A conversation with HRK (Hot Random Keys ... now "HRK Games/ Hot Random Games")

updated note (apr 4) - someone bumped this thread again! so i've updated some links and info... take a look below.

some new things:

  1. Name change from HRK to HRK Games/Hot Random Games
  2. added some more bundle links here for some older bundles: Indie bundle 5 and the FREE Daily Drop Key Raffle

Hi Everyone! I hope you are doing well!

I am aware of the controversy and aversion surrounding HRK and where they get their keys, why they price things the way they do, business ethics, affiliation with G2A, and many other lingering questions.

In response to other user's comments on my threads,
I wanted to make this post to garner awareness and feedback about people’s opinions about HRK. If interested, continue reading!

Background information in case:

  • Many users have expressed their aversion to the site because they may be a grey market for keys / unauthorized sellers. They are also partnered with G2A. Others have noted that their site appears very suspicious. For example, the Build a Bundle offers games that have all been featured in previous bundles within the last month or two.*

Early this morning, I was contacted by a representative for HRK and talked to him for about 2 hours to clear up some questions and possible misconceptions that community members and I hold about HRK. He seemed very open and willing to answer all my questions, giving me quite lengthy explanations, but ones I found helpful in clarifying some of my questions. I want to invite all of you who are interested to view this conversation that I’ve taken directly from our chat and C+Ped into pastebin.

Take a look at our conversation titled “A Conversation with an HRK Rep”.

NOTE

  • Please note that the Rep’s username has been changed to “HRK Rep” for identity protection. If he chooses to reveal his user name and/or steam profile here, I will let him do so and change this post accordingly to include his SG/Steam user details.
  • The times are in US Pacific Time, in case you were wondering ... so yes I was up from midnight to 2AM talking.
  • This is an informal conversation, so there will be grammatical errors. Please overlook these and focus on the information conveyed instead!

I recently made a thread regarding HRK's Strategy Bundle, and earlier this month, a thread regarding their Zombies and Alien's Bundle.

updated note (apr 4) - someone bumped this thread again! so i've updated some links and info... added some more bundle links here for the now for some older bundles: Indie bundle 5 and the FREE Daily Drop Key Raffle

Please take a look at these threads for more context and to view others’ comments. I’m also linking a SG thread here that you may have seen already titled “Untrustworty or shady reseller websites are getting very popular.”


And taking this from a previous post about disabling G2A Shield protection …

Personal note: When you sign up, G2A will give you one month free of their "G2A Shield Protection" after you pay. I recommend you DISABLE this before the month ends if you do not wish to use their service, otherwise you will see a $1.50 MONTHLY charge for their service. I didn't even know about this service until my bank statement came. Just a heads up if you aren't aware and are planning to use hotrandomkeys! I didn't see this option when using mobile phone, so perhaps it's best if you bought from this site using a computer.

Disable here: https://pay.g2a.com/panel/shieldStatus

Helpful Tip: user Keohookalani says:

"When the screen comes up, it talks about the shield thing
And has a little graphic... You can totally use this in your main post btw.
If you click the "On" on the shield it will change to "Off" on the graphic. See the attached images [below]."


As stated in my previous posts:
I post this thread not to encourage you to purchase from [potentially] scammy/suspicious websites or to promote unauthorized sellers, but I want to give you the opportunity to decide for yourself whether or not you wish to take a risk. I care immensely about the people here on SG, and I strongly believe keeping the community informed and getting the word out about potentially risky sites will help save a lot of us in the long run and prevent others from having to go through strife.


Have any of you had experiences with HRK and/or G2A? Perhaps you’ve done a little research yourself or have a story to tell? Or an opinion/commentary/question/concern? If so, please comment below on your thoughts about HRK, G2A, (and any other site that may/ may not be safe to buy from if you wish to include this extra information as well).

I’ve asked the representative who spoke to me to gather his team (or if not possible, just himself) to address the issues that community members may have. I am hoping that he and his team will personally respond to you on this thread.

If you feel uncomfortable posting on a public forum, please email the team with your questions and concerns at Info@HRKGame.com


Have a great day everyone! Again, please comment below if you would like!

View attached image.
View attached image.
8 years ago*

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Would you trust this site and purchase from them?

View Results
Yes, I think they are safe and I don't see anything wrong with them.
No! I still feel uneasy/ have doubts/ lingering questions. I wouldn't trust them.
Maybe ... it's hard to formulate an opinion on this one.
Well ... where's my trusty, truthful potato?
Other / I have no opinion.

