There is no product code in my DVD box

If you bought the game new, you should contact EA. If the game was used or already opened, contact the person/shop that sold you the copy and ask for a refund. 

Thanks, I have already attempted to use their help website. It got as far as "what channel do you want to use" and then it said there were no channels available. I can't ask for help if nobody is responding on the other end. Is there another way to contact customer support?

Maybe someone sees your topic and can help you out. 
Bit weird there is nothing available, could you maybe try to contact EA with another browser (Internet Explorer, Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Opera etc.) 

Thanks, but I'm not seeing how using a different browser would  change anything.

 This is the screen I'm getting.

http://i.imgur.com/zVvI1fl.jpg

What country are you in ? Did you try changing the country to US ?

Thanks, I am in the U.S, and everywhere that there is a "country" blank on both teh Install and Activate and Contact screens, I select United States, yes.

When I follow the link I provided on Chrome I get this:

So it is working. Could you tell me the steps you take that you get this?

This is what I am getting.

http://imgur.com/a/pFHiV

It is currently Sunday noon for me.  It was early Friday afternoon and Saturday morning for me, on my previous attempts to contact them. Do they have live chat only available during certain business hours Monday through Friday? That seems very strange to me, that such a large company would be keeping old-fashioned "bankers' hours" that even the bankers themselves don't keep anymore.

And if they're going to have Help available only at certain times, I'd think that their website would note that.  Most other websites will say what hours Help, Support, or Live Chat is available.

Thank you, that was indeed the solution. And thank you for being polite to an old lady who is somewhat inept at all things computer.

However, Live Chat still would not give me a product code, even after I photographed and uploaded both the box and the receipt. They suggested I purchase the game online from Origin, in which case they would be able to address any issues, and when I protested that I had already paid $60 for the game and wasn't going to re-purchase it, I got essentially a polite "can't help you then" shrug from the Chat guy.

So I will be returning the game to the store, and EA has just lost $60 and a customer. If they can't be bothered to have Quality Control make sure there are product codes in every box, they don't deserve my business, tiny drop in the bucket of their annual bottom line though it may be.

And, needless to say, I won't be using the 15% discount code on my next purchase from Origin that he emailed me, tyvm.

Thanks again for all your help.