Official Amazon Trade-In/FAQ 3.1 - READ 1st POST

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handsomepete

handsomepete

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condition stuff seemingly pulled back by amazon, spoilered until I can reorg
Notice 4/14/11: New shenanigans abound! There is now a condition field for all trades - all trades are set to "Good" and may be determined to be worse than that ("Acceptable") or better ("Like New"). During the trade-in confirmation process you may choose whether to have an item in worse condition returned to you or just processed at the lower value. It does appear that this might mean that NORAM will start taking games/consoles without original packaging / manuals / etc which might be beneficial to some.

We'll see how this works out! To be added to the core FAQ after its newness wears off.

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Amazon.com Trade-in Home Page

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

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 new video game trade-in program. The trade-in deal will be updated whenever one is available, and a list of flippable games will be in the second post. PLEASE READ THE TRADE-IN DEAL DETAILS AND FAQ BEFORE ASKING ANY QUESTIONS.

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Trade-In(s) of the Day
-= Can be found HERE =-
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Amazon.com Trading Info

Amazon.com Video Game Trade-In Store

Trade-In Procedure

1. Select Games: Games must be in good condition and your trade-in shipment valued at $10 or more
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
Click to expand...
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:
NorAm International
22 Hampshire Drive
Hudson, NH 03051
Click to expand...
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.
Click to expand...
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GENERAL FAQ (Updated 12/10/09)

Can I post question on this thread?
Only if you can't find the answer from below. :lol: And please let me know if it needs to be added to FAQ.

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.

Since when did Amazon start doing trades?
The program began in 2009 and is handled by a third party merchant, NorAm International.

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 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?
For UPS Ground
It already provides you with tracking information.

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. The address is:
NorAm International
22 Hampshire Dr
Hudson, NH 03051

(This is also an option when submitting your trades)

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. 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?
Load up any existing order (if you don't have any, check your browser's history), and substitute the transaction ID for the trade-in order you need at the end of the URL.

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?
Usually with no delay, but the longest reported days so far is 4.

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?
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's always better if you trade your non-complete game as an additional credit, not part of the minimum requirement to qualify for the promo.

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 NorAm 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!

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 is the Greatest Hits version, but the one pictured on the site isn’t. Can I still trade it in?
Unless the game in question has two separate versions that trade at different values, sending in a greatest hits version is okay.

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 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 NorAm.

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 months 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.

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/gamestaq/ebay/whatever.

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 (not the trade-in deal coupon) 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). 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 NORAM 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, 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!

trade-in promo related faq spoilered for history. promos no longer offered by amazon
---- TRADE-IN PROMO RELATED FAQ ---

When do I receive my coupon code for the current trade-in deal, if any?
The Terms of Service states 10 days after Amazon has accepted your games and added credit to your account, but it usually takes 2 to 3 days.

Can I do two different trade-in submissions that add up to the requirements of the current trade-in deal, if any?
No. In order to qualify for any of the trade-in promos, they have to all be in one trade-in submission. You can't add another game later on to make the minimum. However, you can adjust the quantity of the submitted game to make the minimum.

I submitted my trade-in order online, how do I know if I qualified for the current trade-in deal, if any? Is there a confirmation page or e-mail?
No. They will automatically send you a coupon code once they have accepted your shipment of games and credited your account.

Is the trade-in deal coupon in addition to the credit I will receive for my games?
Yes.

Can I trade in DVDs to take advantage of the current trade-in deal?
You may trade in DVDs to add credit to your Amazon account, but they will not be added to the amount you need to qualify for the deal.

Can I take advantage of the current trade-in (if available) promo more than once?
These deals are “One per household” unless stated otherwise. However, you may use a different Amazon account. The credit for your games will be tied to the specific account used for the trade, but the coupon codes for the deals are not.
*However, some people has confirmed that they get multiple coupon by using 1 Amazon account after doing multiple submission.
NOTE: IF YOU SEND MORE THAN 1 SUBMISSION, THE MULTIPLE COUPONS MIGHT COME IN 1 EMAIL, THE CODE IS SEPARATED BY A COMMA.

If the coupon codes aren’t tied to my account, can I use more than one coupon on my next purchase?
No. Unless stated otherwise in the promo details, these coupons cannot be combined with other offers or promotions.

