If a friend sends you an Invite-A-Friend code to try WoW: Forever, redeem the code first before buying anything.
I haven’t played in years, so while waiting for my friend to flip me his code, I figured I’d save some time and buy the Skyborne Heroic Pack first. Guess what? Even though the $30 Heroic pack comes with no game time, just having it on your account permanently invalidates the free week code.
Blizzard’s automated validation flags instantly block any account that has purchased a WoW: Forever upgrade. The GM confirmed that because the system is entirely automated, support physically cannot bypass it, manually grant the launch week access, or reset the code. Your only option is to give your friend’s code to someone else and lose out.
There are absolutely zero warnings about this on the checkout page. It is just terrible coding and a brutal way to welcome returning players back to the game. I believe some support article has this stated in there likely because it was cheaper/easier to code it this way.
Sharing so others don’t step on this landmine. Redeem first, buy the new race second!
You realy want the general forums for feedback if u want the player base to see it or the forever forums.
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I figure i will get deleted there. I am kind of shocked that they don’t have a way to tweak this on blizzards side for this it seems like I am dreaming on how bad a support system could still be after not playing for a few years
This is primairly and always has been a player to player support forum with blue moderation who dont pass along feedback if u realy want to reach other players general is the best place.
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Hmm. I thought there was a way to link RaF after the fact – something like a one or two week leeway?
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Seven days, but this isn’t an RaF issue.
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Technically untrue, though a bit buried yes. The shop page lists some limitations about the Invite a Friend system and then says for more limitations to check a support article, with a link. Clicking the links leads you to an article that states:
Codes are not redeemable on accounts that have purchased any of the World of Warcraft: Forever upgrade options.
https://us.support.blizzard.com/en/help/article/385883
You could try asking for a refund for the pack if you haven’t played any of it, apply the Invite a Friend code, then repurchase the pack after.
You can go here for a refund. If the purchase doesn’t appear on the list you can make a ticket to ask for it to be considered.
https://us.support.blizzard.com/en/workflow/services/334/1997/submitted
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This would lose out on any reserved names. the reality is they probably should put a warning on the actual purchase as you go through it id have stopped and added the code then 30 seconds later bought the pack.
The primary issue isnt the money/lost week its the audacity of the system having no way to recover from this in a customer service scenerio. what a bad taste it leaves after you get a code and try to redeem it and initially have no idea why you can’t use it. It took me a while to clue in.
Can i move this to the general forums or link to it?
Your option to recover this is to ask for a refund and apply the Invite a Friend code. GMs don’t have a system in place to give you that time.
The thing is the Invite a Friend really isn’t meant as “here, have a free week, even though you’re gonna play regardless!”
The Invite a Friend is meant for you to give out to friends who have been away from the game and aren’t sure if they want to come back. This gives them a chance to try out only Forever to see if they maybe want to actually return.
You were going to buy the Skyborn pack regardless since you intended on coming back for it. Enough so that you pre-purchased the bonus extras, you didn’t even need that to play Forever.
It’s not possible to redeem the code because it’s not necessary. You can’t get a free week to come back after you’ve already pre-purchased the product.
You would also have gotten your own Invite a Friend code when you made the purchase. If everyone could claim that and also buy a pack, well it would be a rather endless cycle that they don’t want.
I do understand where your frustration is coming from, but in this case there isn’t anything to be done other than ask for a refund and try applying the code then rebuying.