Amazon Trade-In FAQ 5.0

Status
Not open for further replies.
handsomepete

handsomepete

CAGiversary!
Feedback
20 (100%)
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
Click to expand...
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.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

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!

 
Last edited by a moderator:
Upvote 0 Downvote
handsomepete said:
I think the real problem is that they actually don't have control over the situation. It's not a trick (it's an illusion, Michael). If they had control over it there would probably be more consistent resolution to these sorts of problems - since there's a magic script robot that adjusts tivs on amazon.com that noram has to deal with, I can see how it would cause an occasional problem.

And then sometimes shit like this just happens.



Uploaded with ImageShack.us
Click to expand...
omg...

 
Miami Flash15 said:
omg...
Click to expand...
handsomepete said:
I think the real problem is that they actually don't have control over the situation. It's not a trick (it's an illusion, Michael). If they had control over it there would probably be more consistent resolution to these sorts of problems - since there's a magic script robot that adjusts tivs on amazon.com that noram has to deal with, I can see how it would cause an occasional problem.

And then sometimes shit like this just happens.



Uploaded with ImageShack.us
Click to expand...
I caught a DBZ stunned reaction from this.

 
I was able to remove both stickers from both of my PS3 CE of Defiance.  Both bar codes and UPC numbers are in tact.  I am going to try and just return them to Amazon and get a full refund.  It's only been 20 days since I purchased them.  Wish me luck!

 
Last edited by a moderator:
GBAstar said:
I would think that the largest online retailer would have a little bit moar control over situations such as these.

And I can't speak for everyone but I personally would have been okay had Amazon or NorAm sent an e-mail to me stating that they accepted too many of these CE's and mine would be returned as-is and NOT handled, and NOT have stickers applied to it, and NOT be given an invalid reason like "invalid sku"

It is the same thing when a retailer has a price mistake. I have no problem with them cancelling, I mean they have every right, what I don't like is when they put the blame on me by means of "We're sorry... we had to cancel your order because there was an error with your billing information"
Click to expand...
Thats the thing, it is because they are so big and have various contractor working for them. This is unlikely to happen with say estarland where they have control over everything.

 
Luckily, NorAm only damaged two of my Defiance CEs copies. The side of 1 copy is completely missing. They didn't even bother shipping it back to me. The side of another copy is falling off and the round, plastic sticker was taken off. However, I did manage to remove stickers from two of the copies while leaving the UPCs intact. No Goo Gone was necessary. They came right off. My other copies were not so lucky; goo gone did not work, and I ended up having to remove the UPC stickers for the other two copies since they were damaged beyond repair. =( I'm leaning against contacting Amazon since they were unhelpful in my previous emails. I'm just going to have to eat the costs of the damaged copies. Perhaps, I will take up Hemi's genius suggestion of contacting the BBB. ;)

 
Last edited by a moderator:
Well I feel really lucky, I got my 2 Defiances back today and both were still sealed and the wrong upc sticker was on the top instead of over the UPC sticker...sucks im gonna look like a tool when I go to return 2 Defiance CEs tomorrow.

 
r00kie said:
Well I feel really lucky, I got my 2 Defiances back today and both were still sealed and the wrong upc sticker was on the top instead of over the UPC sticker...sucks im gonna look like a tool when I go to return 2 Defiance CEs tomorrow.
Click to expand...
Same I wondering about returning them at different locations

 
Did anyone buy Horsez or see it at their GameStop? Is it the same one on Amazon although it's spelled differently. The reviews say it is, but it is just spelled wrong by GS.

 
Miami Flash15 said:
Did anyone buy Horsez or see it at their GameStop? Is it the same one on Amazon although it's spelled differently. The reviews say it is, but it is just spelled wrong by GS.
Click to expand...
I picked up a cart-only copy, so I can't speak for the case, but it looks like the same game due to the logo ("Horses 3D").

 
Miami Flash15 said:
Did anyone buy Horsez or see it at their GameStop? Is it the same one on Amazon although it's spelled differently. The reviews say it is, but it is just spelled wrong by GS.
Click to expand...
I sent in 2 copies, 1 cart only and 1 with cart and case, it definitely is the same game, UPC does match on the case to my trade in
 
Got Kirby and Dr. Who accepted yesterday. I sent out Trinity Universe and 2 sets of Facebreaker/Stoked. I'm afraid I'll get 1 set rejected due to the condition of 1 of the discs, but as long as I get 1 set accepted, I will come out ahead.

I'm not sure if I'm gonna bother with that Jockey game. There aren't any used copies in my area, so I would have to go with new copies. I guess $4-8 is better than nothing, but I don't think I wanna use up my credit on such small profits. I need to find things to buy on Amazon and trade back for Gamestop or Best Buy credit before I run out.

