I just bought the game and I'm pissed off because I can't find the product key. Is it in the manual? I just need someone to tell me WHERE it is, not what hacker website to get a fake one from, thanks. I bought it from Fry's electronics. Maybe i have to return it and get another one?

It doesn't have one?

Mine is a white sticker inside the case on the right side, at the bottom under the CD.

No it does not have one. And i apparently have to create a "steam support" account thats separate from my steam account just to ask for help. Too f-ing lame

Retail copies have a product key, of course. Online purchased copies have it too, it's tied to your Steam account.

If you can't find your product key in a retail copy this is NOT an issue for Steam as they are not the retail distributor of physical copies -- you have to contact Fry's and failing that, Bethesda.

Oh yes indeed sorry about that.
I doubt steam support will help you with a missing cd key from a retail store, might have to ring up the place you bought it from.

This has happened a few times in places outside the US and UK. You'll have to retun it to the shop and get a replacement my friend

I have a proof of purchase and a receipt, so hopefully that's enough for them. Bleh.

I bought Retail "Collector Edition" and the CD-Key is on a white sticker. The flip open holder for the 2 DVD's and the map, has the sticker on the left side near the bottom. the Side with the Map.

Most times the key is located behind the DVD . Sometimes it is Printed in the Game manual. Check first page and last page...