Amazon Trade-In FAQ 5.0

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handsomepete

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Welcome to the Official CAG Amazon.com Trade-In Thread

THIS IS NOT A FLIPPING THREAD. USEFUL CREDIT TRANSFER OPPORTUNITIES WELCOME, BUT KEEP THE PROFIT MARGIN TALK / SNEAKY OR LYING SHENANIGANS OUT

Hey trade-in pals! SENDING THINGS IN DISC / CARTRIDGE ONLY / GENERIC CASE NO MANUAL / ANYTHING BUT COMPLETE COULD RESULT IN REJECTION. THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS TO THIS. YOU MIGHT GET ACCEPTED, YOU MIGHT NOT. NO ONE KNOWS. IF YOU CUT OUT A UPC OR DO ANYTHING TO TRICK THE FINE(?) FOLKS AT AFS EXPECT IT TO BE OPENED AND REJECTED. THERE ARE NO HARD AND FAST RULES. IF IT IS ACCEPTED, IT WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY ONLY BE CONSIDERED "ACCEPTABLE." RISK YOUR TIME AND EFFORT AT YOUR PERIL!

I'm getting an acceptance rate of about one per day; it makes me think some supervisor is standing around with a glass of absinthe next to a couple of dumptruck loads of games...while the one responsible for the glitch is made to scan each item and recite its TIV with tears in their eyes. - Indigo_Streetlight
Amazon.com Trade-in Home Page

------- FAQ BELOW - LEAVE ME ALONE PLEASE -------
Useful links:

-- BlueLobstah

-- CheapAssGamer

THANKS TO DISILLUSION386 and GI60 FOR POSTING AND MAINTAINING THE PREVIOUS AMAZON TRADE-IN FAQ THREADS

This thread’s primary purpose is to discuss Amazon.com’s video game trade-in program. Conspiracy theories about AFS smashing games before sending them back / stealing children / sneezing and touching public door handles / etc welcome, but try to avoid going nutso. PLEASE READ THE TRADE-IN DEAL DETAILS AND FAQ BEFORE ASKING ANY QUESTIONS.
Trade-In Procedure

1. SELECT ITEMS: Search for items to trade in. Your trade-in items must meet the product eligibility criteria.
2. SHIP GAMES FREE: Print a shipping label and packing slip, package your games, and ship them
3. GET A GIFT CARD: An Amazon.com Gift Card will be deposited into your account upon receipt of games

Shipping Instructions

1. Print this entire page. (Packing slip and shipping label once you have submitted a trade)
2. Cut out the shipping label and the packing slip.
3. Make sure your items are in good working condition and include the case and cover art.
4. Securely pack the items in a box or envelope and include the packing slip in the package.
5. Attach the shipping label squarely onto the outside of the package and add your return address.
6. Take it to your nearest UPS Store and mail it by (one week from submission of trade)
7. Or you can ship to:
note to self: look up new address
Trade-In Product Eligibility

Trade-in items must match the exact version displayed in the Amazon Trade-In Store, not be damaged, include original packaging (e.g. the manual, cover art, and case), and be postmarked no later than 7 days after submission. You will receive an e-mail confirmation and an Amazon.com Gift Card will be deposited into your account within 2 business days of item receipt and verification by the merchant. Items not accepted by the merchant will be returned to you approximately 14 days after receipt.
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GENERAL FAQ (Updated 12/26/2012)
Can I post a question on this thread?
Only if you can't find the answer from below. And please let me know if it needs to be added to FAQ.

Can I edit this FAQ? (updated 6/7/11)
You bet!

Since when did Amazon start doing trades?
The program began in 2009 and is handled by a third party merchant, previously known as NorAm International. Now known as AFS (Amazon Fulfillment Services).

What kind of shipping does Amazon provide us?
Free UPS ground ---- USPS is no longer available for free. There is now also an option to provide your own shipping.

Do I have to provide my own box or envelope?
Yes.

Do all my games in the same trade-in submission have to be shipped in the same box? (updated 3/9/11)
Not necessarily - people have sent in multiple boxes for the same trade-in submission successfully. It's even possible to send half at one time and the other half at the end of the valid shipping period. However, it's probably best to always ship everything at once.

