Amazon offering Refunds For Players Dissatisfied With Mass Effect 3 Ending

This is beyond ridiculous now...

A recent post on the Bioware forums discusses a gamer who was unsatisfied with the ending and the general experience of Mass Effect 3, and was issued a full refund from Amazon.com, despite the game being opened. Being slightly skeptical, we decided to contact Amazon directly for the real scoop.

We first spoke with an Amazon representative on chat support, and after a very long pause, were directed to call Amazon's customer service line.

Using the order of Mass Effect 3 we placed for one of our contest winners as a reference point, we told the Amazon rep we were completely unsatisfied with the game, and made clear that it was not Amazon's fault; instead, we conveyed that it was the developer's fault.

After another lengthy pause, Amazon told us they would "issue a full or partial refund if you are not satisfied with the quality of Mass Effect 3, and it is the developer's fault." Upon Amazon's receipt of the game, it would then be sent to the return department for evaluation, and it must be returned within 30 days of purchase. We want to emphasize that Amazon did not promise a full refund, but they did promise, at the very least, a partial refund. And this was for the PC version of the game, and we made sure they knew it was open and had been played.

It's also worth mentioning that Amazon indeed offered the same type of refund after the release of BioWare's Dragon Age 2. In a related case, Apple offered dissatisfied consumers a full refund for Final Cut Pro X due to its lack of features.

This is yet another dent in what has been a shaky release for such a highly anticipated title. First there was the file leak over Xbox Live several months before the game was set for release. The ending was leaked and some believed that the resulting outrage might have caused Bioware to change the ending.

One gamer has gone as far to file a complaint with the FTC for a false advertising complaint, stating the ending of the game did not live up to promised expectations.

This only further proves what a following the Mass Effect franchise has established. The fans of this game will go to just about any length to make sure they are not only heard, but that the game reflects the choices they made as Commander Shepard in his mission to stop the Reapers.VideoGameWriters

This is actually shameful.

SOURCE (via NeoGAF)

UPDATE:

Amazon Responds:

There are reports floating around that Amazon is offering refunds to open copies of Mass Effect 3, seemingly a reaction to the game's ending, which has prompted a polarizing response amongst players.

According to an Amazon customer support representative I spoke with this morning, this isn't Mass Effect 3 specific, and offering a refund is standard Amazon policy for disappointed customers.

"Once you open the package and if you are not satisfied you can return it for refund," said the representative. "It applies for the all the items shipped and sold by Amazon."

I've embedded our entire conversation below, and I've also sent a note to Amazon public relations.

Me: Hi, I was considering buying Mass Effect 3 from Amazon, after being told my friend that Amazon is accepting opened returns if consumers are disappointed with the game's ending. Is this true?

Rep: Hello, I'll be happy to help you.

Me: Thanks.

Rep: Patrick. once you open the package and if you are not satisfied you can return it for refund.

Me: Is this only for Mass Effect 3? Or does this apply to other video games on Amazon?

Rep: Yes. It applies for the all the items shipped and sold by Amazon.

Me: OK, thank you.

Rep: You're welcome. Is there anything else I can do for you today?

Me: No, that's all.

Rep: Thanks for visiting Amazon.com. We hope to see you again soon.

My own experience backs this up. I've returned plenty of items to Amazon that were opened, and had no problem.

There are reports of refunds via Origin, too, but I've not been able to confirm those.GiantBomb

UPDATE: PSN and Origin might be offering refunds too.

In addition to Amazon refunding Mass Effect 3, rumors are flying around that PlayStation Network and Origin, an online service from Sony and EA respectively, were also offering refunds for Mass Effect 3. I will keep you updated on this after investigation.The Gaming Vault

I agree, it's shameful that you didn't research this char.

http://www.giantbomb.com/news/amazon-says-mass-effect-3-refunds-arent-unique/4040/

I agree, it's shameful that you didn't research this char.

http://www.giantbomb.com/news/amazon-says-mass-effect-3-refunds-arent-unique/4040/

Cherokee_Jack

lol at all the ME3 ending hoopla.

I've followed all of it day one, but I don't post about it...it's just hilarious. :P

FTC filing about ME3s ending, Charity events raised by ME3's bad ending, Bioware thinking about making a new ending...and you can return the game if you don't like the ending. LOL.

This seems to be getting way too out of hand. Alot of games have bad endings, get over it.

The ending is bad, but this is just straight up whiny.

Oh for god's sake, how bad can the ending be ? What, does triggering the ending kill your family and burn your house ?

