-
Hey Guest. Check out your NeoGAF Wrapped 2025 results here!
Factory sealed - is it important to you?
- Thread starter Chrono
- Start date
flarkminator
Member
I hate it when I buy a used game and it smells like Cigirette's, has scratches on it, or in general been poorly treated. Seriously I think some people shove them games up an elephants ass when they are done with them.
Diseased Yak
Gold Member
I've had good luck with used copies, and bad luck. Wierd smells and insane amounts of scratches are just a few things you risk. One recommendation is the used stuff from Gamefly, usually the copies are great and for sure the packaging is, since it never leaves the warehouse until someone buys it used.
These days I usually just try and get shrinkwrapped...
Nate
These days I usually just try and get shrinkwrapped...
Nate
Quality is very important to me. It doesn't have to be factory sealed because a lot of retailers and gamers know how to look after their stuff. So if I buy from some shops (or from some other gamers) then I know the discs will be in good condition.
But I hate buying stuff from places like Game. Those guys suck...I have no idea what they do to their discs but ffs they're in terrible condition
But I hate buying stuff from places like Game. Those guys suck...I have no idea what they do to their discs but ffs they're in terrible condition
YES it does matter and i do care. And dont try and pawn off a gutted game to me cause it wont work. I hate being jipped cause they have to open the games. They dont, just look at the cardboard cases they have for PSP games, or do what blockbuster does for rental movies. Put some type of card up there not the game case.
FUCK YOU EB/Gamestop/Gamecrazy games are not new when they are open after being factory sealed.
Oh and hey game companies could you start putting three stickers on the game cases just to make this change happen?
FUCK YOU EB/Gamestop/Gamecrazy games are not new when they are open after being factory sealed.
Oh and hey game companies could you start putting three stickers on the game cases just to make this change happen?
MomoPufflet
Member
I never buy used games because they are always poorly kept pieces of shit and no one takes proper care of their games. I prefer games that don't look like they've been rubbed with a brillo pad. Whenever I trade in my used games the clerk always tells me that they're the cleanest discs he's ever seen-- apparently I AM the only person that cares about their stuff.
jaundicejuice
Member
Yeah, I prefer to buy new games because of what other people do to their games. With factory sealed games I don't get broken cases with stained, torn or missing manuals, and discs that look like they've been run over a belt sander or dipped in some mild acid.
I'm not adverse to buying games used at all, it's just got to have the case, the manual, the disc in mint condition anda good price for me to buy it. Usually used games are only 5-10$ cheaper than new factory sealed copies, I'd rather pay that difference to get a copy I know is in perfect condition.
I'm not adverse to buying games used at all, it's just got to have the case, the manual, the disc in mint condition anda good price for me to buy it. Usually used games are only 5-10$ cheaper than new factory sealed copies, I'd rather pay that difference to get a copy I know is in perfect condition.
Synbios459
Banned
Yeah it matters alot to me as well. It's funny because normally people will make fun of me for it to. Just the other day I was at GameStop with a friend and I was buying Star Ocean and despite saying "new" a guy brought a used game out and I asked him why it said new and he said "Oh, we're out" and didn't even ask me if I still wanted it, he just rang it up. I then told him I wasn't interested in it and the clerk and my friend gave me an awkward look and my friend said "Oh come on it doesn't matter!" And knowing how people generally treat their games I still refused and left.
Musashi Wins!
FLAWLESS VICTOLY!
I don't mind buying used games if I can inspect the condition.
I also buy many new games.
But I'll be goddamned if I'm buying any more new games that have been opened by the store. Screw you. If it's open, it's not new. I wish everyone would give them hell until they fucking stop this practice.
At least give me 10-20% for your "floor model".
I also buy many new games.
But I'll be goddamned if I'm buying any more new games that have been opened by the store. Screw you. If it's open, it's not new. I wish everyone would give them hell until they fucking stop this practice.
At least give me 10-20% for your "floor model".
Agent Icebeezy
Welcome beautful toddler, Madison Elizabeth, to the horde!
Factory sealed, first day. That is how I buy
TekunoRobby
Tag of Excellence
If I'm buying a new game I want it to be still in shrinkwrap. Hopefully that doesn't come off as anal but I've seen store employees of EB/GameStop "gut" a new game and completely mandhandle the disc. This has also happened to me a few times when picking up a new release a while after its been released.
