Any way to return opened software?
Discussion
My Son has just bought World of Warcraft on Friday, unfortunately, with his Mum who doesn't know the first thing about games.
It quite clearly states it's an online game that requires a subscription, but I was surprised to find out it's actually £8.99/month which I find an extortionate amount of money for a game. So, being the Mr Meanie of the family, I told him he couldn't play it and we would go and exchange the game for something else.
The only trouble is, he opened the packaging so he could read the instructions. This means that Game will not accept it back.
Convientantly forgetting that his mother was with him, I tried the age restriction angle, the fact that the shop sold him the game with a 12+ age rating and him being only 10. Their argument back was that the age rating is only a code and only BBFC (or something like that) is legally enforceable.
I know I'm fighting a loosing battle, but it would be nice if I could find a little bit of legislation that would at least get them to exchange the game. It's just such a shame to see him spending his pocket money on something he doesn't fully understand how much it'll cost in the long run.
Either that, or does anyone want to buy a copy of World of Warcraft with one free month subscription?
It quite clearly states it's an online game that requires a subscription, but I was surprised to find out it's actually £8.99/month which I find an extortionate amount of money for a game. So, being the Mr Meanie of the family, I told him he couldn't play it and we would go and exchange the game for something else.
The only trouble is, he opened the packaging so he could read the instructions. This means that Game will not accept it back.
Convientantly forgetting that his mother was with him, I tried the age restriction angle, the fact that the shop sold him the game with a 12+ age rating and him being only 10. Their argument back was that the age rating is only a code and only BBFC (or something like that) is legally enforceable.
I know I'm fighting a loosing battle, but it would be nice if I could find a little bit of legislation that would at least get them to exchange the game. It's just such a shame to see him spending his pocket money on something he doesn't fully understand how much it'll cost in the long run.
Either that, or does anyone want to buy a copy of World of Warcraft with one free month subscription?
Short answer: No. You're stuffed. Sorry.
Long Answer: Game are correct, the only two legally enforced ratings are 15 and 18, the look exactly like the two you see on DVD's. Half-Life 2 is a 15 and Doom 3 an 18, for example. You could possibly ebay the thing but you aren't going to get the RRP back for it.
And no... I really do not want a copy of World of Warcrack, or Evercrack... and *shudder* I do not want an EVE:Online account. Now if you'll excuse me I need to go and rock gently in the corner pawing at pictures of my old Megathron.
Long Answer: Game are correct, the only two legally enforced ratings are 15 and 18, the look exactly like the two you see on DVD's. Half-Life 2 is a 15 and Doom 3 an 18, for example. You could possibly ebay the thing but you aren't going to get the RRP back for it.
And no... I really do not want a copy of World of Warcrack, or Evercrack... and *shudder* I do not want an EVE:Online account. Now if you'll excuse me I need to go and rock gently in the corner pawing at pictures of my old Megathron.
If you go back and kick up enough of a fuss they will exchange it. But it will have to be a lot because in this day and age theres nothing to say you haven't copied it.
These policies really do take the piss nowadays. You can't even return a DVD in ASDA unless you want to exchange it. I managed to get a refund on a DVD that wouldn't play in my player, the stupid woman wanted to give me another copy, and if it didn't work, come back for another, and another.
These policies really do take the piss nowadays. You can't even return a DVD in ASDA unless you want to exchange it. I managed to get a refund on a DVD that wouldn't play in my player, the stupid woman wanted to give me another copy, and if it didn't work, come back for another, and another.
Byff said:
We've installed the game, might as well give it a go for the first free month. Just hope this isn't like a dealer getting us hooked.
ThePassenger said:
And no... I really do not want a copy of World of Warcrack, or Evercrack... and *shudder* I do not want an EVE:Online account. Now if you'll excuse me I need to go and rock gently in the corner pawing at pictures of my old Megathron.
Be afraid, be very afraid 
People seem to either get bored of these after about a month or become seriously, insanely addicted.Edited by d-man on Sunday 3rd June 11:06
d-man said:
Byff said:
We've installed the game, might as well give it a go for the first free month. Just hope this isn't like a dealer getting us hooked.
ThePassenger said:
And no... I really do not want a copy of World of Warcrack, or Evercrack... and *shudder* I do not want an EVE:Online account. Now if you'll excuse me I need to go and rock gently in the corner pawing at pictures of my old Megathron.
Be afraid, be very afraid People seem to either get bored of these after about a month or become seriously, insanely addicted.
