Anyone ever suspicious that a retailer may have mailed them a used/resealed game?

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GBAstar

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Note: We all know Gamestop sells open (and perhaps used games) as new. That comes with the territory. For the sake of this thread I'm talking about other retailers (i.e. Newegg, Amazon, etc.)

Hi,

Over the years I've received several games that were heat sealed (is that the correct term?) instead of factory sealed (y-folds).

Typically it isn't a big deal to me but I always wonder why some of these games arrive like that.

In some instances I know that the particular game in question may have only been produced with the heat seals in either the first run or perhaps in a second printing to correct a typo (I think this was common for RE Mercenaries 3DS) but in other instances I've never seen the game like that in a B&M store.

Well today I received three copies of Gears of War 3 from Amazon. One had y-folds, the other was heat sealed and the third had a sticker on it that said "Great Game, Great Price" (or something to that effect).

Now the problem is that particular sticker was covering a price tag. I have NEVER EVER known Amazon to have price tags on their games as they have no reason to. I've gotten best buy games before that had best buy prices tags on them (makes sense as they have retail stores) but never from Amazon.

The price tag beneath the sticker was faded but it read something like "53.97" with a sku I couldn't make out. There was no retailer name on the price tag.

I'm highly suspcious of that particular copy and why Amazon would be selling it. This was a purchase that was sold and fulfilled by Amazon (not a 3rd party).

I also received a MK Komplete Edition from Fry's that was heat sealed and every other copy I've seen to date had y-folds.

Now I know of instances like with COD: Black Ops where they'll pull copies sitting in warehouses, open them and put in a DLC voucher, change the cover art and reseal them and sell them as new like with what they did with the First Strike Map Pack LTO version but other then that it just seems so strange and random to get so many games that are not in the original factory seal.


Anyone else notice that?

For the most part I don't care but I always wonder if when I'm buying a new game if I'm really getting a "new" game.


Thoughts?
 
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[quote name='mrspicytacoman']pretty sure it happens all the time to me.
what do you mean by heat sealed[/QUOTE]

^ I might be using the incorrect term. I'm talking about when games are shrinkwrapped. There are machines that do it. It'll have a seam and be of a different plastic material rather then the y-fold that come standard on music cd's and most video games.


Edit: and I know there are many people on this site that buy and prefer to buy used so this might seem a little odd and anal retentive to them but if I'm buying a new game, when it arrives I don't want to have to question if it is actually new.

OT but I once saw a DVD being sold at Walmart (as new) that had a Best Buy price tag on it
 
Even with the note at the beginning, I'm betting most people will still bitch about GS anyway.

On topic, the closest Target to my house ALWAYS has resealed games. They put them in the now microscopic electronics clearance section. Kinda weird since they don't take returns on open games. Needless to say, I don't buy them. It's not mailed but I suppose it could be possible to get this from their site as well.
 
^ I'm really trying to avoid the Gamestop discussion as it should be common knowledge that Gamestop sells opened games (and perhaps preplayed) as new.


Most of the games that I have seen in the wild that appear to have been opened and then resealed are games where vouchers may have been added/removed or the cover art changed but everything else stayed the same and in those instances I can understand why a publisher/distributer would go that route.


But still.... quite a few games I've received lately leave me wondering
 
oh you mean the shrink wrap.
Thats why i like 360 games because i dont think anyone can reproduce those seals

Every vita game i buy tho always seems really fishy .
 
[quote name='mrspicytacoman']oh you mean the shrink wrap.
Thats why i like 360 games because i dont think anyone can reproduce those seals

Every vita game i buy tho always seems really fishy .[/QUOTE]


Yes shrinkwrapped. I'm not sure where I came up with the term heat sealed.

I'm relatively new to owning a 360 (just bought one about 18 months ago).

Does each microsoft seal have a unique code or do the codes only differ per title? (i.e. would the code on every mass effect 3 game be the same)
 
I've had this problem with Amazon. I think there was a thread here once, where I actually found out I wasn't the only person who had this issue.

