refunds
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Etsy introduces purchase protection measures for both buyers and sellers
Starting August 1st, Etsy will refund buyers on purchases if they "don't match the item description, arrive damaged, or never arrive."
Intuit owes customers $141 million after it 'cheated' them out of free tax services
TurboTax maker Intuit will pay $141 million "for deceiving millions of low-income Americans into paying for tax services that should have been free."
Epic Games Store's self-serve refunds get your money back without the wait
You can now handle refunds yourself on the Epic Games Store, provided you haven't played a game for a while.
Blizzard pledges to fix (or refund) 'Warcraft III: Reforged'
It's only been a few days since Blizzard launched Warcraft III: Reforged, but fans have made it clear that they are not happy. In response, Blizzard says it is "sorry to those of you who didn't have the experience you wanted." The company promises that at least a handful of fixes are on the way.
Epic will cover refunds for unhappy 'Shenmue 3' backers
You might be less inclined to panic the next time a game you've crowdfunded becomes an Epic Games Store exclusive -- particularly if you're a Shenmue fan. Ys Net has informed Shenmue 3 backers that it will (with Epic's financial support) accept refund requests from those unhappy that the PC version won't be available through Steam until a year after its initial release. How much you'll get back will depend on whether or not your rewards have already been implemented, but you won't have choose a PS4 copy just to signal your displeasure.
Epic's updated game store refund policy matches Steam
The Epic Games Store wasn't all that refund-friendly on launch. You could only ask for two refunds in an entire year (albeit after unlimited hours of play), and you had to submit details like your IP address in a support ticket to have a hope of getting your money back. It should be easier from now on, at least. According to Epic's Sergey Galyonkin, the company has updated its refund policy to allow unlimited refunds as long as they're within 14 days of purchase and with less than two hours of play time. You still have to submit a support request for now (there's a "self-service" option coming), but you no longer have to provide a bevy of information so long as the refund meets the criteria.
You can get a refund on Oculus Rift and Gear VR games and apps
Buying games and apps digitally is less risky when there's a solid refund policy in place. Apple offers refunds for purchases through its iTunes app store and Microsoft has a self-service system. PC distribution portal Steam allows for refunds within 14 days of purchase if you've played a game for two hours or less. Now virtual reality company Oculus has made it clear that you can get a refund for an app or game purchased digitally for the Rift or Gear VR.
Microsoft to offer self-service refunds for digital games
According to a Reddit user, Microsoft may be looking to offer self-service refunds for games. The feature, as discovered by user gaymerRaver, apparently enables users that have purchased a game on Xbox One or Windows 10 to get a full refund. There are some caveats, however, including that any title you want to return must have been played for less than two hours.
Lily Drone team says it has no timeframe for issuing refunds
When Lily Robotics announced that its self-flying, follow-along camera drone wouldn't be produced, it promised to refund $34 million in pre-orders back to its customers. That's still the plan, but according to a new refund request form, the company isn't sure when those payments will actually go out. That's not much of a vote of confidence for customers who have already filed for refunds. Still, it's at least organized -- this new refund process is being run through Prime Clerk, the agency helping Lily Robotics navigate its bankruptcy claims.
Lily Drone is dead despite $34 million in pre-orders
Lily Robotics stormed into the world with a follow-along camera drone that earned $34 million in pre-orders. But the company has now admitted that it can't deliver the product, and will wind down in the near future. In a blog post, co-founders Antoine Balaresque and Henry Bradlow explained that they've run out of money.
Amazon owes parents cash refunds for their kids in-app purchases
Back in April, a judge found Amazon liable for in-app purchases made by children without their parent's permission, and now he's established a method for the retailer to pay them back. According to Reuters, Amazon will have to set up a notice-and-claims process next year to let parents know they're eligible for the reimbursements.
