Pre-Order Frustrations - Game-Ruining?

from Elemental Forums

Okay.. so I got all excited about my 10% coupon for Elemental's Army getting 1000 members and I've been on the edge of Pre-Ordering the game so I can enjoy the frustrations of the Beta and work to contribute to the development of the game (I'm an owner of Galciv I & II, SINS.. basically there's probably entire months of my life that've been spent in StarDock games).. so I went to do the Pre-Order...

...but we can't do Pre-Orders with PayPal.

So I contact Sales - I figure "hey, if there's someone who can find a way to take my money.. it's Sales, right?"  The ticket is opened and I wait for their response - which comes the next Business day - and the resulting conversation takes place over the next few days that basically ended up with Customer Support telling me "well, use a credit card or mail us a check."

I have to admit, while I could use a credit card to do it, I really don't care to have a "lingering future charge" or use credit cards at all if I can avoid it in the future.  I did everything I could think of - gave them my stardock info, the coupon code, my paypal address and basically said "charge me now for it, please" and basically was told no.

The overall experience has left a sour enough taste in my mouth it could ultimately drive me away from the game. =(  I may be the only customer this drives away, but that still strikes me as a rather disappointing experience when all you're trying to do is give people your money.

/shrug

--Micah

elemental
19,046 views 24 replies
Reply #1 from Elemental Forums Top

You can preorder using paypal during the open window once Beta 3 begins, in which the orders are charged immediately rather than put on queue. This period usually lasts about a week. We can't charge orders manually, they need to go through the system.

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Reply #2 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting kryo, reply 1
You can preorder using paypal during the open window once Beta 3 begins, in which the orders are charged immediately rather than put on queue. This period usually lasts about a week. We can't charge orders manually, they need to go through the system.

That's actually exceptionally helpful... and from what I have read thus far, Beta 3 - you are shooting for this week.. that said, given that it's Thursday... how good is your aim? =)

--Micah

Start11 - Customize the Start Menu and Taskbar in Windows 10/11.
Reply #3 from Elemental Forums Top

I tried to order tonight once the build has been posted as being available, but when I click on the big PayPal button a pop-up appears saying "Sorry, you cannot check-out using PayPal when your order contains a Pre-Order product".

I tried doing checkout thinking I could use a different PayPal option under there, but doesn't appear to be the case. 

Any other suggestions?

--Micah

Reply #4 from Elemental Forums Top

Give it some time. It went live less than an hour ago:P And, iirc, they have to go through the backlog of people who pre-ordered between Betas 2 and 3 before they can charge new orders. If it still doesn't work by this time tomorrow, then you might have a problem.

Reply #5 from Elemental Forums Top

Typically we open it up after all the queued orders are done charging, though since it landed late-night on the verge of a four-day weekend it's hard to say. I'll see if I can get a confirmation if it will indeed open up tonight or if it'll wait.

Reply #6 from Elemental Forums Top

Once again, thank you - your comments and notes here should be handed off of to the Sales Support Staff imo!

--Micah

Reply #7 from Elemental Forums Top

Yup, we'll be switching it on shortly.

Reply #9 from Elemental Forums Top

purchased and registered. no icon, wait or problem?

Reply #10 from Elemental Forums Top

purchased and registered. no icon, wait or problem?

Have you checked the Box that says "Show pre-release versions"?

Reply #11 from Elemental Forums Top

i only see a

Quoting pedroente, reply 10

purchased and registered. no icon, wait or problem?
Have you checked the Box that says "Show pre-release versions"?

 

i only see show "freeware and Demos"

no "pre release versions"

Reply #13 from Stardock Forums Top

For anyone else that needs to know where it is:

Reply #14 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Rosco_P, reply 13
For anyone else that needs to know where it is:

 

You should put that picture on the pre-order page right after people order.

Reply #15 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting strager, reply 14

Quoting Rosco_P, reply 13For anyone else that needs to know where it is:


 

You should put that picture on the pre-order page right after people order.

 

Agreed. I only happened across it when the same option from the Impulse icon didn't do the job.

If my response to things when it doesn't work right is to push every button I can (I'm sure that tendency will screw me one day), I wouldn't have found it either.

Reply #16 from Elemental Forums Top

Okay.. so I got all excited about my 10% coupon for Elemental's Army getting 1000 members and I've been on the edge of Pre-Ordering the game so I can enjoy the frustrations of the Beta and work to contribute to the development of the game (I'm an owner of Galciv I & II, SINS.. basically there's probably entire months of my life that've been spent in StarDock games).. so I went to do the Pre-Order...

