam keys on eBay and been burned EVERY TIME. When someone buys a key from you all they (you) have to do is say that you never got it. I sold $150 worth of keys, tracked them, and as soon as they were redeemed the buyers filed a complaint to eBay. $150 was automatically deducted from my PayPal account and there was NOTHING (believe me, I tried) that I could do about it. Different buyers btw.

[cSg|mc-Hotsauce]

Originally posted by Hamer:

Actually everything that was just said, no offense, is completely wrong. I have sold Steam keys on eBay and been burned EVERY TIME. When someone buys a key from you all they (you) have to do is say that you never got it. I sold $150 worth of keys, tracked them, and as soon as they were redeemed the buyers filed a complaint to eBay. $150 was automatically deducted from my PayPal account and there was NOTHING (believe me, I tried) that I could do about it. Different buyers btw.

The fact that your eBay account can be terminated for reselling keys should be enough for you to stop.

You are NOT a licensed reseller of game keys.

[Brian9824]

Originally posted by Hamer:

Actually everything that was just said, no offense, is completely wrong. I have sold Steam keys on eBay and been burned EVERY TIME. When someone buys a key from you all they (you) have to do is say that you never got it. I sold $150 worth of keys, tracked them, and as soon as they were redeemed the buyers filed a complaint to eBay. $150 was automatically deducted from my PayPal account and there was NOTHING (believe me, I tried) that I could do about it. Different buyers btw.

Actually you would be completely wrong. The OP was sold a physical boxed product that contained a CD key. That is very different then selling just the CD key which you are not allowed to per ebay's rules.

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/prohibited-restricted-items/digitally-delivered-goods-policy?id=4289

Next time perhaps you should familiarize yourself with ebay's rules

[Cathulhu]

Originally posted by Hamer:

Actually everything that was just said, no offense, is completely wrong. I have sold Steam keys on eBay and been burned EVERY TIME. When someone buys a key from you all they (you) have to do is say that you never got it. I sold $150 worth of keys, tracked them, and as soon as they were redeemed the buyers filed a complaint to eBay. $150 was automatically deducted from my PayPal account and there was NOTHING (believe me, I tried) that I could do about it. Different buyers btw.

I wonder how he "tracked" them, as you can't do that unless you are an authorized reseller. Which wouldn't sell stuff on eBay. Quite the paradox at hand.