Steam Refunds

[the gish]

We're releasing a major update to how we handle requests for refunds for purchases on Steam. You can read through all the details about refunds on Steam here, or visit https://help.steampowered.com if you’re having trouble with a purchase. We hope this will give you more confidence in trying out titles that you're less certain about.

Let us know what you think.

[sithlordofsnark]

Sagewriterx eredeti hozzászólása:

ratedx73 eredeti hozzászólása:

They are already very fair. If they change it, they're better off just getting rid of it, because it will be constantly abused.

That is your opinion, but I disagree. They don't need to throw away their rules in order to take the time to consider the individuals.

And, yes, I know that Steam is not responsible for internet related problems. I've never had an issue with that, since my problem doesn't invovle my internet in any way. All I was saying was that it is good to post the issue and talk about it.

Take this for instance:

Many of the games I have bought were beat within 2 and a half hours of purchasing - If they allow refunds for anything with less then 3 hours of game play, I would have basically gotten to beat the games FOR FREE. Two hours is very fair and you're lucky you even get that.

[Xejis]

ratedx73 eredeti hozzászólása:

Sagewriterx eredeti hozzászólása:

That is your opinion, but I disagree. They don't need to throw away their rules in order to take the time to consider the individuals.

And, yes, I know that Steam is not responsible for internet related problems. I've never had an issue with that, since my problem doesn't invovle my internet in any way. All I was saying was that it is good to post the issue and talk about it.

Take this for instance:

Many of the games I have bought were beat within 2 and a half hours of purchasing - If they allow refunds for anything with less then 3 hours of game play, I would have basically gotten to beat the games FOR FREE. Two hours is very fair and you're lucky you even get that.

I think you and I are talking about two different issues entirely. I have never once mentioned that they should change the 2 hours policy. I think that is an appropriate time frame to stick too. Remember, I only played for 28 minutes on my game. Not even close to the mark. I'm more talking about the two weeks issue and listening to the individual case in that regard.

[sithlordofsnark]

Sagewriterx eredeti hozzászólása:

ratedx73 eredeti hozzászólása:

Take this for instance:

Many of the games I have bought were beat within 2 and a half hours of purchasing - If they allow refunds for anything with less then 3 hours of game play, I would have basically gotten to beat the games FOR FREE. Two hours is very fair and you're lucky you even get that.

I think you and I are talking about two different issues entirely. I have never once mentioned that they should change the 2 hours policy. I think that is an appropriate time frame to stick too. Remember, I only played for 28 minutes on my game. Not even close to the mark. I'm more talking about the two weeks issue and listening to the individual case in that regard.

Most stores don't even allow returns after ONE DAY. So I don't think they should change it.

[HLCinSC]

ratedx73 eredeti hozzászólása:

chronolord eredeti hozzászólása:

If your someone like me, who's Internet is a 3G wireless service (often single figure data caps, yay Australia), it can take several months between buying a game and being able to download it.

Then don't buy games from Steam. Simple as that. Go to your local retailer and buy it so you don't have to download anything.

But remember, stores won't allow refunds on software. AT ALL. So consider yourself lucky Steam even does.

To be fair, if he's in an area like that I doubt their is a store carrying but a handful of PC games in a reasonable distance. Even if he could order every game by physical mail (as many are only released digitally nowadays) through the internet or something, so many games are shipped incomplete requiring massive day one updates. If he wanted a game like the new MGS5 he would of been especially screwed as the game's disc only includes a 8 mb file that starts the install of Steam and proceeds to download the whole game.

I'm not trying to sound mean, but honestly PC gaming is no longer for those with such a limited connection. He would be better off with a console but even those are adopting many of PC's data heavy trends.

[Xejis]

Again, that is your opinion. I respectfuly disagree.

ratedx73 eredeti hozzászólása:

Start_Running eredeti hozzászólása:

I don't thenk many stores anywhere will allow you to bring something back for a refund 3 weeks after purchase.

Most refunds are up to a month - However, there is no other store in existence that allows a refund on computer software.

