Isn't this monetization illegal?

[Devils-1895]

@Croy-1845

The bundle claims I save 21% off of buying the skin, the voice line, name card, and weapon charm individually, none of which are actually for sale individually. It doesn’t say it’s 21% better value for getting a skin, voice line, name card, and weapon charm individually.

They can claim it’s a better value, but not an actual discount on those items since those items have never been sold. They can claim it’s an introductory price, since that produce (the bundle) was just released. But until they actually let people buy those items individually, they’re basing the sales of some specific items off the price of other items. I can’t think of any other case where you can advertise that your product is on sale due to the price of something else.

Yes they can claim it is a discount because all legendary skins are the same and are the same price. They do not have to offer said skin for it to be a discount by every legal definition because the price is known and can logically be inferred by any person of sound mind.

There would be some legal wiggle room IF, and only if, the base prices of legendary skins, sprays, emotes, and voice lines were variable but they are not. You can argue whether it should matter or not but from a legal perspective it is absolutely legal to categorize it as such.

[Marcane-11355]

@SepphorisVT-1992

So Zen’s new pack (as one specific example), is filled with new items, and has had a 26% off tag on it from the minute it went out today. NEVER seen or advertised before.

The thing is this pack, or any parts of it, NEVER sold or can be bought individually. And there are laws that state that using a discount tag on something that never sold prior is misleading and illegal.

This shouldn’t be allowed to fly.

Is that actually Law? If so then this might look bad…

[Worldeaters-1228]

How is a company monetising their product illegal lol

Do you even understand free market capitalism at all???

The “ Discount “ simply means the item costs less credits than it use to in ow1 & if its a new skin its a discount on what it would have cost in ow1

A new legendary skin in ow1 was 3000 credits so the actual legendary skin product has been sold before.

[Sushi-31236]

@SepphorisVT-1992

The thing is this pack, or any parts of it, NEVER sold or can be bought individually. And there are laws that state that using a discount tag on something that never sold prior is misleading and illegal.

In most western countries, companies are allowed to charge whatever they like for a product just as consumers are welcome to buy or not buy said product. Supply and demand.

(part of post removed for incorrect information!)

The ‘discounts’ offered by Blizz are based on the theoretical costs of the items if purchased individually (as when compared to items of similar rarity that are on sale).

…lastly, unsure why this bothers you so much? Any cosmetic is a waste of money in my opinion even if it costs $1 but, if it brings joy/value/entertainment/status to the person using it, then isn’t the value is subjective…?

[ComicBookGuy-11898]

Anything a corporation does is legal until they get sued and forced to stop doing it.

[Asagi-11497]

Probably because it’s really ow1 but to change the monitization they deleted ow1 and proclaimed this mess is a brand new game

[Kushmerchant-1328]

Guess what, sexual harassment is very illegal yet Blizzard has no problem encouraging it

Legal/not-legal is not something they care about that much

[Asagi-11497]

So is stealing B milk from the fridge in lounge

[Kushmerchant-1328]

Don’t forget that this company is so full of degens that there’s a lawsuit about it going on right now

[LuckyTiger-1120647]

@SepphorisVT-1992

This shouldn’t be allowed to fly.

There have been some “fictitious pricing” law suits that settled in favor of the plaintiffs. Usually for items that were always listed on sale

i think Blizz gets away with this because they have a regular price for epic skins and a sale price. it would be hard to make a big case in court over one skin in a video game, they would just say they price by level of the skin

[Yin-1797]

@SepphorisVT-1992

The thing is this pack, or any parts of it, NEVER sold or can be bought individually. And there are laws that state that using a discount tag on something that never sold prior is misleading and illegal.

Is this part of California state law, where Blizzard operates?

@DartTimeTime-11376

If you were to tell me that it was illegal, blizzard knew it was illegal, and they just didn’t care, I would not be surprised.

You cannot buy the items separately, they have to be purchased in the bundle. This is illegal in some European countries, however, I do not know if the Shop items being sold here are the same in other countries.

@chris-23204

I actually wrote a formal complaint about their “discounts” before (for WoW) to the UK’s advertising standards authority

this is what I got back:

Thank you for contacting the Advertising Standards Authority with your complaint about Blizzard Entertainment. On this occasion, the material you complained about is not covered by the Advertising Rules.

Our remit

Having looked at Blizzard Entertainment’s website, we understand that they are based and registered in the USA and that this is where their website is operated from. We can only apply our Codes to companies based in the UK or using a UK platform to advertise; those who are based in other countries are under no obligation to act in accordance with the UK Codes of Advertising that we administer and as a result this content falls outside of our regulatory jurisdiction. For these reasons, we have not assessed the material and we will not be taking your complaint further.

since then they’ve started selling stuff in Europe under the UK company (Activision Blizzard UK Limited)

guess I’ll write another complaint…

Correct. You’d have to contact California’s authority, but I don’t believe this is illegal in California state laws.

[LuckyTiger-1120647]

@Yin-1797

Is this part of California state law, where Blizzard operates?

people have sued and won settlements over shaky “sales”. usually for things that are always listed on sale

Blizzard is probably covered though, they would just say its a sale price for that quality of skin

[Yin-1797]

@LuckyTiger-1120647

people have sued and won settlements over shaky “sales”. usually for things that are always listed on sale

Blizzard is probably covered though, they would just say its a sale price for that quality of skin

I’m sure, but there still needs to be some level of standing first before one can do anything.

[MrWhipple-1729]

Nope its 100% legal, and is an extremely common practice in retail.

Some places mark up their products, then advertise or display them “on sale” for the intended price

Its all about making you the consumer think your getting a deal

[orangebear-21937]

@SepphorisVT-1992

And there are laws that state that using a discount tag on something that never sold prior is misleading and illegal.

This same thing happens in Fortnite, so there’s no way this is illegal.

[McSpanky-11120]

This would be fine if you actually could buy them separately. But as it is, they are showing a price that does not exist and saying they discounted it for us.

It’s pretty predatory.

[Vakiva-1321]

Is this part of California state law, where Blizzard operates?

Blizzard is selling their product worldwide. They are not solely regulated by the advertising regulations of the state of California. They are required to follow the advertisement laws of any place they are selling products within the scope of their operations in that place.

[Cujo-11208]

Yeah in Australia we have a law about the ‘on sale’ of something that has never been sold before as illegal. If true they fall foul of Australian law, which they are bound by if they sell something to Australians.

[voidwalker-12804]

Um, businesses do that all the time when they launch a new product (I’m in U.S. btw). They will a lot of time come with a limited time discount and get more expensive after a certain time frame.
It is definitely not illegal, here anyway.

[FLockwood-1387]

i was gonna say make a report to the feds and let them figure it out… but i read this comment and was like… oh yeah

@Apevia-11171

Nothing is illegal when your assets are over $1billion