 
Been trying all week to find some way to work Best Buy's B2G1 free sale into a flip, but it's just not there.  Anyone have any suggestions?  I have Cross Edge, Spectral Force 3, and Ni Nu Kuni in my cart, and it's only 2 dollars less than what Amazon is offering for all three.

 
has anyone sent in a game with the generic cover art GS has?

Not sure if I should send in a game like that or remove it and keep it disc only

 
YBX87 said:
you are better off sending it disc only, without the gs cover art
Click to expand...
thanks. will do.

another quick question.. I know I removed the GS price sticker on the front of a game. but think i forgot to remove the back one covering the UPC. (which is just gamestop's SKU)

anyone have experience with that?

 
sfabo said:
thanks. will do.

another quick question.. I know I removed the GS price sticker on the front of a game. but think i forgot to remove the back one covering the UPC. (which is just gamestop's SKU)

anyone have experience with that?
Click to expand...
I always remove both stickers, so I can't say I have, but honestly, if you sent in a game with that back sticker still there, your chances likely aren't good.

 
Vigilante said:
I always remove both stickers, so I can't say I have, but honestly, if you sent in a game with that back sticker still there, your chances likely aren't good.
Click to expand...
Yeah I usually do. This one just slipped up I guess.

Guess this leads to another question - which may be useful in the FAQ.

If a trade in is canceled and returned, does that still count towards your 2 copy limit?

 
Thanks for the recent postings, guys.  I was finally able to lock in a decent flip.  Got Cross Edge, Trivial Pursuit, and PopCap for $47 total at Best Buy.  TIV on Amazon is $57.  They also have Metro 2033 in stock here for $25 bucks,  but dammit Amazon really lowered the TIV on it.  Argh.

 
sfabo said:
Yeah I usually do. This one just slipped up I guess.

Guess this leads to another question - which may be useful in the FAQ.

If a trade in is canceled and returned, does that still count towards your 2 copy limit?
Click to expand...
yes, it count as your 2 copy limit.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
Final reminder to use the $20 bonus credit from a few months ago as today is the last day. I posted a couple days ago, and then nearly forgot about it myself! (So I figured I'd post again). 

 
evanwink said:
Final reminder to use the $20 bonus credit from a few months ago as today is the last day. I posted a couple days ago, and then nearly forgot about it myself! (So I figured I'd post again).
Click to expand...
yeah, i almost forgot too. I just remembered last night. what are you using it on?

 
Last edited by a moderator:
YBX87 said:
yeah, i almost forgot too. I just remembered last night. what are you using it on?
Click to expand...
I wound up combining it with the $10 bonus on pre-order credit to get Pikmin 3. $30 off on the pre-order seemed like my best option.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
I have a Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 But it is the limited edition version that includes a comic. I no longer have that comic. Will it get rejected or passed off as acceptable because of this?
 
Had my LOTR accepted today at the $42.03 price - whoo-hoo!  But I'm not seeing much else to send in.  As usual, the recent GS games mentioned are nowhere to be found around me.  I probably won't be able to make use of the 25% off coupon (would never expect my stores to allow stacking of that with 20%).

 
Last edited by a moderator:
Did that LotR game have an instruction manual?  It's odd that I've found two of them at two different Gamestops with the box but no instructions.

 
sfabo said:
Yeah I usually do. This one just slipped up I guess.

Guess this leads to another question - which may be useful in the FAQ.

If a trade in is canceled and returned, does that still count towards your 2 copy limit?
Click to expand...
Yes. This happened to me on my first trade. I figured that I would send it again to see if it got accepted the second time, but there was a limit.

 
mask.air.raid said:
Yes. This happened to me on my first trade. I figured that I would send it again to see if it got accepted the second time, but there was a limit.
Click to expand...
Huh? I was able to lock in Defiance CEs after my 1st trade in was returned. I don't see why returns would count against your 2 copy limit.

 
Locked in Cross Edge. Should be a pretty good profit seeing as my local gamestop is pretty nice to me, so I'll be able to get them to stack both coupons.

 
io said:
Had my LOTR accepted today at the $42.03 price - whoo-hoo! But I'm not seeing much else to send in. As usual, the recent GS games mentioned are nowhere to be found around me. I probably won't be able to make use of the 25% off coupon (would never expect my stores to allow stacking of that with 20%).
Click to expand...
Just think of how sweet it would have been it the 25% F&F coupon were around 2-3 weeks ago. A 46% discount with that, the b'day coupon and PUR Pro.

 
Status
Not open for further replies.
bread's done
Back
Top