[sithlordofsnark]

Sagewriterx eredeti hozzászólása:

Again, that is your opinion. I respectfuly disagree.

ratedx73 eredeti hozzászólása:

Most refunds are up to a month - However, there is no other store in existence that allows a refund on computer software.

Disagree all you want. Prove that there's a store that allows you to return computer software. Many of the big sellers (EB Games, Target, Future Shop, Walmart) do not. I know this from experience.

[Xejis]

ratedx73 eredeti hozzászólása:

Sagewriterx eredeti hozzászólása:

Again, that is your opinion. I respectfuly disagree.

Disagree all you want. Prove that there's a store that allows you to return computer software. Many of the big sellers (EB Games, Target, Future Shop, Walmart) do not. I know this from experience.

I was talking about the refund policy and steam considering requests at a more individual level due to the variety of issues that could occur. Not about returning computer software. The addition of your post was merely to point out that you had said something contradictory earlier and did not carifly. I'm assuming now, based on your response you meant computer sofware for the day and other items for the months, but I did not know that when I posted previously.

[Chronolord]

ratedx73 eredeti hozzászólása:

games from Steam. Simple as that. Go to your local retailer and buy it so you don't have to download anything.

How many Indie games can you name that have had physical releases?

[sithlordofsnark]

chronolord eredeti hozzászólása:

ratedx73 eredeti hozzászólása:

games from Steam. Simple as that. Go to your local retailer and buy it so you don't have to download anything.

How many Indie games can you name that have had physical releases?

Most Indie games are stupid, so none.

[HLCinSC]

ratedx73 eredeti hozzászólása:

chronolord eredeti hozzászólása:

How many Indie games can you name that have had physical releases?

Most Indie games are stupid, so none.

Not everyone just plays Magic card games

[sithlordofsnark]

CharlestONE eredeti hozzászólása:

ratedx73 eredeti hozzászólása:

Most Indie games are stupid, so none.

Not everyone just plays Magic card games

That isn't all I play either. Its the majority of what I play, but I have access to over 400 games on my Steam, so it definitely isn't the ONLY thing I play.

[Donston]

That's Great.

[Chronolord]

Start_Running eredeti hozzászólása:

Dayum...that sucks. And what with games being at least 5 gigs these days... ouch.

Yeah, the current refund rules need to be reviewed and updated to take in to account people with limited Internet services.

[Robert]

Something else they could include is partial refunds
Current rules state that you can only get a refund if both of these conditions are met:
1: Refund requested within 2 weeks of purchase
2: Less than 2 hours played

Partial refund (in my honest opinion) should come into effect if only one of these can be met
eg. I have played Act of Aggression for more than 2 hours, but have owned it for less than 2 weeks
Similarly, I have owned Papers Please for longer than 2 weeks, but have played less than 2 hours
In both of these situations, since I cannot meet full requirements for full refund
But can meet one of the requirements with each, it allows for partial refund on both
I should in both cases, maybe get 50% of my purchase price back as refund

To summarise:
If you have played less than 2 hours and have owned for less than 2 weeks, you get full refund,
If you have owned for longer than 2 weeks OR played more than 2 hours, you get 50% refund
If you have played longer than 2 hours AND owned for more than 2 weeks, you get nothing

I think this would make Steam users much more likely to buy games, knowing they can still get a refund if they do have limited access to the internet, or have to play quite a bit to fully understand the game

[HLCinSC]

Robert eredeti hozzászólása:

summarise:
If you have played less than 2 hours and have owned for less than 2 weeks, you get full refund,
If you have owned for longer than 2 weeks OR played more than 2 hours, you get 50% refund
If you have played longer than 2 hours AND owned for more than 2 weeks, you get nothing

I think this would make Steam users much more likely to buy games, knowing they can still get a refund if they do have limited access to the internet, or have to play quite a bit to fully understand the game

That's just not feasible. Basically it would make any game you can beat within two weeks potentially 50% off. No developer is going to agree to open ended time refunds from years ago so that 50% would be coming out of Steam's pockets even though they only get 30% of the sale (minus payment processing fees).