Can I put separate trades in to a single box? (updated 6/7/11)
Sure, and they'll likely be accepted just fine. However, it isn't recommended since you would only have proof that you sent one of the trades (whichever mailing label you used). So it can be pretty risky.

Can I send in sealed games?
Yes. They won't reject games that still have the original shrink wrap.

Can I add Delivery Confirmation and Insurance to my shipment?
UPS Ground already provides you with tracking information, and I imagine you could get some sort of insurance added at a UPS store or location if you were so inclined.

I don't trust UPS ground. Can I pay for postage myself? What's the address?
Yes. You're more than welcome to do so. Just use the address on the amazon provided shipping label and make sure to get some sort of tracking.

When do I have to send my games once I have submitted my trade order?
You have 1 week (7 days) to send your games. There have been reports of submitting trades up to 15 - 20 days late, but that is definitely ymmv and not in the written rules. Send on time for the best chance at success!

Crap, I have one day to go before my shipment deadline, but the website states that my deadline has already passed. How do I print out a shipping label and packing slip? (Updated 9/9/13)
Load up any existing order (if you don't have any, check your browser's history or just submit a new one to use the link), and substitute the transaction ID for the trade-in order you need at the end of the URL.

Some step by step directions:
1. Go to your trade-in page on Amazon and find the Trade-In ID of the transaction:

Trade-In Placed:

August 24, 2013

  • Total Amount Submitted: $35.00
  • Amount Paid: $0.00
2. Copy the entire Trade-In ID (i.e. TRN-1234567-1234567) to your clipboard by highlighting it and hitting Ctrl+C or right click -> copy with your mouse

3. Paste the Trade-In ID to the end of this link:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/tradein/multicondition-your-account/print-label/ref=trdrt_ya_yaprnt?ie=UTF8&orderID=

So it should look like this:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/tradein/multicondition-your-account/print-label/ref=trdrt_ya_yaprnt?ie=UTF8&orderID=TRN-1234567-1234567

The Print Shipping Label screen for that trade should now come up.

How long does the whole trade-in process usually take?
From the time you send in your games, it may take up to 14 business days for the package to arrive. Most people usually receive their credit (Amazon GiftCard) in 3 to 5 business days, however.

How long does the "processing" status usually take? (Updated 10/11/12)
Usually a day or two with little delay at all. It may take multiple days or even weeks if it's an usual item/hardware.

My games were received on Friday (based on Delivery Confirmation), will I have to wait until Monday to receive credit?
People have received credit on a Saturday.

I do not have the manual, cover art, or original case for a game I want to trade in. Will they accept it? (updated 6/9/11)
While the details specifically state that original packaging is necessary, people have reported in the past that their trades were accepted despite missing some of these. This is extremely YMMV, however since some were also rejected by missing manual or cover art. On the other hand, older gen games; such as SNES, N64, and GB cartridges, normally get accepted without the original box and manual, but still YMMV.

It should be noted that with the new condition requirements (see later in the FAQ), you may be able to send an item in missing some or all of the required items (manual / cover art / case) and still have it accepted in "Acceptable" condition.

I do not have the manual, accessories, original box, original included game, etc for a console or accessory I want to trade in. Will they accept it? (updated 3/9/11)
The current wisdom is "probably not" - it's pretty YMMV but AFS seems stricter than they should be on this. Your chances seem to be better for them accepting a console or accessory without the box / manual / etc if it's older generation or rare. You're more than welcome to give it a shot though if you're feeling lucky - just pack it well and include as much as you can! Don't expect greater than 'acceptable' condition though.

My game is really beat up, what are the chances they’ll accept it?
This is YMMV. Some people have reported in the past that they sent in games in bad shape that were still accepted. Your best bet is still to trade in games in mint condition. Minor scratches are expected as these are used games.

My game came with DLC codes and I used them. Will my game be accepted? (Updated 12/28/11)
It is expected that included DLC codes have already been redeemed, so you should be fine. It is a kindness however if you have no use for it to not redeem it and let the next lucky soul who buys it from awd or wherever have a crack at it. Up to you!