So if they reject one of my games, am I disqualified from the current trade-in deal, if any?
Unfortunately yes. The best suggestion for trading in games is to trade in $10-$20 more than the minimum for the deal. By doing so, you will still qualify for the promo even if one or two games get rejected.

Can I use the trade-in deal coupon on preorders?
Yes.

What happen to the Coupon code if I cancel the preorder?
The coupon code will stay with your account. It will be applied automatically at check-out as long as the coupon is not expired.

Can I use the trade-in deal coupon when shopping from other merchants on Amazon?
No. ONLY ITEMS SOLD BY AMAZON.COM QUALIFY FOR PURCHASE WITH THE TRADE-IN COUPON. Even Amazon's other sites (Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.jp, etc.) do not participate in these trade-in deals.

Trade-in coupon Usage:
Previous promo coupons and their expiration dates (NO ACTIVE PROMOS CURRENTLY):

1st Promo - $ 50 / $75 Coupon (coupon exp: 8/31) - Game Console Only
2nd Promo - 50 % Coupon (coupon exp: 8/31) - Game and Accessories
3rd Promo - $ 30 Coupon (coupon exp: 12/31) - Game Console, Game and Accessories
4th Promo - $ 30 Coupon (coupon exp: 12/31) - Game Console Only
 
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[quote name='bgame2']I take a little bit of offense to this. I am by no means a newbie when it comes to trading in or flipping. I actually purchased a 46" TV from amazon last xmas entirely purchased with flipping trade in credit. Perhaps some people are to blame for the "damaged" rejections and perhaps some of the packages are damaged in transit. Having said that, my only rejections over the course of more than a year have come in connection with TIV drops.[/QUOTE]

Mine too...they're fuckers that way.
 
The FAQ states that sending a trade-in late is YMMV on Amazon accepting them or not. Can anyone expand on this? Has Amazon started cracking down lately on late trades, even if just 1 day or so? Just how YMMV is this?
 
[quote name='chuckywang']The FAQ states that sending a trade-in late is YMMV on Amazon accepting them or not. Can anyone expand on this? Has Amazon started cracking down lately on late trades, even if just 1 day or so? Just how YMMV is this?[/QUOTE]

The short version is that Amazon's FAQ states that trades must be sent within 7 days to be accepted. Quite a few people send stuff in late all the time so it's generally fine (I virtually never send something before 10 days), just be aware that it's not Amazon's policy and they could decide to reject you for being late if they felt like it.
 
[quote name='Japakneez']Request every CAG'r that believes they are a victim of Fraud to have Name AND Evidence ready showing that they are a victim of this TIV "Fraud". Alert Amazon and the Internet Crime Complaint Center of this thread and the intention to file complaint.
[/QUOTE]

Ahahahahaha :rofl:

You guys kill me. People, seriously. Do any of you really think that the clerk who opens your games gives one single second of thought as to whether the trade-in value has dropped recently?

It would be one thing if NORAM change a game's price in the computer and when it was scanned by the receiving clerk, a big red X popped up saying "refuse this trade, this gentleman has his TIV locked in way too high. Also, step on the case before returning it to him. Muhahaha!"

It couldn't possibly be that the disk really is scratched, or it was damaged during shipping because you packed it in an unprotected envelope, or any one of a hundred other myriad factors, could it? Nope, all NORAM's fault.

Seriously, though. Reading comments about people locking in a ridiculously high trade value on some obscure game that hardly anyone's heard of, then racing out to try to buy a copy just to resell...

...and then complaining when it doesn't work. I think if some of you actually had jobs/families/something else to do, you'd consider the opportunity cost and wouldn't spend 'hours' on the phone arguing over a $10 credit that you really don't deserve, or bitching because a $30 trade was returned and now you can only get $25 when trying again to trade in your third copy of MLB 2025; The Reckoning.

Yeah, report it as a crime. This fraud can-nay, MUST not go unpunished.
 
You guys kill me. People, seriously. Do any of you really think that the clerk who opens your games gives one single second of thought as to whether the trade-in value has dropped recently?
Click to expand...

I've done a lot of trades with Noram -- a LOT -- over the last year, having liquidated hundreds of low-cost DVDs in my collection plus games. There have been a couple of quirks that happened here and there (but they were really quite rare), but the last thing I'd ever accuse Noram of is that the clerk doing the trade in sits there looks at the TIV and rejects an item because it dropped in value. That's never once been an issue for me and I'm going to guess I've probably traded in thousands of dollars of trade-ins in 2010.