Last holiday season, I was ordering some gifts, and they had a big sale on TV shows, Breaking Bad in particular. I grabbed three copies of season one, one for myself, my in laws, and my parents. Two came clearly factory sealed, and one was quite different. I kept the differently sealed one for myself and opened it, to discover that the DVDs were covered in scratches. I was pretty baffled, and came here...found a topic (I think in this thread?) about other people getting games and movies from Amazon, and they were clearly used and resealed.
 
I think amazon sometimes buy stock from liquidators or old stock from other retailers, hence the price tags. That is the only reason I could think of.
 
I've never received a re-sealed game from any reputable retailer outside of Gamestop (back when they used to do it regularly). I have enough sealed games/dealt with enough sealed games to tell what's re-sealed and what's not for the most part.

I have received a re-sealed game twice from Amazon through their "Fulfilled by Amazon" third party service- meaning it wasn't really Amazon, but rather, the third party sellers who sent them re-sealed games.
 
[quote name='Vinny']I've never received a re-sealed game from any reputable retailer outside of Gamestop (back when they used to do it regularly). I have enough sealed games/dealt with enough sealed games to tell what's re-sealed and what's not for the most part.

I have received a re-sealed game twice from Amazon through their "Fulfilled by Amazon" third party service- meaning it wasn't really Amazon, but rather, the third party sellers who sent them re-sealed games.[/QUOTE]


I come into contact with hundreds of games a week... so I'm not green in that regards but my point is why is it that when multiple quantities are ordered a particular game would be received with y-folds and also shinkwrapped?

I can understand games that are bundled and may have been removed from the bundles and resealed but for the life of me I can't understand why Gears 3 for example would be shrinkwrapped...

Perhaps these are copies from the Console bundle?

Regardless I am seeing a bigger trend and was wondering what everyone elses viewpoints were.

I'm not saying the retailers are doing anything wrong and it doesn't seem like they would stand to profit from this practice, especially when compared to the risk they would be taking if true and they were to be exposed...

It is just odd to me. I always thought that for the large perctange of games "NEW" implied y-folds.

Because I regularly handle multiple copies of games I am now seeing a huge spike in retailers sending me "X" quantities of a game that has y-folds and "Y" quantities of that same game that are shrinkwrapped.
 
Ive had Amazon send me ps3 games that you could tell was not the original packaging. Everytime I questioned them at them I got a $10 credit.
 
Amazon itself has started to get flakey when it comes to NEW items; I purchased an AntiChrist Superstar CD from them that turned out to be a reseal and in worse condition than "Holywood" which I bought used from a third party merchant. I'd especially be wary of older items that are $10 sealed and not worth jack used, as there's the temptation for any seller to grade their item higher and try to pass it onto the customer.
 
[quote name='GBAstar']I come into contact with hundreds of games a week... so I'm not green in that regards but my point is why is it that when multiple quantities are ordered a particular game would be received with y-folds and also shinkwrapped?

...

Perhaps these are copies from the Console bundle?

[/QUOTE]

I was just saying that I haven't had any problems with reputable retailers. When dealing with B&M retailers, you'll always have some rogue locations. I remember when GS was caught with their re-sealing practices and officially stopped doing it-- but many people reported getting re-sealed copies months afterwards. B&M locations often send low selling items directly to customers (like GoHastings) or to a warehouse (like BestBuy and FRYS) to fulfill online orders.

The only things I know about Amazon is that if you get anything from their Lexington, KY warehouse, you're getting a return and so be very suspect of those copies. Also, if there's a sticker on the outside covering the barcode, it means Amazon bought those copies from a unofficial third party.

Any factory bundled or console bundled game should have something that differentiates it from retail copies (UPC hole punched/marked, not for resale logo, etc.) unless the company is completely stupid. If it was part of a store bundle, that shouldn't matter... since they just use shelf copies. I doubt that's the issue.
 
