The Cover Project
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: PDDestro on May 01, 2009, 02:37:40 AM
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I recently purchased a couple of games from an online UK site: http://hmv.com. Why? I wanted a brand new copy of Breath of Fire 3 PSP (EU/JP only), and decided to get a Metal Gear Solid Portable Ops/ Silent Hill Origins double pack they were selling as well. Turns out BoF3 is taking longer than stated to be restocked, but MGSPO/SHO was shipped, and while the games look new they do not have any shrinkwrapping that all "brand new" games normally have in the US.
I did some searching and noticed tons of ebay.co.uk auctions listing "brand new" games that are not shrinkwrapped. I don't know about other regions but in the US a game that has had its factory shrinkwrap removed is no longer "new" but "like new". So I'm wondering is this a normal practice in the UK, i.e. do games come w/o shrinkwrap, or did I pay brand new pricing for used goods?
Also, if anyone's wondering why it matters to me, I'm a real stickler for only buying factory sealed brand new games if possible, but I do make exceptions for absurd differences in price between brand new vs. like new...
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I had this too for some games I bought from UK online stores like HMV, thehut, gamestation or game.co.uk.... I suppose this happens when you get stuff really really cheap.... I even think that those games could be used not like new.... Normally even the games in UK are shrinkwrapped when they are new so I think this could be the shop saving some pounds....
The big problem for the consumer is that most of this UK shops take the game back without any problems and will send you a new copy asap BUT they won't refund you the postage costs you had for sending back the item to them.... Just read the small print.... ;) So no refund for posting(which has to be insured so that it won't get lost on the way) means it's not worthwhile for us customers to send it back and they know that!!!
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Well, as I cannot afford much being a poor student and all and mainly buy good condition preowned stuff (Note: Make friends with your shop of choice. Mine are quite happy to let me choose the disc, manual and case that I want as they know that I pay for about half of their wages and bonuses).
However, I can tell you this. Companies seal new games in the UK on a case by case basis. Many first party titles by Nintendo are sealed, for example. However, the majority of Sony titles are not. Sometimes, Xbox games have a seal across the opening end of the case. Also, it is much easier to establish if it is new by going to their retail stores and asking(not possible if out of the country or ordering online, I know). But we are seeing a major change where many games these days are not sealed at all. Fortunately, the guys at my local gamestation know I don't take any crap and so wouldn't even try and con me.
Also, Zavvi (before they closed) mainly had display cases and all manuals, disks, cartridges etc. were kept in draws behind the tills. The amount of times they left grubby finger marks on the back of disks almost made me want to cry. But anyway, their DVDs were always cheap, and usually sealed.
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Not sure about the UK. In France most games are wrapped in plastic
but what is for sure! is that there are not wrapped like the retarded way everything is in the US. there's no ultra super glue that make the plastic stick on the spine and impossible to get off.
We also use price sticker that are easy to take off and leave no residue (fraking hate those).
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Yup, pretty much the same in Germany. If you buy a new game it comes shrinkwrapped in plastic foil and the price and all other stickers are on the foil. So if you unwrap it you have the cover without any glue residue or any stickers. The only store I know here that doesn't wrap new games is Gamestop. They just have an empty case on display. When you buy the game they take the case, pull the manual from a drawer under the counter, the cd from a cd wallet and then try to sell it to you as a new game :)