The issues I've had have been the rare (and I do mean rare) instance where they don't credit you for a few items. Those items are never lost, never recovered -- it's probably happened literally twice out of 30+ packages I've sent, but in each instance, it wasn't the highest-priced TIVs that were lost. I think someone simply made an error there. (And in the two occasions it happened, Amazon credited me back all of the missing titles).

Overall I think they do an excellent job, and being able to have them pick up the freight for items is a real nice bonus compared to what a lot of other outlets offer (plus the lack of hassle).

Quite obviously they make errors here and there, but I simply do not believe, at least from my own experience, they're trying to screw you over on major TIVs. Never happened to me once and I'm going to guess I've traded in as much as anyone here.
 
i think its just a case of the negative experiences being posted more often then positive ones. if everything goes alright, it doesnt really seem necessary to always post "trade in was ok!" in the thread, so it doesn't get reported. on the other hand if their is a negative experience then it feels much more important to share it so others aren't affected too. im sure for every bad experience posted, theres 3-4 good ones that dont get reported by CAGs.

the only thing really worries me is how often it seems that when people report something was rejected because it was damaged, they end up getting back a completely destroyed game. maybe i just think everyone packs their boxes like i do and have it be really secure, but i just don't see how a game can end up cracked in half going through shipping so often.

atleast amazon customer services motto of "throw money at the problem" fixes things for most people.
 
Had the final 2 MLB2K10s accepted this morning, so all 3 accepted for $60 credit total. You guys had me worried with all your horror stories.
 
[quote name='bkerlee']
Seriously, though. Reading comments about people locking in a ridiculously high trade value on some obscure game that hardly anyone's heard of, then racing out to try to buy a copy just to resell...[/QUOTE]

oh come on, these are just fun and, outside of that one guy looking for the last copy of Dream Dance and Cheer (or whatever), it's not hurting anybody. for me those are like target clearance - the hunt is half the fun. if noram takes it more power to em; if not no big deal. a couple times I've gotten lucky and they've accepted - it's just more delicious credit to buy diapers and other stuffs with.
 
[quote name='Japakneez']Request every CAG'r that believes they are a victim of Fraud to have Name AND Evidence ready showing that they are a victim of this TIV "Fraud". Alert Amazon and the Internet Crime Complaint Center of this thread and the intention to file complaint.

http://www.ic3.gov/complaint/default.aspx[/QUOTE]

What fraud?!?! They're declining your offer to sell them your merchandise. They're not depriving you of anything, you get your merchandise back. You're not getting anywhere with this complaint and frankly you just look a little foolish with this post.
 
^ true, but some are questioning whether or not they (nor-am) are intentionally damaging disks in order to not accept them. In those cases they are depriving the potential seller.
 
[quote name='RedvsBlue']What fraud?!?! They're declining your offer to sell them your merchandise. They're not depriving you of anything, you get your merchandise back. You're not getting anywhere with this complaint and frankly you just look a little foolish with this post.[/QUOTE]


Two things.

First Japaknees has very vocally taken the position that Noram is not doing anything wrong. The above quoted line was almost a challenge to those of us who think that there is something shady going on.

Second the fraud part is a little tricky legally speaking (and yes I am able to speak to that). It would come down to a question of whether you should have received the trade in credit. That is, if you packaged the item, sent it in and went without the game for a number of days should you have received the credit and can you be made whole simply by having your game shipped back to you a number of days later.
 
[quote name='irishsoccermbw']^ true, but some are questioning whether or not they (nor-am) are intentionally damaging disks in order to not accept them. In those cases they are depriving the potential seller.[/QUOTE]

That's not fraud then, it's conversion.

[quote name='bgame2']Two things.

First Japaknees has very vocally taken the position that Noram is not doing anything wrong. The above quoted line was almost a challenge to those of us who think that there is something shady going on.[/QUOTE]
Ah, I see. I didn't take the time to go through the whole thread and only glanced at the last couple pages.

[quote name='bgame2']
Second the fraud part is a little tricky legally speaking (and yes I am able to speak to that). It would come down to a question of whether you should have received the trade in credit. That is, if you packaged the item, sent it in and went without the game for a number of days should you have received the credit and can you be made whole simply by having your game shipped back to you a number of days later.[/QUOTE]

If you're speaking from a law perspective it still wouldn't be fraud then, like I said above it would be conversion at best possibly trespass to chattels if you want to examine from a tort perspective. If you want to look at it from a contracts perspective (much more likely actually) then like I said you're making NorAm an offer by sending in your products, if they accept it you get your credit, if they reject it they send it back.
 