I'd imagine some people do switches using Amazon stock. Get the item from one place, buy a second copy from Amazon, return the one purchased elsewhere to Amazon. Why? Could be bootlegs, could be stolen from some B&M and they want to create a receipt trail using Amazon for some reason to make it appear as a legitimate purpose (and whoever is checking the Amazon receipt wouldn't look at the order history for the return, I suppose), could be something used that was sealed and it looked like they could get away with it, etc. I'd also guess that some people might somehow steal the disc and then send the game back or re-seal it without the game. Even if they have to pay return shipping or a restocking fee, its cheaper to at least get the disc of maybe a new hot game that way.

Have you asked Amazon CS about the discrepancies?

For some reason I find it hard to believe Amazon is buying from discount sellers since I'm sure they could get discounted items direct from the distributor themselves and probably even get a better rate being Amazon and not having a middle man involved. I'm not saying they don't do that, but my gut feeling is skeptical of it. What do I know?
 
I've bought new shrink wrapped games and movies from stores often... More often than no they have the Y seal. But shrink wrapping is more common than you let on.

In instances where there are stockers UNDER the shrink wrap, you have concern.
 
[quote name='Vinny']I was just saying that I haven't had any problems with reputable retailers. When dealing with B&M retailers, you'll always have some rogue locations. I remember when GS was caught with their re-sealing practices and officially stopped doing it-- but many people reported getting re-sealed copies months afterwards. B&M locations often send low selling items directly to customers (like GoHastings) or to a warehouse (like BestBuy and FRYS) to fulfill online orders.

The only things I know about Amazon is that if you get anything from their Lexington, KY warehouse, you're getting a return and so be very suspect of those copies. Also, if there's a sticker on the outside covering the barcode, it means Amazon bought those copies from a unofficial third party.

Any factory bundled or console bundled game should have something that differentiates it from retail copies (UPC hole punched/marked, not for resale logo, etc.) unless the company is completely stupid. If it was part of a store bundle, that shouldn't matter... since they just use shelf copies. I doubt that's the issue.[/QUOTE]
yeah idk about that I just got max payne 3 from Lexington, and it still has the xbox seal on it.
who told you thats their return warehouse?
 
I remember returning a 5 item bluray/ps3 purchase to Frys B&M, and the lady looked at me all suspicious and started ripping open every item to make sure that the discs were still included. When I asked her about it, she said it was their policy, which I know is ricockulous, because I return stuff all the time without any trouble.

Bottom line: I'd bet money that those "new" items were immediately taken back and re-wrapped to be sold as "new". The fact that they have a few shrink-wrapped items with all other stock being Y-folds just adds more evidence to support the case.
 
[quote name='Darshminder']I remember returning a 5 item bluray/ps3 purchase to Frys B&M, and the lady looked at me all suspicious and started ripping open every item to make sure that the discs were still included. When I asked her about it, she said it was their policy, which I know is ricockulous, because I return stuff all the time without any trouble.

Bottom line: I'd bet money that those "new" items were immediately taken back and re-wrapped to be sold as "new". The fact that they have a few shrink-wrapped items with all other stock being Y-folds just adds more evidence to support the case.[/QUOTE]


I got a MK Komplete that was shrinkwrapped from fry's just the other day so maybe that explains it.

I have never really had a problem with a game that was or at least appeared to be resealed but sometimes I buy the games with an intent to gift or resell and I never like to pawn resealed games off on anyone else.
 
[quote name='mrspicytacoman']yeah idk about that I just got max payne 3 from Lexington, and it still has the xbox seal on it.
who told you thats their return warehouse?[/QUOTE]

I've returned close to 100 items (games, MP3 players, outdoor items, car items, etc.) over the past 8 years and every single one went to Lexington, KY so I'm guessing that's likely their returns warehouse. Likewise, most items I get from there arrive with bit more "wear", though I've never actually gotten a damaged/re-sealed game from Amazon.