I have purchased a few things from them (mostly crappy "make bundle" games for collection), didn't have issues. Though I always do my best to limit big stuff purchases on these types of websites.

7 years ago
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Okay, I'm gonna necro this.

Where are the sources of the games that are available in HRK Make Bundle?
HRK is an authorized seller of games. All of the games in the HRK Make Bundle are supplied directly from Publishers or Game Developers.

Is that new or...? Should it be trusted?

Also, what about the "official partners"? The current make a bundle has some games I've missed in other bundles and most of them are from the developer listed in "partners". I'm really tempted! :D

7 years ago
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After seeing and reading this I decided to give them a try, I only got cheap stuff but thats all I can afford anyhow :P
Only had one problem with a key not working, but it very well could have been on my part, didnt take my meds that day and was somewhat confused all day. Other than that they seem really cool to me so far.

7 years ago
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I have bought games on their site, but The G2a shield makes everything feel so shady/fishy/unprofessional. Why use G2a's payment system if there are so many of those payment gateway systems out there? odd

7 years ago
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HRK is adding new payment options next month.
This could be awesome because they have a lot of cheap stuff but G2A Pay makes it horrible.

Source

7 years ago
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good news indeed :D i may actually use them at that point.. certainly not before then though =)

7 years ago
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That's good news...I almost bought some games there, but I just couldn't get myself to do it. A new payment option (e.g., PayPal) would help.
Thanks for posting!

7 years ago
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They already have Paypal as a payment option. What you mean is you hope they allow direct Paypal payments without going through the G2APay gateway.

7 years ago
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G2Pay has no direct payment anyway, it just piggybacks on other payment processors to add on some fees for nothing. And yes, G2Pay is the reason some people, including me, never even considered the thought of buying anything at HRK.

7 years ago
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Right you are!

7 years ago
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They may sell valid keys, but they are not legit, not even nowadays. They even give codes as photo/picture from the back of german vouchers.

7 years ago
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I've bought a new game today from HRK. After getting sms from my bank that transaction is completed, at the other end (HRK) I got "Process has been failed." But I wasnt suspicious at any point just bored because maybe I'm gonna wait for 48 hours to get a reply and my weekend will be ruined and yea, meh...So I've started a chat with their live support, filled up a ticket, and my problem was solved (2 hours), I got my game, all good. Their prices are really good and support is kind and effective. Where they get their games and how they get it, its their problem only if I get what I've paid for, nothing else to add about it.
ps: They added new payment options ( I used it, maybe thats why I got error thing)
ps2: I got FM 2017 yay!

7 years ago
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Where they get their games and how they get it, its their problem only if I get what I've paid for, nothing else to add about it.

Ladies and gentleman, I present to you, "The Modern Consumer."

6 years ago
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That has nothing to do with modern consumers. People always tried to get the best deal they could get their hands on, even if it was stolen goods(Not approving stolen goods here, just stating facts). Grey market is legal but for some morally wrong. I find it just as morally wrong when companies drop their prizes in poorer regions so they can still squeeze out the little money they have there.

6 years ago
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Wait what? So it is morally wrong that they sell stuff at the price they want and can buy? Where is the morality in this?

6 years ago
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In my opinion not more than a grey market. Those companies couldn't care less about what the random people want. They only want one thing and that's selling more copies even if it means taking the little money someone has.Sure those people actually want to buy some of the stuff. It's normal human behavior, wanting something others have. You might not agree with me and that's completely your right. Just like i don't agree with the statement that grey market is bad.

6 years ago
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Should I say that I would have bet that you're from ROW western countries?
You have X amounts of extra money to spend on entertainment. In the eastern block and other countries we have quarter, if not much more less. It is not a grey market, nor morally questionable that for our smaller income some developers provide a similarly cheaper service. Why would it be good for anyone to close out poorer countries of services, goods and products because they, US couldn't pay the higher price you are able to pay? You act like it's hurting everyone that someone with less money gets the same product as you can, while it's just you not grasping how incomes are different as well.

