If you pre-order... anything, you're handing your money over in advance for something with no guarantees whatsoever, and as a result, you deserve whatever you get.
Poll: Should pre-ordering automatically make you eligible for a refund?
- Thread starter unindexedsearchengine
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nope, you should learn from your mistakes and stop being a company's personal punching bag so you can live life happily ever after
buying blind is nearly as bad as gambling, it's a poor purchasing habit and it leaves you at the mercy of a company so just stop supporting the practice because you have to wait two years for a game to be developed but 1/2 days for reviews is too much? madness!
as far as aliens is concerned, that franchise was dragged through the mud so thoroughly by previous games i just had no hope left anyway
and yes, 1gotp1nk8cidbootson
been at this a while!
buying blind is nearly as bad as gambling, it's a poor purchasing habit and it leaves you at the mercy of a company so just stop supporting the practice because you have to wait two years for a game to be developed but 1/2 days for reviews is too much? madness!
as far as aliens is concerned, that franchise was dragged through the mud so thoroughly by previous games i just had no hope left anyway
and yes, 1gotp1nk8cidbootson
been at this a while!
if you like i can sell you a giant bubble wrap ball to protect you from the harsh reality of life of-course i have to build it first and i don't think i can be bothered right now so just pre order it mkay!
Absolutely. If I'd pre-ordered Aliens: CM based on the trailer/demo, and that was the game I got, I think I'd be well within my right to claim the game I was promised was not the game I got. From what I've seen, the final game is drastically different to what was shown before release. I mean, if I ordered this...
... and this is what I got...
... pretty sure I'm allowed to get my money back.
However, it should be Gearbox who are issuing the refund, not the retailer who is going to get swamped with refunded copies of the shitty game in question.
... and this is what I got...
... pretty sure I'm allowed to get my money back.
However, it should be Gearbox who are issuing the refund, not the retailer who is going to get swamped with refunded copies of the shitty game in question.
This is why the majority of games I actually fork money over for, I wait a few days to see how it is actually recieved, and watch some gameplay videos, etc.
And no, I don't think so, because honestly what is keeping that person from picking up the game, going home, playing through it, and then bringing it back for a full refund? You see the problem? I suppose on a release day basis, because honestly, you should only need maybe an hour or two with a game to know if you really want to keep playing or not.
And no, I don't think so, because honestly what is keeping that person from picking up the game, going home, playing through it, and then bringing it back for a full refund? You see the problem? I suppose on a release day basis, because honestly, you should only need maybe an hour or two with a game to know if you really want to keep playing or not.
You know, I want to say yes, but I can't. I can't say that anybody should get a refund for a game they pre-ordered, and be truthful. There are enough sites out there that review games, and post the truth about how great or how shitty they are. And not to mention the following praise/outcry from the buyers that have already played it. If you just do a little research, just a little bit, you could save yourself the trouble of wasting 60 or 50 dollars. I don't know if it just amounts to laziness or impatience, but it all comes back to the buyer who could have avoided this problem. Learn from other peoples mistakes, and your own.
It depends. Let's say you pre-order a game and you don't like it. Well, there's never a guarantee you'll like a game pre-order or not. I bring up Bioshock a lot here, but it's my perfect example. Bioshock disappointed me to no end despite that I liked the demo, despite that it got good reviews and despite my friend loving the shit out of it.
The game was fully functional and I can see the qualities even if I do not enjoy them. It's not a bad game, it just didn't click with me.
Now take games such as Diablo 3 and Assassin's Creed 2 (I think) where the game couldn't be played because of DRM issues. It was downright nonfunctional. Now here's a real issue with how you're not getting what you paid for.
As for Aliens: Colonial Marines the question isn't as easy to answer. They showed off a demo that didn't portray the actual game while claiming it was showing the gameplay. Then again demos usually come with the disclaimer that says the demo isn't representative for the quality of the full game.
My answer boils down to that in some cases a full refund should be required, but not over disappointment.
The game was fully functional and I can see the qualities even if I do not enjoy them. It's not a bad game, it just didn't click with me.
Now take games such as Diablo 3 and Assassin's Creed 2 (I think) where the game couldn't be played because of DRM issues. It was downright nonfunctional. Now here's a real issue with how you're not getting what you paid for.
As for Aliens: Colonial Marines the question isn't as easy to answer. They showed off a demo that didn't portray the actual game while claiming it was showing the gameplay. Then again demos usually come with the disclaimer that says the demo isn't representative for the quality of the full game.
My answer boils down to that in some cases a full refund should be required, but not over disappointment.
In other words, should games be held to the standards already established by consumer protection laws which they somehow get around on a technicality?
It makes me laugh every time someone says that demanding the basic consumer rights (which have many laws protecting them) which game companies have somehow weaseled their way out of makes them 'entitled'.
