How To Cancel a Purchase on the Nintendo eShop: A Comprehensive Guide
The question of canceling a purchase on the Nintendo eShop is a common one, and unfortunately, the answer isn’t as straightforward as many would hope. Directly canceling a completed digital purchase on the Nintendo eShop is generally not possible. Nintendo’s policy is clear: they do not offer refunds or exchanges for mistaken purchases. This means that once you have finalized the purchase of a digital game, DLC, or other content, it’s yours to keep, regardless of whether you change your mind, dislike the game, or purchased it by mistake.
This policy is crucial for users to understand, as it underscores the need for thorough research before hitting that purchase button. Nintendo emphasizes that users should carefully read game descriptions, review screenshots, and even visit the official Nintendo website for additional details before committing to a digital purchase.
While you cannot cancel a completed digital purchase, there are specific situations where you can manage aspects related to your Nintendo eShop transactions. These situations primarily revolve around managing subscriptions, payment methods, and automatic renewals, rather than canceling an individual game purchase. This guide will delve into those processes and answer frequently asked questions to help you navigate Nintendo’s digital marketplace with confidence.
Understanding Nintendo’s Refund Policy
The core of the issue stems from Nintendo’s firm stance on digital purchase refunds. They maintain that digital goods are not returnable once they’ve been delivered. This is standard practice in the digital goods industry. The reasons for this include protecting digital creators from piracy, ensuring a system where developers get compensated for their work, and maintaining a marketplace that’s sustainable for content creators and consumers alike.
Therefore, the burden is on the consumer to make informed purchasing decisions. Nintendo provides the necessary resources (game descriptions, screenshots, trailers, etc.) to help you make the best decision. The absence of a standard “return” option underscores the importance of utilizing these resources fully.
Managing Subscriptions and Automatic Renewals
While you can’t cancel a purchased game, you can cancel or manage subscriptions. Here’s how to handle some common scenarios related to Nintendo Switch Online and other digital services:
How to Terminate Automatic Renewal for Nintendo Switch Online
- Visit accounts.nintendo.com and sign in to the Nintendo Account that has the Nintendo Switch Online membership.
- Select “Shop Menu”.
- Navigate to “Nintendo Switch Online”.
- Select “Terminate automatic renewal”.
- Confirm your decision.
By taking these steps, you ensure that your Nintendo Switch Online membership will not renew automatically at the end of the current subscription period. You’ll still have access to the benefits until the expiration date, but you won’t be charged again. Remember, once auto-renewal is turned off, it cannot be turned back on. You will need to manually re-subscribe if you choose to continue your service at a later date.
How to Change Your Payment Method for Automatic Renewals
- Again, log into your account on accounts.nintendo.com.
- Select “Shop Menu”.
- Select “Change” in the “Payment method for automatic renewal and pre-order payments:” section.
- Choose your new preferred payment method.
Managing your payment method is crucial for controlling your spending and preventing unwanted renewals.
Restricting Spending and Purchases
If you are worried about unwanted spending, especially from children, you can restrict purchases on your Nintendo Switch. Here’s how:
How to Restrict Purchases on Nintendo Switch
- Go to the Nintendo Switch System Settings.
- Select “Parental Controls”.
- Choose “Restrictions by Software”.
- Choose “Restrict spending/purchases on Nintendo Switch eShop and nintendo.com”.
- Check the box to enable the restriction.
- Enter a PIN if prompted or create one, which will be used when restrictions need to be removed.
By enabling this feature, you ensure that no purchases can be made without the PIN that you’ve set. This provides essential control and protection against unauthorized transactions.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions to further help you navigate Nintendo’s policies and procedures regarding digital purchases:
1. Can I Get a Refund for a Digital Game if I Don’t Like It?
Unfortunately, no. Nintendo’s policy is clear that they do not provide refunds or exchanges if you are not satisfied with a purchased digital game. This is why it’s crucial to research thoroughly before buying.
2. Does Nintendo Have a 14-Day Right to Cancel on Physical Goods?
Yes, if you purchase physical goods from Nintendo, you generally have a 14-day cancellation period. This begins when you (or a designated third party) receive the goods.
3. How Can I Contact Nintendo Customer Support?
You can visit their support website at support.nintendo.com or call their Consumer Assistance Hotline at 1-800-255-3700. The hotline operates from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., Pacific Time, Monday to Sunday (subject to change).
4. Will I Lose My Nintendo Account if I Delete It?
If you deactivate and delete your Nintendo Account, it will be permanently deleted after 30 days. The associated licenses, digital funds, and save data on the console will be lost.
5. Can I Remove a Saved Payment Method?
Yes, stored credit card information can be deleted either through the Nintendo Switch eShop or the profile settings on the Nintendo Account website. Removing it in one place will delete it from the other as well.
6. How Can I Cancel a Pending Online Payment?
You might be able to cancel a pending transaction by contacting the merchant. However, this needs to be done within a short window of time, ideally before the transaction posts to your account or the item ships.
7. Can I Sell Back Digital Games?
Directly selling digital games isn’t typically supported by Nintendo’s policies. However, third-party websites like Gameflip offer platforms where you can potentially sell your digital game licenses to other users.
8. Will I Lose My Games if I Delete a User on My Switch?
No, the games are tied to your Nintendo Account, not the user profile. You can redownload them on any Switch console where you’re logged into your account. However, deleting a user profile will also delete save data associated with that profile that’s saved to the console.
9. Will I Lose My Games if I Delete My Nintendo Account?
Yes, while your digital games will remain, they will become unplayable since they are tied to your account. Physical games will remain playable. Save data for digital games will also become inaccessible and will be deleted from the console.
10. Will I Lose Everything if I Make a New Nintendo Account?
Yes, unless your save data is backed up using the Save Data Cloud service. Saved software on a microSD card will also become unusable.
11. Will I Lose Game Progress When I Get a New Switch?
Yes, by default. Save data is stored on the console, but you can transfer it to a new Switch, or back it up to the cloud. If not transferred or backed up, you will lose your save data on the original console and will not have your latest data on the new console.
12. How Do I Stop In-Game Purchases on my Switch?
This is done through Parental Controls as described in the “Restricting Spending and Purchases” section above. Make sure to set a PIN which will prevent any future purchases if this option is enabled.
13. Can I Request a Refund on Other Digital Purchases (Android, Google Play)?
Yes, for digital purchases on the Google Play Store, you can request a refund by going to play.google.com, selecting the order, and choosing “Report a problem”.
14. What if a Game Doesn’t Work as Expected?
While you won’t get a refund simply for disliking a game, if a game is defective or not working properly, contact Nintendo Support. They will often assist in troubleshooting technical issues.
15. Is There a Way to Trial a Game Before Purchasing?
Nintendo often provides demos for select titles on the eShop, allowing you to try them before committing to a full purchase. Look out for these to get a feel for the game before you buy.
Conclusion
The Nintendo eShop’s no-refund policy for completed digital purchases highlights the critical need for informed decision-making before buying. While you cannot cancel a completed digital game purchase, managing subscriptions, controlling spending through parental settings, and securing your Nintendo Account are crucial aspects to keep in mind. Always make use of available resources such as game descriptions, screenshots, and demos, to make your purchasing decisions informed ones. By understanding these policies and procedures, you can navigate the Nintendo eShop with greater awareness and control over your transactions.