Oh for god's sake, how bad can the ending be ? What, does triggering the ending kill your family and burn your house ?

svenus97

Oh for god's sake, how bad can the ending be ? What, does triggering the ending kill your family and burn your house ?

svenus97

It does all that while it chops your d!ck off and feeds it to you with an egg beater.

Judging by how cheesy the first 6 hours have been, I can only imagine the lameness that is the ending. I probably won't finish Corny Effect 3.

lol at all the ME3 ending hooplah.

I've followed all of it day one, but I don't post about it...it's just hilarious. :P

FTC filing about ME3s ending, Charity events raised by ME3's bad ending, Bioware thinking about making a new ending...and you can return the game if you don't like the ending. LOL.

SolidTy

You find it hilarious that a large group of people are dissatisfied with the ending of ME3?.

Okay...

[QUOTE="svenus97"]

Oh for god's sake, how bad can the ending be ? What, does triggering the ending kill your family and burn your house ?

charizard1605

Listen to Marauder Shields and turn back, DO NOT GO INTO THE LIGHT !!!

So like, when EA releases an alternate ending as a DLC...will all this whining be ok?percech

gamers are such whiny b*tches...

[QUOTE="charizard1605"][QUOTE="svenus97"]

Oh for god's sake, how bad can the ending be ? What, does triggering the ending kill your family and burn your house ?

Snugenz

Listen to Marauder Shields and turn back, DO NOT GO INTO THE LIGHT !!!

[QUOTE="percech"]So like, when EA releases an alternate ending as a DLC...will all this whining be ok?charizard1605

[QUOTE="Snugenz"]

[QUOTE="charizard1605"] I don't know, I'm like in the last thirty minutes of the game, but I haven't played since yesterday since posters on here and NeoGAF scared me with their comments :Pcharizard1605

Listen to Marauder Shields and turn back, DO NOT GO INTO THE LIGHT !!!

I really wish it wasn't so, but if you don't heed my warning and ignore Marauder Shields, you'll find out.

You said you're like 30minutes from the end?, well, if you're planning another play through after you finish your first, don't finish it and start the second playthrough, because motivation to do so dies when you enter the light.

Though it probably won't be as bad for you as atleast you're prepared, when i got the game (and before it released) and got to the end, i'd been on a self imposed ME3 media blackout so i would'nt see any spoilers at all.

[QUOTE="SolidTy"]

lol at all the ME3 ending hoopla.

I've followed all of it day one, but I don't post about it...it's just hilarious. :P

FTC filing about ME3s ending, Charity events raised by ME3's bad ending, Bioware thinking about making a new ending...and you can return the game if you don't like the ending. LOL.

Snugenz

You find it hilarious that a large group of people are dissatisfied with the ending of ME3?.

Okay...

I said HOOPLA, not large group of people anything.

No, I find it hilarous how much exposure and articles I've read these last few days based on a video game ending. This is just first world problems at their finest. I didn't see this sh*& when I was getting two second endings two decades ago.

Also, your tone sux. :P You sound upset. :(

So you're saying whining about that wouldn't be justified?percech

I really wish it wasn't so, but if you don't heed my warning and ignore Marauder Shields, you'll find out.

You said you're like 30minutes from the end?, well, if you're planning another play through after you finish your first, don't finish it and start the second playthrough, because motivation to do so dies when you enter the light.

Snugenz

I've almost got a morbid curiosity now. Maybe I could backup a save to a USB drive and then try and get all the endings.

Ahahahahahahaha.. WAT

As stupid as this is, I think it's actually a net benefit for gamers. If retailers (especially DD retailers) are taking back copies of ME3 because the ending was too disappointing for little Timmy to bear, hopefully it means they'll also be more willing to issue refunds for genuinely broken games (instead of the ol' "tough sh*t, we don't refund open boxes/everything is sold 'as-is'").

[QUOTE="Snugenz"]

[QUOTE="SolidTy"]

lol at all the ME3 ending hooplah.

I've followed all of it day one, but I don't post about it...it's just hilarious. :P

FTC filing about ME3s ending, Charity events raised by ME3's bad ending, Bioware thinking about making a new ending...and you can return the game if you don't like the ending. LOL.

SolidTy

You find it hilarious that a large group of people are dissatisfied with the ending of ME3?.

Okay...

No, I find it hilarous how much exposure and articles I've read these last few days based on a video game ending. This is just first world problems at their finest. I didn't see this sh*& when I was getting two second endings two decades ago.

Also, your tone sux. :P

Times change my friend and standards have risen dramatically.

Oh and, so does your face :P

All this bother about the ending almost makes me ready to endure the game's mediocre RPG elements and finish it.

