Sometimes Steam really winds me up

[KingsGambit_v1legacy]

Using a site like Good Old Games is a pleasure. It doesn't matter where you are in the world, you can log in and buy anything at any time and it's the same price (possible exceptions may apply but they are very rare).

Then you have Steam, a platform into which I've invested a lot of money over the years. It's regional restrictions on pricing, availability and wallet funds are driving me crazy. I will admit that mine is perhaps a slightly different situation than most have; my card and billing address are USA but I'm currently in the UK. For buying games, I see the store in dollars and pay appropriately and everything works fine.

The issue comes to the Steam Wallet. My steam wallet is forced into pounds sterling, a balance I cannot add to with my US credit card. I also cannot use those funds on games priced in dollars (just the market and in-game purchases). If I change my card or use paypal since it will lock me out of the wallet for 7 days.

So I turn to Steam Wallet codes. In the UK, as far as I can tell they're only available from Game and Curries.digital both of which will Email you a receipt for your online purchase, then *physically* mail you the damn thing with a 2 day lead time minimum.

Why is it so damn complicated that there's no simple way for me to add these funds? Why is there even a restriction? I can change money between currencies at any Bureaux de Change, buy online in many currencies without issue....except with bloody Steam. Why can't they convert currency and remove this complicated nonsense?

 

[Rylot]

Well that is dumb. Whenever I've gotten Xbox live codes online (usually through amazon, maybe check there) they give you the code right away.

I've got an OK laptop and use steam for older games that I didn't get a chance to play. I've only had a few problems with steam here and there. I get kind of annoyed when games have a free weekend and show up my library and start down loading without me noticing. Or the when I've gonna on a holiday spending spree and can't remember if I actually purchased the game or if it's a free trial thing.

The only time I've gotten genuinely mad at steam is when I was at a place where I didn't have internet access and steam couldn't authenticate and wouldn't let me play despite having the physical CD in the computer. That annoyed the shit out of me.

 

[Frezzato]

Well that is dumb. Whenever I've gotten Xbox live codes online (usually through amazon, maybe check there) they give you the code right away...

Hey that's right. The three times I bought digital PC games from Amazon they gave me Steam codes. Works for PSN as well. So despite Amazon offering to start the download I just copy the code and open it in Steam.

Also, it was a special sale that was way cheaper than Steam at the time, which is weird when I think about it because I was downloading it on Steam itself.

 

[KingsGambit_v1legacy]

It's just so infuriating that I'm completely unable to legitimately buy Steam Wallet funds. The Steam site itself won't let me and the retailers are far away, limited business hours and/or snail mail.

I spent a while longer looking around and in the end, got the result I wanted. Found a site that sold Steam Wallet gift cards for *less* than the cover price. I paid £18.50 for £20 of steam credit, got an Email in minutes and the code worked flawlessly. It reminds me a little of the piracy debate, with particular regard to TV shows for example where the official, legit channels simply don't exist. I eventually found (and bookmarked!) a third-party site that I could give my money to and who gave me a code online in return.

I have no trouble with buying games with my US card, in dollars. It's just because it forces my wallet into pounds sterling I have this issue.

GMG often gives steam codes, I've used those successfully in the past too. It's often a great place to pick up DLCs cheaper than on Steam itself, particularly with the regular discount codes they offer. Never bought a Steam game from Amazon but it's good to know that they give an online code.

 

[NuclearKangaroo]

well i know for instance that if you access you steam account from a new PC, theres a 7 day downtime from trading to avoid scammers from selling all your stuff, maybe thats the same reason why you have to wait 7 days after you activate a new method of payment


it sucks i guess but i dont know if there is any other way around it, you should consider adding more funds to your wallet before you go out on a trip

but i totally get you, steam can be a ***** sometimes

also, try buying games from GMG and adding the steam codes to your account

 

[Frezzato]

well i know for instance that if you access you steam account from a new PC, theres a 7 day downtime from trading to avoid scammers from selling all your stuff, maybe thats the same reason why you have to wait 7 days after you activate a new method of payment


it sucks i guess but i dont know if there is any other way around it, you should consider adding more funds to your wallet before you go out on a trip

but i totally get you, steam can be a ***** sometimes

also, try buying games from GMG and adding the steam codes to your account

For a second there I thought 'GMG' was a typo, but then I looked it up and of course, it's Green Man Gaming. They kind of dropped off the radar didn't they. Everyone here always talks about Steam first, GOG second. I wonder why nobody mentions GMG any more.

