cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/48547220
https://help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view/78E3-7431-1E88-AD59#retailers
Can I purchase Steam Gift Cards at retailers?
Yes, but only for a limited time.
We introduced Steam Gift Cards to retail stores back in 2012, and added the digital program in 2017. Unfortunately, scammers use gift cards from major brands like Steam to take advantage of all people all over the world.
We’ve responded to gift card scams over the years by taking a number of actions to protect customers, including:
- Working with retailers
- Working with law enforcement
- Making changes to the cards, including adding a prominent scam warning
- Limiting redemption to be in the currency of your Steam wallet
- Limiting availability of cards
- Removing cards from sale when we observed abnormal activity
As we have continued to put more and more restrictions in place, scammers have adapted. They continue to have an impact on Steam customers and other unsuspecting individuals. So we've made the difficult decision to end the Steam Gift Card program at retail stores.
As Steam Gift Cards run out of stock at retail locations, we will not be restocking them. We expect all retailers to be out of stock by the end of 2026. Though we will no longer be selling physical gift cards, you will still have the ability to use your existing gift cards on Steam whenever you choose, subject to local laws.
We also continue to offer Steam Digital Gift Cards, and are working to make this an even better experience. Guest checkout, which we added last year, is another way for family members and friends to gift Steam users with a digital card anytime.
You can learn more about gift card scams here.
It makes sense, scammers looooove gift cards. And any time you see someone with a $500 or $1K+ USD gift card with a suspiciously vague and unenthusiastic story paired with it, you almost certainly know they’re being scammed.
Back when the original Steam Deck came out, I was purchasing Gift Cards for 500 Euros in my local shops. They all had a limit to how much I could purchase in one shop, so I had to wander around to get more in smaller chunks. To my surprise they told me because of scams, and I looked at them with a side eye not believing and not understanding.
You know what they don't like? ..
.. When you REDEEM THE FUCKING CARD
Yeah, besides crypto gift cards are basically the currency of scammers.
I never understood the reason for gift cards.
"Let me give this store a fixed amount of my money so that my niece can either use a portion of it and while the company keeps the remaining balance, or spend some of her own money on top so it doesn't go to waste."
Unless the recipient needs to go shopping at the store for basic life necessities anyway, the only winner here is the company.
For most gift cards yes, for online only ones like steam it's a bit different as it's the only way to pay without using a card.
Buying Steam games and hardware without involving credit cards or bank accounts is only possible by buying gift cards with cash in a local shop. What do you mean the only winner is the company? This is a real value for me, so am I not a winner in that sense too?
Call me a luddite, but if I don't want to give my purchase history to a bank, I drive to the store and pay with cash. I can see how that might not be an option for online-only retailers, however.
I don't understand your point.
Edit: Just to be clear, I'm not being rude here. And I actually understand what you are saying, but I'm not sure how to understand it in context as a reply to my statement.
Gift cards allowed me to give my nieces/nephews money to spend on Steam so they wouldn't need a credit card.
Ah, so you do understand the reason for gift cards.