Octopus Overlords

I am getting quite upset now. Let me begin by stating that I have a natural obsession with keeping records and facts straight. On 12/17/04 I sent out all the pertinent info needed to get my promised HL2 game sent to me intead of using the God-awful download system. I thought, great, 4-6 weeks as stated and all will be fine. I should have known that they were trying to scam the people and reneg on the agreement to send out the games after Radeon purchases were made. I got an email on 1/20 stating that my credit card information was invalid. I called that day and fixed the situation, which was, by the way, rheir company screwing up because I have been using the same card for 15 years. The girl admitted that there should not have been an issue with the card as you had the correct info and I use the card every day for odds and ends. So I figured it was ok, until I looked through my records and noticed that it is now 8, EIGHT weeks after I submitted the correct information to get my game. I called again today, 2/11, and lo and behold, again, the credit card info is fine, but it was still showing my account as PENDING. I asked the girl what happened, and she told me that if I hadn't called in, I'd never have received the game because the last girl (on 1/20) made a mistake and didn't change the order status for me. SO LET ME GET THIS STRAIGHT...If I didn't call again today out of anal compulsive tendencies, I would never have received my game!? Are you freaking kidding me? They created the offer and I did my part by purchasing products for that game, and I want it now as it's already 2 weeks later that their latest promise of delivery date. ARGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can understand the research that goes into how many people will take advantage of offers, freebies, and rebates. I can understand them making it undesirable to complete with a ten-step process that includes giving them blood and urine sample. They expect to not make big payouts as we generally forget about this stuff, and they make out in the end. But when I do everything to the T, I expect them to take responsibility for their business, and do honest work.

Here's what you do.

Sell everything you own.

Buy a nice waterproof parka, some wool pants, a bow and arrow, and a tent. Go live in the woods.

The modern world does not suit you.

Sounds like you deserve to be pissed off. Don't know what else to tell you, except to stay on their asses and make them deliver.

Sith

lokiju wrote:On 12/17/04 I sent out all the pertinent info needed to get my promised HL2 game sent to me intead of using the God-awful download system.

Target your rage appropriately. It's ATI that's screwing you, not Valve. I sent away for the same offer, and the contact was ATI.

Of course, immediately after I sent away my information I realized my error. I logged into Steam on 11/13/04, bought the game off of Steam (for free with the code from ATI), and was playing at 6 AM on the day of release.

Much better than using the god-awful postal service/ATI fulfillment department.

i don't mean anything personal by this, but it sounds to me like you were the unfortunate victim of two mistakes that could happen to anyone...not some conspiracy to screw people out of their money. i never understand all the rants about companies intentionally trying to rip people off when it sounds like they're doing everything they can to straighten the issue out once it's brought to their attention...

i'm sure it is frustrating, but mistakes are bound to happen once in a while when you're processing information on thousands of people...

Sounds like someone needs to open the pressure valve and let off some steam.

Sounds that the download system would have been a lot less "god awful." Why did they need your credit card anyway? Wasn't this a free game offer from ATI? Can you still use your code and snag HL2 from Steam?

Freezer-TPF- wrote:Sounds that the download system would have been a lot less "god awful." Why did they need your credit card anyway? Wasn't this a free game offer from ATI? Can you still use your code and snag HL2 from Steam?

To answer your question, since I didn't want to download it, I agreed to a charge for shipping the actual game.

I edited the title, didn't mean to attack Valve.

Just curious, how much did they charge for shipping?

Freezer-TPF- wrote:Just curious, how much did they charge for shipping?

I forget, I think I paid $10 total. Not bad to have the box and all in my hands.

RunningMn9 wrote: Much better than using the god-awful postal service/ATI fulfillment department.

Lol, yep, tis true tis true. But I really wanted the box in my hands for future trading potential, and I wasn't planning on playing the game for a while anyways. 4-6 weeks has become 8+ though, so now I am getting antsy.

First it's Netflix screwing you, now it's ATI screwing you. Do I see a pattern?

Grifman wrote:First it's Netflix screwing you, now it's ATI screwing you. Do I see a pattern?

OMG, you're right...I'm becoming Drazzil!

disarm wrote:i don't mean anything personal by this, but it sounds to me like you were the unfortunate victim of two mistakes that could happen to anyone...not some conspiracy to screw people out of their money. i never understand all the rants about companies intentionally trying to rip people off when it sounds like they're doing everything they can to straighten the issue out once it's brought to their attention...

i'm sure it is frustrating, but mistakes are bound to happen once in a while when you're processing information on thousands of people...

