Steam refunds within a set time

[Werewolf King]

Steam refunds need to be much longer in the time window. By the time some games take to install the window is over. Others by the time you see if you like the game or not or its true to its sales pitch or if it even works the window is over as well.

[Boblin the Goblin]

Postat inițial de Everyone is Invited:

can one of you point out the official steam spokes person on this thread, i am not sure who it is but certainly one of these people work for steam to take this matter so seriously and or to care about steams rebate policy.

asking for clarification or are you all just making assumptions based on steams already bad 2 hour refund policy window.

i agree with the OP that a larger refund window needs to be adopted to cover the lengthy installations and patching that takes place in most games even after you down load and install them, they often times download addition content to patch.

it wouldn't be hard to update the policy to 4 hours or 1 week, there is no reason for a 2 week refund policy but a 4 hour window of play time and 1 week is more then enough time needed to determine if a game is to your liking.

the only reason i can see 2 weeks being a issue is steams refunding policy is so bad that it takes them two weeks to answer a ticket and most of the times users complain that refund tickets get lost in steam queue or closed.

FYI always look at the bottom of your support page to open current tickets.

As stated, the only time playtime is counted when downloading content is when the exe launches a launcher for the game. In those cases, you need a manual refund, not the automated system.

This is only a concern for customers who buy content in Steam. This is not a concern for users who only play free games and purchase content within those.

In those cases, all sales are final.

[Crazy Tiger]

Postat inițial de Everyone is Invited:

the only reason i can see 2 weeks being a issue is steams refunding policy is so bad that it takes them two weeks to answer a ticket and most of the times users complain that refund tickets get lost in steam queue or closed.

Less than two weeks would be against the law in various areas.

[Tito Shivan]

Postat inițial de Everyone is Invited:

i agree with the OP that a larger refund window needs to be adopted to cover the lengthy installations and patching that takes place in most games even after you down load and install them, they often times download addition content to patch.

'Most' games have their patching and intallation managed by the Steam client, where playtime is not counted and the game is not running.

What you're calling 'most games' account for a few MMOs with third party clients who manage the game patching themselves.

Postat inițial de Everyone is Invited:

the only reason i can see 2 weeks being a issue is steams refunding policy is so bad that it takes them two weeks to answer a ticket and most of the times users complain that refund tickets get lost in steam queue or closed.

The two weeks timeframe mimics physical refund regulations.
https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/consumers/shopping/guarantees-returns/index_en.htm

If you buy a product or service online, you have the right to return it within 14 days of delivery without providing any justification. For service contracts, the cooling off period expires 14 days after the day the contract was agreed. If the cooling-off period expires on a non-working day, your deadline is extended until the next working day. This is called the right of withdrawal.

You can also check Steam Support response times here:
https://store.steampowered.com/stats/support/
You can see refund requests take less than 2 hours on average to be solved.

Of course mentioning this isn't going to make a dent in the network of fantastic conspiracies you keep posting about, but I'm posting this so any forum lurker gets an actual piece of information and not just FUD.

[Danny]

Want a lifehack?

Obtain a copy of the game, by 'other' means.
Go to a friend's house for example.
Play it, try it out, touch everything to see if it fits you.

Game good?
Actually BUY the game.

Don't like it? Put the game on ignore list.
Simple as that.

[Quake Nukem]

My main problem is that some games intentionally design their game to where they make the initial boot up - tutorial to where by the time you do finish them and actually try the first level you almost have 2 hours of gametime. I get it is intended so people dont have a chance to refund but, idk what Steam could do about it. Like games for example some MMO's where you have to launch from steam then pops up a launcher and now you have to wait for install on the launcher and the whole time it counts as game running is so bad. FFXIV does that and by the time you get into a actual server you already have 2 hours of game time basically (just using that as a example)

[Pscht]

Refund time window is for spotting technical problems, not to see if you like it.

[Boblin the Goblin]

Postat inițial de Pscht:

Refund time window is for spotting technical problems, not to see if you like it.

It's no longer stated on the refund page it isn't for trying games out. They also don't say it's strictly for technical troubleshooting when you are refunding as well.

[Danny]

Postat inițial de BoagieOagie420:

My main problem is that some games intentionally design their game to where they make the initial boot up - tutorial to where by the time you do finish them and actually try the first level you almost have 2 hours of gametime. I get it is intended so people dont have a chance to refund but, idk what Steam could do about it. Like games for example some MMO's where you have to launch from steam then pops up a launcher and now you have to wait for install on the launcher and the whole time it counts as game running is so bad. FFXIV does that and by the time you get into a actual server you already have 2 hours of game time basically (just using that as a example)

I know what Steam could do about it. Nothing.
Why adjusting something to bring them less income?
I mean like, think about it. Alot of game devs use such "predatory" methods, as some would say, and I am sure Steam won't do anything about it, since they just take their percentage and couldn't care less.