Azure Dream
Member
I always buy new games, and nearly always stick with factory sealed in recent years (SNES years and such were a little different). The last time I bought an open-box (not even used) version from EB was Beyond Good & Evil, and the case just felt... dingy. It looked OK, but something felt wrong about the plastic. Side effect of being sat out and handled by customers coming in and such, I suppose.
I was in there not too long ago (when Bard's Tale was $10 at EB, sadly didn't manage to get a copy), and asked about a sealed copy. He said, "Don't have a sealed one... but I could seal this one for you! We have a shrinkwrap machine!" Ugh. I guess the logic is that the games are new (in a sense), just out-of-package, and reshrinkwrapping them sort of restores that state, but that just doesn't feel right to me, because that's not the manufacturer sealing it, it's a games store.
Personally, I really don't want other people handling the games I buy, just the ones that manufacture it and myself. I don't want the disc put into a sleeve, the box put on and moved around shelves for weeks, and possibly some packing materials lost along the way. The thing that agitates me is I asked about something at EB at one point, and they had it, but it was a shelf copy. I can't remember what was said, but supposedly the game would be ordered one copy at a time, so instead of having a "display" copy and having sealed copies at the ready (which I understand could be costly if they had too much back-stock on-hand), they'd always sell a shelf copy and then open up a sealed one to make a new shelf copy. That just... bleaugh.
So EB's ok to me for big launches (particularly when there's a giveaway goodie) or if you're specifically going to get something used (PS1 game or what have you), but I don't go there to go game browsing, it bothers me too much. I know a side-effect of the open boxes is that you can ask to try out the game ahead of time sometimes, but eh, then think about someone else's "new" game being repeatedly handled by employees and dropped into the disc tray until the day they come and pick it up. Bleaugh.
I was in there not too long ago (when Bard's Tale was $10 at EB, sadly didn't manage to get a copy), and asked about a sealed copy. He said, "Don't have a sealed one... but I could seal this one for you! We have a shrinkwrap machine!" Ugh. I guess the logic is that the games are new (in a sense), just out-of-package, and reshrinkwrapping them sort of restores that state, but that just doesn't feel right to me, because that's not the manufacturer sealing it, it's a games store.
Personally, I really don't want other people handling the games I buy, just the ones that manufacture it and myself. I don't want the disc put into a sleeve, the box put on and moved around shelves for weeks, and possibly some packing materials lost along the way. The thing that agitates me is I asked about something at EB at one point, and they had it, but it was a shelf copy. I can't remember what was said, but supposedly the game would be ordered one copy at a time, so instead of having a "display" copy and having sealed copies at the ready (which I understand could be costly if they had too much back-stock on-hand), they'd always sell a shelf copy and then open up a sealed one to make a new shelf copy. That just... bleaugh.
So EB's ok to me for big launches (particularly when there's a giveaway goodie) or if you're specifically going to get something used (PS1 game or what have you), but I don't go there to go game browsing, it bothers me too much. I know a side-effect of the open boxes is that you can ask to try out the game ahead of time sometimes, but eh, then think about someone else's "new" game being repeatedly handled by employees and dropped into the disc tray until the day they come and pick it up. Bleaugh.
michael000
Banned
It's only important if i'm paying full price for it heh. I don't mind buying used games but my 2 biggest pet peeves about having to buy used is having to inspect discs to make sure they're in good - mint shape and removing the stickers from the boxes. I swear none of these things ever comes off without leaving stucky goop all over the box. Lately though i've been waiting on price drops since they typically happen within a reasonable time nowadays, thanks frys!
The Faceless Master
Member
new unless it's a cart
CajoleJuice
Member
Usually buy new and factory-sealed, except for carts. A bunch of my GBA games are used. I did buy Megaman Anniversary Collection used to save 10 bucks the other day though. It was basically in mint condition. I was happy.
I only buy used games from Japan because they're more often than not in like-new condition anyway. And the best part is, Japanese stores are smart enough to use stickers that come right off. I's amazing. WHy can't EB and GameStop grasp the concept of stickers like that? *HELL*, their seal stickers for used games come right off.
