Paypal Buyer Protection Doesn't apply to Software Key Purchases

[jamesaw]

Just got burned by a seller ijn France for $40. He sold me a Steam purchase of ROME II. My son had the game less than 24 hours before it was disabled by Steam at the request of the game's manufacturer. I can only assume that the license key fraudelently obtained in the first instance. I opened a case with Paypal after the vendor refused to remedy the situation and my claim was denied because apparently I failed to return the item. How are you supposed to return a licence key? Further investigation revealed that it was not covered becasue software is an "Intangible" . Well, I am well aware of that since I am an accountant. Fraud is still fraud and it is obvious to me that the so called Buyer Protection offered by Paypal and E-bay isn't worth a plug nickel 

[toby_le_pue]

You can't blame paypal for having certain policies that have been

in place for years.

Suggest you read up on Paypals buyer protection before you get

burned again.

downloaded material is not the only thing not covered.

[dipmicro]

Does Ebay even allow selling intangibles ? Can you file Item Not Received case on Ebay ?

These cases are decided automatically, unless apealed. If you have some confirmation from Steam about the game being fraudulent, you should be able to apeal the PayPal case and get an actual human to make decision.

[2011limey1]

Really don't mean to sound like I told you so, but if someone is sending you just a license key to get into software of course it's fraudelent!

I must confess that in 2009 my computer completely crashed, have no idea why.  Decided I must try and fix the problem myself (once I called someone down and it cost me apx. $360 for the same thing.)  Years ago when I bought this computer, I really can't remember having the software with the Key no.  Someone set it up for me.  Anyway, again in 2009 I figured I'm doing it myself however long it took, but got to the part where of course it needed a key no. to get Microsoft Office.  At that time it was a lot more expensive to purchase  in the stores than it is now - so I emailed all my friends if someone would mind sending me their key no.  I felt like a thief!  One sent one, but said if more than I think 3 people in her office were using the same no. it wouldn't work and it didn't.  Another friend sent me hers, which is just used by her and bingo I was in.  There, that's my confession. 

[jamesaw]

If such is the case-why is the vendor allowed to operate on ebay? The future of software deployment is going to follow the model being followed by Steam. A unique key is a unique key and provided it is legally obtained and valid, should be able to be bought and sold unless it is prohibited by the manufacturer from the outset. The issue here appears to be that the key was not legally obtained in the first place for the manufacturer to request that it be rescinded. If such is the case, the issue becomes one of fraud irrespective of whether the vendor was aware of it.