WingedKagouti on 29/3/2016 at 19:01
(
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/business/consumer-affairs/online-games-giant-valve-found-to-have-breached-australian-consumer-law-20160329-gnt2wd.html) An Australian court finds that Valve has breached consumer protection laws
Quote Posted by Article
The company behind one of the world's most popular video games websites has been found to be in breach of Australian consumer law.
The Federal Court found Valve, which operates online game website Steam, engaged in misleading or deceptive conduct by telling Australian players they were not entitled to refunds for digitally downloaded content.
The company, based in the US, now faces fines of up to $1.1 million a breach.
I don't remember how many aussies frequent this forum, but it's worth noting anyways.
demagogue on 30/3/2016 at 00:25
Haha, video games will never be sold in Australia again. So long, guys. Fun while it lasted.
PigLick on 30/3/2016 at 00:41
I havent had a problem getting refunds, as long as it meets their criteria of less than 2 hours played and within 2 weeks of purchase.
icemann on 30/3/2016 at 07:22
Valve needed a kick anyway. If you look at the stupid prices they charge for games here in Aus vs what they charge for the same thing in the US. Totally unacceptable.
And you still can't have game prices on there shown in Aus dollars.
Muzman on 30/3/2016 at 08:29
If memory serves that's not entirely Valve's fault. There used to be a lot more variety in Aus pricing for even big titles on Steam, for a little while at least. But they were forced into parity with consoles and brick n' mortar stores.
How you do this and why they'd bend to it I'm not really sure. I don't think there's any law that says they have to.
I'd take open pricing over this refund thing any day.
icemann on 30/3/2016 at 09:20
Well nothing will happen until the ACCC does a proper investigation into the price differences. When companies charge say $5 in the US and then $15-$20 here for digital content. Come on.
Though until a company gets sued for doing it, it's just going to keep happening.
TannisRoot on 30/3/2016 at 12:22
Quote Posted by icemann
Well nothing will happen until the ACCC does a proper investigation into the price differences. When companies charge say $5 in the US and then $15-$20 here for digital content. Come on.
Though until a company gets sued for doing it, it's just going to keep happening.
???
They aren't doing anything illegal. Australia's average salary is almost 60% higher than the United States. It's basic supply and demand. If average income raised to Australian levels in the states, then you would observe an increase in prices of consumer goods across the board.
If Australians don't like the price they don't have to buy. If they don't buy, the price will decrease. It's not a conspiracy.
WingedKagouti on 30/3/2016 at 12:29
Quote Posted by TannisRoot
If Australians don't like the price they don't have to buy. If they don't buy, the price will decrease.
Or the companies behind those services will pull out and not try again because they don't think it's financially viable. There's no guarantee for one or the other.
TannisRoot on 30/3/2016 at 12:42
Quote Posted by WingedKagouti
Or the companies behind those services will pull out and not try again because they don't think it's financially viable. There's no guarantee for one or the other.
This is almost a guaranteed consequence of the price fixing (via regulation) that many Australian gamers are requesting.
