Can GAME do this?

Devon

Say you buy any game in there and you want to exchange it WITH the receipt but there's nothing wrong with it - can the shop refuse to take it back even though there's nothing wrong with it?

I bought a game for my nephew for Christmas which he got from another relative and thought I could just take it back and exchange it for something else. They told me because of "new" laws, they couldn't change games anymore because they can be copied so easily these days, even though I had a valid receipt and bought it less than 2 weeks ago!

Whatever happened to consumer rights? Do I have any recourse at all with this?

Creamy Goodness

is it in the plastic wrapper? if it is and you have a receipt and brought back within 10 days (i think) then they should take it back.

aidan_walsh

tbh.

g'em

maybe its different for gaming software because of copying etc but certainly for general retail sales once a purchase has been made a store is under no legal obligation to exchange/ return an item if there is nothing wrong with it, and those that do are showing a gesture of goodwill. Obvisouly if an item is faulty its a different sotry.

Heyes

http://www.oasis.gov.ie/consumer_affairs/consumer_rights_and_protection/consumers_and_the_law_in_ireland.html


might be of some help

whiskeyman

From the horses mouth...

GAME T&Cs wrote:

2.4 If you decide you do not require the goods, you may return the goods to us within ten days from the date on which you received them provided they are returned in their original packaging and in perfect condition. We shall refund the purchase price of the goods within 30 days of the order being cancelled. Goods supplied direct from a manufacturer will be subject to the returns conditions of that manufacturer. If any goods are returned damaged we reserve the right to levy a charge commensurate with our costs of processing the sale.

http://shop.game.net/help/tandc.aspx#tandc

robinph

...and as they more than likely gave you the game already removed from its plastic wrapper then you giving it back to the already opened should in theory be no problem. I think you'd have to be extra lucky though for them to take a PC game back, although they must be getting loads of people trying to bring stuff back after xmas.

omb0wyn5ehpij9

They definately wont take back pc games because they are so easy to copy

dimerocks

they used to accomadate these things quite well at christmas though,most shops did anyways. just bring it into smyths and say you got it and dont have receipt.its worked for me before.

garthv

BrynW wrote:

They definately wont take back pc games because they are so easy to copy

Doesnt make a difference whether they are easy to copy or not.
Its illegal to refuse you a refund and if they do just threaten em with the small claims court, that'll make them change their minds asap.

whiskeyman

GaRtH_V wrote:

Its illegal to refuse you a refund

Not always true, and not in this case either.
I would expect a cr note / exchange to have been acceptable though.

omb0wyn5ehpij9

GaRtH_V wrote:

Doesnt make a difference whether they are easy to copy or not.
Its illegal to refuse you a refund and if they do just threaten em with the small claims court, that'll make them change their minds asap.

Listen mate, get your facts straight. I worked in a music shop for nearly 3 years so i know what the people in the shop have to put up with. There is NOTHING in the law stating it is illegal to not give a refund, the only way that rule applies is if the good/product is faulty.

projectmayhem

having worked in xtravision before, company policy was no returns on PC games (within reason - come back a week later and you wont be dealt with) because you can install a PC game, save it, then return the disc for cash. tend to be more apologetic to people looking to replace said game with the same one due to fault.

doubt it's entirely legal, but as i said, having worked in retail, the amount of little ****s coming in trying to get their money back off games that are clearly fine.

i once had a guy bring me back gran turismo 4 because it was faulty. all good. took a look at the receipt... it was FOUR MONTHS old. he didn't even deny that, he still wanted his money back! clearly a case of someone having cleared the game and chancing his arm...

most people aren't trying to do this, but stores have to be careful, and if a staff member takes back a game for money and the manager hears about it, he/she gets into trouble over it

Dont be at yourself

I used to work in Gamestop and we'd sometimes exchange games that were bought in Game over the Christmas where they wouldn't give them a refund.

I don't understand Game's policies. They make absolutely no effort to please the customer. In the above case, it makes little or no difference to the company if they return the game, makes the world of difference to the customer, and means they're more likely to return to a shop that treats them with a bit of respect.

WRT PC games: If they came back to us sealed, there was no problem. If they didn't, and it was of saleable quality (and not protected by cd keys etc), we'd generally take it back. If they came back to us either worn, or require a CD Key/online registration, then we'd generally refuse. But with such games, the policy, and reasons behind it, were explained before the original sale was made. I was sick to death spieling on about HL2.

