I was sold a used Steam Codes

[Navajo]

So I bought a Steam Code from Gamestop (A registered vendor, mind you) it was sent to my email. From the time I got the email until I COPY & PASTE the code, it told me the code had been redeemed.

I called Gamestop 1st - they told me they buy the codes in bulk from steam and then sell them at their stores/website, and I should contact Steam.

Steam Tells me there is nothing they can do. And sent the list of verified vendors, as if I was buying codes of the street like a drug addict.... I bet you can guess who was on this list. DING! DING! DING! that's right, Gamestop.

My question is how can Steam ethically sell fake goods to Gamestop to then be passed on to the customer.

I have many games on steam, but if this is how unethically they conduct themselves at as company it will be the last time I buy from them and start looking into new platforms.

Has anyone else encountered this problem?.... I would put Vegas money on that I am not the only one here.

[Satoru]

GameStop is responsible for sending valid codes

[Cathulhu]

Indeed. Additionally, Gamestop does not buy codes from Steam. They get those from the publisher of the game.

But to be frank, wouldn't be the first time that Gamestop demonstrated of being incompetent in every way.

[MalikQayum]

do a chargeback and forget about buying from gamestop ever again. you will most likely not be able to use the same card with them.

[C²C^Guyver |NZB|]

You're believing Gamestop over Steam and you shouldn't ...as stated, Gamestop is responsible for selling valid Steam keys.

[my new friend]

Gamestop just can't stop having issues, can they? DLC game keys given to people who purchased Madden 2022 base game and now this?

[Crazy Tiger]

Originally posted by Navajo:

Steam Tells me there is nothing they can do.

Correct. Gamestop sold you a used code, it's up to Gamestop to fix this for you.

Originally posted by Navajo:

Has anyone else encountered this problem?

Plenty of people run into issues with Gamestop, yes.

You're trying to put blame on the wrong party here, mate.

[Navajo]

So what I am hearing is that, Gamestop is being untruthful about how they obtain the cods they sell?

I have purchased many codes over the years and have never had an issue. It's only $20 and I am not going to lose sleep over $20 - what I am upset about is that either company is pointing the finger at the other and none of them is willing to do the right thing. It's the principle of the matter not the money.

[The End]

Originally posted by Navajo:

what I am upset about is that either company is pointing the finger at the other and none of them is willing to do the right thing.

Valve/Steam has nothing to do with that key so why would they need to fix it.
Only store to blame is Gamestop, they sold you a bad key, they have to fix it.

[Crazy Tiger]

Originally posted by Navajo:

So what I am hearing is that, Gamestop is being untruthful about how they obtain the cods they sell?

I have purchased many codes over the years and have never had an issue. It's only $20 and I am not going to lose sleep over $20 - what I am upset about is that either company is pointing the finger at the other and none of them is willing to do the right thing. It's the principle of the matter not the money.

Correct. Valve doesn't sell Steam codes for 3rd party games to vendors, the game developers/publishers do. And in the end your sales deal is with Gamestop (not Valve/Steam) and they are responsible for providing you with a working code. So Gamestop is the party that has to do the right thing.

It's likely an error, Gamestop not properly maintaining which keys they sent out and thusly send you a duplicate. But it's still their responsibility as a vendor to fix this for you and provide you with a working one.

[CZI]

If you paid by credit card, I think better to contact them as dispute or fraud.

I got issue with Walmart before. They send me in-activated Steam gift card.
It looked new, but it was not registered on database and not redeemable.

That time it was paid by Walmart gift card account.
So I used some legal service to get refunded.

[Navajo]

Seeing as this is the 1st issue I have ever had, I wrongly assumed that Steam/Valve produced (x) amount of cods for their platform and then sold them to their approved vendors, I was unaware that 3rd parties have the ability to generate "currency" on valves platform.

Sounds like I was a little to quick to get upset with Valve, and will need to contact Gamestop again.

[Crazy Tiger]

Originally posted by Navajo:

Seeing as this is the 1st issue I have ever had, I wrongly assumed that Steam/Valve produced (x) amount of cods for their platform and then sold them to their approved vendors, I was unaware that 3rd parties have the ability to generate "currency" on valves platform.

Sounds like I was a little to quick to get upset with Valve, and will need to contact Gamestop again.

Have a read about Steam Keys: https://partner.steamgames.com/doc/features/keys

[tintingaroo]

Originally posted by Navajo:

Seeing as this is the 1st issue I have ever had, I wrongly assumed that Steam/Valve produced (x) amount of cods for their platform and then sold them to their approved vendors, I was unaware that 3rd parties have the ability to generate "currency" on valves platform.

Sounds like I was a little to quick to get upset with Valve, and will need to contact Gamestop again.

You're talking about Steam Wallet codes? If so, not all are aware of that and are giving you answers that apply to game keys. If wallet codes, it would be a good idea to update the topic post with that info.

Was it made clear to Steam Support it was a wallet code/gift card?

[Navajo]

Crazy Tiger - that is a very useful document. Thank you.

[Navajo]

Originally posted by tintingaroo:

Originally posted by Navajo:

Seeing as this is the 1st issue I have ever had, I wrongly assumed that Steam/Valve produced (x) amount of cods for their platform and then sold them to their approved vendors, I was unaware that 3rd parties have the ability to generate "currency" on valves platform.

Sounds like I was a little to quick to get upset with Valve, and will need to contact Gamestop again.

You're talking about Steam Wallet codes? If so, not all are aware of that and are giving you answers that apply to game keys. If wallet codes, it would be a good idea to update the topic post with that info.

Was it made clear to Steam Support it was a wallet code/gift card?

Yes it was in my original ticked and through screen shots. Now that I think about it I have never use any other code on this platform that was not for the steam wallet