My cover art (PLATINUM HITS) differs from the pic on amazon, will my trade be accepted?
It all depends on the UPC so just turn your game around, type in the UPC into the amazon search box. If the game comes up, then it's accepted regardless of cover art. Click on that result to submit your trade.

I have a game from a limited edition bundle, will they accept it?
If the game’s cover art has a UPC barcode, they will most likely accept it. If your game's cover states "Not for Resale" and does not have a UPC barcode, the game will most likely get rejected. Some people have had their games accepted in the past, but this is very YMMV.

The UPC barcode is not intact on my game's cover art, will that be accepted? (updated 3/9/11)
This is YMMV, but probably not. The UPC is all powerful within the walls of AFS..

I sent in my games, all of which were in pristine condition with the original packaging, but they said that one game is damaged and is now being returned.
Always pack your games well. Put a lot of newspaper around your games in the box to secure them and to prevent any damages from haphazard box cutting. People in the past have requested their entire trade-in order if it’s obvious the damage wasn’t their fault, and Amazon ended up accepting the rejected game. This is YMMV as well.

Can I trade in multiple copies of the same game?
Yes. Once you click “Trade in” for a particular game, you may change the quantities. Once you submit, you can no longer change quantities on that trade-in batch.

How many multiple copies of the same game can I trade-in (updated 1/11/11)?
Maximum of 2 copies within 3 a month period.

I locked in X copies of a game but I now only have Y available to send. Can I just send in Y without being penalized? (updated 3/9/11)
Yes, you can always just send in a portion of your trade-in order and they'll just credit you for whatever they receive. However, the quantities you submitted for will stay locked in that instance (I think) so if you, for example, submitted for 2 copies and only sent 1, you may not be able to trade any more copies of that game for 3 months (see previous question).

Will the Trade-in of the Day TIV stay for 24 hours?
It's been reported that there is a limit (maximum # of copies) that will get the promoted TIV so lock yours.

So if I find a good flip, I can just send 2 copies of that game and not worry about Amazon accusing me of stolen merchandise?
Technically yes, but do keep in mind that other CAGs might want to participate in the current deal, and trading in a large number of the same game will definitely lower the TIV of said game. Let’s be nice to other people. This is probably moot for most folks now with the per account / address trade-in limit.

Wow, these TIVs suck (updated 3/9/11)!
Really? Hrm. While that may be true, they're often better than other comparable places. Your options of what to do with your used games are greater now than they've ever been, so feel free to shop your trades around or just sell them off on glyde/ebay/whatever. Also, not a question.

What the fuck? The TIV of a game I just bought for this deal tanked! What do I do?
The TIVs on Amazon fluctuate depending on the number of trades that are submitted, and we really can’t do anything about it. The best course of action for trading in games is to lock in your trade if you already have the games or are absolutely sure that you can obtain them. You can always cancel the trade submission if you end up not finding the games.
LOCK = SUBMIT YOUR TRADE, Don't just put it in the cart.

Can I edit a submitted trade?
Nope - once upon a time you could modify trade in quantities of submitted trades, but that ability has been removed.

Can I use my credit on items that are not video game-related?
Yes. This is the other perk for trading in games at Amazon since you're not limited to just video games.

Can I use my credit on items sold by third-party merchants on Amazon?
According to the fine print of the Amazon gift card use, some merchants are excluded. Your best bet is to try it on the checkout page of your order.

Strategy guides? I can trade in game/strategy guides? Whaaaaa?
Go to the Textbook Buyback section (http://www.amazon.com/Textbooks-Trad...ode=2205237011[/URL]). You can either search on the title of a strategy guide you have to see if they'll accept it, or search for guides. The two best search strings to start with are 'prima guides' and 'bradygames'. Might try 'doublejump' if you want to trade in some of those. (Thanks eugaet)

I locked in some hilariously overvalued trade for some weird rare game/accessory/etc that I can pick up for cheap cheap cheap. They didn't accept it. What should I do? (updated 3/9/11)
The truth is that AFS can reject things for any reason they see fit. While some people have managed to get silly things like a $200 credit for some cheerleading game (or for a PS2 - just ask io!), it's sooooooo YMMV that often it's not worth the effort. EXPECT REJECTION ON THINGS THAT ARE CLEARLY MISVALUED. That said, as long as you're willing to risk it, go for it!