[quote name='bgame2']Two things.

First Japaknees has very vocally taken the position that Noram is not doing anything wrong. The above quoted line was almost a challenge to those of us who think that there is something shady going on.

Second the fraud part is a little tricky legally speaking (and yes I am able to speak to that). It would come down to a question of whether you should have received the trade in credit. That is, if you packaged the item, sent it in and went without the game for a number of days should you have received the credit and can you be made whole simply by having your game shipped back to you a number of days later.[/QUOTE]

If Japaknees really posted that just to challenge those who think something shady is going on, then I have to say bravo, good sir.

The fraud claims are worthless. Full stop. There's no doubt that you are 'being made whole' if they return your game...it's not like the month you don't have the game costs you anything.

I'd love to meet the attorney who would take any case from anyone complaining on the board about NORAM.
 
[quote name='bkerlee']If Japaknees really posted that just to challenge those who think something shady is going on, then I have to say bravo, good sir.

The fraud claims are worthless. Full stop. There's no doubt that you are 'being made whole' if they return your game...it's not like the month you don't have the game costs you anything.

I'd love to meet the attorney who would take any case from anyone complaining on the board about NORAM.[/QUOTE]


Consider yourself to have met him. I'm a practicing litigator and have been for a number of years. While I respect your opinion, it's just that. The law and layman's opinion are not one and the same. It's a question of law, not opinion. The law will consider (among other things) that you could have enjoyed uninterrupted use of the game, and while that is a financial uncertainty, it does have some "cost" and some value.

It's this type of thing that often prompts people to say that a legal outcome "just isn't right." They base their opinion on what they consider to be right which is insulated from what the law considers.


EDIT: Before io kills all of us for debating this ad nauseum, I say we all just agree to disagree. Posts about whether trades are being rejected and why are relevant, but issues of law really aren't so I'm just going to drop it. Again, I respect others' opinions but I certainly see things from differently than others.
 
fun fact: if you have an item returned to you for any reason, it does not appear to count towards the 3 max trade in quantity once marked returned. at that point you can submit another copy.
 
[quote name='y2jasper']the only thing really worries me is how often it seems that when people report something was rejected because it was damaged, they end up getting back a completely destroyed game. maybe i just think everyone packs their boxes like i do and have it be really secure, but i just don't see how a game can end up cracked in half going through shipping so often.[/QUOTE]

Well obviously everyone is just going to be able to go off their own experiences negative or positive but in my case my "missing artwork" rejection (which even now isn't missing any artwork and was initially sent in brand new) which came back instead with my game case in 2 pieces was packed as securely as it could normally be. I sent it back along with another game in the same box Amazon sent it to me in. The only way I can imagine it breaking the way it is is if someone stepped on it with a good amount of force, or purposely broke it. I'm a 100% positive top rated power seller on ebay and Ive probably shipped out 250 orders for games in the past. Never an issue.

Anyway I was (initially) screwed on 2 out of a total of 7 trade ins. Normally I'd never do business with them again but I now know Amazon will fix their fuck ups so I'm not really worried about it and will continue to send things in. If the problem is widespread enough Amazon will deal with them, if not things will go on as they are.

Just please please please do not send in more than a single trade-in in a single box. Also if something does go wrong be prepared to have some time wasted talking with Amazon CS to get your money back. Amazon is a 5 star company working with about a 1 star company. I only give Noram that because their TIVs are normally a fair amount.
 
[quote name='bgame2']Consider yourself to have met him. I'm a practicing litigator and have been for a number of years. While I respect your opinion, it's just that. The law and layman's opinion are not one and the same. It's a question of law, not opinion. The law will consider (among other things) that you could have enjoyed uninterrupted use of the game, and while that is a financial uncertainty, it does have some "cost" and some value.

It's this type of thing that often prompts people to say that a legal outcome "just isn't right." They base their opinion on what they consider to be right which is insulated from what the law considers.


EDIT: Before io kills all of us for debating this ad nauseum, I say we all just agree to disagree. Posts about whether trades are being rejected and why are relevant, but issues of law really aren't so I'm just going to drop it. Again, I respect others' opinions but I certainly see things from differently than others.[/QUOTE]

I agree. Also, don't assume you're talking to a layman. We all know what happens when we assume...
 
