Steam why are you bipolar with gifting

[Razzle]

sometimes I can gift my bf games
sometimes it tells me i cant cuz regional pricing

KEEP IN MIND that i DO NOT use a vpn, this is 100% an issue on steam not me

I have never ever used a vpn, i never left my city, and he never left his
my currency is USD his is EU

it stays on for months where it says regional pricing wont allow me to gift
then for months it allows me to


why

I am genuinely asking here, why ? are there laws that changes or what

[Nx Machina]

Not a Steam issue because the price difference cannot be more than 10% and obviously some games you are trying to gift ARE more than 10%.

[rawWwRrr]

Because some publishers set prices that exceed the 10% difference between you and your BF, and some of them don't. Whenever those prices exceed 10%, you are prevented from gifting that game between those two regions. Let the publishers know the issues you have with their pricing structures. Steam has no say in it.

[Razzle]

ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh i seee
wow thank you ! I had no idea it was like this.

[IFIYGD]

Also- because fluctuating currency values. Currency conversions can change daily, and if it raises your/their cost to over 10% above their/your cost, the sale will be disallowed. In a few days, your currency may lose value and theirs may gain value or vice versa, making the conversion closer, within the 10% limit. If either or both of the regional currencies you and your bf use fluctuate in value frequently and by large margins- things can get wonky pretty easily. YTD, the conversion rate between USD and EUR has been a bit of a roller coaster.
10%? Fine.
10.01% Nope.
https://www.exchangerates.org.uk/USD-EUR-exchange-rate-history.html

[rawWwRrr]

Originally posted by Razzy:

ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh i seee
wow thank you ! I had no idea it was like this.

I have a friend in the Netherlands who I have trouble gifting for and it's the same problem. Sometimes I get the message that my intended gift isn't allowed because of the pricing. It's aggravating sometimes but one of those things we all have to put up with.