Is there a reason for removing the PS2 seals?

[shoes23]

Bought NBA Live 06 and Capcom Classics collection tonight, and both have no seals along the top portion of the cases (still shrinkwrapped just no sticker seals like on normal DVD's and CD's). I would rather have them on to show that nothing has been tampered with, although a few times the seal would cover the very top edge of the cover art and when you removed you would end up with a slight tears on the cover art. This trend started a couple of months ago, anyone know the reason why?

[intvsama]

I dunno if they're manufactured like that, I can't imagine why they would stop now since they've been doing it for years.

It's common practice for game shops tho', who demo the latest games, to, once they're not the latest anymore, reshinkwrap them and resell them as new, when in fact, they're not. (could I use more commas in that sentence?) EB is notorious for it, Game Crazy's starting to do it too.

[Sothy]

Confuscious say: Sealed NBA game be worth 2 Dollars next year sealed or not.

[xmagxus]

Gamestop filed a complaint saying that the stickers made it SLIGHTLY harder to scam consumers into buying used games as NEW. After slipping up a few times and putting the seals on backwards they wanted the seal gone for good - The companies listened.

[segagamer4life]

Bought NBA Live 06 and Capcom Classics collection tonight, and both have no seals along the top portion of the cases (still shrinkwrapped just no sticker seals like on normal DVD's and CD's). I would rather have them on to show that nothing has been tampered with, although a few times the seal would cover the very top edge of the cover art and when you removed you would end up with a slight tears on the cover art. This trend started a couple of months ago, anyone know the reason why?


I was shopping for shadow of the collosus at toys r us, and it was in the same condition, no stickers anywhere, and it was just shrink wrapped, almost as if it was opened and resealed... it got me wondering, but, I picked it up anyway....

[kevin_psx]

Bought NBA Live 06 and Capcom Classics collection tonight, and both have no seals along the top portion of the cases

Well my Playboy dvds (why are you lauging?) from 1996 had seals top bottom and right. Later 2004 versions have no seals.

Why? Cheaper manufacturing costs.

[segagamer4life]

Bought NBA Live 06 and Capcom Classics collection tonight, and both have no seals along the top portion of the cases

Well my Playboy dvds (why are you lauging?) from 1996 had seals top bottom and right. Later 2004 versions have no seals.

Why? Cheaper manufacturing costs.


LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL



Nice.

[FantasiaWHT]

The first game I noticed that ARRIVED at our store, from the manufacturers, with no white label sticker was Stella Deus.

I can't imagine that Gamestop by itself would have the kind of clout necessary to bully manufacturers into doing that unless the manufacturers already had their own reasons.

[Quackaddict]

I honestly think it's a bunch of b.s. Cheaper manu costs definetely have something to do with it, so that's a great point, but are we getting the short end of the stick?

While i was in Manhattan I was picking up copies of San Andreas from various retailers. I found that Virgin Megastores had the original ps2 version....but it was without the sticker on the top. Now, the wrap was the same, but it was missing the seal. From my experience that means that the game is remanufactured. Knowing all the disc-read errors that the game had, I wouldn't be surprised if Virgin bought re-manned games as they are cheaper....as well as hordes of EBay store sellers....most, if not all are lacking the sticker....and most are seam style rewrapped, too. (~used~) How will the novice gamer realize this until he pops in the disc and it doesn't work?

I will say this....I don't like it. I think there should be a security seal as it wouldn't cost much for EB, or Gamestop to purchase a few Y-Fold sealers and then reseal used games, selling them new. Obviously it wouldn't stop ebayers from slipping off the Y-Wrap on their copy of XIII and putting it on their non-working copy of Disgaea. Who would know the difference?

I honestly think that we need to stand up against this before we collect junk and find an outlandish number of scammers with "factory sealed" games for sale. If we don't say something now, it'll be much harder to do something about it later.

-Quackaddict

[alm0stfinished]

If its used, but still in perfect condition, does it matter if it's sold to you as new?