Steam will refund nearly any online purchase within two weeks
Used to be that if you purchased and downloaded a game from Steam, and it didn't work out for whatever reason, you'd generally be SOL. However, Valve has recently reversed its zero tolerance return policy and will issue refunds for online purchases (with a few caveats) through Steam Support. According to the newly established Steam Refunds page, "You can request a refund for nearly any purchase on Steam — for any reason." That's just so long as you've played the game for less than two hours and request the refund within two weeks of buying it. DLC content has a similar two-hour window while in-app purchases will be refundable for a full 48 hours. There are a few niggling exceptions to that rule -- movies and games you've been banned in, for example, are not eligible -- so head over to the refunds page if you have specific questions about your purchase.
PSA: Monday is the last day for H1Z1 refunds
Following complaints over a change of heart regarding the selling of vital resources in zombie survival game H1Z1, Sony Online Entertainment is offering refunds for those upset with the change in design. SOE President John Smedley tweeted instructions for unsatisfied survivors on Friday, noting in the game's Reddit community that the no-questions-asked refund policy will be available until Monday, January 20 for those that purchased H1Z1 before 10:30 PST on January 16. The offer follows unrest from a change in plans for the types of supplies that can be gained from in-game transactions, such as the purchasable tickets for airdrops. In an eight-month-old Reddit thread, Smedley stressed that the team would "NOT be selling Guns, Ammo, Food, [or] Water," explaining that it would "suck in our opinion if we did that." Those plans have since changed.
SOE's Adam Clegg apologizes for H1Z1 airdrop snafu
In the wake of this week's H1Z1 early access launch issues and "pay-to-win" airdrop controversy, SOE's Adam "Arclegger" Clegg offered a lengthy apology and explanation to the unruly mob on Reddit. I wanted to address what I said in an earlier stream with NGTZombies prior to our release. I said you cannot buy a gun or ammo and it had to be found in the world. When you are on a stream, and you are talking about your game, you tend to talk a million miles an hour both to keep the information flowing and to keep it entertaining. But sometimes things get said without completely thinking about what you are saying 100% through. H1Z1 is a massive game with a lot of systems, some of which we were tuning every day and finishing last minute. When I said you can't buy any guns or ammo, I completely disregarded the possibility of airdrops and meant that you can't buy a gun or ammo and have it go into your starting loadout, or your loadout immediately like you were buying a gun from the gun store. All that being said, I totally understand how what I said was at the time lying to you guys and I apologize. But please understand that's not what I was trying to do. For those of you that don't know me or understand me, know that I'm not trying to be this monster that is conniving and lying in hopes that you get tricked into buying the game. I am very passionate about making video games and I want more than anything in the world for people to love the games that I am a part of making. Clegg explained that during testing, the loot-heavy airdrops resulted in a "gladiator style brawl" that epitomized the conflict SOE wanted to generate in the game. "Whether you agree with us or not," he wrote, "that is how we want airdrops to work." The second half of his post covers the details of the changes incoming to the system as noted yesterday. SOE President John Smedley announced last night that the studio will grant refunds to those early access purchasers who request them by Sunday. Self-initiated refunds through Steam are also now possible.
Apple clamps down on its App Store refund loophole in Europe
Apple probably thought it was doing everyone a favour when it introduced a two-week refund policy for iTunes and App Store purchases in Europe. But of course, as is always the way with technology, if there's an unintended flaw hidden away you can guarantee someone will find it. On this occasion it was 9to5Mac, who discovered that anyone can keep a recently purchased app on their device, even after Apple has processed the refund for it. The apps aren't removed and the user isn't locked out, so there was nothing to stop savvy iPhone and iPad owners from abusing the system. Well, it appears Apple has already taken note. If you refund too many items, you'll now be greeted with a warning message that effectively locks you out of the refund policy. It won't stop determined users from claiming a few free apps, but it should mean Apple can keep a lid on a potentially dubious practice.
Apple offers two-week window for iTunes refunds... in Europe
In case you needed another reason to be jealous of Europe (aside from access to the Autobahn and Yotaphone 2, naturally), Apple has one. Now you can return pretty much any iTunes purchase for a full refund within two weeks. Don't go thinking this will allow you to beat Infinity Blade 3 in one sitting and get your money back, though. If you open the app (or book, or what have you), Apple has the right to refuse a refund. Cupertino promises that return payments will be made within 14 days of the order-cancellation request and they'll be credited to the original form of payment.