*whimpers quietly* They can be exceptionally addictive forms of games, these games can suck you right in and suddenly is 12 months later and you're still playing it. Which is both a good thing (subs are cheaper than new games) and bad (where did my free time go?). I bought this & got a 3 month subscription - only about 20 quid which is hardly anything really - 20p a day or something? I played it quite heavily for a month or so bit but sort of lost interest as the gameplay seemed to not change a whole lot: go here, kill things, collect stuff. Now go here, kill things, collect stuff. I did like the huge world though.
I guess for a 10 year old it'll be pretty amazing & will probably be entertainment enough for ages.
I guess for a 10 year old it'll be pretty amazing & will probably be entertainment enough for ages.
big_treacle said:
I bought this & got a 3 month subscription - only about 20 quid which is hardly anything really - 20p a day or something? I played it quite heavily for a month or so bit but sort of lost interest as the gameplay seemed to not change a whole lot: go here, kill things, collect stuff. Now go here, kill things, collect stuff. I did like the huge world though.
I guess for a 10 year old it'll be pretty amazing & will probably be entertainment enough for ages.
In some respects most MMORPG's are actually insanley dull to play. Take EVE:Online, you spend pretty much most of the early part of the game flying from A to B hauling cargo and mining. Now drop in to it 1000+ people all utterly bonkers chatting in the NPC corp window and.... that's where the crack sets in. Dull if you ignore everyone, crack if you start socialising. I guess for a 10 year old it'll be pretty amazing & will probably be entertainment enough for ages.
Hmm always thought that game had a 28 day return policy?
I've sucessfully returned opened games in the past (admittedly on 2 or 3 occasions) and not had an issue. Then again for me to actually return a game is unusual and I'm normally pretty POed at the time which might have something to do with it.
I've sucessfully returned opened games in the past (admittedly on 2 or 3 occasions) and not had an issue. Then again for me to actually return a game is unusual and I'm normally pretty POed at the time which might have something to do with it.
TheLemming said:
Hmm always thought that game had a 28 day return policy?
I've sucessfully returned opened games in the past (admittedly on 2 or 3 occasions) and not had an issue. Then again for me to actually return a game is unusual and I'm normally pretty POed at the time which might have something to do with it.
The argument is that because CD/DVD burners are so common, there is a possibility that you are returning the product because you have made a copy at home. This ignores copy protection schemes (which is one of the reasons I argue they're useless) and basically assumes you're guilty. I've sucessfully returned opened games in the past (admittedly on 2 or 3 occasions) and not had an issue. Then again for me to actually return a game is unusual and I'm normally pretty POed at the time which might have something to do with it.
A store will usually offer to exchange a none working disk, but if the software just plain doesn't work or was brought in error (wrong system, wrong specs, etc) you are stuffed due to the above.
To be honest, they should accept the game back, but most won't. You've been lucky not to encounter a jobsworth.
I seem to remember a couple of years ago there was a legal case brought against Microsoft (or possibly another high profile publisher) who had their terms and conditions inside the sealed packaging, which meant it was impossible to read and accept the T&Cs without opening it. The publisher lost the case.
anhamgrimmar said:
ThePassenger said:
I do not want an EVE:Online account. Now if you'll excuse me I need to go and rock gently in the corner pawing at pictures of my old Megathron.
Have you been keeping up with the new ships in EvE? You know you want a Hyperion or a Lachesis.......I got a bit narked when the +1 Drone per level of cruiser was dropped from the Vexor, that thing could drone spam like crazy
On the plus side those T2 drones.... good grief the fire power.Then started running a blasterax (jesus those things really could eat n00b battleships) and a Solo lvl 4 Dominix. The Megathron was set up for running the bigger missions (Angel's Extravaganza) with my old corp mates.
I keep meaning to sign up again and go for it, fortunately my bank account won't let me.
I remember on some software, the "agreement" to the licence was printed on a sticker on the CD case, with a note to the general tune of, "By breaking this sticker you indicate your agreement to the licence terms and conditions."
All well and good, but if you prised open the lugs on the CD case just so and lifted carefully, it was possible to open the case and get the software out using the licence agreement sticker as a hinge, and thus never breaking it...
All well and good, but if you prised open the lugs on the CD case just so and lifted carefully, it was possible to open the case and get the software out using the licence agreement sticker as a hinge, and thus never breaking it...
Well, he's been playing it for a few days now and seems well and truely hooked. That's despite a conflict with the video driver/card that makes the screen flash and gives me a headache.
[meanie]I'm not going to fix the problem so I've got an excuse not to renew the subscription.[/meanie]
[meanie]I'm not going to fix the problem so I've got an excuse not to renew the subscription.[/meanie]
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