6 years ago
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I think you're completely missing the point here. I'm not advocating for prices to go up in eastern countries nor am i saying prices should go down in the west. I am not sure why you get personal by stating i can't seem to grasp income difference. I am a immigrant in a foreign country and i'm very aware of the difference, as it was the reason i immigrated in the first place. As i said, you're completely missing the point i was trying to make. Anyway, i never made my comment personal so i'd appreciate it if the same courtesy can be extended towards me. Not agreeing with someones opinion doesn't give you a free pass to make it personal especially when you're not even on point of the original comment

6 years ago
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You said the corporate is evil for giving cheap, affordable options. You were the one to treat every single purchaser a sheep and greedy individual ( "It's normal human behavior, wanting something others have." ). Guess what. People buy what they want. And yes, I will talk against someone who acts cocky like you, and actively advocates less options for the people just because he hates random corporations. Because removing a few foreign ones and taking steps towards oligopolies is such a fantastic idea, as history already proven multiple times.

6 years ago
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Holy shit can you even read or do you just take a few words someone says and then make it fit your view? I act cocky because i wrote a sentence that was literally taught to us in our marketing psychology classes? Better yet, claiming i was advocating less options for people when my statement was all about my opinion of grey market not being a bad thing(More options for people wherever they're from). I'm not sure if you're just trolling or just feeling like having a fight..I can somehow understand my first comment being misinterpreted but after the second comment it should've been clear what i meant. Anyway, not gonna spend more time discussing this with you cause frankly, i don't give a shit about you or anything you make up in that little world of yours. I voiced my opinion and if you can't handle it, too bad for you.

6 years ago
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I had trouble with g2a, cause few cent tax fee, now they blocked my payment options. HRK use their system, so both sites were obsolet now. Support is ignorant and do nothing. Talked to xx people there and one is more stupid then another. Help? I got none, but they have now few mail adresses more and some profiling data...

6 years ago
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HRKGame.com | Sold Non-working Key | Slow Customer Service | Hi Twitch & Reddit

"We aim to provide great customer service. Use the form below to send us your comments"

This has been some of the most unresponsive and slow response times for a $6.00 game in my life. Online Support is literally useless and instead actually trying to help customers correct problems they push the problem off on somebody that is supposed to do it. You might as well get rid of the online support because all they do is apologize for lack of customer service. This was my first purchase and most likely my last. I will be reporting this to the BBB EU and requesting a Paypal refund if I do not receive my product in the next few hours. I shouldn't have to wait 48 hours after I purchase what is supposed to be a CD key that is supposed to work. It's a bit unfair that I get pushed to the side after I put my faith in trying a different service and all you did was disregard me for 2 days.

"We read all feedback carefully"

I'm not sure if you guys do because I see a lot of people on forums complaining about very similar slow response times.

Here is some business advice ... Keep getting your low priced keys out of Russia .. raise the price on what you are selling and get some decent customer support staff. You think that you are making an extensive amount of cash now .. If you had a proper business model above and beyond that .. You would be able to offer a shield and eat the loss on some CD keys. All you are doing in the long run is fighting a losing battle.

Have a nice day.

Customer support does no extra work to try and resolve the issue. They have pre made responses that suggest they are to busy to get to my ticket. Lack of customer service will eventually be the end of HRKGame.
I literally had the same guy who literally disappeared in the middle of resolving my ticket over a day ago come back after I sent a complaint into the "Our Contact" forum and literally say

Hello Stonefox,

Thank you for contacting HRK Support.

Please follow your issue on your other ticket.
( Insert Ticket Link Here )
Please do not create multiple tickets with the same issue/concern for us to help you faster. I'll mark this ticket now as closed.

Teejay
HRK Customer Support

So not only does he finally return, he basically tells me as a customer that I am a nuisance for making a fair complaint he goes missing and still hasn't solved my issue.

The whole issue isn't the $6.00 CD key .. I could of bought the game off G2A for a couple dollars more with no headache. It's the principal of a business that is improperly understaffed and has no sense of a quick response. If you do a quick search you can clearly see that they incompetent or purposely avoiding helping customers ... either way its stupid.

DO NOT TRUST HRKGAMES.COM ... THEY WILL AVOID CONTACT IF YOU HAVE A BAD CD KEY ... EVEN IF IT IS A LOW PRICED ITEM!

6 years ago
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This comment was deleted 10 months ago.

6 years ago
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And i went in and stupidly bought a game, got a used key and now it's been 5 days since anyone tended the ticket. A friend of mine had the same exact issue with 2 (TWO) keys today and he got new keys within a couple of hours. I went ahead and reported them to G2A Pay but they're ignoring them as well. Fun times, bye bye christmas gift to myself for passing all my exams.

6 years ago
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