Why is everything about FFXIV @$$ backwards

[Longinus]

So bought every FF game since 7, including 11 for a couple years. Im a sucker for FF games. Been following 14 and read all the bad stuff, but decided to give it a go. Build a pc that can run it and I buy the Collectors Edition. Second sucker move.

Anyhow, had a bunch of codes and put them in according to the instructions. Asks me if I want to transfer over beta stuff. Why the hell would I do that. I played the beta for exactly five minutes 2 years ago before uninstalling . So start the game and create character. No collectors items. Sigh. Go to the forums to ask a question in new players section. Says I cant login because I dont have a active account or character. Internet says recreate character. I try that twice. Nada.

Ok, no problem. Went to the customer support page and they have an article. Turns out that the codes could be attached to the $%^$#$ beta instead of the game I just bought because I chose not to transfer what I thought was useless beta info. What the @##$%!. Thank goodness there's a form for you to fill out to Retry Beta transfer.

Retry form instructions say to make sure you delete your character and the account with the character you want to transfer because they cant fix the issue if you have characters on the account. No prob. Very next day get a email from SE. Nice! Email says, "We have an answer to your problem,(Woot!) see below.......blank....... If you have anymore issues let us know". Um, what?

I reply and explain what the issue is again. Twice. Several days later, get another email from SE, "We hear you have an issue, please create a ticket so we can look into it for you." Huh? Already created two but oh well. Least they included a phone number this time. So create the ticket and call them up. On hold forever, explain to the rep whats been happening. He says seems items are attached to the beta game, yep.. like i figured when I submitted the redo transfer form a week ago. The solution he says? Create another ticket...*&@*$% #$@!!!!!

Me: So that retry beta transfer form I filled out a week ago, does that do anything?
SE Cust Service: Yea, dont know anything about that. All I can do is create another ticket.
Me: Any other solution to this thing? I paid alot for the collectors edition and my
free month is running out.
SE: Dont see how.....unless you buy another copy of the game and try transfer again.
Me: Hmm. Dont see that happening so any idea on when I can expect to hear
back from you guys on this thing? I already lost a week because the instructions said it cant be fixed unless all characters deleted.
SE: Nope sorry. There's a bunch of folks with similar issue waiting ahead of you. But you don't actually have to delete anything. You can create your character and keep playing just fine till we get to your ticket.
Me: Really? Nice! So they can add the items in later because I thought you had to create the character with them. Doesnt make sense if I have to delete my character again later.
SE : Sure they can add it later... Actually, hold on a minute.....yea, they cant add them in later soo...

Anyone want to take bets on if they get to this before my month is up? Ive been playing mmo's for a long time and Ive never seen such a puzzling approach to mmo creation and management. Why allow people to attach items from a full purchase game to a beta version without proper explanation then give them the option not to carry these items over? Doesnt the purchase usually take priority over the beta? Why arent these thing account wide? Obviously it keeps happening to people because they have support page article on it with a form because its not explained and horribly executed . Why have the retry transfer form if it does nothing? Whats so hard about adding in or transferring items once verified? Is it a coding issue? Do they have to make each individual item in Microsoft %$*#$!! paint first?

Oh, and all this time I couldnt post in the forums to ask questions because the forum couldnt verify that I have a character. The same character they told me to delete. So I create a character. Forum time right? Nope, three day wait for the system to locate it. And btw, every time I want to check if they fixed the issue, I have to delete and recreate the character to see if the items are there, so probably lose forum access again. Good Lord!

I read alot of negative things, but thought I may have issues with content, not character creation. Was ready to give this game go and even convinced two friends to do so with me. Im sure SE doesnt care, but they could have had three new customers but now I doubt they will even have one.

[Jinko]

Yes the initial sign up procedure is a pain in the ass, its very convoluted but you come to expect this kind of crap from SE.

Welcome to the world of FFXIV btw

[Zumi]

The only thing you can transfer over from beta is your character name. You can't transfer over any items or levels that were earned in beta. So you are better off making a new character.

[Kiroh]

Ok well I'm on Balmung too so send me a /tell if ya ever need help with anything in game. =)

[Vice]

I don't know if terrible customer support is everything about FFXIV.

[Longinus]

The only thing you can transfer over from beta is your character name. You can't transfer over any items or levels that were earned in beta. So you are better off making a new character.

If that's true it makes this whole debacle even more infuriating and mind boggling. I dont care about any items or levels I earned in beta, cause there wasn't any. I uninstalled beta after 5 mins. That the whole point of why I said no when they asked about transferring beta info. Yet somehow the item codes I put in from my game are all attached to the beta.

[Charismatic]

I don't know if terrible customer support is everything about FFXIV.

It certainly isn't but lets not fool him into thinking he's not in for a whole lot more ass-backwardness once he gets into the actual game!

[yialee]

yeah send me tell if you need ls

[Colino]

You can type out ASS you know. It's even in the game several times.

Regardless, I'm baffled by the fact that they kept the same exact sign up process... I remember going nuts on launch day just because of how convoluted and ridicolous it was!

I really hope they get it changed before 2.0.

[Longinus]

Appreciate the offers of in game assistance, but I haven't been playing because a) the support page says the issue cant be fixed unless characters are deleted, and b) if they ever get around to attaching my items to the proper account, it seems I would have to delete the character to get them anyhow. I don't know if they will get around to this before my initial month is up and Im so put off by this initial introduction to the game.