That was what I was thinking. A couple of mistakes were made - they both sound like data entry oopses, actually. It sucks, yes, and I'd be irked, too, but I don't think that it is a conspiracy, dishonesty, or ATI trying to get out of their commitment.

Blackhawk wrote:

disarm wrote:i don't mean anything personal by this, but it sounds to me like you were the unfortunate victim of two mistakes that could happen to anyone...not some conspiracy to screw people out of their money. i never understand all the rants about companies intentionally trying to rip people off when it sounds like they're doing everything they can to straighten the issue out once it's brought to their attention...

i'm sure it is frustrating, but mistakes are bound to happen once in a while when you're processing information on thousands of people...

That was what I was thinking. A couple of mistakes were made - they both sound like data entry oopses, actually. It sucks, yes, and I'd be irked, too, but I don't think that it is a conspiracy, dishonesty, or ATI trying to get out of their commitment.

Like I said, that may very well be true, but it also has just as good of a chance of being false. It is already common knowledge that companies don't expect a high percentage of people to follow through with a regular rebate or incentive, and that they go a step further by making the process arduous at best. So, other tactics to delay or make me quit in frustration are highly possible. I'm just saying...

Edit: I have read so many articles about companies renegging out of rebates, and have experienced this first hand. Knowing all that we know about rebate snafu's, why would I assume this case to be any different? I mean, come on, if I didn't get back to them when I did, I would never have received my game...EVER.

Sounds like someone needs to open the pressure valve and let off some steam.

Oh my damn... until reading your post I never saw the relation between the names Valve and Steam.

lokiju wrote:

Freezer-TPF- wrote:Just curious, how much did they charge for shipping?

I forget, I think I paid $10 total. Not bad to have the box and all in my hands.

Well, you could have a box in your hand and a few paper sleeves for $10 more, or you could have paid $10 more and gotten HL2 + CS:S along with every other Valve game ever made. AND you could have been playing it by the end of the day.

Valael wrote:

lokiju wrote:

Freezer-TPF- wrote:Just curious, how much did they charge for shipping?

I forget, I think I paid $10 total. Not bad to have the box and all in my hands.

Well, you could have a box in your hand and a few paper sleeves for $10 more, or you could have paid $10 more and gotten HL2 + CS:S along with every other Valve game ever made. AND you could have been playing it by the end of the day.

I am getting, and I quote, "Once this information is received, the shipment of your Valve Premier Pack which includes the games: Half-Life®, Counter Strike™, Team Fortress®, Classic, Deathmatch Classic, Half-Life®: Opposing Force™ and Ricochet, will be released"

So I bought the video card like 6 months ago, and now because of that, for $10, I can get the above shipped to me. The point is, I am getting all this for $10 with little desire to play it at this time as I have a HuGe backlog (in fact, I will probably just use it as a trade item). Why would I pay $10 more to get less? Why would I pay $20 more to get it faster? $10 to wait is fine by me...as long as it actually arrives some day, lol, which it almost didn't because of ATI's idiocy.

\/\/olverine wrote:

Sounds like someone needs to open the pressure valve and let off some steam.

Oh my damn... until reading your post I never saw the relation between the names Valve and Steam.

[Nelson]Ha Ha! You think slow![/Nelson]

lokiju wrote:
Edit: I have read so many articles about companies renegging out of rebates, and have experienced this first hand. Knowing all that we know about rebate snafu's, why would I assume this case to be any different? I mean, come on, if I didn't get back to them when I did, I would never have received my game...EVER.

The rebate fears are valid, which is why I rarely buy anything with a rebate. But I don't really think ATI has anything to gain by screwing people out of their product in this particular case.

Still sucks tho.
Yeah, we're living in the "modern age" in which lots of folks just accept this kind of error as part of being "with the times", but the more I see people hyping the online purchase and download model, the more ludditical it makes me.

Dammit, I just want to go to the store, buy whatever it is with an INSTANT rebate, and get the free game on CDs right there in the box.

Why going through the hassle of further online (or postal) crap would be a 'superior' experience is beyond me. Good luck dude. I hope you get your game. The game itself will be worth what you had to go through (Steam aside, it's a REALLY good game) to get it. And if I were you, I'd put aside my backlog and play it immediately. It's that good.