So how does one get a 10% coupon? o_O

Reply #17 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting KWAiRT, reply 16

Okay.. so I got all excited about my 10% coupon for Elemental's Army getting 1000 members and I've been on the edge of Pre-Ordering the game so I can enjoy the frustrations of the Beta and work to contribute to the development of the game (I'm an owner of Galciv I & II, SINS.. basically there's probably entire months of my life that've been spent in StarDock games).. so I went to do the Pre-Order...


So how does one get a 10% coupon?

You missed it: https://forums.elementalgame.com/385882

Reply #18 from Elemental Forums Top

You missed it: https://forums.elementalgame.com/385882

Figures as much. Thanks for info. Nothing stopping Stardock from dropping one in my email box though. I guess owners of Galciv2 and Sins get the short end of the stick? Where is the coupon for the people that support this company and BUY their products? Sad really. Sign up on a forum and get a coupon. Support the developers and get nothing I see how it works :)

Reply #19 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting KWAiRT, reply 18

Figures as much. Thanks for info. Nothing stopping Stardock from dropping one in my email box though. I guess owners of Galciv2 and Sins get the short end of the stick? Where is the coupon for the people that support this company and BUY their products? Sad really. Sign up on a forum and get a coupon. Support the developers and get nothing I see how it works

Yeah, people who bought many months ago didn't get anything either. Reminds me of the bank ads here in Canada lately where the banker gives one kid ice cream but tells the other one he can't have any because he's not "new enough" as a customer. :P (The egg management fee one is pretty funny too.)

I mean I guess you could have used the coupon for something else, but still. It "feels" like they put Elemental on sale before it was even released, which leaves a bad taste in my mouth. (Then again, the entire "army" thing did that already.)

Reply #20 from Elemental Forums Top

The Army is their way of spreading word about the game, which results in potentially more sales. I don't see anything wrong with them rewarding people who spend time (and in some cases their own money) to promote Elemental around the internet and the Real World.

Reply #21 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Annatar11, reply 20
The Army is their way of spreading word about the game, which results in potentially more sales. I don't see anything wrong with them rewarding people who spend time (and in some cases their own money) to promote Elemental around the internet and the Real World.

That's not really what it did. You were eligible for the discount if you:

a ) clicked the "join army" button on the website, and

b ) didn't already buy the game

Note that "spread word about the game" isn't on that list. You didn't have to do anything related to that to get the discount.

What I've learned from this is that the next time Stardock sells a game that I shouldn't pre-order it until it goes on sale. I've never heard of games going on sale BEFORE release before, so it's been a learning experience.

Reply #22 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting KWAiRT, reply 18

Figures as much. Thanks for info. Nothing stopping Stardock from dropping one in my email box though. I guess owners of Galciv2 and Sins get the short end of the stick? Where is the coupon for the people that support this company and BUY their products? Sad really. Sign up on a forum and get a coupon. Support the developers and get nothing I see how it works

:rolleyes:  

Reply #23 from Elemental Forums Top

That's not really what it did. You were eligible for the discount if you:

a ) clicked the "join army" button on the website, and

b ) didn't already buy the game

Note that "spread word about the game" isn't on that list. You didn't have to do anything related to that to get the discount.

What I've learned from this is that the next time Stardock sells a game that I shouldn't pre-order it until it goes on sale. I've never heard of games going on sale BEFORE release before, so it's been a learning experience.

The same logic could apply to anything. Sure there are people who joined the Army that don't do anything, but there are lots who do. It's not like they're going to go through a thousand people and only make a coupon for them. Besides, the coupon isn't for Elemental only, it's 10% off whatever on Impulse - no different than any other promo.

Reply #24 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Tridus, reply 21

Quoting Annatar11, reply 20The Army is their way of spreading word about the game, which results in potentially more sales. I don't see anything wrong with them rewarding people who spend time (and in some cases their own money) to promote Elemental around the internet and the Real World.
That's not really what it did. You were eligible for the discount if you:

a ) clicked the "join army" button on the website, and

b ) didn't already buy the game

Note that "spread word about the game" isn't on that list. You didn't have to do anything related to that to get the discount.

What I've learned from this is that the next time Stardock sells a game that I shouldn't pre-order it until it goes on sale. I've never heard of games going on sale BEFORE release before, so it's been a learning experience.

 

Elemental was never on sale so your point is moot. If you've ever done business with Impulse you would know that they regularly have coupon offers and sales that you can apply towards any game you want. That's how I got Dragon Age Origins and Elemental for $43.