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

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handsomepete

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------- FAQ BELOW - LEAVE ME ALONE PLEASE -------

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.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Trade-In(s) of the Day
-= Can be found HERE =-
----------------------------------------------------------------------

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
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
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 12/10/09)

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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i get my first rejection in several trades...for a missing disc. at first, I was sure I triple checked all the games to make sure they were complete, but sure enough the disc was in my wii.
 
[quote name='suko_32']I sent in two cart only Final Fantasy II (SNES) and one Mario All-Stars (SNES) and both were accepted.[/QUOTE]

Was the trade-in on those a lot higher awhile back? Man, I'd totally buy those for more than amazon is giving now.
 
Just got my Xbox Elite 120gb system returned for "damage" after I locked in for $185.75. I chatted with Amazon, and to my great surprise, they gave me a "promotional certificate" without hassling me at all.

Now I wonder what will happen to my system? Is it going to be shipped back to me?
 
[quote name='chuckywang']Just got my Xbox Elite 120gb system returned for "damage" after I locked in for $185.75. I chatted with Amazon, and to my great surprise, they gave me a "promotional certificate" without hassling me at all.

Now I wonder what will happen to my system? Is it going to be shipped back to me?[/QUOTE]

Yep, it'll come back. Enjoy.
 
[quote name='chuckywang']Now I wonder what will happen to my system? Is it going to be shipped back to me?[/QUOTE]

This is how it is supposed to work. If you hit the "Track your package" link it will have the return tracking number under your original under Return Shipments
 
[quote name='evanwink']Was the trade-in on those a lot higher awhile back? Man, I'd totally buy those for more than amazon is giving now.[/QUOTE]

Around the same. I just have no clue if they actually work or not so I didn't want to put them on ebay.
 
[quote name='chuckywang']Just got my Xbox Elite 120gb system returned for "damage" after I locked in for $185.75. I chatted with Amazon, and to my great surprise, they gave me a "promotional certificate" without hassling me at all.

Now I wonder what will happen to my system? Is it going to be shipped back to me?[/QUOTE]

Did you email or call? I've had damaged items and run into all kinds of different responses, sometimes a promo certificate, sometimes nothing.
 
[quote name='phantomfriar2002']Did you email or call? I've had damaged items and run into all kinds of different responses, sometimes a promo certificate, sometimes nothing.[/QUOTE]

Neither, I just used their chat system.
 
[quote name='chuckywang']Neither, I just used their chat system.[/QUOTE]

I tried that too. And they just issued you the full credit when you said it was in good shape?

Good deal :)
 
[quote name='chuckywang']Just got my Xbox Elite 120gb system returned for "damage" after I locked in for $185.75. I chatted with Amazon, and to my great surprise, they gave me a "promotional certificate" without hassling me at all.

Now I wonder what will happen to my system? Is it going to be shipped back to me?[/QUOTE]

Well, damn, I should have sent mine in after all ;).
 
[quote name='phantomfriar2002']I tried that too. And they just issued you the full credit when you said it was in good shape?

Good deal :)[/QUOTE]

Yeah, pretty much. I was prepared to argue as I took pics of the system before I shipped. Trust me, it was 100% complete down to every last manual and even working AA batteries for the controller. But they never asked and just said they'd credit me the full amount. Very good deal!
 
Well. My copy of NBA Jam was rejected because of a "cracked disc". Then while it was supposed to be delivered I got this status update:

05/02/2011 9:01 P.M. Damage reported. / Damage claim under investigation.

05/02/2011 8:57 P.M. Merchandise is missing. UPS will notify the sender with additional details. / All merchandise missing, empty carton was discarded. UPS will notify the sender with details of the damage.

05/02/2011 4:03 P.M. The receiver did not want the order and refused this delivery.

Hopefully they pay me for the damage?
 
All my games were accepted with no problem, even after some of the values went down by a lot. Very Happy.