As stupid as this is, I think it's actually a net benefit for gamers. If retailers (especially DD retailers) are taking back copies of ME3 because the ending was too disappointing for little Timmy to bear, hopefully it means they'll also be more willing to issue refunds for genuinely broken games (instead of the ol' "tough sh*t, we don't refund open boxes/everything is sold 'as-is'").

Slow_Show

[QUOTE="percech"] So you're saying whining about that wouldn't be justified?charizard1605

I really wish it wasn't so, but if you don't heed my warning and ignore Marauder Shields, you'll find out.

You said you're like 30minutes from the end?, well, if you're planning another play through after you finish your first, don't finish it and start the second playthrough, because motivation to do so dies when you enter the light.

Snugenz

I've almost got a morbid curiosity now. Maybe I could backup a save to a USB drive and then try and get all the endings.

Nah you don't need to do that, it lets you restart the mission just before the Crucible part after you've completed it. (Restart Mission - Blah blah in your save games).

All this bother about the ending almost makes me ready to endure the game's mediocre RPG elements and finish it.

-Unreal-

[QUOTE="Slow_Show"]

As stupid as this is, I think it's actually a net benefit for gamers. If retailers (especially DD retailers) are taking back copies of ME3 because the ending was too disappointing for little Timmy to bear, hopefully it means they'll also be more willing to issue refunds for genuinely broken games (instead of the ol' "tough sh*t, we don't refund open boxes/everything is sold 'as-is'").

Big_Pecks

It says right in the OP that Amazon accepts returns for any opened game.

I think I even read in the GB comments that you can return used games.

Jeez... Haven't cleared ME3 yet, but is the ending that bad.. :?

[QUOTE="Big_Pecks"]

[QUOTE="Slow_Show"]

As stupid as this is, I think it's actually a net benefit for gamers. If retailers (especially DD retailers) are taking back copies of ME3 because the ending was too disappointing for little Timmy to bear, hopefully it means they'll also be more willing to issue refunds for genuinely broken games (instead of the ol' "tough sh*t, we don't refund open boxes/everything is sold 'as-is'").

Cherokee_Jack

It says right in the OP that Amazon accepts returns for any opened game.

This is ridiculous. The ending was not very good but the rest of the game was incredible. People are focusing way to much on this one aspect. web966

That's why there's such an uproar IMO, if the game was crap, the crappy ending would've been shrugged off mostly. The fact that the game was awesome until the last 5 - 10 mins where it did a u-turn and turned to crap was shocking. It's as if an entirely different writing team wrote the last 10mins.

[QUOTE="-Unreal-"]

All this bother about the ending almost makes me ready to endure the game's mediocre RPG elements and finish it.

Cherokee_Jack

As i said above its because the game(s) is so good, that the ending is so terrible in comparison.

In a way this fan protest is a testament to the quality of the Mass Effect universe and its story, background and characters. To see fans riled up over a bad ending (which is common in the videogame industry) just shows how emotionally invested in the complex universe and how much the fans care about the Mass Effect universe that they want to see it done justice to in a form of an excellent ending.

Think of it like how people got emotionally invested in Star Wars, and was outraged with the treatment that Lucas gave to the series by making Phantom Menace.

[QUOTE="SolidTy"]

[QUOTE="Snugenz"]

You find it hilarious that a large group of people are dissatisfied with the ending of ME3?.

Okay...

Snugenz

I said HOOPLA, not large group of people anything.

No, I find it hilarous how much exposure and articles I've read these last few days based on a video game ending. This is just first world problems at their finest. I didn't see this sh*& when I was getting two second endings two decades ago.

Also, your tone sux. :P You sound upset. :(

Times change my friend and standards have risen dramatically.

Oh and, so does your face :P

Yes, that's quite apparent, the entitlement people have today is just so inspiring. This generation has definitely earned what's coming to them.

Also : Emotional over videogames...okay. :P

Why can't I get myself to finish this game? It just.. bores me.

Don't count on it, unless the outcry is as ridiculous as this is.

Big_Pecks

I'm not, but it's better than nothing, especially if the rumours about PSN and Origin are true. Plus I didn't know Amazon had such a lenient policy (although I guess it makes sense, since they can charge a big, fat restocking fee and resell the product as used/refurbished).

[QUOTE="Snugenz"]

[QUOTE="SolidTy"]

I said HOOPLA, not large group of people anything.

No, I find it hilarous how much exposure and articles I've read these last few days based on a video game ending. This is just first world problems at their finest. I didn't see this sh*& when I was getting two second endings two decades ago.

Also, your tone sux. :P You sound upset. :(

SolidTy

Times change my friend and standards have risen dramatically.