Don't you just love decades upon decades of industry brainwashing convincing people that their 'rights' are in fact something they shouldn't be entitled to?
The sad thing is, far too many people have been so indoctrinated with this idea, that rather than question why trampling all over consumer protection laws is allowable, they've come to view this as an obvious, and correct situation.
It makes me laugh every time someone says that demanding the basic consumer rights (which have many laws protecting them) which game companies have somehow weaseled their way out of makes them 'entitled'.
Don't you just love decades upon decades of industry brainwashing convincing people that their 'rights' are in fact something they shouldn't be entitled to?
The sad thing is, far too many people have been so indoctrinated with this idea, that rather than question why trampling all over consumer protection laws is allowable, they've come to view this as an obvious, and correct situation.
No.
If you're dumb enough to pre-order based only on marketing promos (and demo footage qualifies), before a single review is posted, you deserve to get screwed. A:CM had a pre-release review embargo- did you think they were afraid of letting people know how awesome it was before buying the game?
You pre-ordered why? To get some nearly useless in-game bonus? Because you were desperate to hand your money over? How many other products do you buy sight unseen with non-refundable money, without reading a single review, before anyone else has had a chance to try it?
If you want to gamble, fine. Just don't pretend you weren't after the house took all your chips.
If you're dumb enough to pre-order based only on marketing promos (and demo footage qualifies), before a single review is posted, you deserve to get screwed. A:CM had a pre-release review embargo- did you think they were afraid of letting people know how awesome it was before buying the game?
You pre-ordered why? To get some nearly useless in-game bonus? Because you were desperate to hand your money over? How many other products do you buy sight unseen with non-refundable money, without reading a single review, before anyone else has had a chance to try it?
If you want to gamble, fine. Just don't pretend you weren't after the house took all your chips.
you should be able to get a refund within 7 days no matter weather you pre-order or not if no demo is available im pretty sure if someone here got pissed enough to take it to small claims court or the commerce commission they could get their money back with relative ease given the wording of the consumer gurantees act of 1993
You already do, at least where I shop. You can cancel a preorder at a physical store. Steam and other online services don't offer this though.
I don't usually pick up a preorder on the release day anyway, I do it for the extras. So I watch the reviews, pick it up if I think it's good, cancel it if I don't.
Once you start playing it, you're kind of screwed. But it's always been that way. Even if you didn't preorder, you can't return most games, although you can trade in console ones. The trick is to know what you're getting, in every case. This has always been a problem. People have been getting games and being let down preorders or no.
I don't usually pick up a preorder on the release day anyway, I do it for the extras. So I watch the reviews, pick it up if I think it's good, cancel it if I don't.
Once you start playing it, you're kind of screwed. But it's always been that way. Even if you didn't preorder, you can't return most games, although you can trade in console ones. The trick is to know what you're getting, in every case. This has always been a problem. People have been getting games and being let down preorders or no.
Well it depends.
Yes = Preordering a game that's already been funded, made, & will be shipping withing a year.
No = Crowdfunding a game. That counts as a preorder, since you get a free copy of the game when it's done. It's also a gamble. If it's good, then everyone wins. If shit happens, well....A fool & his money are soon parted.
Yes = Preordering a game that's already been funded, made, & will be shipping withing a year.
No = Crowdfunding a game. That counts as a preorder, since you get a free copy of the game when it's done. It's also a gamble. If it's good, then everyone wins. If shit happens, well....A fool & his money are soon parted.
Well, considering that up until recently the retailer that I bought physical media from has offered a refund on played games for up to a week after purchase, I'm a little biased.
I think all games should be returnable for a full refund as it keeps the consumer from getting screwed by marketing departments and generally helps keep games to a decent standard.
I think all games should be returnable for a full refund as it keeps the consumer from getting screwed by marketing departments and generally helps keep games to a decent standard.
I don't really see the problem, no. Most industries are subject to laws forcing them to offer full refunds to some extent, why gamers must be "entitled" for expecting the same i don't know. It's actually perfectly legal for you to go out and buy a dress, wear it for 1 night out then return it with a full refund. Apparently the clothing industry hasn't collapsed yet, so it can't be that disastrous a concept.Smeggs said:
Any product or service you have paid for on good faith, which turns out to be advertised falsely or provides misleading information is eligible for refund. How misleading the information is determines whether you are entitled to a refund.
In the case of Aliens: Colonial Marines it depends of exactly how the gameplay trailer was presented, described and if it was said that it may not be representative of the finished product.
In the case of Aliens: Colonial Marines it depends of exactly how the gameplay trailer was presented, described and if it was said that it may not be representative of the finished product.
This. Most places such as Amazon do not charge you until it is shipped anyway, so buying from places like them is normally the best idea unless it's cheaper elsewhere.hazabaza1 said:
Once it is sent, then it is tough luck, and that is how it should be. Nobody forced you to buy it before it was released, so if you are not happy with it then you shouldn't get special treatment just because you chose to buy it blindly.