What's all this item condition nonsense? And how can I get screwed over by it? (updated 6/9/11)
We're still kinda sussing out the details surrounding the new item condition portion of Amazon Trade-Ins, but it looks like there's a couple things to consider:
Good Condition eligibility (games):
- The video game, original manufacturer packaging and all original elements are included, but shows wear from normal use
- Game still plays perfectly
- Disc may have light scratches and other elements may have minor damage
- Item may have been personalized (marked or identified)

Acceptable eligibility (games):
- Game still plays perfectly
- Item may have been personalized (marked or identified)
- Item may be missing or have irreparable damage to one or all of the following: case, manual, artwork, bundled accessories, UPC

Note that a game will almost certainly not be accepted if it meets any of these conditions:
- Game does not play perfectly
- Disc is cracked
- Marked Not for Resale (or is otherwise marked not for sale)

Consoles/accessories have some slightly different criteria, but the idea is the same.

Did it seriously just ask me if I wanted my game / other item returned if they refuse to give me credit for it? (updated 6/9/11)
Yes, that just happened.

Unless you're purposefully sending them things you deem to be trash, please remember to choose the option that has them return your item to you during the checkout phase.

Who is AFS? (updated 9/14/13)
Amazon Fulfillment Services (previously known as NorAm). Dunno if they changed names, were bought up by Amazon, or what. Not too interested anyhow.

Why does my package jump back and forth between states? (updated 9/14/13)
Look at a map of the involved cities and it'll make sense. Something to do with UPS hubs and proximity to the state border/cities.

Post away!

 
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Doctor Heinz Doofenshmirtz - yep thats my man ;)  ( i only get season 1/2 cuz amazon prime, im gonna have to def find a way to watch the rest of the episodes too. so many of those horrible songs get stuck in my head too. aglet and summer belongs to you, etc, lol)

n yeah bestbuy doesnt care as long as you have different id's / my grrl flips too. they seem to wipe clean all bannings like last month tho or something cuz im good to go again. peace all

 
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He is probably using more than one account / person this time around aka his girlfriend since the GS ban. Lol!
yeah, i know what bestbuy, you can use your passport. but the gs ban can be tough, since it is done by district.

 
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yeah, i know what bestbuy, you can use your passport. but the gs ban can be tough, since it is done by district.
But it is normally done by PUR/Phone number IIRC. If he can wait for a massive shift change (holiday/after holiday) and then just use a new phone number he may be fine...until they check the name database. At least that is what I recall about when I was banned (and then unbanned).

 
Velo being unbanned has me thinking possibly I am unbanned from best buy, I'll try in a couple days I guess, I have been getting my fiance to do my trades.

 
If anybody's considering going through the list of Gamestop's select B1G1 games to scout out potential flips, do yourself a favor.

Don't.

I just got through checking the entire list and each game's TIV on Amazon. It. Was. HORRENDOUS. I think I saw two or three games that breached the $4 mark, and a good 90% of them didn't even break $1. As far as flipping to Amazon goes, there's definitely better potential elsewhere.

 
If anybody's considering going through the list of Gamestop's select B1G1 games to scout out potential flips, do yourself a favor.

Don't.

I just got through checking the entire list and each game's TIV on Amazon. It. Was. HORRENDOUS. I think I saw two or three games that breached the $4 mark, and a good 90% of them didn't even break $1. As far as flipping to Amazon goes, there's definitely better potential elsewhere.
Thanks for checking and thanks for sharing the info. It was worth a try. You'd think there'd be 1 or 2 treasures in there to go to either AMZ or BB. The odds weren't in our favor.

 
I think I just might pick up the copy of Cave Story w/o the case and send it in as 'acceptable' for $26.xx. Still a $7 profit in the end.

Anyone ever have a 3DS game denied when just sending it in w/o case + manual? I'll send it with I guess a replacement case if they give me one.

