Question Grey market sites

[AngelTech]

So I have some questions about these sites I want to use them but have a few concerns:

1. Can I get in any legal trouble for purchasing off these sites? example being sued
2. Once I buy a game how big is the possibility of them reselling the key aka taking the game away from me?
3. Is using a debit card safe on these sites or is it best to use Paypal? because I heard someone was getting charged an "inactivity fee" when they weren't using the site G2A.

if you need to know what sites I plan to use mostly cdkeys (maybe) Instant Gaming and in very rare cases G2A

 

[Gam3r01]

1. Technically, you would be in violation of the EULA (end user licensing agreement). Being sued? No.
2. Its certainly possible, also possible to get a key that wont work in the first place (like why G2A sells insurance with their keys, they know some of their keys are not legit and are going to be fraudulent, so they insure them? Shady.
3. I would never recommend using your debit card.

CDKeys is "okay" at best, G2A is a hard no.

 

[AngelTech]

Alright so if I violate this EULA I can get banned for having the games on my account correct?

 

[DSzymborski]

Alright so if I violate this EULA I can get banned for having the games on my account correct?

The worst that will happen to you is that you will have your key revoked.

But know there's a decent chance you're aiding low-level criminals launder money or commit theft.

 

[Revan77]

As far as I'm aware, there is not any way for a digital platform such as Steam to figure out you're using gray market keys.

I myself have purchased some keys from such gray market sites and have yet to receive any ban of any sort.

I know it's somewhat hypocritical of me to say this, but I don't encourage purchasing from these sites as some of the keys are obtained questionably.

 

[AngelTech]

I see so the question is why do quite a few people use these sites and usually keep their keys just curious if there is any reason behind it or just luck and the more I ask about these sites the more I am thinking about just sticking with legit sellers and look for legit sales that give away keys would that be the best thing to do or is there any reason to try the gray market sites besides saving money?

 

[DSzymborski]

I see so the question is why do quite a few people use these sites and usually keep their keys just curious if there is any reason behind it or just luck and the more I ask about these sites the more I am thinking about just sticking with legit sellers and look for legit sales that give away keys would that be the best thing to do or is there any reason to try the gray market sites besides saving money?

Luck. The biggest reason to not get gray market keys is your personal ethics, more than worrying that your key happens to be blacklisted. I think people deserve to get paid for their work and I don't get satisfaction from things I didn't earn.

In fact, some publishers have gone on record saying that given the choice between having their work outright pirated or being bought with a gray market key, they would prefer the former. Because if it looks like a legit sale to them, they have to provide support for it, even if they don't get any money for their work.

 

[AngelTech]

Yeah, I heard about that and the G2A stuff so wanted to ask here so would best be to just be smart and look for legitimate site discounts?

 

[Revan77]

I see so the question is why do quite a few people use these sites and usually keep their keys just curious if there is any reason behind it or just luck and the more I ask about these sites the more I am thinking about just sticking with legit sellers and look for legit sales that give away keys would that be the best thing to do or is there any reason to try the gray market sites besides saving money?

I haven't heard of people holding on to keys they purchase, so I can't really answer that.

It's much safer to stick with legit sellers; the only reason you buy from grey market sites is just to save money. The problem is you're essentially supporting people that are likely to be thieves.

Just look for various legitimate discounts.

 

[DSzymborski]

Yeah, I heard about that and the G2A stuff so wanted to ask here so would best be to just be smart and look for legitimate site discounts?

That's what I personally do. OK, that's kind of a lie as my tendency is to buy full price for things and then they go in my Steam Library at which point I forget about them for months later, when I could have saved money by buying at that point. And now I need to live to be 120 to play all my Steam games. But you get the idea.

In the end, the person you need to answer to is always going to be the person looking back at you in the mirror.

 

[AngelTech]

Well thank you for the input I'll most likely stick to legitimate places unless I have a reason to not give my money to the devs such as broken game or shady practices or if a game has been out so long and is still like 60 dollars or smth xD