Hobbes

BrynW wrote:

Listen mate, get your facts straight. I worked in a music shop for nearly 3 years so i know what the people in the shop have to put up with. There is NOTHING in the law stating it is illegal to not give a refund, the only way that rule applies is if the good/product is faulty.

In certain instances it is illegal not to give a refund/replacement.

(Look at when it all goes wrong part)


Although Game do follow the rules of the laws to ensure you can't ask for a refund for example.
1. (assuming store isn't busy) will show you the CDs and ask you if they look ok, no scratches.
2. Ask you have you read the minimum requirements for you machine.
3. Do not entertain returns on software after a set time.

If you agree to the first two at best you will get a replacement.

Thumper Long

GaRtH_V wrote:

Doesnt make a difference whether they are easy to copy or not.
Its illegal to refuse you a refund and if they do just threaten em with the small claims court, that'll make them change their minds asap.

You are in absolutely no way entitled to a refund because you changed your mind or got two of something. Any returns policy operated by a shop in regard to these returns is purely a gesture of goodwill, however if the goods are faulty within the first twelve months you are entitled to a refund as the goods are technically no longer fit for the purpose for which they were sold.

garthv

BrynW wrote:

Listen mate, get your facts straight. I worked in a music shop for nearly 3 years so i know what the people in the shop have to put up with. There is NOTHING in the law stating it is illegal to not give a refund, the only way that rule applies is if the good/product is faulty.

When I say refund i dont mean a cash refund. It can come in any form, credit note etc etc. After doing business for 3 years it IS illegal not to give a refund so you get your facts straight buddy.

colm_mcm

GaRtH_V wrote:

When I say refund i dont mean a cash refund. It can come in any form, credit note etc etc. After doing business for 3 years it IS illegal not to give a refund so you get your facts straight buddy.

even if there's nothing wrong with the goods?

Dagnir Glaurung

GaRtH_V wrote:

When I say refund i dont mean a cash refund. It can come in any form, credit note etc etc. After doing business for 3 years it IS illegal not to give a refund so you get your facts straight buddy.

Only if the goods are faulty or not as described. In which case a full cash refund must be given. You cannot offer credit notes only if the goods are faulty.

omb0wyn5ehpij9

GaRtH_V wrote:

When I say refund i dont mean a cash refund. It can come in any form, credit note etc etc. After doing business for 3 years it IS illegal not to give a refund so you get your facts straight buddy.

I also studied business for 2 years in college, and it is not illegal to not offer a refund on certain goods. Show me where it is written that it is illegal and then i'll believe you!

4Xcut

GaRtH_V wrote:

When I say refund i dont mean a cash refund. It can come in any form, credit note etc etc. After doing business for 3 years it IS illegal not to give a refund so you get your facts straight buddy.

Are you actually saying that because someone changed their mind about a product that is in pwo and fit for purpose they are legally entitled to a refund?
It boggles the mind how someone can be so wrong

whiskeyman

GaRtH_V wrote:

When I say refund i dont mean a cash refund. It can come in any form, credit note etc etc. After doing business for 3 years it IS illegal not to give a refund so you get your facts straight buddy.

For someone who "did business" for 3 years, I would have expected you to state properly a "cash refund" as opposed to just "refund" to avoid the confusion caused.

Also, It is not illegal in some cases not to give a refund.

homah_7ft

I actually don't like this. Now give me a refund.


Not a leg to stand on.

nobodythere

If there is a fault with the goods it is the shop owners perogative to either have it repaired or to give you a refund. Any refunds where the goods are not faulty are based on good will.

Devon

I went and pleaded my case to a manager who wasn't interested. I even told me to check out the product code which hadn't been used/activated, proving that the game hadn't even been installed! Wasn't looking for a cash refund at all, just something my nephew could play... and yes, they placed the disc in the case in front of my eyes so it was never sealed to begin with.

