VeeshanVault

"On April 15, 2004, I will truthfully report to the IRS that my primary source of income is the sale of imaginary goods," he states on his site, "and that I earn more from it, on a monthly basis, than I have ever earned as a professional writer."

On the Nature of the Intangible: A Dialogue
The following conversation actually took place, at approximately 4:30 pm U.S. Central time today.

"Hi, thank you for calling PayPal, how can I help you?"

"Yes, hi. I just had payment reversed on a sale that I made, and I understand that because the item I sold was a virtual item from an online game, that payment is not covered by your Seller Protection Policy, and I therefore won't be getting my money back."

"That’s correct."

"So, yeah, so I just wanted to check in about that and for future reference make sure that I understand just what is and isn’t covered under clause 5 of the policy, which requires that 'The seller ships tangible goods.'"

"That means anything that isn’t tangible isn’t covered. Any kind of digitally delivered goods, or a service, like a moving service. These are not covered because we need to have an acceptable proof-of-shipment like a tracking number from a shipping company."

"OK, I just want to be absolutely clear about this now. So say I ship somebody tickets to a football game -- is that covered?"

"Yes, because you’ve shipped them tickets. That’s a tangible good."

"OK, then what if I ship them tickets to a virtual item?"

"What?"

"Say I write down a password that gives the buyer access to a virtual item -- say I write that on a piece of paper or put it on a computer disk and ship that to the buyer and then give you guys the tracking number for that shipment. Would that be covered?"

"I don’t think so. You would have to look at it on a case by case basis. You would have to wait until you have a situation like that and then come ask us whether it’s covered or not."

"But these virtual items are expensive. I don’t want to get to where I’ve already delivered something and only find out then. Isn’t there any way you can give me a ruling beforehand?"

"You would have to wait until you are going to ship such an item."

"Well, OK, I am then. I am going to ship such an item."

"What exactly?"

"I’m selling an online account and I’m going to be shipping the buyer a password to the account."

"OK, I can tell you now then that that would not be covered."

"Why not?"

"Because it’s a virtual item."

"But I’m not shipping a virtual item, I’m shipping a piece of paper or a floppy disk with a password for the virtual item."

"But you’re not selling the password, you’re selling the virtual item, which is not a tangible good."

"Well, neither is a football game. Football games are not tangible goods."

"But you’re not selling the football game, you’re selling the tickets, and those are tangible."

"So is the piece of paper I’m sending to my buyer."

Silence.

"Look, I just can tell you, right now, that the sale you’re talking about is not covered."

"Well, why not?"

"It just isn’t."

"I understand that. What I’m trying to understand is the reasoning behind why it isn’t. Can you tell me what the distinction is between a football game and a virtual item that results in one being covered and the other not."

"I just explained that to you."

"No you didn’t. You told me that there is a distinction. Can you tell me why that distinction exists?"

"Yes. Because it’s company policy."

"OK. Could you tell me how that policy decision was reached, or can you connect me to someone who could?"

"I already told you, the virtual item you’re talking about is not covered."

"I understand that. What I’m looking for now is a different piece of information. Can you please let me talk to someone who can give me that information?"

"I’ll connect you to the managers' line."

Three minutes of on-hold music. Busy signal. Dead line.

You're a dwarf in a virtual world, and that troll over there has just defamed you in front of everyone. So can you sue, or is it all just fun and games?

Xouqoa wrote:That's one of the stupidest things I've ever read.

Truant wrote:

Xouqoa wrote:That's one of the stupidest things I've ever read.

seconded.