Does a lifetime subscriber need a retail key?

[Archived Post]

I had a thought, if I have paid for a lifetime subscription to the game, BEFORE receiving any retail key, what would happen if I canceled my preorder?

I did see anything stating that you have to have the retail key to play, and if i have bought a lifetime sub to the game, from a legal standpoint I dont think the could stop me playing without providing a full refund.

What do you think?

[Archived Post]

I had a thought, if I have paid for a lifetime subscription to the game, BEFORE receiving any retail key, what would happen if I canceled my preorder?

I did see anything stating that you have to have the retail key to play, and if i have bought a lifetime sub to the game, from a legal standpoint I dont think the could stop me playing without providing a full refund.

What do you think?

I think you will be upset come the 2nd when you cant log into the game. Worth a try though i suppose, never know you might find a coding loophole that saves ya $60. If you had the money to spend $250 on a subscription i wouldn't think $60 would matter that much to you though.:confused:

[Archived Post]

I think you will be upset come the 2nd when you cant log into the game. Worth a try though i suppose, never know you might find a coding loophole that saves ya $60. If you had the money to spend $250 on a subscription i wouldn't think $60 would matter that much to you though.:confused:

It would be more of a midddle finger to cryptic for not having the preorder items despite having paid for them (credit card, i can cancel the payment any time for the next month) and receiving my game already (digital preorder).

Get with the digital age people.

Maybe I will wait and see what happens, by not applying my retail code to my account for the next few weeks, if im still playing, i will just cancel my credit card payment.

[Archived Post]

lifetime sub does not mean you dont need a retail key.
you have until the 5th in US or 8th in EU to enter key or it stops working.

[Archived Post]

this might just be me, but im sure you could get some sort of refund, though im not sure on the hole amount. this would probley be covered in the ToC of the open beta in which you agreed to before you even paid for the lifetime option...but its just me

[Archived Post]

I had a thought, if I have paid for a lifetime subscription to the game, BEFORE receiving any retail key, what would happen if I canceled my preorder?

I did see anything stating that you have to have the retail key to play, and if i have bought a lifetime sub to the game, from a legal standpoint I dont think the could stop me playing without providing a full refund.

What do you think?

You will need a Retail Key in order to Activate the game after Head Start is over.

Your Pre-Order key only allows access to Open Beta and Head Start, after which it will have about 7 to 10 days of grace time in order to input your Retail game key (key from game box or download shipped Feb. 2, 2010 US or Feb. 5, 2010 UK).

If you do not enter a retail key, after the grace period is over, your account will be suspended until your Retail key is entered.

It is a fail safe that Cryptic has installed to prevent people from not purchasing a retail version of the game.

[Archived Post]

It would be more of a midddle finger to cryptic for not having the preorder items despite having paid for them (credit card, i can cancel the payment any time for the next month) and receiving my game already (digital preorder).

Get with the digital age people.

Maybe I will wait and see what happens, by not applying my retail code to my account for the next few weeks, if im still playing, i will just cancel my credit card payment.


Every web site has stated release date is Feb. 2, 2010. That means Pre-Order items will not be available until Feb. 2, 2010. You agreed to that when you purchased the game. Neitehr will package items be available.

say you bought DDE from GameStop.. the package comes with NX registry, Khan and bloodwine emote, Joined-Trill, TOS Uniforms and the 360 Degress auto defense tactical console..

those are package items that requires the Retail key to unlock.. which you get with the game Feb. 2, 2010.

Their Pre-Orde item is the TOS Starship, which is tied to the Retailer's Unique Pre-Order Key, however it requires the Retail Key to unlock it, again Feb. 2, 2010, which is exactly what every order site states.. release date Feb. 2, 2010

You knew that when you ordered.. why peopole get upset becasue Jan 29 is not Feb. 2.. I have no idea.

[Archived Post]

this might just be me, but im sure you could get some sort of refund, though im not sure on the hole amount. this would probley be covered in the ToC of the open beta in which you agreed to before you even paid for the lifetime option...but its just me

Haha, but my open beta participation had nothing to do with my pre-order, I received my pre-order after the open beta!

I received my open beta key from fileplanet!

[Archived Post]

Every web site has stated release date is Feb. 2, 2010. That means Pre-Order items will not be available until Feb. 2, 2010. You agreed to that when you purchased the game. Neitehr will package items be available.

say you bought DDE from GameStop.. the package comes with NX registry, Khan and bloodwine emote, Joined-Trill, TOS Uniforms and the 360 Degress auto defense tactical console..

those are package items that requires the Retail key to unlock.. which you get with the game Feb. 2, 2010.

Their Pre-Orde item is the TOS Starship, which is tied to the Retailer's Unique Pre-Order Key, however it requires the Retail Key to unlock it, again Feb. 2, 2010, which is exactly what every order site states.. release date Feb. 2, 2010

You knew that when you ordered.. why peopole get upset becasue Jan 29 is not Feb. 2.. I have no idea.

Umm, you completely missed the point (anyway most pre-orders where ordered before people where told they wouldnt get their pre-order items when they were allowed to start playing the game (though some already have)).

Im talking about not having to pay for a retail copy if you have already stumped up for a lifetime sub. as it nowhere explicitly states you need a retail code to play and if you have a life sub, the wording suggests that you have paid to play the game forever. Its a legal technicality that they might have overlooked, and it might just not be a legal technicality, but a technical one that allows you to continue playing without purchasing the retail key.

[Archived Post]

I think you need to read a little better OP.