Edit: I fixed the message so ppl understand better.

[Pscht]

Ah yes, predatory. And if you know it, why do you fall for it then? In that case you should notice it way before the two hour mark. Or maybe you just have buyer's remorse WAY in retrospect, blaming the devious game makers.

[Danny]

I don't fall for anything, since I know what I am buying. Tell that to the OP lmfao.
I am just pointing out that Steam nor Valve would not do anything about it, because it brings them cash.

What I am doing is called "Try before buy."
Which, in my opinion, is what everyone else should be doing aswell.

Borrow the game from a friend, or someone, whatever.
If you don't want to be disappointed, then do not dive into anything blindly!

Once you cross 2 Hours of playtime, you are simply screwed.
And Steam doesn't need to hear that, they already got their portion of cash.
Their income would suffer if you had an option to return the game 2 weeks after playing it halfway through.

[Spawn of Totoro]

Postat inițial de WatashiDannyDesu:

I know what Steam could do about it. Nothing.
Why adjusting something to bring them less income?
I mean like, think about it. Alot of game devs use such predatory methods, and I am sure Steam won't do anything about it, since they just take their percentage and couldn't care less.

Assuming users don't have their own predatory practices or methods as well... Like beating and refunding a game that was only two hours long, for example. No one has ever done that, let alone on a scale that hurt the developer, right?

https://www.fanbyte.com/legacy/steams-two-hour-refund-policy-continues-to-hurt-developers-of-small-games

Postat inițial de BoagieOagie420:

My main problem is that some games intentionally design their game to where they make the initial boot up - tutorial to where by the time you do finish them and actually try the first level you almost have 2 hours of gametime. I get it is intended so people dont have a chance to refund but, idk what Steam could do about it. Like games for example some MMO's where you have to launch from steam then pops up a launcher and now you have to wait for install on the launcher and the whole time it counts as game running is so bad. FFXIV does that and by the time you get into a actual server you already have 2 hours of game time basically (just using that as a example)

Much of that has already been answered.

Games with launcher, submit a manual ticket. Support knows what games have launchers and can make exceptions.

Tutorials tend to be fulled with cut-scenes. Skipping them will drastically lower the time it takes to get into the game.

FFXIV offers a free online trial. Even before then, I don't recall the tutorial taking that long. I was through it with in 30 minutes to an hour and the tutorial was actually a good representation of the game that game after.

Also, refunds are not intended to demo a game or find out if you like it. They are for if you are having technical issue and with most games, you will not fairly quickly or through the game's reviews/discussion/Youtube.

[Danny]

Postat inițial de Spawn of Totoro:

Postat inițial de WatashiDannyDesu:

I know what Steam could do about it. Nothing.
Why adjusting something to bring them less income?
I mean like, think about it. Alot of game devs use such predatory methods, and I am sure Steam won't do anything about it, since they just take their percentage and couldn't care less.

Assuming users don't have their own predatory practices or methods as well... Like beating and refunding a game that was only two hours long, for example. No one has ever done that, let alone on a scale that hurt the developer, right?

Then make a longer game maybe? Whose fault is it that there are mfs like that?
I honestly see the 2HR refund window completely reasonable, and I believe they should lower it for these small games. To make people actually think before buying.

Edit: Forgot to close the word "predatory" in commas ""

[Spawn of Totoro]

Postat inițial de WatashiDannyDesu:

Then make a longer game maybe? Whose fault is it that there are mfs like that?
I honestly see the 2HR refund window completely reasonable, and I believe they should lower it for these small games. To make people actually think before buying.

Edit: Forgot to close the word "predatory" in commas ""

Except adding content to simply increase the playtime is seen as "predatory" already, such as is being said about tutorials and early game. It may also dilute the game play and story.

I'm just saying don't point to something as being "predatory" when it seems more of a two way street.

Some developers may do "predatory" things, but so do some users. Doesn't matter who is at fault, the fact is they are done on both sides.

[Danny]

Postat inițial de Spawn of Totoro:

Some developers may do "predatory" things, but so do some users. Doesn't matter who is at fault, the fact is they are done on both sides.

Yup, the perfect example is Rockstar Games and their playerbase

[davidb11]

Postat inițial de WatashiDannyDesu:

Postat inițial de Spawn of Totoro:

Some developers may do "predatory" things, but so do some users. Doesn't matter who is at fault, the fact is they are done on both sides.

Yup, the perfect example is Rockstar Games and their playerbase

IT is clear by your words here you do not know anything about what a predatory practice is.

Don't speak about things you clearly have no understanding of.