I'm curious as to why you think ATI would be trying to screw you over. They're not out any money since you pay for shipping. Usually the way these deals work is that a video card company pays X amount of dollars (a flat rate) to bundle the game with their product. Vavle could make more money selling the game themselves, but it gives them a good bit of publicity having their game shipped with ATI products. Since ATI has nothing to lose I fail to see why they're scheming how to keep the game from you.

I think the far more likely scenario is that a bunch of minimal wage earners who are swamped with rebate coupons made a simple data error. It sucks but take a deep breath and move on. The game is on the way now.

Windows98 wrote:I'm curious as to why you think ATI would be trying to screw you over. They're not out any money since you pay for shipping. Usually the way these deals work is that a video card company pays X amount of dollars (a flat rate) to bundle the game with their product. Vavle could make more money selling the game themselves, but it gives them a good bit of publicity having their game shipped with ATI products. Since ATI has nothing to lose I fail to see why they're scheming how to keep the game from you.

I think the far more likely scenario is that a bunch of minimal wage earners who are swamped with rebate coupons made a simple data error. It sucks but take a deep breath and move on. The game is on the way now.

Well, neither you nor I actually knows what their contract is. I have always maintained that it could very well be underwaged teens at fault, BUT, I also know companies make extra dough by screwing people on rebates. Maybe ATI has a deal whereas any non-claimed games can be returned? If that were true, then they would make out by having people who bought their product not get the game so that they could return it, thus increasing their earnings. Am I a conspiracy theorist? Maybe. But I bet my fears are founded most of the time. 8)

lokiju wrote: Well, neither you nor I actually knows what their contract is. I have always maintained that it could very well be underwaged teens at fault, BUT, I also know companies make extra dough by screwing people on rebates. Maybe ATI has a deal whereas any non-claimed games can be returned? If that were true, then they would make out by having people who bought their product not get the game so that they could return it, thus increasing their earnings. Am I a conspiracy theorist? Maybe. But I bet my fears are founded most of the time. 8)

According to Nvidia ATI paid close to $8 million for exclusive rights to the game. Any video card (even non ATI ones) that uses one of the select ATI chips is eligible for a free copy of the game. ATI won't be getting any money back for unused games, they paid a flat rate for the title. The only thing they might save on is the cost of the physical media, but that would be less then a dollar. It would probably cost them more to have employees giving customers the run around on the phone then to just ship the game. If you were talking a $50 or $100 rebate, then I could see your point. But since you're the only person I know of who's had a hard time (two buddies got their copy alright) I'm really thinking it is just bad luck.

Windows98 wrote:

lokiju wrote: Well, neither you nor I actually knows what their contract is. I have always maintained that it could very well be underwaged teens at fault, BUT, I also know companies make extra dough by screwing people on rebates. Maybe ATI has a deal whereas any non-claimed games can be returned? If that were true, then they would make out by having people who bought their product not get the game so that they could return it, thus increasing their earnings. Am I a conspiracy theorist? Maybe. But I bet my fears are founded most of the time. 8)

According to Nvidia ATI paid close to $8 million for exclusive rights to the game. Any video card (even non ATI ones) that uses one of the select ATI chips is eligible for a free copy of the game. ATI won't be getting any money back for unused games, they paid a flat rate for the title. The only thing they might save on is the cost of the physical media, but that would be less then a dollar. It would probably cost them more to have employees giving customers the run around on the phone then to just ship the game. If you were talking a $50 or $100 rebate, then I could see your point. But since you're the only person I know of who's had a hard time (two buddies got their copy alright) I'm really thinking it is just bad luck.

So I am being thwarted by a couple of pimply teenage girls!? Now I am even more pissed!

lokiju wrote:
So I am being thwarted by a couple of pimply teenage girls!? Now I am even more pissed!

Don't feel bad. Happens to me all the time.

You're aware the box holds almost no trading potential, right? Since the CD-key is just linked to a Steam account anyway, and you have to install/use Steam to play regardless of whether you install from the box or not, you couldn't trade it without handing over the entire Steam account along with password; in which case you could just email that info and let your trade-ee download it through Steam anyway.

Clanwolfer wrote:You're aware the box holds almost no trading potential, right? Since the CD-key is just linked to a Steam account anyway, and you have to install/use Steam to play regardless of whether you install from the box or not, you couldn't trade it without handing over the entire Steam account along with password; in which case you could just email that info and let your trade-ee download it through Steam anyway.

He did say he might not even play it/open it and just trade it. Couldn't be tied to a steam account if its never been opened.

edit: So if you wanna trade it tdont open it

Got an email today stating that the game is on it's way...yay.