[quote name='fortunado']Is it just me or did that Google Chrome Trade-In history plugin stop working?[/QUOTE]

Yep, it stopped working for me too for some reason.
 
[quote name='fortunado']Is it just me or did that Google Chrome Trade-In history plugin stop working?[/QUOTE]


No it wasn't just you. I apparently broke the chrome plug-in functionality and forgot to check it. It should be fixed now, but I'll probably be pushing out an update in the next couple of days to address the change I wanted to make.

Not sure what the best way to go about this, as it feels kind of spammy but feel free to pm me in the future if something goes wrong.
 
Im locking in
iconxbox360.gif
Borderlands GOTY for $25.

Bought for $20 and finished it.:bouncy:

Also waiting to get my $24 credit from my Oblivion trade in...
 
[quote name='rey6eric']Im locking in
iconxbox360.gif
Borderlands GOTY for $25.

Bought for $20 and finished it.:bouncy:

Also waiting to get my $24 credit from my Oblivion trade in...[/QUOTE]

I know this is kinda spamey, but i recommend trading in to bestbuy, they're offering the same thing and you can just get an amazon giftcard instantly no waiting. :D
 
2 packages delivered yesterday, 1 today. The smaller box got processed from Monday got processed today - awesome. The larger box with 9 items hasn't yet :( the final box with 4 items hopefully will credit tomorrow. So far So good.
 
Before sending in a game will I need to take all the stickers(like from gamestop)off packaging or does it not matter? *kicks himself because he had another question or two he can no longer recall*

Edit - Borderlands for the PS3 is no longer $25. Its listed for way less.
 
Thinking about trading in my 20gb ps3 for $200, then rebuying a new ps3 for $300 with the $50 promotional credit.

I am having a hard time trying to find out what all I need to include for them to accept it. Also there are some scuff marks on the top, but not sure if that will be a problem or not. I also upgraded my hd to 120gb, but that shouldnt cause them not to accept it, right?
 
[quote name='rey6eric']Im locking in
iconxbox360.gif
Borderlands GOTY for $25.

Bought for $20 and finished it.:bouncy:
[/QUOTE]

Thanks for this, already beat Borderlands after picking it up @ Gamestop and was waiting for the trade-in to rebound to $20, so $25 will do well. Had two more boxes delivered today, both without issues (one movies, one games).
 
[quote name='rey6eric']Also waiting to get my $24 credit from my Oblivion trade in...[/QUOTE]

Damn, that's a great trade-in value for Oblivion. If I recall correctly, the highest it went was $18.xx. Man, I need to check the tracker more often. BTW, thanks for that BlueLobstah :D
 
damn that was fast sent out portal 2(ps3) and ssfiv(360) on april 25th they received the package on monday and yesterday i got credited
im in california btw
 
[quote name='cheapfrag']Where does the credit show up when credited?[/QUOTE]
If you login to your account there's a place where you can view your gift card balance, it'll be in there.
 
Got credit for 10 movies I sent in. They received it Monday and I got credit it for it sometime in the AM today. I know for a fact one, maybe two, of the movies didn't have a UPC. It was the real movie just was blank where the UPC should have been (not a DO NOT RESALE or anything like that copy.) I guess they rather accept them all then send one back.
 
Can someone help me out i'm trying to trade in a ice blue ds lite but i don't see it on amazon i only see the brain age bundle, will they not accept them unless i have the whole bundle?
 
I love Amazon. I decided to upgrade my 20GB launch that had been replaced 2 times with the RROD to a 4GB slim.

Ordered the 4GB slim, unit shipped but there was no update on the tracking a couple of days past my prime shipping. Notified customer service, got a $20.00 promo credit and one overnighted to me since it was late. So with the $50.00 promo credit, the unit is essentially down to $130.00 for me.

I then find out that they're now including a 1600 point card, so I email customer service and they tell me to go ahead purchase one, email them back with the order number and they'll refund me the difference. So with that, down to $110.00 (since I was going to buy some points anyways).

