If it isn't an option - remove it from the interface

sleeplessd · August 6

This post has to do with Crown Store gifting, or "Purchase as a Gift" option which many posts on this forum will attest to is no longer active. It always sucks when some scammer ruins a feature for a whole community, but if ESO will no longer turn gifting on for any accounts, then they should just remove that from the interface. It is misleading and currently inaccurate to show it as a possibility. It is misinformation to current players who are trying to entice new potential players into the game by showcasing the fun addons. My last "support" response was essentially just NO, but without any context as to why, which was doubly confusing because the help article on the support page lists conditions that were met. Only after researching the issue online did I learn about the supposed post notifying everyone that it was disabled last September. Again, I understand that someone cheated the system and they had to remove it - but don't leave the interface and help articles out there that are now just lies. Just own the reality that there is no intention of putting it back into the game and be honest about it.

LunaFlora · August 7

Gifting has been back since October 11 2023.
it isn't gone.

you just need to submit a ticket if you don't have access to it. no clue why you don't have access to it, but make sure to reply to automated emails until you get an actual person.

sleeplessd · August 7

I submitted a ticket, got an inane reply about requirements that I met several years ago, countered with a reply restating my request and then basically got a "No":
"As it stands, this request will not be granted." No reasons or context. Just a link to add comments or suggestions about the game.
I do see that some players are able to get it turned around - and I am still replying to get the request solved - but based on the last response, I am not hopeful. I just think it shouldn't look like an option if it isn't. It is frustrating to say the least. Probably the only bad aspect of the game I have experienced in the 5 years I have been playing.

valenwood_vegan · August 7

Gifting *is* available for players who have been approved for gifting.

However, ZoS very much needs to work on the gifting approval process and the information that is provided to players regarding gifting (for example, the requirements for / process of submitting a ticket for gifting access should be explained more clearly and in a more accessible way through the in-game interface).

As for OP, I recommend continuing to try with support. It took me quite a bit of back and forth. My first ticket was closed with a similar rejection, so I tried again with a second ticket asking to appeal the decision; and then immediately updated the ticket on the website with a list of reasons as to why I believed I was eligible for gifting. This did work for me, but obviously I can't do much more than wish you good luck in dealing with them $:\$

sleeplessd · August 7

TY VV - I will keep knocking on support's door but it shouldn't be this much work. I have to wonder if the tradeoff isn't a negative for ZoS. I mean gifting is there for the marketing benefit and making it like this kind of kills that buzz. But ty to all replies-

Necrotech_Master · August 7

sleeplessd wrote: »

TY VV - I will keep knocking on support's door but it shouldn't be this much work. I have to wonder if the tradeoff isn't a negative for ZoS. I mean gifting is there for the marketing benefit and making it like this kind of kills that buzz. But ty to all replies-

they originally removed gifting for awhile last year because there was some really shady stuff going on with it and thats why we have "conditional gifting" where if the gifting isnt enabled you have to file support tickets to get it

sleeplessd · August 7

Yes I finally read about it online, but their responses to the original ticket just point to requirements that are outdated. It's really just a clean up issue. If it was spelled out in the help articles or even the initial responses from support, it would be a lot less frustrating. Changing a policy happens but at least tell the people who have to adapt to it. My OP is just a request for transparency about the new process at the very least. I think anyone who didn't search for the issue on the forums however would be lead to believe that it was more of a policy change than a process change. Getting 2 auto rejects really makes it look like it is off for good.

Elsonso · August 8

Yeah, if a player doesn’t have the ability to gift, the option shouldn’t be there.

wolfie1.0. · August 8

the problem they have is that if they tell you the exact requirements that are needed for them to enable gifting, then the people that were exploiting the system, or willing to exploit the system, or will exploit the system will be able to bypass their filters and meet qualifications.

its a mess to do it like this, but being arbritary and sort of random is one of the few ways to cull out the people that want access. another way is just to make it so that you have to be really really persistent to qualify.

sleeplessd · August 8

Yeah but then why bother? From a new user experience, if I don't know all of this because I read all of the forum posts on it, this just looks like bad customer service at best, or an outdated platform at worst. Neither of those options are very good for attracting new players, and the market is only getting more competitive. New players who don't even see it as a possibility won't be off-put by it not being there. Long term players could at least get a response explaining that some cheater ruined for everyone as always and now it is gone, end of story. If they ever do actually put time into securing it enough to be feasible again, then great - that can be a welcome announcement of a "new" feature. But until then stop the bait-and-switch tactics. No one likes that.

