Am I a dirty thief?

#1

The Warehouse (New Zealand’s equivalent of Walmart) sells it’s PC games at ridiculously high prices, around November last year I discovered that for some of the PC games they stock they had left the CD keys clearly visible inside the boxes, probably because of a lack of knowledge as to what those keys are for. This mostly happens with games that Bethesda have developed but occasionally happens with games from other developers as well for example I noticed today every copy of sniper elite v2 has the same “issue”

So since then, anytime a game is released I feel the urge to check there to see if I can get my hands on a CD key without actually buying the game, but I cannot help but feel that it is there own damn fault. They might as well just be giving out free money.

I’ll also mention that they market new releases at around 100-120 NZD

#2

Theft is still theft regardless of the reasons leading to the decision to do so. So you are a thief. However, dirty or not is to the discretion of the individual viewing the situation.

#3

So I broke into this guy’s house. He didn’t lock it or anything. I’m pretty sure that make it his fault.

#4

At least you aren’t hurting or killing someone.

#5

I assumed as much that the majority of responses would be something along those lines, but the situation itself is I think has some discussion value, I know a lot of people would themselves do the same given the opportunity.

#6

Funny thing I discovered the same thing at a few Gamestop stores nearby. Just don’t get caught bro

#7

I assure you, taking Bethesda game cd keys is not stealing.

#8

I’ll have your hands for that, thief.

#9

technically more legit than piracy, this way the developers make money but not the retailer

#10

Retailer still has the chance to make money. Maybe the customer just will be lazy and not return it.

#11

it’s clever. the only way you’d get caught is if you were loudly walking around the shelves with a furtive moveset, scribbling into a notepad.

CD keys are usually reusable a few times before they come up as invalid so there’s almost zero chance of causing disgruntlement

#12

unless used with steam which the majority of these games are. 1 key = 1 use.

#13

I think you meant “suspected” or “surmised” rather than amused. In any case, it’s still classified as theft or piracy no matter how you spin it, since you are taking something without providing compensation. I think what you’re asking though is, is it justified? I won’t pass judgment here, but consider the following:

Arguments for it being justified:

-Carelessness/oversight/stupidity makes it incredibly easy.
-The items are overpriced.

Arguments against it being justified:

-The fault is still yours. No matter how easy something is to do, the responsibility is always the perpetrator’s. A baby is easier to murder than an adult, but that doesn’t mean the baby had it coming. Extreme example, but you get the point.
-Item is a luxury. Stealing something you need but can’t afford, while still stealing, is commonly considered to be at least somewhat justified. Stealing something you want but can’t afford is almost universally viewed as greedy and unjustified.

My $.02.

#14

Yes it does.

You didn’t even know that baby.

Don’t act like you did.

#15

Only if you don’t bathe on a regular basis.

#16

STOP RIGHT THERE, CRIMINAL SCUM! NO USE STRUGGLING!

#17

Stealing CD-keys from Gamestop and/or other retailers > Piracy

Especially Gamestop. I hate those bastards.

#18

Yeah, fuck the honest costumers who buy a game and then the cd-key doesn’t work for some reason.

#19

If it’s a single player game for the PC, they had it coming.
Anyone who buys a single player game for the PC is just looking to waste money for no good reason. Plain ol’ stupidity.

#20

Because buying Skyrim on PC is stupid and not on console ?

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