 

[NuclearKangaroo]

well i know for instance that if you access you steam account from a new PC, theres a 7 day downtime from trading to avoid scammers from selling all your stuff, maybe thats the same reason why you have to wait 7 days after you activate a new method of payment


it sucks i guess but i dont know if there is any other way around it, you should consider adding more funds to your wallet before you go out on a trip

but i totally get you, steam can be a ***** sometimes

also, try buying games from GMG and adding the steam codes to your account

For a second there I thought 'GMG' was a typo, but then I looked it up and of course, it's Green Man Gaming. They kind of dropped off the radar didn't they. Everyone here always talks about Steam first, GOG second. I wonder why nobody mentions GMG any more.

dunno, maybe we will hear again from them in the next summer sale

 

[Aerosteam]

Hey man, sometimes I have really bad gas and I just can't hold it -

Oh, you meant something else...

Is that the case with Steam in the UK? Wow, that's really dumb. I'm about to get Steam pretty soon and just now I'm picking up on how different it will be for me and the regular american Steam user.

 

[KingsGambit_v1legacy]

well i know for instance that if you access you steam account from a new PC, theres a 7 day downtime from trading to avoid scammers from selling all your stuff, maybe thats the same reason why you have to wait 7 days after you activate a new method of payment


it sucks i guess but i dont know if there is any other way around it, you should consider adding more funds to your wallet before you go out on a trip

but i totally get you, steam can be a ***** sometimes

also, try buying games from GMG and adding the steam codes to your account

For a second there I thought 'GMG' was a typo, but then I looked it up and of course, it's Green Man Gaming. They kind of dropped off the radar didn't they. Everyone here always talks about Steam first, GOG second. I wonder why nobody mentions GMG any more.

I'll say something here, they're as hard or harder to buy from too. I've had many issues in the past with payment constantly failing because it uses my IP address for regional restrictions. In fact, I had to set up a second account in the end with everything using strictly UK details. So I have one account for US purchasing, another for UK purchasing. I only use it if there's something i specifically want and it's significantly cheaper (and a Stream code). At least I can buy games on steam with my card directly.

As far as I'm aware, GoG really is the only site without regional restrictions and nonsense. That alone is laudable...add in DRM free and exe files which are guaranteed compatible on newer OSs, they're by far the most consumer friendly service in the market.

 

[gmaverick019_v1legacy]

well i know for instance that if you access you steam account from a new PC, theres a 7 day downtime from trading to avoid scammers from selling all your stuff, maybe thats the same reason why you have to wait 7 days after you activate a new method of payment


it sucks i guess but i dont know if there is any other way around it, you should consider adding more funds to your wallet before you go out on a trip

but i totally get you, steam can be a ***** sometimes

also, try buying games from GMG and adding the steam codes to your account

For a second there I thought 'GMG' was a typo, but then I looked it up and of course, it's Green Man Gaming. They kind of dropped off the radar didn't they. Everyone here always talks about Steam first, GOG second. I wonder why nobody mentions GMG any more.

I'll say something here, they're as hard or harder to buy from too. I've had many issues in the past with payment constantly failing because it uses my IP address for regional restrictions. In fact, I had to set up a second account in the end with everything using strictly UK details. So I have one account for US purchasing, another for UK purchasing. I only use it if there's something i specifically want and it's significantly cheaper (and a Stream code). At least I can buy games on steam with my card directly.

