Australian Consumer Law requires refunds from places of purchase (Steam)

[blackmancer]

Just a reminder for those in Australia that the Consumer Law gives the power to the consumer to dictate a refund on a product they do not feel was up to standard, is faulty, did not do what they expected it to do or does not do what they were told by the place of purchase.

BY REFUSING REFUNDS STEAM AND VALVE ARE BREAKING AUSTRALIAN LAW

[Gus the Crocodile]

First, the statutory guarantees on goods don't require a refund because you don't "feel" an item is up to standard. The standard will likely be determined by some ombudsman or arbitrator or the like, not by the purchaser - otherwise everybody could get refunds for everything just by saying they don't think it's good enough.

Second, in legal terms, Steam doesn't sell games. It provides subscriptions to access them. They'd be affected by the guarantees about services rather than goods, which are slightly different. Don't know to what degree that changes anything though, off-hand.

But yes, if they're providing a service that doesn't do what it promises, they could be legally required to refund you.

TheBDK님이 먼저 게시:

I'm pretty sure it does not cover digital purchases, just like the rest of the world. I could be wrong though.

Digital or not shouldn't be a factor, the laws cover any kind of goods or services. More relevant is whether Valve can, in practical terms, be made to abide by them, seeing as they operate their store online from another country.

If you feel like taking the matter to the ACCC or whoever, blackmancer, I'm sure people would be interested to hear what kind of response you get.

[blackmancer]

Well the current policy of ignoring consumers and passing them off to the forums for other consumers to help out does not follow the law

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=wSg5ww16Kv4

[KingWeeksy]

TheBDK님이 먼저 게시:

I'm pretty sure it does not cover digital purchases, just like the rest of the world. I could be wrong though.

It does - however, it has to be corrupted or faulty in some way.

What isn't covered with Digital Purchases is just changing your mind - I've seen plenty of fellow Aussies on the forums moaning about how a game they bought was rubbish or a rip off etc. and they want a refund - I would say "Suck it up" to that kind of complaint.

[blackmancer]

If a game is a "ripoff" or was "rubbish" you are still entitled to a refund, no different if the toaster you bought didn't toast the bread to your acceptable standard.

[blackmancer]

The real shame though is you will never see a Valve employee talking here about this with users.

[KingWeeksy]

blackmancer님이 먼저 게시:

If a game is a "ripoff" or was "rubbish" you are still entitled to a refund, no different if the toaster you bought didn't toast the bread to your acceptable standard.

Buyers remorse hits everyone - do more research before you buy something and avoid being disappointed.

[Gus the Crocodile]

blackmancer님이 먼저 게시:

If a game is a "ripoff" or was "rubbish" you are still entitled to a refund, no different if the toaster you bought didn't toast the bread to your acceptable standard.

No, you're wrong, and weeksy is right. Not liking something is not grounds for a guaranteed refund. Otherwise people could just say they have high standards and get refunds on every game they buy. The law exists to protect consumers, but it also has to protect businesses.