Cannot purchase a game as a gift if I already own it!?

[Fawlcon]

First, I tried to use the Steam Trouble shooter but if only had one option for issue with purchase and it was off topic about some CD key stuff, so Steam FIX THIS.

Simply put, If I own a game, I cannot purchase it as a gift. The tab "Purchase as a gift" will not work. I tried different browsers, and submitted a Steam (wait forever ticket) too, but I cannot believe this has only happened to me

[Spambot71 (main character)]

some games cannot be gifted.

[Fawlcon]

Seeing's how I was trying to buy a "four pack gift set" from Tabletop Simulator...key word GIFT pack, this isn't the issue. I also found out that I cannot even buy Doom DLC as anything I already own will not allow ANY type of purchase, but if I put a brand new game in the "cart" is will allow me to buy it...WTH

[Purple Tentacle]

i have gifted serveral DLC's which i already own this xmas just a few hours ago, so yes it can be done, as spam said some games like CS GO for example will stop you gifting if you own the game or not, im surprised if thats the case for Dooms DLC also

[HEART]

You CANNOT purchase a 4pack if you already own the game.

[Fawlcon]

OMG, that has to be in the all time top 5 dumbest things I have ever heard of in gaming, and I have gamed sinced the 80s.

You buy a game that is specifically about getting friends and family to play along with you and after you buy the game, you cannot buy additional copies to give out as gifts....REALLY? This is seriously hurting my brain of the utter ignorance to not allow a game like this to be given out by people who already own it.....ah why?

[HEART]

It is a combination of how the mechanism works as well as a stopgap against abuse. By purchasing a 4 pack you are basically agreeing that the discount you are receiving is because you are keeping one copy of the game and the other 3 go to your inventory as gifts. It is not mean for you to purchase all 4 at a discount just because you already own it as that is not the intention.

Because you can no longer put one copy into your library, the whole mechanism fails. It was intended this way.

I'm not saying I agree with it, just explaining why it is what it is. TBH I'm a bit surprised they still sell 4 or 2 packs as many of the games that end up on ebay are from these bundles. Not that you would use it that way, of course.

[Fawlcon]

Originally posted by Purple Tentacle:

im surprised if thats the case for Dooms DLC also

Upon second try, the DOOM DLC would allow purchase. Not sure what I did wrong the first time, but this whole thing has been odd.

[Fawlcon]

Originally posted by Silversun ✴ Moon 0430:

It is a combination of how the mechanism works as well as a stopgap against abuse.

How about a disclainer OR notice of that when I try to purchase it rather than haveing me waisting two hours trying to figure it out, NOTHING on steams forums or support page at all...maybe why my tone is harsh!!!

The easy Steam fix is to limit the purchase of the 4 pack to maybe one or two, per customer (especially in games which are specifically designed to be played in just co-op like Guantlet or tabletop sim. I might be able to understand this in an MMO or FPS and I recognize they don't want people to buy this on special and resell the keys on ebay. But in the case of games like this, it is just crazy you cannot purchase an additional one or two 4 packs for family and friends to be an "actual" gift.

Well I guess the fix for this is, to give my son the money to buy the four pack so he can gift it to my other two daughers and son-in-law. I know this might sound silly, but I am very disapointed and bumbed that I cannot send the actual gifts out myself.

PS: Silversun, thank you for at least givng me the answer, I hope I did not come accross like I am killing the messanger and sincerly thank you for solving this issue. I waist hours of my life tying to resolve it and am not too happy with steam not having this answer easier to find.