The last gutted game I bought wasn't a game, it was the Resident Evil UMD. I didn't mind since the UMD is encased, but I refuse for any console game.
The last gutted game I bought wasn't a game, it was the Resident Evil UMD. I didn't mind since the UMD is encased, but I refuse for any console game.
The Faceless Master
Member
Dr_Cogent said:
Red Scarlet
Member
If it's brand new, yeah. Otherwise, no. I'm interesteed in the game, not the other crap.
I perfer new, for many of the reason already stated. I had an problem at a Gamestop recently.
I purchased Final Fantasy CC NEW, and didn't think anything about it untill I Got almost all the way home.(It was one of those, I'll just run in here, and grab this game I've been wanting type of purchases)
I took it out of the bag, and then realized it had NO shrink wrap on it. It said "NEW" on the sticker, stuck on the box. I thought WTF? And opened it, only to see that not only was there no booklet, the disc looked like it had gone thru a war.
Needless to say, I went back and roasted the guy alive, first for charging me for a NEW product, and then becuase of the lack of a booklet, and the condition of the disc.
I now just avoid Gamespot. They suck.
I purchased Final Fantasy CC NEW, and didn't think anything about it untill I Got almost all the way home.(It was one of those, I'll just run in here, and grab this game I've been wanting type of purchases)
I took it out of the bag, and then realized it had NO shrink wrap on it. It said "NEW" on the sticker, stuck on the box. I thought WTF? And opened it, only to see that not only was there no booklet, the disc looked like it had gone thru a war.
Needless to say, I went back and roasted the guy alive, first for charging me for a NEW product, and then becuase of the lack of a booklet, and the condition of the disc.
I now just avoid Gamespot. They suck.
â Narayan
Member
I hate it when I buy a "new" game, only to find out it's been handled by an employee of the store. This happened to me this week when I bought DOAU, the Xbox seals were broken, and the cardboard casing had wear on it. Fuck EBGames, I'm going to return this and never buy games from there again.
If I go to a store to buy a game, it's because it's a new release I'm interested in and don't yet own. I won't buy a gutted game from them. If it's from an online merchant on eBay or a similar service, and the game is truly important to me, then, if it's a reasonable option, I insist on it being factory sealed, new. Not 100% of the time, however. Depends on the game and it's availability.
CompositeMolar
Member
I buy used games on ebay or even directly at gamestores to save a couple bucks. I don't mind a scratch or two but I always check to be sure it's not to scratched and I can always change the box if the stickers glue bother me to much. 90% of my games were bought new though.
tahrikmili
Member
Not important to me at all. I always buy my games used on eBay from sellers with high feedback. Always cost me half the price and offer full satisfaction 
Synbios459
Banned
Man, you wouldn't believe how many times I'd buy a DC or PSX game "new" that as soon as I opened it the whole case would fall apart:lol
Mr_Furious
Member
My thoughts exactlyDr_Cogent said:
Bartman3010
Banned
Synbios459 said:
Strangely, thats happened to just about every console Acclaim game I ever bought. (For some crazy ass reason, I've bought South Park Rally on 3 different platforms! I must be insane!)
Seriously though, unless the game is super-rare-I'll-never-get-the-chance-again, I'm sticking to new, especially when I've learned that I'm better off with waiting for video game sales to happen.
Another thing I dislike is that when the people at these stores dont even care about the box. I collect any and all boxes and store them in my room. It pisses me off when they wrap the box with some security device, it bends the box due to the wire wrapping! I remember being at a Fry's Electronics and the Wario Ware Twisted boxes had that security device on it, and one of them was literally TORN APART. Christ, when you have a damaged box, how can you expect someone to buy it? Especially when you have a rookie screw it up dearly and not claiming to have destroyed it?
SentientStone
Member
I don't mind used games if it was something that I was looking for but was hard to find sealed anymore (ie. MGS2 substance for the PS2 which I could not find sealed locally at least). Of course, I am extremely picky with my used game purchases as well as I don't want any defects on the cover or manual whatsoever and no scratches on the disc either (minor ones I might forgive... though I will still get it descratched most likely). Of course most of the used games at EB do not satisfy my requirements. :/
If I can find a game I am looking for sealed though, I will definitely pick that up instead... but not if it is at a major premium.