And I never said everything you'll get from there is going to be a shoddy copy, just that those are probably the most susceptible to fraudulent returns. You got 1 item from there with no issues- that's not exactly a good sample.
 
Thought I'd chime in on this.

Many Canadian copies of games come shrinkwrapped when the US versions would be Y-sealed. This is so that the manufacturer can shove in the French manual. Sometimes, American retailers acquire Canadian copies of games. Personally, I have received games from Amazon.com that were Canadian copies. If the cover art bilingual, the game is most likely a Canadian copy. However, if you have received a copy of a game the has English-only cover art but was shrinkwrapped, I would be suspicious of that copy. In some cases, however, all copies of the game come shrinkwrapped (Lost Odyssey comes to mind).

On that note, certain games always come Y-sealed, whether the copy is US or Canadian. Nintendo and Sony first party titles come to mind. If you have received a shrinkwrapped copy of one of these games, then it has been resealed for sure.

On a side note, during a anime sale on Amazon, I received a copy of Kanon that had light scratches on the discs, but I can't remember if it was Y-sealed. Also, I've bought Arrested Development from Walmart Canada that I am sure was Y-sealed and it also had light scratches on the discs.
 
You may wanna skim through this thread from 2009 or so, GBAstar.

http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=234286

Long story short, Amazons' trade partner that processes their game and other trades for the respective programs were selling resealed stuff as 'new'. But I believe this was under their own accounts on Amazon.

However, maybe Amazon has been buying some stock from Noram/Piece Of Mind Media when they can't find some on their own.

Or it could just be that some copies of X or Y game received two different types of seals.
 
[quote name='Vinny']I've returned close to 100 items (games, MP3 players, outdoor items, car items, etc.) over the past 8 years and every single one went to Lexington, KY so I'm guessing that's likely their returns warehouse. Likewise, most items I get from there arrive with bit more "wear", though I've never actually gotten a damaged/re-sealed game from Amazon.

And I never said everything you'll get from there is going to be a shoddy copy, just that those are probably the most susceptible to fraudulent returns. You got 1 item from there with no issues- that's not exactly a good sample.[/QUOTE]

I'm in California and whenever I made returns they go to somewhere in Nevada. Perhaps they just have the returns go to the return department of the warehouse closest to you?
 
I bought a copy of Condemned for 360 a month ago at Best Buy, it was marked as pre-played, but it was in the factory looking Y-fold.
 
[quote name='materialz']I bought a copy of Condemned for 360 a month ago at Best Buy, it was marked as pre-played, but it was in the factory looking Y-fold.[/QUOTE]
That's how most of the newer pre-owned games BB receives back from the processing center look anymore.
 
[quote name='kodave']I'm in California and whenever I made returns they go to somewhere in Nevada. Perhaps they just have the returns go to the return department of the warehouse closest to you?[/QUOTE]

Really? I had no idea since a few years ago, I thought it was settled that all returns went to the Lexington, KY warehouse.

There's a warehouse in Indiana, which is much closer to northern IL than it is to Lexington, KY. Could be that only some of their warehouses can process returns then.
 
I received Dance Central from an eBay seller and while the game has y-folds there is no microsoft seal sticker.

Is that out of the ordinary?
 
[quote name='Vinny']Really? I had no idea since a few years ago, I thought it was settled that all returns went to the Lexington, KY warehouse.

There's a warehouse in Indiana, which is much closer to northern IL than it is to Lexington, KY. Could be that only some of their warehouses can process returns then.[/QUOTE]

yea, all my returns go to las vegas as well. But then again, everything I purchase from Amazon Warehouse deals comes from Lexington, so maybe thats just the main hub.

Anyways Ive thought about this quite often, I remember buying 3 fifa street during the $20 sale, and when they arrived 2 were y-folded and one was shrinkwrapped, first thought that came to mind was, that it had to be resealed.
 
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