Second-hand game not fit for purpose, as per the Sales of Goods Act

AlanRD

Alright, here goes my slightly rambling rant, and plea for advice...

Short version for quicker reading: Second-hand game is technically faulty by the Sales of Goods Act, and the store is refusing a full refund. What can, or should I do next?

I bought Grand Theft Auto IV for my PC from CEX (a second-hand store) less than a week ago. When I got home, I obviously installed it on my computer to get playing. But.. uh oh... Grand Theft Auto IV is a "Games for Windows Live" game, which basically means you need to link the game's serial code to your Windows Live ID in order to do certain things with the game.

I proceed to attempt to login with my Windows Live ID to link the two, and I'm greeted with a message that says "Can't sign in because you've exceeded the usage allowed by your product key. Please enter another product key", and when I try to get in-game with logging in, to see if I didn't have to, I'm told that I won't be able to save my progress. That's no good, now, is it? Certainly not fit for purpose.

So I had my mother game the game back in attempt to get a full refund on it. They took the game out back and tested it, only to come back out about an hour later to say it works fine. Now, I don't like to be accusatory, but that's either a blatant lie or complete ignorance on their part. They did offer a credit note, but I asked her mother not to accept a credit note, since the game is technically faulty.

The fact of the matter is I can create a "local profile" and play the game normally, except without the online multi-player functionality, which is clearly described on the game box itself.

So, apologies for making you all read that. From reading the consumer rights article on this fine site, I've concluded that I'm entitled to a full refund, as, aside from the other reasons, this is technically an illegal copy of the game.

What do you all think?

Thanks

4743hudsonj

AlanRD wrote: »

Alright, here goes my slightly rambling rant, and plea for advice...

Short version for quicker reading: Second-hand game is technically faulty by the Sales of Goods Act, and the store is refusing a full refund. What can, or should I do next?

I bought Grand Theft Auto IV for my PC from CEX (a second-hand store) less than a week ago. When I got home, I obviously installed it on my computer to get playing. But.. uh oh... Grand Theft Auto IV is a "Games for Windows Live" game, which basically means you need to link the game's serial code to your Windows Live ID in order to do certain things with the game.

I proceed to attempt to login with my Windows Live ID to link the two, and I'm greeted with a message that says "Can't sign in because you've exceeded the usage allowed by your product key. Please enter another product key", and when I try to get in-game with logging in, to see if I didn't have to, I'm told that I won't be able to save my progress. That's no good, now, is it? Certainly not fit for purpose.

So I had my mother game the game back in attempt to get a full refund on it. They took the game out back and tested it, only to come back out about an hour later to say it works fine. Now, I don't like to be accusatory, but that's either a blatant lie or complete ignorance on their part. They did offer a credit note, but I asked her mother not to accept a credit note, since the game is technically faulty.

The fact of the matter is I can create a "local profile" and play the game normally, except without the online multi-player functionality, which is clearly described on the game box itself.

So, apologies for making you all read that. From reading the consumer rights article on this fine site, I've concluded that I'm entitled to a full refund, as, aside from the other reasons, this is technically an illegal copy of the game.

What do you all think?

Thanks

I think your right, you need to go in and state you are rejecting the goods under the sale of goods act 1979, entitling you to a full refund.

Go to consumer directs website and print of the relevant piece of law and wave it in their face. If they refuse ask for their name and tell them your going to trading standards and reporting them for denying you your statutory rights. Its often enough to scare most store clerks into a refund.

If they test it, ask them to prove that it works to you, as within the first 6 months from purchase, it is their responsibility.

DCFC79

Good luck OP