 
Got a phone rep to go ahead and do B2G1 preowned at BB even though the site isn't updated with it active yet because it's listed in this weeks ad, ordered Metro 2033, LOTR Conquest, and Fifa 13. Look's like Metro's TiV finally dropped after I had locked in the $28 TiV. But when the b2g1 is live on the site (unless u wanna like wait an hour for a phone rep to ask a supervisor to check the ad) I would lock in a trade for Fifa 13 for PS3. Because even if you break even with two other games of the three, Fifa would represent all profit (and therefore open doors to some great TiV's.

 
Got a phone rep to go ahead and do B2G1 preowned at BB even though the site isn't updated with it active yet because it's listed in this weeks ad, ordered Metro 2033, LOTR Conquest, and Fifa 13. Look's like Metro's TiV finally dropped after I had locked in the $28 TiV. But when the b2g1 is live on the site (unless u wanna like wait an hour for a phone rep to ask a supervisor to check the ad) I would lock in a trade for Fifa 13 for PS3. Because even if you break even with two other games of the three, Fifa would represent all profit (and therefore open doors to some great TiV's.
FIFA's is $15.xx on Amazon--what are some other good ones?

 
Uh oh. I'm juuuuust discovering this rabbit-hole today. There goes my wallet.

Well, while I'm here I'll let you guys in on a little secret. I contacted an Amazon CS rep today asking if it was possible to get added to the $10-credit-for-$50-gift-card thing that was floating around here a few days ago, and she/he (Ashwani?) said that while it wasn't possible to get in on this promo, they (basically) have some secret list that (basically) if they add your account to, you (basically) will be notified of all future promotions like that. Basically.

 
I forget, but are there multiple UPC's for Lord Of the Ring Conquest?
There are multiple UPCs for LOTR but the two that I found both link up to the same item on Amazon (the high valued game). Just type in the UPC into the Amazon search window and see where it takes you.

 
So.

Got my defiance CE back today. There's a massive sticker over my normal UPC and then another sticker over that stating "incorrect UPC"

The guys name is Russel

If I shine a light behind the original upC it shows that it matches the label I printed out for the trade in lol. Calling CS now.

Edit: Online Chat with a CS said to resend/trade in the item again at the lower 29.72 TIV...and said "there's nothing I can do about the lower trade in value"  "I am unable to do anything about this issue right now"

 
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So.

Got my defiance CE back today. There's a massive sticker over my normal UPC and then another sticker over that stating "incorrect UPC"

The guys name is Russel

If I shine a light behind the original upC it shows that it matches the label I printed out for the trade in lol. Calling CS now.

Edit: Online Chat with a CS said to resend/trade in the item again at the lower 29.72 TIV...and said "there's nothing I can do about the lower trade in value" "I am unable to do anything about this issue right now"
That sucks. I got mine back but they went to my parents address. Havent been able to check them out. Did they open yours?

Also, where did you get the goo gone to remove the stickers? I see some on Amazon.

 
That sucks. I got mine back but they went to my parents address. Havent been able to check them out. Did they open yours?

Also, where did you get the goo gone to remove the stickers? I see some on Amazon.
Mine was opened by me.

Goo gone was 4$ at Walmart for a spray bottle.

I think I'm gonna part it out and sell the DLC for 20$ on eBay and then the figurine for 20$. I already got $30 from amazon due to the "inconvienve"
 
I picked up complete copies of Pinball Hall of Fame, Afrika, and Heavenly Sword today. The UPC for the first one checks out, so I'll be sending that one complete.

To whoever reported their UPC not working correctly on Amazon, did you change the category in the search bar to "Video Games"? If not, then you won't get accurate results when entering a UPC to verify.
 
Just cutious... anyone know any reverse flip from amazon to gamestop?
I did Portal 2 earlier. It was $20.xx and GS gave $24 after bonus and PUR. Wasn't much, but needed some.

Portal 2 is your best bet, but with the 50% promo finishing, kinda stinks now. I believe it's $16-17 new from Amazon.

360 btw.

 
Just cutious... anyone know any reverse flip from amazon to gamestop?
1. just to reiterate, this is _not_ a flipping thread, so this is not the right place for that question (and I suspect there is no rignt place for it on CAG)

2. you'd have better luck perusing AWD but generally (especially if posted publically) anything like that with shipping time etc will die in one day if it's worth a damn.
 
