Is buying a "Steam CD Key", a thing?

[test]

https://www.gamivo.com/product/gothic-universe-edition Is this a scam? Or a legit way to buy from Steam?

[Satoru]

Thats an unauthorized reseller. Avoid like the plague

[wuddih]

https://isthereanydeal.com/
legit resellers

yes that is a thing but ... you dont buy from Steam, you buy from the resellers. it does not matter if the game is activated on Steam. Steam is out of the equation if the code is wrong or if you want a refund, you wont get help with that here.

[Spawn of Totoro]

Originally posted by myconv:

https://www.gamivo.com/product/gothic-universe-edition Is this a scam? Or a legit way to buy from Steam?

As you are not buying from Steam when you purchase a key, it can not be said to be a legit way to buy from Steam as the only way would be directly through Steam.

You are buying a retail key from the store. Buying from a little known place is always a risk as you do not know where they get their keys from. I suggest sticking with a well know, authorized retailer such as Amazon, Humble Bundle, Green Man Gaming or other such places.

Here is a good place to start: https://isthereanydeal.com/

[test]

Does such codes apply to all OS versions of the game?

[cSg|mc-Hotsauce]

Originally posted by myconv:

Does such codes apply to all OS versions of the game?

Yes. There are just a few exceptions.

[Cathulhu]

Originally posted by fauxtronic:

Even some of the legit sellers aren't very ethical. I got banned from GMG for filing a claim at MCOL (small claim) over a mis-sold product. That was 4-5 years ago though so maybe they have changed for the better since.

https://www.polygon.com/2016/10/31/13476610/green-man-gaming-battlefield-titanfall-codes
Not really.

[test]

The isthereanydeal.com website took me to other websites, are those by extension also legit and trustworthy? For example, how about www.fanatical.com?

[Ogami]

Originally posted by myconv:

The isthereanydeal.com website took me to other websites, are those by extension also legit and trustworthy? For example, how about www.fanatical.com?

All stores listed on isthereanydeal are authorized Steam Key resellers. Isthereanydeal itself is just a hub site collecting those other stores and listing all current ongoing sales at those shops.

[Spawn of Totoro]

Originally posted by Ogami:

All stores listed on isthereanydeal are authorized Steam Key resellers. Isthereanydeal itself is just a hub site collecting those other stores and listing all current ongoing sales at those shops.

Actualy, that is unknown, but the majority of them are, at the least, legit sites. There is no least of authorized sellers.


OP, I suggest sticking with brand name sites that you recognize.

[Muppet among Puppets]

Originally posted by myconv:

The isthereanydeal.com website took me to other websites, are those by extension also legit and trustworthy? For example, how about www.fanatical.com?

That was bundlestars once. No idea what they thought to change the name like that

[Cathulhu]

Generally, isthereanydeal.com lists only trustworthy authorized resellers. But that can change as the case of Greenmangaming shows. It was removed from ITAD after their repeated screwups.

[wuddih]

Originally posted by Muppet among Puppets:

Originally posted by myconv:

The isthereanydeal.com website took me to other websites, are those by extension also legit and trustworthy? For example, how about www.fanatical.com?

That was bundlestars once. No idea what they thought to change the name like that

BS is also the abbreviation for other stuff and they no longer do exclusively bundles, they are a normal store now, with bundles. it still is a dumb name, but a way better branding.

[test]

"OP, I suggest sticking with brand name sites that you recognize. "

That would mean not buying from any of them. Hell, go back in the past a bit and that would mean not buying from Steam. I don't believe my knowledge of them is a good metric for trustworthiness.

So if one of these sites steals from me, I have only my credit card company to turn to for remedy?

What does "authorized" even mean? What is the difference between authorized and unauthorized?

[Muppet among Puppets]

Find different sources of opinions about shops.
Ironically its the same approach to even find out who is authorized. Or to know what that could mean.

Rule of thumb:
If random people sell things there, it isnt authorized. But they can be honest people...... or not.

[El Bastos]

I confirm you can buy from gamivo your key. You may be scammed by people but the website is ok and support efficient.
I found their full review here https://www.keyhub.com/blog/gamivo-review-is-gamivo-legit/