EA begins offering refunds for its digital game sales on Origin

[Kitlope]

Thought I would post this since it's kinda big news... hopefully this sets a solid precedent and Steam follows suite.

In its continuing effort to set itself apart from market leader Steam, EA has announced that titles it publishes on its Origin digital distribution service can now be returned for a full refund up to seven days after purchase if the consumer isn't completely satisfied.

The newly revealed Great Game Guarantee program will put a handy "request a refund" button right on the Origin order history page for eligible games. For now, only games published directly by EA on Origin will be eligible for the program; titles from other third-party publishers can't be returned. DLC is also not eligible for the guarantee.

Refunds can be requested for games up to seven days after they're purchased (or pre-ordered), but if you download and play the game once, you narrow that window to 24 hours from the time of the first play (that applies to all games in a multi-game bundle if you play a single game in that bundle, as well). After you request a refund, EA promises to respond within two days and issues your refund within seven to ten days, if you meet the timing criteria.

http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2013/08/ea-begins-offering-refunds-for-its-digital-game-sales-on-origin/

 

[mondo]

This is big news in some territories but its also marketing BS. If you're in the UK and I think the EU you can already go to EA or Valve and demand a refund in line with consumer law if you're not happy with the product and within 30 days of purchase. They'll try and force you to take store credit or refuse altogether stating their EULA but as soon as you pull consumer rights laws on them they'll buckle because they have to. The EULA means nothing if its not in line with local laws where the product is sold.

I've got Steam to refund me full games and even F2P premium purchases by pulling the clauses in UK consumer law which says if I'm not happy I can get my money back within 30 days.

 

[little P]

Wish I knew this re: Simshitty...

 

[HaJa]

In Sweden we have 14 days to back down from a purchase or
contract made via internet or telephone, catalogue.

Even if the goods hasn't arrived we can stop the payment and tell
that we've changed our mind.

 

[Ogami Itto]

Can I get a refund for BF3?

 

[HaJa]

Think it only applies for games bought since the day the decision was made

 

[Kenadian]

This is marketing crappola and you'll likely have to jump through hoops if you ever want to refund more than one title. Steam will refund you even on games they don't publish but only on a title or two; if they see you making a habit of it then they'll clearly deny your requests.

Just ask yourself logically, has EA ever been good at supporting their warez after release? Look at Simshitty, the Sims, BF3, etc., they all have problems that it takes an age for them to address let alone fix.

I know for a fact that EA never offered me a refund when purchasing Premium even though I already had purchased Back to Karkand for BF3. I don't expect this new program to be any better but hey I've been wrong before after all, I used to think little P was actually intelligent.

Also, EA is a larger Publisher than Valve so they can offer things like this but I wouldn't expect Steam to follow because they only publish a very small percentage of what's sold/supported on Steam.