"Note: A retail box or digital download purchase is required to play Star Trek Online and future expansion packs. Lifetime subscription covers your subscription fee for as long as the game is in service. 12-month discounted subscription covers your subscription fee for 12 months and will recur at the same price at the end of the 12-month period. Subscription fees are non-refundable. We make no explicit or implicit warranties on the service period of the game. This offer ends February 1st, 2010 11:59PM PST. While supplies last. Prices displayed are not inclusive of VAT for purchases from the European Union (EU). VAT is charged in accordance with the local legislation in each member state and varies from 15% to 25%."

It clearly states, directly from the page where you can choose the lifetime sub, that you need a retail box or digital download purchase to play. That's + the sub fee. It also clearly states that it's non-refundable.

http://www.startrekonline.com/exclusive_specials

Now make sure you get your retail copy and enter your key or you'll be kicking yourself for wasting $240+tax.

[Archived Post]

You will still need a retail key as far as i know, lifetime sub is just a one off payment for the duration of the life of the game, which i do hope is many years to come :)

If no retail then you will not be ble to play, the headstart is just a perk so a diffrent key is used for them granting temp game play till a valid key is entered , if you not enter the key ther after launch you will be not able to get in to the game, regardless if you have payed for a life time sub.

As when the life sub offer ends folks who want to play will have to subscribe.

[Archived Post]

Umm, you completely missed the point (anyway most pre-orders where ordered before people where told they wouldnt get their pre-order items when they were allowed to start playing the game (though some already have)).


I'm not so sure about that, I think it's more a case of people not reading all the information on the order page. I know amazon.co.uk clearly stated that my key for the Borg BO would be sent out the day before release and release day

[Archived Post]

Maybe I am totally clueless, and that is very possible, but i pre ordered the game on November 29, 2009 from GameStop. I will not actually get the game until Feb 2, 2010. I wanted to purchase the lifetime subscription but I will not get my activation key until the 2nd, and the lifetime subscription offer ends on Feb 1st. How does that seem fair? Did I miss something?

[Archived Post]

Maybe I am totally clueless, and that is very possible, but i pre ordered the game on November 29, 2009 from GameStop. I will not actually get the game until Feb 2, 2010. I wanted to purchase the lifetime subscription but I will not get my activation key until the 2nd, and the lifetime subscription offer ends on Feb 1st. How does that seem fair? Did I miss something?

If you preordered, you got a preorder key in your account here at cryptic. When you buy the lifetime sub, you need to have a retailer preorder key already attached to your account. Your account then has Lifetime Subscription enabled in it, but it still requires a game key (retail key). There's a couple day grace period after the 2nd that will allow people to get their keys and get them entered. I'd imagine after the first week, if you don't have a retail key in your account, you will not have access, lifetime sub or not.

[Archived Post]

If you preordered, you got a preorder key in your account here at cryptic. When you buy the lifetime sub, you need to have a retailer preorder key already attached to your account. Your account then has Lifetime Subscription enabled in it, but it still requires a game key (retail key). There's a couple day grace period after the 2nd that will allow people to get their keys and get them entered. I'd imagine after the first week, if you don't have a retail key in your account, you will not have access, lifetime sub or not.



Thank you very much. I appreciate the help.

[Archived Post]

I think you need to read a little better OP.

"Note: A retail box or digital download purchase is required to play Star Trek Online and future expansion packs. Lifetime subscription covers your subscription fee for as long as the game is in service. 12-month discounted subscription covers your subscription fee for 12 months and will recur at the same price at the end of the 12-month period. Subscription fees are non-refundable. We make no explicit or implicit warranties on the service period of the game. This offer ends February 1st, 2010 11:59PM PST. While supplies last. Prices displayed are not inclusive of VAT for purchases from the European Union (EU). VAT is charged in accordance with the local legislation in each member state and varies from 15% to 25%."

It clearly states, directly from the page where you can choose the lifetime sub, that you need a retail box or digital download purchase to play. That's + the sub fee. It also clearly states that it's non-refundable.

http://www.startrekonline.com/exclusive_specials

Now make sure you get your retail copy and enter your key or you'll be kicking yourself for wasting $240+tax.

I dont think I will kick mself any which way, I reckon in a few months my lifetime sub will be worth more than i paid for it, if im lucky, and its ebay time!

I do have a question though, why is it all U.S. prices are without tax for all goods and services, is that not confusing?

When i go into a shop, online or highstreet, the marked price is the price i pay. At no point do they add taxes on. Why dont the prices displayed incorporate the tax rate so you see what your payment will actually be?

[Archived Post]

I dont think I will kick mself any which way, I reckon in a few months my lifetime sub will be worth more than i paid for it, if im lucky, and its ebay time!

I do have a question though, why is it all U.S. prices are without tax for all goods and services, is that not confusing?

When i go into a shop, online or highstreet, the marked price is the price i pay. At no point do they add taxes on. Why dont the prices displayed incorporate the tax rate so you see what your payment will actually be?

Sales tax depends on the state. Some states do not have sales tax, and ones that do, the % varies.

Online, you are not usually taxed unless purchasing items from your home state.

[Archived Post]

I dont think I will kick mself any which way, I reckon in a few months my lifetime sub will be worth more than i paid for it, if im lucky, and its ebay time!

I do have a question though, why is it all U.S. prices are without tax for all goods and services, is that not confusing?

When i go into a shop, online or highstreet, the marked price is the price i pay. At no point do they add taxes on. Why dont the prices displayed incorporate the tax rate so you see what your payment will actually be?

You know that Cryptic also has a rule that they will shut that account down for trying to sell it right?

As answered by someone else, tax is based on a few different things. In Washington state it's by county. It's not confusing if you know the accurate tax rate and can do simple math to get the amount you have to pay in tax.