Steam Support?

[Optic]

So why doesn't steam, the go to for most PC gamers, not have any type of support where you can actually ask people questions and get results back. And im not talking about the usual support page where you just click on things and hope for the best. Im talking about a real support page. This is kinda bs.

[Glimmer]

They do, and we've just proved it by you asking and I answering.

If you mean why isn't there paid Support to answer minor questions, because Valve is cheap and realized they had a bevy of helpful and knowledgeable users who would be willing to chip in and assist.

[Optic]

Originally posted by Glimmer:

They do, and we've just proved it by you asking and I answering.

If you mean why isn't there paid Support to answer minor questions, because Valve is cheap and realized they had a bevy of helpful and knowledgeable users who would be willing to chip in and assist.

BUT these users cant to everything. What if I needed info from steam about my account or something that neither I nor anyone on these forums could answer? What if I had a problem not listed on the site that the forums couldnt provide a correct response to, but the actualy valve corporation would? Times like these call for tech support that isnt just interested gamers.

[Light Yagami]

Purchase and other inquiries about your account can be done through Steam Support.

We're able to provide as much details as possible and you're able to find answers in the user forums.

[Glimmer]

Originally posted by awesomedog135:

BUT these users cant to everything. What if I needed info from steam about my account or something that neither I nor anyone on these forums could answer? What if I had a problem not listed on the site that the forums couldnt provide a correct response to, but the actualy valve corporation would? Times like these call for tech support that isnt just interested gamers.

What type of info? Something like this info?
https://help.steampowered.com/en/accountdata

If there's info you need and we can't answer, then there's likely a way to contact Support for it, or it's not something that's under the purview of Support (E.G. game specific info is handled by the game's developer)

[Teksura]

Support isn't there to answer simple, mundane questions which are already answered in their help system. If you have a question and can't figure out how to use Google or navigate their support pages, you can post in this forum. Here, someone will either link you to the article that answers the question, or just give you the answer.

If you actually need help with an issue that requires support, then the system is designed to lead you to a ticket for that. Do you have a billing and account issue? Yeah, you can contact support for that. Otherwise, that's not a support question.

We'd be able to go into more detail, but you won't even talk about what issue you're having. This is an awful lot like the last guy who I saw make a thread about this. After about 5 hours of complaining, he finally admitted his "issue" was he wanted to change his account name. It then took 2 minutes for someone to tell him that isn't possible. Yup, he argued for 5 hours instead of just asking a question that could be answered in 2 minutes by regular everyday users all because he was too cocky to accept that other people might know what they are talking about.

[The HopelessGamer™]

It would be nice if they had a live chat feature. That would be cool. They have the money and resources to do that too. Some smaller websites even have this feature.

[Snapjak]

Sure, if you don't mind sitting in line for 12 hours.

[The HopelessGamer™]

Originally posted by Snapjak:

Sure, if you don't mind sitting in line for 12 hours.

what? In most websites iv been on that have that iv never once had to sit in line... Iv never been on hold. And these are normally in website hosts or domain registrars.

[Snapjak]

Most websites don't have the amount of users Steam has.

They also don't have to deal with the same absurd number of trash requests Steam has had to in the past.

[The HopelessGamer™]

Originally posted by Snapjak:

Most websites don't have the amount of users Steam has.

They also don't have to deal with the same absurd number of trash requests Steam has had to in the past.

Ok you do have a good point. So in that case the system in place will work best. No need for a live chat :D

[76561198407601200]

Originally posted by awesomedog135:

Originally posted by Glimmer:

They do, and we've just proved it by you asking and I answering.

If you mean why isn't there paid Support to answer minor questions, because Valve is cheap and realized they had a bevy of helpful and knowledgeable users who would be willing to chip in and assist.

BUT these users cant to everything. What if I needed info from steam about my account or something that neither I nor anyone on these forums could answer? What if I had a problem not listed on the site that the forums couldnt provide a correct response to, but the actualy valve corporation would? Times like these call for tech support that isnt just interested gamers.

Anything account related would go through support, that's about things like billing and account recovery, refunds, etc. If it's things like "My game won't launch", then that is something they cannot help with. No point in paying for extra support people to tell people information that can be easily read on the forums or any help pages.

[Snapjak]

A live chat for very very specific problems could help. But for the vast majority of issues, the current ticket system is just fine.

[The HopelessGamer™]

Originally posted by Snapjak:

A live chat for very very specific problems could help. But for the vast majority of issues, the current ticket system is just fine.

agreed

[76561198407601200]

Originally posted by Snapjak:

A live chat for very very specific problems could help. But for the vast majority of issues, the current ticket system is just fine.

Again, steam support already responds to very very specific problems, a live chat isn't going to somehow make the issue any less daunting. The people that use steam aren't exactly the brightest, and some will naturally disregard any warnings (ie: "Live chat is for (insert specific issues) only". Take a look at the vac forums, it states that it isn't an appeal forum, yet look at the dozens upon dozens of topics made there to appeal bans, live chat would be a nightmare. From a business standpoint, having live chat would simply be a waste of money as most problems can be solved either through following guides, asking on the forum or even google. Things like accounts being locked and what not, is what support handles.

[Optic]

Having a live support for this big of a community is almost like having good manners at a dinner table. Something as big and popular as steam should be a very good indication that they need the live support staff for serious issues, regardless of whether or not they get stupid questions. The one time that someone does have a serious problem and non of the community knows anything about that problem is the time that people will start to lose interest in steam. Someone else will step forward as the new steam and Steam will slowly start to go out of business, all because someone wasn't able to have their major problem fixed. My problem is I need to show a company who I bought from the time and account that the CD key was used because they want to make sure that I didnt just take the code and ask for a refund or a new one. But I cant ask steam for that info because I cant create a ticket or ask anyone. And, please inform me if im wrong on this one, but I believe that non of the community of players for this large platform has that kind of information lying around or has access to it.