If I can find a game I am looking for sealed though, I will definitely pick that up instead... but not if it is at a major premium.
SpeedingUptoStop
will totally Facebook friend you! *giggle* *LOL*
If the disc works fine, I buy the cheapest possible version, new or old.
yes, but pretty much only because i dont trust used game stores. if they started setting some sort of standards for the condition of used games ("see where youve taken an ice pick to the bottom of the disc? yeah, that means we cant take it. sorry"), i probably wouldnt care.
when ive traded in games to gamerush, ive had employees laugh and say, "you dont play your games much, do you?". im sure i play them as much as any average gamer (but in all fairness, he was looking at the most recent syphon filter game), i just dont find it that difficult to put them back in the case when theyre taken out of the console. dont know how so many other people manage to get lost in the process...
when ive traded in games to gamerush, ive had employees laugh and say, "you dont play your games much, do you?". im sure i play them as much as any average gamer (but in all fairness, he was looking at the most recent syphon filter game), i just dont find it that difficult to put them back in the case when theyre taken out of the console. dont know how so many other people manage to get lost in the process...
pancakesandsex
Member
Why i will never purchase anything from a specific local EB again, and why i will never ever buy a shelf copy again:
__________________________________
This is my tale:
I had traveled to EBgames in order to purchase a copy of Wild Arms 3. Not a very good game mind you, but i am just coming off of Lunar 2 and i thought it would be great for lowering my standards so i could enjoy something else in my collection more. I also had planned on importing it soon, since the Japanese version contains furigana above all the kanji in the game (which makes it great for learning kanji).
Upon arival i quickly located both the Wild Arms 3, as well as a 6$ used copy of Time Crisis (a Guncon game that i used to own (got borrowed and lost), but still had the case for, which needed replacing. Wild Arms 3 was the last copy, which, at "fine" establishments such as EB and Gamestop, means that it was the "shelf copy". For those who are unfamiliar with this concept, these stores will take one copy of every new game they sell and "gut" it, keeping the disc and manual etc tucked away under the counter until some unsuspecting fool wishes to purchase the "last one". So the cashier goes to fetch the disc etc, and, upon retrieval, proceeds to hastily JAM the cd and manual into the case. The case which still had its "seal" label on the top, making it unable to open fully, thus causing it to break (the case itself not the seal).
So i ask for a new one, and she shows me her fine selection of normal dvd cases, for a PS2 game, a NEW (as in not-pre-owned) ps2 game. I indicate that i am disinclined to accept her offer, and she proceded to grab a normal ps2 case out after i requested one, shrink wrapped it before i could get a look at it, and sent me on my way.
Much to my dismay, upon removing the wrap, I found that the case she gave me is not only in worse condition than the 1st one (having some manner of gunk on the back, as well as looking like it was owned by a rabid 5 year old), but was also broken (missing a tab on the insert side).
This was unacceptable.
I phone them and display my distaste and desire to return, after which she mentioned a manager would be there tomorrow and woudl be able to help me, i ask if it will be a problem to return, she says it shouldnt be, and i ask her to leave a note of some sort indicating that it is ok for my return to happen. Hopefully said note will be left and I will return from the store tomorrow with my money.
The level of customer service at EBgames is attrocious. The cashier should have been more careful with the game, and was not very helpful in providing any sort of solution to the problem she created. The attitude of "as long as the disc is ok" doesnt cut it for me, i'm not buying just the disc, im buying a disc a manual and a case, and i'm paying the price of a NEW game, i expect that game to be in NEW condition, case and all. I'm paying the new game price, anal retentiveness is included in that price.
__________________________________
anyways, yeah EB and gamestop generally suck for used games. I mostly buy new import games now so its not a problem, and the used import games i have were taken care of by crazy japanese gamers who keep their stuff immaculate. I have saved a ton on used imports.
Sakura Taisen Atsuki Chi LE 20$
Espgaluda $20 (WIN)
Tokimeki Memorial 3 LE 36$ (but it smells like strawberries for soem odd reason, creepy but mint condition)
Sakura Taisen 2 (A-ok except for a split spine card (perforated) no biggie 30$
Double Cast for ps1 - under 10$
Kisetsu wo Dakishimete for ps1 under 10$
When i DO buy US used games though i try to hit up a local game crazy which has a strict trade in policy. They are really cool there and seem to actually appreciate their games.