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I'd just like to add my anecdotal $0.02. Noram just accepted my shipment of 13 games, all of which (every one!) had had TiV drops since submitting them. Many of them had fine scratches on the underside of the disc or rumpled manuals, etc. I was given full credit without any hassles.

That said, I will continue to use Noram as I have now traded in several hundred dollars worth of items without a single cancellation or hiccup. (I did have one game sent back to me as it had the wrong UPC - my bad - this was returned in less than 1 week and I was impressed by the service considering that they paid shipping both ways for my mistake!) Furthermore, TiVs are consistently higher than competitors. Finally, Amazon credit is as good as $$ to me as all of this years Christmas gifts were purchased with said credit.

Thank you NORAM for providing me with the luxury of turning less money into more for very little effort.
 
Huh...I just had my first rejected item, Bioshock 2 for the 360.

It'll be interesting to see how it comes back...it was listed as `Damaged- cracked'. The TIV had dropped about in half, from $12.75 to $6.25 since I had sent it in, so maybe that was the problem. If the disc comes back cracked in half I'm going to be pretty pissed, since I know that it was in great condition when I packaged it up and sent it.
 
[quote name='handsomepete']fun fact: if you have an item returned to you for any reason, it does not appear to count towards the 3 max trade in quantity once marked returned. at that point you can submit another copy.[/QUOTE]

Ok, but if the trade-in value has dropped significantly, what would be the point unless Amazon made you whole already? I'm sorry, but the people standing up and defending a company that could care less about its customers (Noram) is frankly laughable.

Despite claims to the contrary, Noram is not run by robots blindly scanning bar codes and issuing credits. The employees very likely have access to an automated inventory system which flags games that have erroneous TIVs or values that have dropped significantly since they were locked in. If there really isn't a trade-in-value triggered conspiracy here, then why is it that nobody has ever received an e-mail from Noram saying that the trade was rejected for reasons other than "incorrect item" or "damaged"? Don't you think it's suspicious that people are consistently getting stuff returned as "incorrect item" when the TIV drops significantly and it's often the same games or items among multiple people submitting?

While I would agree that legal recourse seems limited (although if enough people had issues, I suspect you could form a pretty good class action for fraud and unfair business practices and your damages would be calculated as the TIV at the time at another retailer which you lost out on in the weeks it takes them to send your trades back), I would encorage anyone having problems to contact Amazon. They will make it good and if enough complaints come in, I suspect they will re-examine their relationship with Noram.
 
[quote name='theking20']lol holy fuck at the trade in values for games, i suggest no one lock anything in for a bit.

D: $10 for black ops and $9 for epic mickey lol[/QUOTE]
I'm showing $30.50 (which has been fluctuating between $30 and $32 over the past day or so) for :360: Black Ops. Also showing $15 for :360: Arkham Asylum GOTY, which is up almost $4 since Monday.
 
[quote name='ShockandAww']Well obviously everyone is just going to be able to go off their own experiences negative or positive but in my case my "missing artwork" rejection (which even now isn't missing any artwork and was initially sent in brand new) which came back instead with my game case in 2 pieces was packed as securely as it could normally be. I sent it back along with another game in the same box Amazon sent it to me in. The only way I can imagine it breaking the way it is is if someone stepped on it with a good amount of force, or purposely broke it. I'm a 100% positive top rated power seller on ebay and Ive probably shipped out 250 orders for games in the past. Never an issue.
[/QUOTE]

^^^ This... I've mailed many, many games in simple padded bubble mailers over the years as both eBay sales and CAG trades and only one time did someone tell me so much as a case was cracked (and it was just that - the case, not the game disc). I know I send in all my Amazon trades in boxes (usually ones from Amazon of course ;)) and I am getting back a "damaged" one here shortly - can't wait to see what happened to it. 4 other games in the same shipment were accepted. That is even less likely (that one got damaged in transit but not the others).

So, we'll see. Just because nothing ever happened with your trades doesn't mean NorAm isn't a little shady and/or incompetant on occasion. And it doesn't necessarily have anything to do with the quality of your packaging (though probably some of the damage claims have been legitimate because of that).

The only other possibility is that UPS is much more highly abusive to packages than the USPS (where most of my other stuff goes).