Elite: Dangerous devs counter outrage with select refunds
To appease fans outraged at the recent announcement that freeform space sandbox Elite: Dangerous will not include an offline single-player mode, the game's developers are now offering refunds, but only to certain customers. "Those who have pre-ordered an Elite: Dangerous release version from our online store and have therefore not yet played the game are eligible for a refund," writes David Braben, founder of developer Frontier Developments, in the latest Elite: Dangerous newsletter. "Those who have already been playing the game online in the Alpha and/or Beta phases, regardless of whether they backed the project via Kickstarter or purchased access to Alpha and/or Beta through our online store, are not eligible for a refund." Braben then adds that the developers will consider each case, even those that don't necessarily fit the above refund criteria, "with the thoroughness it deserves." Finally, Braben explains why the planned single-player offline mode will not be included in Elite: Dangerous. "It is a creative decision, not wanting to produce an empty game. It is technically possible, but it would be a largely separate game development." Elite: Dangerous is slated to reach the PC on December 16, with an OS X release following three months later. [Image: Frontier Developments]
Apple, Google ordered to revise "no refund" App Store policies in South Korea
South Korean parents can rest a little easier tonight knowing they will no longer be responsible for unauthorized purchases their children have made. The Korea Federal Trade Commission of South Korea has ordered Apple and Google to change their App Store refund policies to make it easier for consumers to get refunds from the tech giants. Following a series of requests from a public organization called the Citizens' Coalition for Economic Justice, the FTC moved to correct what they viewed as unfair sales policies in the respective stores. In its press release the Korea Fair Trade Commission expressed its wishes to see the ruling spread around the globe. Hwang Won-chul, the KFTC's head of Adhesion Contract Division had this to say. The FTC's corrective orders will become benchmark cases for other countries, which face growing customer complaints over unfair provisions in contracts of mobile webstore operators. According to The Korea Herald, Apple is implementing the refund changes to the store itself, while Google will create a customer refund system built on the suggestions of developers. Apple will send a notice to users when it updates the terms in its contract. On the heels of this victory, the Citizen's Coalition for Economic Justice has already set their sights on Apple once again. According to a statement by Yoon Chul-hwan of the CCEJ provided to the Korea Herald, the next target is repairs to customer phones. Currently, users are not able to get their original phones back from repair shops after they have their phones repaired. We will file a complaint against it (Apple) to see if that is also an unfair sales practice. Apple made a similar, limited offer, this past March to US App Store users. Sadly, that offer has expired.
South Korea makes it easier to get refunds for Android and iOS apps
If you've ever been burned by downloading a mobile app that you don't want or doesn't work, relief may be in sight... so long as you're in South Korea, at least. The country's Fair Trade Commission has ordered both Apple and Google to make their app refund policies more consumer-friendly. To start, Apple must make it easier to claim refunds on in-app purchases; if your kid goes wild buying in-game items, you should have an easier time getting your money back. Google, meanwhile, has to let developers set their own refund terms.
Chaos Theory: Funcom flubbed it with The Secret World's mankinigate
I'd rather be focused on the four new investigation missions that just launched in The Secret World, even though I need much more time to complete them all, or yammering on about Tokyo coming next month (did you catch that in the director's letter?). But as the fates would have it, Funcom did something else this past week that has nabbed attention and necessitates a little scrutiny. Mankinigate. Last week during the notable first of April shenanigans, The Secret World poked fun at the fact that female outfits in games (including TSW) are stereotypically skimpy while males get adventuring gear. The item store offered the "Gender Equality" clothing pack: full scuba gear for females and a mankini for males. As hideous as I think the mankini is, I appreciated this obvious jab at stereotypes, not to mention the fact that Funcom listened to players who've requested revealing attire for their male avatars. But then with no real explanation given at the time, the makinis were yanked not only from the store but from players' inventories as well.