Oh and, so does your face :P

Yes, that's quite apparent, the entitlement people have today is just so inspiring. This generation has definitely earned what's coming to them.

Also : Emotional over videogames...okay. :P

Hey i didn't take offense to your little jab, so lighten up there buckaroo, i said that in jest.

And the actual outrage (not the wanting refunds or petition crap) is hardly entitlement, its disbelief and a need to understand WTF they were thinking.

[QUOTE="web966"]This is ridiculous. The ending was not very good but the rest of the game was incredible. People are focusing way to much on this one aspect. Snugenz

That's why there's such an uproar IMO, if the game was crap, the crappy ending would've been shrugged off mostly. The fact that the game was awesome until the last 5 - 10 mins where it did a u-turn and turned to crap was shocking. It's as if an entirely different writing team wrote the last 10mins.

I can't even finish the second game because it is so boring.

Oh for god's sake, how bad can the ending be ? What, does triggering the ending kill your family and burn your house ?

svenus97

I don't get why this is shameful to you. Should game developers not be held to any standards? Should they be allowed to advertise one thing but deliver another?

"Oh, but you couldn't make the game any better."

No crap. I couldn't design and build a car from scratch, but that won't stop me from demanding restitution when the brakes on my new Toyota go out either.

[QUOTE="Snugenz"]

[QUOTE="web966"]This is ridiculous. The ending was not very good but the rest of the game was incredible. People are focusing way to much on this one aspect. web966

That's why there's such an uproar IMO, if the game was crap, the crappy ending would've been shrugged off mostly. The fact that the game was awesome until the last 5 - 10 mins where it did a u-turn and turned to crap was shocking. It's as if an entirely different writing team wrote the last 10mins.

Consumers have the right to campaign and return a product that they didn't like. That's what we call a free market.

I don't get why this is shameful to you. Should game developers not be held to any standards? Should they be allowed to advertise one thing but deliver another?Pug-Nasty

They never claimed that the ending would satisfy everyone in the world.

I don't get why this is shameful to you. Should game developers not be held to any standards? Should they be allowed to advertise one thing but deliver another?

"Oh, but you couldn't make the game any better."

No crap. I couldn't design and build a car from scratch, but that won't stop me from demanding restitution when the brakes on my new Toyota go out either.

Pug-Nasty

[QUOTE="Pug-Nasty"]

I don't get why this is shameful to you. Should game developers not be held to any standards? Should they be allowed to advertise one thing but deliver another?Cherokee_Jack

They never claimed that the ending would satisfy everyone in the world.

They did claim that the ending would factor in all your choices up to that point.

[QUOTE="Pug-Nasty"]

I don't get why this is shameful to you. Should game developers not be held to any standards? Should they be allowed to advertise one thing but deliver another?Cherokee_Jack

They never claimed that the ending would satisfy everyone in the world.

No one could make that claim, but didn't they claim, from the very beginning, that your choices affect the outcome? From what I'm hearing, that isn't the case. If that is indeed true than they should be held accountable for their false advertising since the sales from all three games have been affected by that claim.

[QUOTE="SolidTy"]

[QUOTE="Snugenz"]

Times change my friend and standards have risen dramatically.

Oh and, so does your face :P

Snugenz

Yes, that's quite apparent, the entitlement people have today is just so inspiring. This generation has definitely earned what's coming to them.

Also : Emotional over videogames...okay. :P

Hey i didn't take offense to your little jab, so lighten up there buckaroo, i said that in jest.

And the actual outrage (not the wanting refunds or petition crap) is hardly entitlement, its disbelief and a need to understand WTF they were thinking.

Hey sport, I'm am as light as a feather slick. :P

I'm not emotional or give two donkey sh^s about this issue which is why I don't post about it because it's so surreal. I'm not going to justify Bioware or the fans, I don't care about either side. Some company pumped out a game for us to enjoy, we either do or don't, that it as far as I'm concerned. People are entitled to their opinion, but this whole debacle is hilarious. It sux 'bout da endingz, but whatevs....I got bigger problems, lol.

Clearly some people are far too emotionally invested and have have hair triggers, lol. (Applies to FTC, Charity, Returns, and even this thread.) :P

[QUOTE="web966"][QUOTE="Snugenz"]

That's why there's such an uproar IMO, if the game was crap, the crappy ending would've been shrugged off mostly. The fact that the game was awesome until the last 5 - 10 mins where it did a u-turn and turned to crap was shocking. It's as if an entirely different writing team wrote the last 10mins.

Vesica_Prime

Consumers have the right to campaign and return a product that they didn't like. That's what we call a free market.