I understand what you mean, but you make it sound like it's a gaming thing only. Pre-ordering was primarily created so that people could buy things like books or DVD's on the day of release so that they could guarantee getting a copy. Although of course the difference is that with a film the chances are you would be pre-ordering it because you already saw it in the cinema, and with books it's likely that you are already into the series so are definitely going to get the next one.Mr.K. said:
Unfortunately gaming has a lot more "risks" involved, but people still choose to buy blindly. Especially now demo's are becoming increasingly rare, and developers don't bat an eyelid when they make up or exaggerate a whole bunch of crap to sell their games.
That depends on the shop. Most will tell you that you can return it as long as it is in the same condition that you bought it in (as in, not worn) and still has all of the labels etc. attached.Shpongled said:
I am pretty sure if there was any actual evidence it had been worn, that wouldn't be the case. Although perhaps different places have different rules.
In the cases of games it is actually the same thing. If you return the game sealed, you get a refund, if the game has evidence of being used, then you don't.
I'd say it depends.
I think if you pre-order a game, find out it's shit before you get it, and want to put the pre-order money to something else then that should be fine (maybe this is already done, since I'm pretty sure the EB Games I go to offers that option)
Full refund after you get the game though? I'm not sure. If you were to do that then there should be an obvious timelimit, maybe like you have a week and then otherwise you only get the store-credit for trade-ins, but even that's sketchy. If the game is clearly broken (either the disc is damaged on purchase or the data is corrupted from purchase) then obviously that should be allowed, and I'm pretty sure that's offered even for non-pre-orders. However, if the game just isn't up to your standards (or anyone's really) it's not really the job of the developer/publisher to refund the game. Technically, they held up their portion of the transaction by providing a product that is at least "functional", as in the media it came on functions like any other, then it's more of how you feel about the final product more than anything else. While getting spoiled, rotten, or under/overcooked food at a restaurant will get you a refund, eating the meal and then saying it wasn't good won't necessarily get you a full refund. Perhaps some improved service, a small discount, or maybe something for free, but rarely do you get a full refund, because they technically provided a "functional" meal.
There is an exception though, and one I think could apply to Aliens: Colonial Marines. Even if the disc isn't physically broken, if it has a major bug on it (such as the save-wipe glitch) that actively prevents you from playing or completing the game then and is NOT exclusive to the disc but rather an aspect of the game, then a full refund should be considered fair.
I think if you pre-order a game, find out it's shit before you get it, and want to put the pre-order money to something else then that should be fine (maybe this is already done, since I'm pretty sure the EB Games I go to offers that option)
Full refund after you get the game though? I'm not sure. If you were to do that then there should be an obvious timelimit, maybe like you have a week and then otherwise you only get the store-credit for trade-ins, but even that's sketchy. If the game is clearly broken (either the disc is damaged on purchase or the data is corrupted from purchase) then obviously that should be allowed, and I'm pretty sure that's offered even for non-pre-orders. However, if the game just isn't up to your standards (or anyone's really) it's not really the job of the developer/publisher to refund the game. Technically, they held up their portion of the transaction by providing a product that is at least "functional", as in the media it came on functions like any other, then it's more of how you feel about the final product more than anything else. While getting spoiled, rotten, or under/overcooked food at a restaurant will get you a refund, eating the meal and then saying it wasn't good won't necessarily get you a full refund. Perhaps some improved service, a small discount, or maybe something for free, but rarely do you get a full refund, because they technically provided a "functional" meal.
There is an exception though, and one I think could apply to Aliens: Colonial Marines. Even if the disc isn't physically broken, if it has a major bug on it (such as the save-wipe glitch) that actively prevents you from playing or completing the game then and is NOT exclusive to the disc but rather an aspect of the game, then a full refund should be considered fair.
No. Buying the game, whether it is pre-order or not, should entitle you to a refund if you are not happy with your purchase, plain and simple. It should not be dependent upon whether you ordered in advance or not.
Automatically, hell no...
You know people kind of forgot what pre-ordering used to be about before places like gamestop started pushing it as the only way to purchase something on the day of release. Preordering used to be the idea that this was a game a customer just had to get his hands on the day it came out, reviews be damned.
Besides nobody really is forcing you to get the game the first day or even the first week if you are doubtful of it, that is left entirely up your own self control to wait for reviews.
You know people kind of forgot what pre-ordering used to be about before places like gamestop started pushing it as the only way to purchase something on the day of release. Preordering used to be the idea that this was a game a customer just had to get his hands on the day it came out, reviews be damned.
Besides nobody really is forcing you to get the game the first day or even the first week if you are doubtful of it, that is left entirely up your own self control to wait for reviews.