Elsonso · August 9

wolfie1.0. wrote: »

the problem they have is that if they tell you the exact requirements that are needed for them to enable gifting, then the people that were exploiting the system, or willing to exploit the system, or will exploit the system will be able to bypass their filters and meet qualifications.

To me this is a red flag that they still don't have a handle on the situation.

Back when this started, I had the assumption that it was an emergency situation while they worked on resolving the issue. It generally isn't a good business practice to treat all customers like bad actors until they prove otherwise. Now that we are months into this, I am wondering whether this is actually the permanent solution. If so, then they really need to remove the option to Gift from the UI if such authority is not present for the account.

The fix is to just remove gifting entirely, if they don't have a better handle on the situation.

Bammlschwamml · August 9

I have the same problem on almost all of my devices (tv, phone, pc etc.). There are options and settings that are just grayed out (with no info) and i have to research/google what i can do about it.

Sometimes i can't do anything with it, because the option is only available for the more expensive versions of the same device.

Feels like finding a button for a sunroof in your new car that doesn't have a sunroof...

valenwood_vegan · August 9

Elsonso wrote: »

The fix is to just remove gifting entirely, if they don't have a better handle on the situation.

At the very least clicking on the gifting option in the game should pop up actual information like "Gifting is disabled by default, you must to submit a support ticket [here] to request gifting access." They could also include the basic criteria that they were willing to share with players.

But yeah if they're gonna keep it difficult for people or don't know where to go from here... it probably would be better to remove it from the UI entirely for those who aren't allowed to gift. (As someone who can gift, I'm not gonna exactly advocate for removing it again all together lol, but I do get the point - it's not a good look for them to leave gifting in this state).

Elsonso · August 9

valenwood_vegan wrote: »

Elsonso wrote: »

The fix is to just remove gifting entirely, if they don't have a better handle on the situation.

At the very least clicking on the gifting option in the game should pop up actual information like "Gifting is disabled by default, you must to submit a support ticket [here] to request gifting access." They could also include the basic criteria that they were willing to share with players.

But yeah if they're gonna keep it difficult for people or don't know where to go from here... it probably would be better to remove it from the UI entirely for those who aren't allowed to gift. (As someone who can gift, I'm not gonna exactly advocate for removing it again all together lol, but I do get the point - it's not a good look for them to leave gifting in this state).

They initially disabled Crown Store gifting on September 1, 2023. That was just when they disabled the general gifting. They obviously knew something was afoot before then, as Crown Crate gifting was turned off on PC at the beginning of March 2023. As this unfolded over months, and after a couple fix dates came and went, we found out in June 2023 that there was fraudulent behavior involved. By July, it had spread from PC to consoles, and Crown Crate gifting was turned off there, as well.

Here we are a year and a half later. I would think that in all that time, they could have fixed it on the backend and retired the extreme, and undoubtedly labor intensive, vetting system that they have in place today.

It would seem to me that the least they could do is either update the in-game popup, or just remove the button. That seems like it should have been something they could have accomplished in a year. Why they haven't? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

sleeplessd · August 9

Thanks all for the responses. I'm not trying to be unreasonable, just asking for more realism with the situation. I wish it was all good and not even an issue - but there will always be someone out there doing scammy stuff, unfortunately. I am sure this has been an issue with other MMORPGs. I wonder which game found the best solution...

valenwood_vegan · August 9

I think GW2 seems to handle it pretty well, with an official interface for exchanging gold for their version of crowns... though I have no idea whether they've had their own fraud problems to deal with.

sleeplessd · August 11

I used to play NWN for years and they had the issue too but they didn't hamstring the ability to gift/trade, etc because of it. At least not then.
I just received my 2nd auto reject after the initial one had referred me back to creating a new ticket. I know some have had it turn around with persistence but it really seems like they are making this a hard "no". It's almost a matter of endurance at this point.