As far as I'm aware, GoG really is the only site without regional restrictions and nonsense. That alone is laudable...add in DRM free and exe files which are guaranteed compatible on newer OSs, they're by far the most consumer friendly service in the market.

could it have to do with how taxes are run? doesn't the UK have that VAT and when dealing with direct currency, steam can't deal with the exchange due to the way the currencies are run in each respective geographical market?

not saying that doesn't suck ass, just possibly giving you a reason why adding direct funds using your US card is having problems when in the UK things are run differently on taxable items.

well i know for instance that if you access you steam account from a new PC, theres a 7 day downtime from trading to avoid scammers from selling all your stuff, maybe thats the same reason why you have to wait 7 days after you activate a new method of payment


it sucks i guess but i dont know if there is any other way around it, you should consider adding more funds to your wallet before you go out on a trip

but i totally get you, steam can be a ***** sometimes

also, try buying games from GMG and adding the steam codes to your account

For a second there I thought 'GMG' was a typo, but then I looked it up and of course, it's Green Man Gaming. They kind of dropped off the radar didn't they. Everyone here always talks about Steam first, GOG second. I wonder why nobody mentions GMG any more.

maybe we lurk different threads but i see green man gaming mentions quite a bit if not way more than I used to, hell most of the time they mirror whatever steam is doing for sales and given an additional percent off that with their coupons, so it's been a while since I've bought anything directly from steam.

 

[NuclearKangaroo]

well i know for instance that if you access you steam account from a new PC, theres a 7 day downtime from trading to avoid scammers from selling all your stuff, maybe thats the same reason why you have to wait 7 days after you activate a new method of payment


it sucks i guess but i dont know if there is any other way around it, you should consider adding more funds to your wallet before you go out on a trip

but i totally get you, steam can be a ***** sometimes

also, try buying games from GMG and adding the steam codes to your account

For a second there I thought 'GMG' was a typo, but then I looked it up and of course, it's Green Man Gaming. They kind of dropped off the radar didn't they. Everyone here always talks about Steam first, GOG second. I wonder why nobody mentions GMG any more.

I'll say something here, they're as hard or harder to buy from too. I've had many issues in the past with payment constantly failing because it uses my IP address for regional restrictions. In fact, I had to set up a second account in the end with everything using strictly UK details. So I have one account for US purchasing, another for UK purchasing. I only use it if there's something i specifically want and it's significantly cheaper (and a Stream code). At least I can buy games on steam with my card directly.

As far as I'm aware, GoG really is the only site without regional restrictions and nonsense. That alone is laudable...add in DRM free and exe files which are guaranteed compatible on newer OSs, they're by far the most consumer friendly service in the market.

i dotn know if they are the most consumer friendly but they definitively have the less amount of hoops you are forced to jump through, i still think steam gives you more benefits, but i do agree with you about regional Free being amazing, steam shouldve never allowed publishers to restrict the regions from which people can add games to their library, it has hade gifting games to friends overseas incredibly difficult, it doesnt even makes sense, i am restricted to gifting newers games only to friends in south america, but almost none of the games are cheaper for me, except Valve games and those arent regionally restricted

seriously valve, you should know other companies will take any change they get to be mayor dicks

atleast indie games dont do that kind of bullshit

 

[KingsGambit_v1legacy]

it has hade gifting games to friends overseas incredibly difficult, it doesnt even makes sense, i am restricted to gifting newers games only to friends in south america, but almost none of the games are cheaper for me, except Valve games and those arent regionally restricted

seriously valve, you should know other companies will take any change they get to be mayor dicks

atleast indie games dont do that kind of bullshit

I've not had issues with gifting before, it's interesting to hear these points. You were actually prevented from gifting certain things?

Most of the time I give gifts without issue. I've only done one complex exchange where a DLC for Mafia 2 (The Betrayal of Jimmy) wasn't available in my region. In fact, it's only available in the Eastern Bloc. I posted a request here on the Escapist and on Steam in the forums and another user offered to trade the DLC which he *could* buy and which I could not. We traded for it and it worked fine (excepting for the steam wallet 7-day waiting period which I was affected by and thus forced to wait a week for the trade). If only I could get the Made Man DLC separately I'd have all of them, but that's not possible

 

[Albino Boo]

Valve is complying with united kingdom laws which state that if you are in the UK you have to pay UK vat of 20% on digital purchases regardless of source . If they let you buy games on steam as a US customer they would be breaking the law and so would you. GoG is UK registered company so if you are paying in dollars, the price is inclusive of VAT.

 

[Signa]

Cross-region support is always an issue with Steam because of how the publishers that work with steam want their product handled.