[devils advocate]

If its used, but still in perfect condition, does it matter if it's sold to you as new?


Well, if that's how you feel, I would like to sell you my grandmothers used, but in PERFECT condition, anal thermometer.

Would you like it?

What a stupid question.

[kevin_psx]

You put game discs in your bofily orifices? (jots down note to not buy devil's actions)


Recently bought a game marked "display" and I said I want to see it before I buy it. Looked brand-new. Flawless.

What does it matter if the adhesive seal is missing? - looks new - no scratches on disc - plays new - that's all that matters.

[devils advocate]

You put game discs in your bofily orifices? (jots down note to not buy devil's actions)


Recently bought a game marked "display" and I said I want to see it before I buy it. Looked brand-new. Flawless.

What does it matter if the store re-shrinkwraps a game? - looks new - no scratches on disc - plays new - that's all that matters.

Well, it certainly sets a horrible precedent doesn't it?

Today, one game re sealed that is perfect, tomorrow one that is perect, save that microscopic scratch and so on, and so on.

It is also misleading advertising, illegal in some provinces, and certainly against any of the BBB's practices.

From a tax perspective it would be fraud or evasion, as in many provinces in Canada, and I would bet the U.S as well,
as used items often are taxed differently than new items.

It is also just plain immoral.

It would also be culpable from the publishers as product mis representation. There would be another suit.

Would you like me to go on, or is that enough reasons why it's not acceptable to mis represent the products you sell?

[Quackaddict]

You put game discs in your bofily orifices? (jots down note to not buy devil's actions)


Recently bought a game marked "display" and I said I want to see it before I buy it. Looked brand-new. Flawless.

What does it matter if the adhesive seal is missing? - looks new - no scratches on disc - plays new - that's all that matters.

That's the thing....it opened Pandora's box. At the beginning we might not see that many problems with the discs, but as more people realize they can scam/take advantage of gamers, it could lead to the loss of our gaming money in the future.

[devils advocate]

You put game discs in your bofily orifices? (jots down note to not buy devil's actions)


Recently bought a game marked "display" and I said I want to see it before I buy it. Looked brand-new. Flawless.

What does it matter if the adhesive seal is missing? - looks new - no scratches on disc - plays new - that's all that matters.

Actually, in your case, it does not.

But you're thinking very narrowly. Is every case like the one you described?
Your product was presented to you as a "display" copy. You bought it knowingly, and entered into the contract with full disclosure from the seller.

What about when it is not disclosed to the buyer, but resealed, and in essence, hidden from the buyer that the product has been resealed, or refurbished in some way?
Should it be caveat emptor? Or should there be laws that guide retailers to uphold policies of honesty, and disclosure?

[kevin_psx]

Recently bought a game marked "display" and I said I want to see it before I buy it. Looked brand-new. Flawless.

What does it matter if the store re-shrinkwraps a game? - looks new - no scratches on disc - plays new - that's all that matters.

Today, one game re sealed that is perfect, tomorrow one that is perect, save that microscopic scratch and so on, and so on. It is also misleading advertising, illegal in some provinces, and certainly against any of the BBB's practices.

Don't know about Canada but in the U.S. a product is still "new" if nobody has ever owned it. It can be opened, put on display, and resealed but it's still "new" according to the law. So may be immoral to you, but per the legal code, it's acceptable.



[P.S. Also - and I know this is just my personal view of the world - I don't care about physical appearance. For me gaming is not about the package or the manual or the disc. I could care less.

[For me gaming is about the game. The colorful pixels on the screen. As long as the disc is scratch-free & plays - I'm happy.] [In fact forget the disc - just let me download the ROM to my Nintendo Revolution & I'm happy. I don't need all that other "stuff."]

[devils advocate]

If its used, but still in perfect condition, does it matter if it's sold to you as new?

Which again, makes this question even sillier.

Shall I rephrase it for him, just a little.