Now, to report a positive experience, I just had 5 guides accepted today so that was nice. I chose the USPS media mail option on that (which, sadly, is not available for games any more like it used to be just over a year ago). Transit time (cross country) via USPS media mail was 3 days less than UPS Ground. I mailed these on on the 23rd and got credited today (the 29th). As a direct comparison, I was also credited for a small game trade today - but I has sent that via UPS on the 20th.
 
Did they actually have cracks?

While we're on the topic of secondspin, I sent them some games and delivery confirmation showed they arrived on the 27th. About how long should it take before I hear from them?
 
[quote name='dinovelvet']Did they actually have cracks?

While we're on the topic of secondspin, I sent them some games and delivery confirmation showed they arrived on the 27th. About how long should it take before I hear from them?[/QUOTE]
Probably within the next couple days. You'll hopefully get an email that your games were received and the amount you were credited.
 
Amazon just rejected my Black Ops Xbox which I locked for $43.25. I got this copy from gamestop and had played it for a month without a single problem. But the reason for rejecting is damaged item. I have sent more than 50 games this year and this is my first rejection. Some of them have way more scratches than my black ops.
 
[quote name='foreinter']Amazon just rejected my Black Ops Xbox which I locked for $43.25. I got this copy from gamestop and had played it for a month without a single problem. But the reason for rejecting is damaged item. I have sent more than 50 games this year and this is my first rejection. Some of them have way more scratches than my black ops.[/QUOTE]
Well NORAM rejected it not Amazon, but yeah hopefully your game comes back in the same shape you sent it.
 
My Lords of Shadow got rejected as Incorrect Item, I wonder if it's because it was Best Buy exclusive with the SotN code inside. I don't remember it saying anything on the box, though.
 
[quote name='radioactivez0r']My Lords of Shadow got rejected as Incorrect Item, I wonder if it's because it was Best Buy exclusive with the SotN code inside. I don't remember it saying anything on the box, though.[/QUOTE]

I believe there is a UPC sticker on top of the original UPC that you need to remove. Bestbuy has this due to the free Symphony of the Night DLC exclusive.

A few games are like this now. Enslaved is another example where certain stores received exclusive costumes. If you have other store exclusive games, just type the UPC into an amazon search and see if the game you want to trade-in shows up. If it does not, then you will get rejected.
 
do you think ups will care if i send an order out on a box with fedex printed on it? i kinda assume they wont, since its just a box, but i figured id ask
 
When trading in a controller, do you need to have the original packaging (PS3 controller)? I know that it states in the OP that you need original cover art and manual, but that is for games.
 
Well, looks like my run of good luck with Noram is over. Just got an email about my most recent trade; of the nine games sent, two copies of Dante's Inferno PS3 are somehow "Returned - Damaged Item" yet the third copy was ok. Thinking about calling Amazon on this (better to call or email?) but might wait until I actually get the games back and see what the "damage" is.
 
Hi, just found this thread after my first experience with an Amazon trade-in, for GTA IV. I got a status of "Incomplete" today. When I researched the "terms," it looks like it says they can actually keep the stuff if they decide it's incomplete! But, it sounds like in reality, they ship it back (but maybe broken, from what half of you report.)

I can't think of what was wrong with my PS3 GTA IV. Well, I wasn't sure about selling it anyway -- was kind-of attached to it, you know -- so I guess as long as they send it back I'll be OK. But, the status was kind-of alarming. Don't think I missed anything, had the case & manual. (when you buy used stuff from GS don't expect to get either of those! When I sold an old DS to Gamestop, I had the original box and everything, they asked if I wanted to keep it, I said no (figuring it would make my trade-in 'better', and the guy tossed my original box & manual in the trash!))

So it really makes me wonder if these guys are really strict about trade-ins, or, as some have suggested, if they are trying to bail out of deals when the TIV drops due to other factors....
 
[quote name='pmarin']Hi, just found this thread after my first experience with an Amazon trade-in, for GTA IV. I got a status of "Incomplete" today. When I researched the "terms," it looks like it says they can actually keep the stuff if they decide it's incomplete! But, it sounds like in reality, they ship it back (but maybe broken, from what half of you report.)

