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So... advertising CD Key sites

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FreedomEclipse

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TPU are now pedaling/supporting/advertising grey market warez now??

GreyMarket.jpg


Im not mad, but i thought advertising or talking about grey market keys werent allowed on TPU???
 

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There was another sponsored keys piece a while back (last month). I buy from CDKeys so I don't see the general problem, however,

The post mentions based in California but that is not true -- see below:

specifically, the poor english on the 'about us' blurb.

I'm preparing for my post to be removed...

Untitled.png
 

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I doubt anyones gunna get in trouble for polite discussion on this, talk away but everyone keep it polite and civil
 

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There was another sponsored keys piece a while back (last month). I buy from CDKeys so I don't see the general problem, however,

The post mentions based in California but that is not true -- see below:

specifically, the poor english on the 'about us' blurb.

I'm preparing for my post to be removed...

View attachment 111333

AHh I missed the previous ad, so this is the first time im seeing something like this, hence the slight disbelief but I too have bought from CDKeys and CJS-keys before with no issue.


Im just surprised to see this kind of sponsored ad thats all.
 
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I've opened a very similar thread back when they posted the previous sponsorship.
I understand where this comes from at TPU. They need to keep the site up...
 

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Money's tight, maybe?
 
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These cdkey based sites are advertising everywhere now. When techpowerup did the scdkey one, I also saw a techyes advert for it, tweaktown and a couple other sites with same advert. So it spreads like wildfire. Not like I am against it or anything (as I stated in last discussion).
 
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Edited thread title so people know what its about
 
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How buying/selling keys is warez? Isn't warez related only to downloading and uploading cracked versions of software (games are software too)?
 

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Almost every key in existence has terms in their license that says they can only be sold by authorized retailers. Any key (license) obtained from an unauthorized retailer may be terminated without warning. I guarantee you this site isn't an authorized retailer.
 

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Almost every key in existence has terms in their license that says they can only be sold by authorized retailers. Any key (license) obtained from an unauthorized retailer may be terminated without warning. I guarantee you this site isn't an authorized retailer.

SCDKey, the one before, is supposed to be one of those
 
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90% of shops selling keys are not authorized retailers yet they are selling keys and these keys in 99,(9)% of cases are not getting banned because keys themselves are legitimate/valid. I do not mean marketplaces, i mean legitimate shops.
 

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90% of shops selling keys are not authorized retailers yet they are selling keys and these keys in 99,(9)% of cases are not getting banned because keys themselves are legitimate/valid. I do not mean marketplaces, i mean legitimate shops.
Because publishers have no way to know which keys were resold on the gray market. If they did, deauthorizing the keys would be instantaneous.
 
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Because publishers have no way to know which keys were resold on the grey market.
Actually... That's not strictly true. They do actually have that capability, but haven't exercised it yet. I'm not entirely certain I'm allowed to divulge any more.
 
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Theres some I stay away from, but over the years of holding game giveaways here ,as well as purchasing them for the kids ,I've discovered which are trustworthy and significantly less sketchy than others . Cdkeys has always been good, gamesbillet, & a few others.
 

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I think something like this has happened before. W1zzard stopped it. He just needed the report. I’m not certain of the system TPU uses but I remember configuring ads and it wasn’t “let grey market cd keys display = enable” it was in the form of catagories like “software ads”. It’s up to the channel partner at that point.

EDIT:: oh nvm, I didnt look at the picture clearly enough, it was an actual post not an ad.
 
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Yeah, it's really disappointing. And you aren't even allowed to comment that you are disappointed about it in the threads about the "article" without it being removed...twice.

I do not like it in the slightest and it comes of as incredibly unprofessional. It makes me second guess my visit every time i want to read some news on hardware and consider other sites instead.
 
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Yeah, it's really disappointing. And you aren't even allowed to comment that you are disappointed about it in the threads about the "article" without it being removed...twice.

I do not like it in the slightest and it comes of as incredibly unprofessional. It makes me second guess my visit every time i want to read some news on hardware and consider other sites instead.

dont be a drama queen.

This doesn't affect you at all.
 

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Yeah, it's really disappointing. And you aren't even allowed to comment that you are disappointed about it in the threads about the "article" without it being removed...twice.

I do not like it in the slightest and it comes of as incredibly unprofessional. It makes me second guess my visit every time i want to read some news on hardware and consider other sites instead.

I wouldnt say that i am disappointed. I just think it makes TPU seem a little bit shady or 'seedy' as generally speaking grey market wares arent really spoken about on the forum. so its more of a touchy feely subject (a lot of keys are obtained by fraudulent means before being sold to companies like these before being sold to the public - these involve phone/internet scams, stolen bank details, debit or credit cards etc etc etc...)

But if thats what it takes to help TPU stay afloat then i suppose there aint any other choice. I thought maybe it being TPU that w!zzard would have found another tech sponsor. be it PC hardware, gaming or audio related than some possibly dodgy grey market keys website.
 
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Did anyone else bother to Google view the address ?

Its an empty lot with an old worn down motel.

seriouslynotterroristsGameKeysDOTcom

most legitliest EVER
 
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How buying/selling keys is warez? Isn't warez related only to downloading and uploading cracked versions of software (games are software too)?

exactly. warez is unauthorized distribution of software.

Almost every key in existence has terms in their license that says they can only be sold by authorized retailers. Any key (license) obtained from an unauthorized retailer may be terminated without warning. I guarantee you this site isn't an authorized retailer.

hate to be That Guy, but can you prove it? have you asked developers if site X is a non-authorized retailer? has your key (or personal acquaintance or longtime community member's key) been revoked?

Yeah, it's really disappointing. And you aren't even allowed to comment that you are disappointed about it in the threads about the "article" without it being removed...twice.

I do not like it in the slightest and it comes of as incredibly unprofessional. It makes me second guess my visit every time i want to read some news on hardware and consider other sites instead.

not sure what T&C the sponsor has (and what TPU allows), but for example in AMD's Twitter contests (early Nov, late Nov), you can't post negatively in your entry. so i could see this being a thing in a sponsored post.

Money's tight, maybe?

since the ads thus far aren't obnoxious, i've unblocked TPU from my adblocker. hopefully others do, too!
 
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Generally you can tell by the price if they're an authorized reseller. Why? Because the publisher sets the price. If a website is selling a key for much less than you can get it from Amazon (direct), Newegg (direct), Steam, GOG, Humble Bundle, Walmart, etc. then they're certainly not an authorized reseller. I have talked to game developers and they really don't like gray market websites. In fact, gray market websites are the reason why they're very careful about giving keys to anyone for marketing reasons. Why? Developers/publishers don't make a dime off of gray market sales. Instead, they view it as costing them a retail channel sale.

Ubisoft has revoked gray market keys before.
 

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There is nothing wrong with CD Key market - as long as the keys aren't stolen.

I bought cdkeys for ESET, Warcraft III, Command & Conquer and Battlefield.

Companies offer special deals for specific regions. That's how the CD Key market works.

Parallel import is 100 percent legal.
 
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