If it is deemed in the opinion of the sller, to still be a perfect product, certainly it must be within his rights to deceive the customer into believing that he/she is receiving a truly new product. The buyer should not even be informed, as the seller is obviously better suited to make this judgement on the customers behalf.


Sound a little screwed when it's rephrased as such?

[kevin_psx]

if the game was previously owned - then it's illegal.

If the game was never owned - then it's still considered "new" by U.S. law.


Suggestion

If you buy a DVD or game with adhesive seal missing, open the game at the counter & verify it's not scratched, damaged, et cetera.

[devils advocate]

Recently bought a game marked "display" and I said I want to see it before I buy it. Looked brand-new. Flawless.

What does it matter if the store re-shrinkwraps a game? - looks new - no scratches on disc - plays new - that's all that matters.

Today, one game re sealed that is perfect, tomorrow one that is perect, save that microscopic scratch and so on, and so on. It is also misleading advertising, illegal in some provinces, and certainly against any of the BBB's practices.

Don't know about Canada but in the U.S. a product is still "new" if nobody has ever owned it. It can be opened, put on display, and resealed but it's still "new" according to the law. So may be immoral to you, but per the legal code, it's acceptable.



[P.S. Also - and I know this is just my personal view of the world - I don't care about physical appearance. For me gaming is not about the package or the manual or the disc. I could care less.

[For me gaming is about the game. The colorful pixels on the screen. As long as the disc is scratch-free & plays - I'm happy.

[In fact forget the disc - just let me download the ROM to my Nintendo Revolution & I'm happy. I don't need all that other "stuff."]

Hmm. I think we were arguing the same point there. I have no issue with display copies etc.

In Canada though, if there has been any alteration to the retail product by any of its distributors, you must give full disclosure.

Ie: In my line of work.
Cellular phones are tracked in many ways by its electronic serial number. Even the warranty is tracked by it.
As soon as a cell phone has been used, even once, the warranty is ticking. No exceptions. Regardless of why.

Well, obviously then, if we demo a phone the warranty is going. Well technically it is still a new phone by all definitions. But if its sold, we MUST disclose the warranty deficiency. And we morally should regardless.

[devils advocate]

oops. Hit submit.


Anyway, point is, If a game is opened from its original seal, it should be disclosed to the purchaser that that was indeed done.

In Kevins case it was, and he knowingly entered the contract.

[alm0stfinished]

If its used, but still in perfect condition, does it matter if it's sold to you as new?

Which again, makes this question even sillier.

Shall I rephrase it for him, just a little.


If it is deemed in the opinion of the sller, to still be a perfect product, certainly it must be within his rights to deceive the customer into believing that he/she is receiving a truly new product. The buyer should not even be informed, as the seller is obviously better suited to make this judgement on the customers behalf.


Sound a little screwed when it's rephrased as such?

decieve me all you want gamestop, but if my game plays perfectly, i don't give a fuck.

[GameSlaveGaz]

If a store sells a used copy of a game that's in perfect condition as a new game, then it's wrong because they're cheating the customer because a new copy is at the very least $5 more than a used copy. However I can see how they can get away with selling a display copy as new even though the factory seal has been broken. The disc itself was never actually played, it was just put in a sleeve in a drawer and the empty case was displayed on the floor. BUT if they used the display copy to play in a system kiosk, you can label that as used but I don't know of any stores that do that around here. At least rental places sell their old rental copies as used (not that they could get away with passing them off as new with all the damage they go through!)
What I'm getting at is that just because the factory seal has been broken means that the game is used. It actually has to be USED in some manner, whether it's demoed, actually played through, or used as a coaster (gods forbid)

What I hate most about PS2 not having those white labels on top is this:

At Toys R Us, all our overstock is scanned into a system called SIS - Storeroom Inventory System. They're also nicely organized (at least in my store) in the storeroom on shelves, and we have separate 3 or 4 feet sections of shelves for each system and we stack them in alphabetical order for easy access. When PS2 still had those white labels, we could put the games vertically so the label was facing out and you could still read what game it was and it took up less space. Now that every game no longer has this, we have to put them long way in order to read the title and it takes up more space, which is now becoming a problem due to the fact that they're bombarding us with stock for the season. Another problem is that we still have some older games in stock that do have the label, so it's uneven cuz one shelf will have a couple vertical games and a bunch of horizontal games and they don't fit right.
It may sound like just a minor annoyance but when you have to process as much crap as I do in a 4-hour shift, it really takes its toll.