Spitfire666

the only case were changing your mind entitles you to a refund is were its a door to door sales person and i think, were catalogs are sent out to you.
Otherwise unless its faulty or not as described theres no legal requirements on the retailer at all.Game are not the easyst people to deal with either.I pre-orderd HALO2 SE when it came out and pre-paid in full and i had to wait a week to collect it because i couldnt get to dublin and when i got there the guy told me that my copy was gone and it was my fault even though i had already paid and told them I wouldnt be able to collect it straight away.
I argued with the guy for 10 mins then asked for the manager and it was sortted straight away.
They were much better when they were EB.

colm_mcm

GaRtH_V wrote:

After doing business for 3 years it IS illegal not to give a refund so you get your facts straight buddy.

that wasn't junior cert business was it?

robinph

jerryadams wrote:

I went and pleaded my case to a manager who wasn't interested.

You need to be sending in an elderly female realtive to do the pleading.

mad m

Try another Game shop maybe?

eamoss

Sell it on ebay!

Scraggs

mad m wrote:

Try another Game shop maybe?

thats a great idea! why didnt someone think of it earlier...

MrPinK

robinph wrote:

You need to be sending in an elderly female realtive to do the pleading.

Or a young, hot female relative.

robinph

MrPinK wrote:

Or a young, hot female relative.

That would probably work just as well.


Then send her round to my house.

rainbow kirby

To the OP: Which branch was this?
Because for Christmas, all branches of GAME were supposed to extend 10 day returns untiil 8 January (next Sunday), for games bought in the runup to Christmas, as long as you have a receipt.
EDIT: *re-reads thread* PC game then? Should still exchange it if it's still sealed.

TerrorFirmer

A tad off topic in a sense but GAME in Galway are always great. The female manager there is fantastic, she not only let me return a PC game there once (Some cheap counter strike clone that simply won't boot on xp for some bizarre reason), but she also let me off a few quid once when I bought a few games together and found I was slightly lacking in cash due to a miscalulation! A rather lovely lady.

I also have to stay the competition, Gamestop, are equally as accomodating. Regardless of their actual technical polices these guys try their best to please when it comes to any aspect of purchasing or returning.



So eh....good luck op.

Teg Veece

I went into Game to buy FEAR on the PC just before Christmas. I was just about to hand over the cash when I told the cashier that I wasn't 100% sure if it'd run on my computer and asked what Game's policy on refunds was. I was told that they refund all console games but no PC games because they are so easily copied.
I told the cashier that I wasn't gonna risk being stuck with a game that wouldn't play and left the shop, walked across the street into Virgin and asked the same question to their cashier. He said "Course you can return it. These things always happen." Payed 5 euro extra for it in Virgin but didn't mind as long as Game weren't getting it. I'm amazed at how Game are still turning profit with their attitude towards customers and the fact that Smyth's offer the same games for cheaper..

vms7ply9t6dw4b

GaRtH_V wrote:

After doing business for 3 years it IS illegal not to give a refund so you get your facts straight buddy.

What college did you go to? They're doing a super job! :rolleyes:

Shop is only obliged to give a refund (be that cash or credit) if the product is found to be faulty within a "reasonable" peroid of time or unfit for the purpose its intended to be used for... FACT

I would imagine GAME were loosing thier jocks over every second person copying the pc game and then returning it for a refund, worth pointing out however that any polocy they have on returns does not affect your statutory rights but they dont come into play because you simply changed your mind about the product.

Guy:Incognito

Teg Veece wrote:

I went into Game to buy FEAR on the PC just before Christmas. I was just about to hand over the cash when I told the cashier that I wasn't 100% sure if it'd run on my computer and asked what Game's policy on refunds was. I was told that they refund all console games but no PC games because they are so easily copied.
I told the cashier that I wasn't gonna risk being stuck with a game that wouldn't play and left the shop, walked across the street into Virgin and asked the same question to their cashier. He said "Course you can return it. These things always happen." Payed 5 euro extra for it in Virgin but didn't mind as long as Game weren't getting it. I'm amazed at how Game are still turning profit with their attitude towards customers and the fact that Smyth's offer the same games for cheaper..

Would you not be a bit pissed of if you bought, say, hl2 only to discover that the cd key was used (or any game) and that copy was useless? It's also useless to the shop.

Incidentally, up to quiet recently Dixons in the square left the books in the display boxes with the cd keys on them, not sure if this is still the case.

Shrimp

does anyone here remember computer city, u could get like amiga games there. Brilliant place, cos we knew the guys there so they would jsut copy the games they got in, and give them to us. for free! ! ! I loved the amiga!

jimmycrackcorm

I don't understand what the problem is with returning pc games - after all xbox / Playstation games are copied also albeit wiht more difficulty. As long as the item is returned of merchantisable quality like any it shouldn't really matter.