Locked in the trade in on the refurbished 20GB at $102.50. Shipped everything late last week, and get an email yesterday that it's been rejected and my system has been shipped back because of "missing accessory". So I emailed customer service, told them that I don't understand why it would be rejected and they essentially email me back with a generic response of why the merchant rejected (missing accessory which I already knew). So I email them back telling them that this still isn't clear to me, explain to them everything that was shipped (it was all in mint) and that the response isn't good enough and that they need to make this right since the trade-in value fell to $71.00. I also told them that it's misleading that a 2nd controller is required when it's not really clear on if that is required or not (especially when the system didn't come with one in the first place). So they email me back telling me that they've given me a promotional credit for $102.50 (and my console is being shipped back to me).

Honestly, Amazon has the best customer service on the planet. Sometimes it takes some emails, some live chats, whatever.... but I'll give them my business forever.
 
Sorry if this has been asked somewhere in this thread but it's not in the FAQ: Will Amazon accept GBA games with no box? What about no manual, just the cart?
 
[quote name='faceless007']Sorry if this has been asked somewhere in this thread but it's not in the FAQ: Will Amazon accept GBA games with no box? What about no manual, just the cart?[/QUOTE]

Typed this up just for you ;)

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.
 
Ok, I have some more news regarding my recent Xbox Elite 120gb trade in. I got my system back today and it's pretty much the way I sent it away. The reason it was rejected is because the controller did not work. Well that's BS since I'm using the controller now and it worked perfectly when I sent it away. The only thing that doesn't work is the battery case as the metal contacts are now a bit recessed into the case. I think they did something to it as the battery case worked fine when I sent it off.

Has anybody experienced this before, as in getting back items that have been sabotaged?? Of course there's no way for me to prove it was them.
 
Gave an xbox directly to the local UPS driver on Tuesday and so far no tracking has shown up. How much longer should I wait this out, and anyone know whats the best thing I can do?
Am I simply screwed since there's no record of the box even being picked up?
 
[quote name='edson13']Gave an xbox directly to the local UPS driver on Tuesday and so far no tracking has shown up. How much longer should I wait this out, and anyone know whats the best thing I can do?
Am I simply screwed since there's no record of the box even being picked up?[/QUOTE]

I say your screwed but look on the bright side, you made a UPS driver very happy.
 
[quote name='edson13']Gave an xbox directly to the local UPS driver on Tuesday and so far no tracking has shown up. How much longer should I wait this out, and anyone know whats the best thing I can do?
Am I simply screwed since there's no record of the box even being picked up?[/QUOTE]

sometimes it doesn't show up in the system till overnight. don't sweat it. the ups driving didn't steal your xbox.
 
[quote name='rey6eric']I say your screwed but look on the bright side, you made a UPS driver very happy.[/QUOTE]

Pray to God you bought insurance, and go to UPS and complain and if they say they can't do anything threaten to go to the Better Business Bureau, Complain to corporate and threaten to sue. "its just a threat though it holds no weight, and its free :D"
 
[quote name='DudeImGodly'] Complain to corporate and threaten to sue. "its just a threat though it holds no weight, and its free :D"[/QUOTE]

That's ridiculous
 
[quote name='confoosious']i'm voting you for worst addition to cag this month.[/QUOTE]

I quite like his drunken rambling.
 
[quote name='edson13']Gave an xbox directly to the local UPS driver on Tuesday and so far no tracking has shown up. How much longer should I wait this out, and anyone know whats the best thing I can do?
Am I simply screwed since there's no record of the box even being picked up?[/QUOTE]
How far was the closest UPS store or hub from your house/apartment? Luckily for me the closest UPS hub is fairly close, so any time I've shipped something to NorAm I've either gone there or the local UPS store, whichever I knew I'd be closest to.

Did you get some sort of receipt when he picked it up? If not, then you may be screwed.
 
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