You guys know what this means for the CoD trade-in? What's 'like new'? Doesn't say. I'm assuming it's the same as the condition for the DVD's

2ylk5kh.png


 
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Uh oh. I'm juuuuust discovering this rabbit-hole today. There goes my wallet.
You mean here comes MONOPOLY MONEY!!! I like to think of credit as monopoly money, sure there is an initial buy in/investment, but after a certain point you have enough cushion to sustain itself, and to get all the games I may ever have the need for XD.

 
You guys know what this means for the CoD trade-in? What's 'like new'? Doesn't say. I'm assuming it's the same as the condition for the DVD's

2ylk5kh.png
possibly has something to do with the dlc collection code? maybe they are starting to give more (and charge more) for games that come with the dlc codes

 
You mean here comes MONOPOLY MONEY!!! I like to think of credit as monopoly money, sure there is an initial buy in/investment, but after a certain point you have enough cushion to sustain itself, and to get all the games I may ever have the need for XD.
But I'm putting all of this money towards my PS4 preorder!

 
possibly has something to do with the dlc collection code? maybe they are starting to give more (and charge more) for games that come with the dlc codes

Nah, that value with the weird Like New listing for MW3 has been there since late last year. I've traded in 4 copies of the XBox and 1 PS3 under the Like New condition without including the DLC in any of them and they were all processed/paid out just fine. As long as you have the correct box with the proper markings/UPC (and the item actually is in Like New condition) you should be fine...

 
Really? You've had experience trading this in? Yeah, I wanted to know why it's like that.
Yeah, found it late last year (November?) when GS had MW3 used on sale and I was transferring credit over (this was before the AMZ physical gift cards). It was like $28 for Like New then and has stayed around the $21-$23 range lately. Dunno why it's like that (with the Like New condition option that almost no other Video Game has) but I was able to find used copies with that black bar noting the DLC on the cover and everything else processed like a normal trade (with just the manual, no DLC included). So as long as you have that case, I wouldn't worry too much about the DLC...

 
^Thanks, I locked in another copy. It's not as high as the $25.55 from before, but it's still nice.

Finally got a response back from Amazon CS regarding the condition of my Defiance CE, and while it's not the rigorously thought-out solution I was hoping for, I'll accept it: They gave me another $22.88 in promo credit (not sure where that number came from :whistle2:|) and for some reason, the CS rep said this:

"I'm sorry about the problem "Armored Core: For Answer" which you received in a bad condition."

I guess he saw I have a trade-in for that one (which I plan on dropping off at UPS today), and no, before you say that that's why I got $22.88, that's less than the $23.55 I locked in for my copy of AC:FA. Weird.

So now I'll have to try selling off the CE in pieces or something, which is fine considering I've already made back more than I paid at GS.

In other news, I had a sudden stroke of luck for Pinball Hall of Fame: Williams Collection when I noticed a single Very Good copy being sold by Gohastings.com for $11.99 in the Marketplace. Even if it arrives disc-only, it's a noticeable profit. ;)

 
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Little league world series 2010 :360: is back up to $22. Still hard to find though.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003LDKHZ6/?tag=scurker-20
I can't trade anymore until October 6th. :whistle2:(

If anyone is looking to get rid of a Vita portable charger (for some reason I can't understand) and kept the packaging you can get $22.40 for it like new:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006JKARP8/ref=trdrt_tipp_dp_titl_tipp_rohitsk_test_979418011?pf_rd_p=1535527442&pf_rd_s=center-6&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_i=979418011&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=19XGX0FNZ8NFPAQS7H8S

 
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1. just to reiterate, this is _not_ a flipping thread, so this is not the right place for that question (and I suspect there is no rignt place for it on CAG)

2. you'd have better luck perusing AWD but generally (especially if posted publically) anything like that with shipping time etc will die in one day if it's worth a damn.

Can you tell me what AWD is?

 
Wow--what gives?! My F1 Vita was given 'acceptable' condition when I included both the game box itself + the game--wth? Am I missing something?

Edit:

You had specified the condition of your item as Good. Upon inspection, the condition of your item was determined to be Acceptable due to the following reasons:

  • Original packaging missing
What the heck?!

 
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