They also hooked me up with an atelier iris return after i had pre-ordered it. I got it home for a few days, and was not pleased paying 50$ for a buggy mess that NISAmerica brought us so i was able to change it into a Digital Devil Saga 2 pre-order since they sometimes have a gutted shelf copy (it's now playing in their demo unit, thank you gamecrazy!) They pretty much have all my US game buying business from now on with that level of customer service.
anyone wanna sell a mint copy of wild arms advanced 3rd (japanese)?
__________________________________
This is my tale:
I had traveled to EBgames in order to purchase a copy of Wild Arms 3. Not a very good game mind you, but i am just coming off of Lunar 2 and i thought it would be great for lowering my standards so i could enjoy something else in my collection more. I also had planned on importing it soon, since the Japanese version contains furigana above all the kanji in the game (which makes it great for learning kanji).
Upon arival i quickly located both the Wild Arms 3, as well as a 6$ used copy of Time Crisis (a Guncon game that i used to own (got borrowed and lost), but still had the case for, which needed replacing. Wild Arms 3 was the last copy, which, at "fine" establishments such as EB and Gamestop, means that it was the "shelf copy". For those who are unfamiliar with this concept, these stores will take one copy of every new game they sell and "gut" it, keeping the disc and manual etc tucked away under the counter until some unsuspecting fool wishes to purchase the "last one". So the cashier goes to fetch the disc etc, and, upon retrieval, proceeds to hastily JAM the cd and manual into the case. The case which still had its "seal" label on the top, making it unable to open fully, thus causing it to break (the case itself not the seal).
So i ask for a new one, and she shows me her fine selection of normal dvd cases, for a PS2 game, a NEW (as in not-pre-owned) ps2 game. I indicate that i am disinclined to accept her offer, and she proceded to grab a normal ps2 case out after i requested one, shrink wrapped it before i could get a look at it, and sent me on my way.
Much to my dismay, upon removing the wrap, I found that the case she gave me is not only in worse condition than the 1st one (having some manner of gunk on the back, as well as looking like it was owned by a rabid 5 year old), but was also broken (missing a tab on the insert side).
This was unacceptable.
I phone them and display my distaste and desire to return, after which she mentioned a manager would be there tomorrow and woudl be able to help me, i ask if it will be a problem to return, she says it shouldnt be, and i ask her to leave a note of some sort indicating that it is ok for my return to happen. Hopefully said note will be left and I will return from the store tomorrow with my money.
The level of customer service at EBgames is attrocious. The cashier should have been more careful with the game, and was not very helpful in providing any sort of solution to the problem she created. The attitude of "as long as the disc is ok" doesnt cut it for me, i'm not buying just the disc, im buying a disc a manual and a case, and i'm paying the price of a NEW game, i expect that game to be in NEW condition, case and all. I'm paying the new game price, anal retentiveness is included in that price.
__________________________________
anyways, yeah EB and gamestop generally suck for used games. I mostly buy new import games now so its not a problem, and the used import games i have were taken care of by crazy japanese gamers who keep their stuff immaculate. I have saved a ton on used imports.
Sakura Taisen Atsuki Chi LE 20$
Espgaluda $20 (WIN)
Tokimeki Memorial 3 LE 36$ (but it smells like strawberries for soem odd reason, creepy but mint condition)
Sakura Taisen 2 (A-ok except for a split spine card (perforated) no biggie 30$
Double Cast for ps1 - under 10$
Kisetsu wo Dakishimete for ps1 under 10$
When i DO buy US used games though i try to hit up a local game crazy which has a strict trade in policy. They are really cool there and seem to actually appreciate their games.
They also hooked me up with an atelier iris return after i had pre-ordered it. I got it home for a few days, and was not pleased paying 50$ for a buggy mess that NISAmerica brought us so i was able to change it into a Digital Devil Saga 2 pre-order since they sometimes have a gutted shelf copy (it's now playing in their demo unit, thank you gamecrazy!) They pretty much have all my US game buying business from now on with that level of customer service.
anyone wanna sell a mint copy of wild arms advanced 3rd (japanese)?
Similar threads
- Poll