[Griking]

I'm sure some here will disagree but the only real reason that I can see for people getting all bent out of shape about this is for those who are buying the games just to resell them down the road as "RARE, NEW & Sealed" for a profit and personally I really don't think that the manufacteurs are too concerned about upsetting them.

[devils advocate]

I'm sure some here will disagree but the only real reason that I can see for people getting all bent out of shape about this is for those who are buying the games just to resell them down the road as "RARE, NEW & Sealed" for a profit and personally I really don't think that the manufacteurs are too concerned about upsetting them.

I don't collect or sell new games.

That said, the proble, I have with it, if it's allowed with games, how about dvd's next. Then maybe Smarties. What about your Shreddies? I'm sure woman would love to buy a box of demo tampons without being informed.

How about resealed condoms, or needles for diabetics?Even if they were never used?


It is bad for everybody if any body sells something that is used or demoed without giving disclosure.

That said , I have no problem with what EB does in my area. The last copy is a display copy, They inform the customer who buys it, that it was indeed opened, but was put straight into a sleeve, and let the customer inspect it... That is DISCLOSURE!!!!

I do, however have a problem, if a company were to use a copy in any way, even just handle it, put it in a sleeve for a while whatever. And reseal it without giving disclosure that it is a NEW product that has been resealed. Anything else would be dishonest.

[kevin_psx]

What I'm getting at is that just because the factory seal has been broken means that the game is used.

Not in the U.S. If the game was never purchased, even if used in a kiosk, or stored in a drawer, it's still "new" according to the law.

It doesn't become "used" until someone else owns it.

[GameSlaveGaz]

What I'm getting at is that just because the factory seal has been broken means that the game is used.

Not in the U.S. If the game was never purchased, even if used in a kiosk, or stored in a drawer, it's still "new" according to the law.

It doesn't become "used" until someone else owns it.

Whoops, I made a typo. I meant to type "just because the factory seal has been broken DOESN'T mean that the game is used" My bad. LOL. A lot of people think that once the seal is broken, it should be treated as used, and that's what I was trying to get at when I accidentally left out that key word.

Oh man I'm full of typos today, I just caught a typo before I submitted, I forgot the A in "mean" Damn. I should be able to use my fingers properly what with me being a violinist and guitarist!

[shoes23]

What I'm getting at is that just because the factory seal has been broken means that the game is used.

Not in the U.S. If the game was never purchased, even if used in a kiosk, or stored in a drawer, it's still "new" according to the law.

It doesn't become "used" until someone else owns it.

Whoops, I made a typo. I meant to type "just because the factory seal has been broken DOESN'T mean that the game is used" My bad. LOL. A lot of people think that once the seal is broken, it should be treated as used, and that's what I was trying to get at when I accidentally left out that key word.

Oh man I'm full of typos today, I just caught a typo before I submitted, I forgot the A in "mean" Damn. I should be able to use my fingers properly what with me being a violinist and guitarist!

If you had a choice between getting a SEALED copy or a copy that had been spinning 24/7 in a demo kiosk, which would you choose? That was part of the reason I liked the seals, I would be ensured that the game I just bought was NEW and MINT. The law may say that unless it has been purchased by a customer it is still a new item, but nearly everyone would view a copy that has been in a kiosk as a used copy. To me that statement is like saying a loaner car at a car dealership/mechanics is new even though people drive it all the time when their car is getting fixed, because no on ever officially bought it.