CD Key is invalid / Worst support ever

from Sins Forums

Hi,

 

I have bought a retail Copy of Sins of a Solar Empire, but when I want to register the CD-Key I got every time following Error:

 

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Error
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Product Registration Failed: The email address or serial number you entered is invalid. Check to make sure that you have entered the correct information. (ref: 204)
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OK
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So I have decided to contact the support. The answer was very disappointing an arrogant:

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Hello,

Your game seems to be registered to a different user, this implies it was purchased used. That said, there are some options.

1. The Sins CD's do not have any copy protection. You may
install and play the retail version of the game.

2. You may purchase a new license key from Stardock at a discount from the MSRP:

https://store.stardock.com/addproduct.asp?PRODUCT_ID=ESD-TGN-W284

Other than that there is nothing else we can do to help as we do not support the purchases of used bought copies of our games, this is in no way your fault.

We apologize for the inconvenience.

 

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Is this the way Stardock treated its own customers? Very very poor! I have bought a new copy of the game, but the support won't care.

 

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Hello,

You'll need to download the Gamestop app in order to be able to update your game, but as I stated before you'll need a Serial key that is not used by another user to be able to register your game and update it.

You can install it directly from the disc, or through the Gamestop app.

Those are your two options for installation.

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Evan Kathawa
Technical Adviser
 
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This was the first and last game from Stardock!
 
 
 
technical
6,920 views 10 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

Are you certain it was new? Re-shrinkwrapping of returns/trades is a fairly common practice in Europe. You may also have the option of returning any such products and obtaining a factory sealed new copy.

If you buy a used product, the purchase is between you and the first owner. We cannot revoke their serial key to give to someone else.

Reply #2 from Sins Forums Top

At least not anymore in Britain ever since Game kicked the bucket.

Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion
Reply #3 from Sins Forums Top

It was bought at Media Markt and was wrapped in foil. ;-) Media Markt don't sell used software.

 

 

Quoting kryo, reply 1
We cannot revoke their serial key to give to someone else.
End of kryo's quote

 

That's absoluetely right, you cannot revoke used Keys. But Stardock has the task to avoid the use of Key Genrator or something like that. And Stardock has the choice to give the customer a new key.

 

Whats more bad for an publisher: To give a new key or to lose a customer? A disappointed customer wont buy any game of them again. Not budget title and espeacialy no full price game.

Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting AlleB, reply 3
It was bought at Media Markt and was wrapped in foil.
End of AlleB's quote

If you did buy in Europe, you may also want to contact Kalypso instead. They are the publisher/distributor there. And as previously mentioned, you can also probably exchange the game at the store for another copy.

Reply #5 from Sins Forums Top

Take a picture of the reciept along with the game, it should indicate that it was a new copy.

Reply #6 from Sins Forums Top

I fail to see any problem with the customer service, looks more like a problem with the merchant. Perhaps try returning to the merchant and discussing a replacement/refund after mentioning said problem. As mentioned above, definitely keep your copy of the receipt and box/cd.
Also, make sure you are correctly using the right email, I may be wrong, but I believe you must register an email before tying it to the cd-key, but I got my copy from steam. Anyways, good luck.




/startrant
A video game company isn't going to just give away free cd keys and video games just becomes someone "claims" to have purchased one of their games. If it worked that way, I could just email blizzard and tell them that I pre-ordered Diablo 3 and already paid for it, but for some reason it didn't register for me, so I should get the game for free now....
While I understand your situation is unfortunate, your misplaced anger at being self-sufficient leads me to have little pity for you.
P.S: I truly hope you can get your refund, cause I would dislike playing a game with you, the idea of having to listen to someone constantly type "how do I play" then leaving 2 minutes later.
kids who slander honest companies just because they do not have the brain capacity to solve their own problems are quite the annoyance.
/endrant 

Reply #7 from Sins Forums Top

Quoting AlleB, reply 3
It was bought at Media Markt and was wrapped in foil. Media Markt don't sell used software.
End of AlleB's quote

Well, it is common knowledge that a lot of the "new" product from mediamarkt are second hand product...

- http://www.hln.be/hln/nl/4124/Multimedia/article/detail/1295181/2011/07/20/Man-vindt-belastingaangifte-vakantiefoto-s-en-huurcontract-op-nieuwe-laptop-Mediamarkt.dhtml 

- http://www.imagzin.nl/2011/07/nieuwe-laptop-mediamarkt-blijkt-tweedehands.html

- http://www.telegraaf.nl/overgeld/consument/10231369/__Tweedehandsjes_in_showroom_Media_Markt__.html

- http://www.clint.be/actua/buitenland/mediamarkt-verkoopt-occasielaptop-als-nieuw

Use a little Google and you will find plenty of story from people who buy, for example a "new" ipod but find music from the previous owner on it !!!

As Kryo have wrote, version buy in store in europa are from Kalypso... and Kalypso support is almost null because it is a "old" game...

 

Reply #8 from Sins Forums Top

If it is a used product, you are not Stardock's customer--you are the customer of the store who sold it to you.  unfortunately, a lot of counterfeit retail product is out there. 

Hope it works out for you.

Reply #9 from Sins Forums Top

I have the same problem and even shittier customer service. They don't even answer!

and no im not in fucking europe

Reply #10 from Sins Forums Top

@Both of you: Get out, and stop wasting our time with your pointless debacles.