I can't think of what was wrong with my PS3 GTA IV. Well, I wasn't sure about selling it anyway -- was kind-of attached to it, you know -- so I guess as long as they send it back I'll be OK. But, the status was kind-of alarming. Don't think I missed anything, had the case & manual. (when you buy used stuff from GS don't expect to get either of those! When I sold an old DS to Gamestop, I had the original box and everything, they asked if I wanted to keep it, I said no (figuring it would make my trade-in 'better', and the guy tossed my original box & manual in the trash!))

So it really makes me wonder if these guys are really strict about trade-ins, or, as some have suggested, if they are trying to bail out of deals when the TIV drops due to other factors....[/QUOTE]

If there are any other non-DLC paper type items that normally come with a game they'll often refuse if you're missing that - maps, secondary instruction sheets, etc. If there's nothing like that missing then you're probably just a victim of the recent rash of random rejections. That's a lotta Rs!
 
[quote name='bgame2']my only rejections over the course of more than a year have come in connection with TIV drops.[/QUOTE]


Yeah, and a lot of car accidents involve driving!

[quote name='Toss']Mine too...they're fuckers that way.[/QUOTE]


TIV values are always dropping on every game.

Think about what kind of effort it would take to flag your order and communicate it to the person opening your package and passing or failing the discs. It would be such a waste of resources that they would be better off getting screwed on the odd game than paying people to micromanage these trade ins in the way you guys are imagining.
 
just got my damaged black ops returned today -box and art work came back a little more beaten up than i sent it in-but nothings missing and game isn't' cracked or scratched.

Had a damage sticker on the front cover--and a big ass sticker covering the upc-with a make shift label that had some sort of upc on it and nothing else.

game couldn't have been the wrong item though -as i bought the game from Amazon and the reason they were returning it was not due to incorrect item but due to it supposedly being damaged---

i'll state again disc came back perfect-hell even the box wasn't cracked or broken.
 
[quote name='cthomer5000']
TIV values are always dropping on every game.

[/QUOTE]

not true--ive seen games drop and rise again plenty of times--even canceled some trade ins-to re do them and get the higher trade in value.

this is only true in the long run of a games time span ---as every game eventually drops.
 
got my copies of Donkey kong country returns and left 4 dead 2 accepted today, $55.25 amazon credit :D

now i need to get $15 to get dead space 2 limited edition, lol that gun temps me
 
Can I still ship Amazon a non-greatest hit version of a game() eventhough they have the greatest-hit version shown on their site??
btw, The UPC matches.
 
[quote name='k1ngster']Can I still ship Amazon a non-greatest hit version of a game() eventhough they have the greatest-hit version shown on their site??
btw, The UPC matches.[/QUOTE]

If the UPC matches you should be fine.
 
Just sent in my two copies of AC:B for the 360. It's one day late (I was supposed to send them in yesterday) but I'm sure everything will be delayed because of the holiday anyway, so hopefully it will work out.
 
All 3 of my trades :)360: AVP, L4D2, Oblivion GOTY) were just received and approved, smooth transaction as usual despite the weather delay in Massachusetts.
 
Delivered yesterday. Credited today. Awesome as usual. No problems or anything even thought UPS officially shipped it out one day late and the TiV dropped.
 
[quote name='Kamera']Just sent in my two copies of AC:B for the 360. It's one day late (I was supposed to send them in yesterday) but I'm sure everything will be delayed because of the holiday anyway, so hopefully it will work out.[/QUOTE]

It'll be interesting to see how the $36 trade ins play out. The regular price on Amazon is $34.99 new this week. GameStop was fast, I got mine in 2 days with SAVER code Priority Mail. Swapped out the cases with brand new ones so hopefully there's no room for NorAm to find an excuse to reject them.

AC Brotherhood is an awesome game, I can see why the reviews are so good.
 
[quote name='XF Gator']It'll be interesting to see how the $36 trade ins play out. The regular price on Amazon is $34.99 new this week. GameStop was fast, I got mine in 2 days with SAVER code Priority Mail. Swapped out the cases with brand new ones so hopefully there's no room for NorAm to find an excuse to reject them.

AC Brotherhood is an awesome game, I can see why the reviews are so good.[/QUOTE]

Yeah, I'm a little concerned about that, but the games were in pretty good condition (usual scuffs, but nothing extreme) as were the cases. I paid for USA Ground shipping and they still took a week, though, so I dropped them off at the UPS store the morning after I was officially supposed to (yesterday) and the tracking info hasn't been updated. But I packed them ridiculously well and took a ton of photos, so I fully plan to fight it if they try to tell me that they're damaged.
 
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