Just think if you are female buying clothes - chances are that someone bought your purchase previously and returned it after waering it to some party.

tie_mi_shu

whiskeyman wrote:

Not always true, and not in this case either.
I would expect a cr note / exchange to have been acceptable though.

i done some consumer law and if a shop/store offers a credit note their admitting liability..

steviec

tie_mi_shu wrote:

i done some consumer law and if a shop/store offers a credit note their admitting liability..

No that's rubbish. If a shop offers a credit note it means they're trying to keep good customer relations. The customer has no legal right whatsoever to a refund if they buy something and change their mind, however any shop manager with any sense/morals would allow the customer an exchange or credit note.

In the case of Game though, they have a specific policy of a money back guarantee, which you should find printed on the back of your receipt. If there's no small print about PC games(I have no idea if there is), then you are legally entitled to a refund, because the right to a refund was part of your original contract with them when you bough the game.

Dustaz

havent bothered reading all the replies because lets face it: its after hours.

If it was a multiplayer game, good luck. You wont get your money back, and theyre idiots if they do give you money back.

If its a single player game, then you have a case.

Hobbes

Dustaz wrote:

If its a single player game, then you have a case.

That would depend too on the game. HL2 for example the DVD version locks the serial number to an account so you can never use that DVD again unless you own the account.

Dave!

jimmycrackcorm wrote:

I don't understand what the problem is with returning pc games - after all xbox / Playstation games are copied also albeit wiht more difficulty. As long as the item is returned of merchantisable quality like any it shouldn't really matter.

It's because most PC games have serial numbers that you have to enter on installation, and once you do that, the game can't be installed on another computer.

as far as I know...

TerrorFirmer

jimmycrackcorm wrote:

I don't understand what the problem is with returning pc games - after all xbox / Playstation games are copied also albeit wiht more difficulty. As long as the item is returned of merchantisable quality like any it shouldn't really matter.
Just think if you are female buying clothes - chances are that someone bought your purchase previously and returned it after waering it to some party.

That's a bit silly. Xbox and ps2 games, especially xbox games, are alot harder to copy and generally speaking I'd say 90% of people who copy pc games due to its simplicity don't know how to copy ps2 games, let alone xbox. They can also be used 100% by anyone else who happens to re-buy this returned item without danger of loosing out.


It does matter very much for single player games on the PC, not AS much, but seeing as all major games nowadays use CD-Keys binded to their original installion comsumer, it means you could pay 50 quid for a game be it single player or multiplayer to find yourself either banned from playing online or simply unable to play at all.

4Xcut

DaveMcG wrote:

It's because most PC games have serial numbers that you have to enter on installation, and once you do that, the game can't be installed on another computer.

as far as I know...

of course you can use it on another computer. possibly not online play but to say that you can never install on another machine is incorrect. what if you upgrade computer. also the cd-ROM and DVDROM are read only so how could it record that the cd key had been used.

Dont be at yourself

Dustaz? What rock have you been hiding under?

Pythia

Thumper Long wrote:

You are in absolutely no way entitled to a refund because you changed your mind or got two of something. Any returns policy operated by a shop in regard to these returns is purely a gesture of goodwill, however if the goods are faulty within the first twelve months you are entitled to a refund as the goods are technically no longer fit for the purpose for which they were sold.

This isn't true. It's only in a 'reasonable period of time' which isn't defined. With phones it's generally 28 days for a refund.

Nightwish

If its a "change of mind" refund, the shop is under no obligation to give you the refund. Where I work, we will NOT exchange or refund games that are't faulty. The customer is told this at the point of purchase too, however it still doesnt stop people chancing their arm bringing back games that they have finished or trying to change Tiger Woods 04 for 05, even though the 04 game looked as though it was danced on.

the_menace

Game used to have a 10 day return policy if you weren't happy with your game. A few years ago I bought Marvel vs Capcom for the PS2 thinking it would be a decent beat em up á la Streetfighter but it was an absolutely rubbish button basher. I brought it back to the store about a week later, explaining to the staff that it was completely crap and they told me that I had every right to exchange it for another game under their return policy. I'm not sure if that policy was in place for PC games at the time though.