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General and Gaming => General => Topic started by: seether on October 09, 2019, 09:49:17 am

Title: Scenario: You order a game online and the disc is very badly scratched
Post by: seether on October 09, 2019, 09:49:17 am
The scratches were not disclosed and while you knew the item was second hand you didn’t expect large and multiple scratches all over.

On a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being totally peed off), how annoyed are you?
Title: Re: Scenario: You order a game online and the disc is very badly scratched
Post by: hoshichiri on October 09, 2019, 09:59:35 am
Between 6 & 8, assuming the disc still plays, based on where online I bought it & just how bad the scratches are. I haven't run out of repair fluid yet, so I can always clean it up a bit.

If the disc doesn't play- 10, straight up.
Title: Re: Scenario: You order a game online and the disc is very badly scratched
Post by: dharmajones93 on October 09, 2019, 10:27:34 am
Happening to me just now.

Bought three games from, hold your breath, Gamestop online. two worked great, while one would not boot at all. Looks terribly scratched, despite showing evidence (the white film stuff around the center of the disc) of refinishing. Not only am I pissed, but honestly I'm more po'ed by Gamestop's return system.

There is no online return initiation system. Their help knowledge-base is utterly useless, and I've called several times only to be put on hold for 30+ minutes each time and never actually speaking to anyone.

I've actually been a pretty ardent Gamestop advocate, for in-store interactions at least, but I can honestly say I will never buy a vintage (or otherwise) game from them online again.

I love Amazon's no questions asked return policy (so long as you buy the "prime" version; I usually pay a bit more but in this business getting no questions asked free product return is pretty essential). I'll have to go back to Amazon/Ebay I guess.


I guess I mean to say I'm normally not upset when the game is scratched/corroded/doesn't work as I'm usually okay with returning for a new one (if I waited decades to play a vintage game, I can wait a week or so for an exchange), but this Gamestop fiasco has reminded me why I don't normally buy vintage online. Normally 4-5, right now with Gamestop, 11...
Title: Re: Scenario: You order a game online and the disc is very badly scratched
Post by: seether on October 09, 2019, 12:08:05 pm
^

That’s the worst. When you’re ordering from a company who shouldn’t be taking in badly damaged stuff to begin with. If it’s some random person on eBay that’s one thing but buying from companies is something else entirely.

I bought Mortal Kombat 11 online from a chain of pawn shops and the disc is junk, I imagine it ended up there because nowhere else in the right mind would take it. The only pic was the case and there was no indication of bad scratches in the description.
Title: Re: Scenario: You order a game online and the disc is very badly scratched
Post by: Warmsignal on October 09, 2019, 06:03:44 pm
Really annoyed, especially if I asked for them to make sure everything was okay first.

I was in a situation just like this the other day. Friggin' 3DS game for a good price, picture looks shady. There's a glare right on the corner of the label and it totally looks torn right there, like somebody put some tape over the edge of it. I send a message to them. The response? "No tear. Michelle". A total lie. I can clearly see with my own eyes the thing is torn.

How can they be that dumb? Or just plain dishonest? I'd be afraid to be dumb or dishonest on a site like eBay. You will get screwed, especially if there's proof you did a shitty job as the seller. I'm not buying it. But the seller is either lacking a few brain cells or is flat lying. They've received 3 negatives in the past month for condition not as described.
Title: Re: Scenario: You order a game online and the disc is very badly scratched
Post by: Warmsignal on October 09, 2019, 06:12:36 pm
I would say when it comes to buying online, don't even pay any attention to what the seller writes in the description or the condition they pick. They'll say anything to make it sound more appealing. Only buy when they've provided really good pictures where you can tell with your own eyes the condition. If they pull something shady like a really out of focus picture, leaving out certain parts of it, covering up corners, or anything like that. They're just trying to hide how bad it actually is, which is nuts. That's a dumb thing to do if you're selling at a market place. You can't get away with that, but lots of them try.
Title: Re: Scenario: You order a game online and the disc is very badly scratched
Post by: wartoy on October 09, 2019, 06:44:20 pm
I would be upset also that's part of the reason I refuse to buy games online.
Title: Re: Scenario: You order a game online and the disc is very badly scratched
Post by: oldgamerz on October 09, 2019, 08:11:38 pm
The scratches were not disclosed and while you knew the item was second hand you didn’t expect large and multiple scratches all over.

On a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being totally peed off), how annoyed are you?

(edit) I would be vary angry but that is why I like to buy games in store
Title: Re: Scenario: You order a game online and the disc is very badly scratched
Post by: hoshichiri on October 09, 2019, 08:26:57 pm
Happening to me just now.

Bought three games from, hold your breath, Gamestop online. two worked great, while one would not boot at all. Looks terribly scratched, despite showing evidence (the white film stuff around the center of the disc) of refinishing. Not only am I pissed, but honestly I'm more po'ed by Gamestop's return system.

There is no online return initiation system. Their help knowledge-base is utterly useless, and I've called several times only to be put on hold for 30+ minutes each time and never actually speaking to anyone.

I've actually been a pretty ardent Gamestop advocate, for in-store interactions at least, but I can honestly say I will never buy a vintage (or otherwise) game from them online again.

I love Amazon's no questions asked return policy (so long as you buy the "prime" version; I usually pay a bit more but in this business getting no questions asked free product return is pretty essential). I'll have to go back to Amazon/Ebay I guess.


I guess I mean to say I'm normally not upset when the game is scratched/corroded/doesn't work as I'm usually okay with returning for a new one (if I waited decades to play a vintage game, I can wait a week or so for an exchange), but this Gamestop fiasco has reminded me why I don't normally buy vintage online. Normally 4-5, right now with Gamestop, 11...

Did you take them back to a store? Most of the time, if they allow it (and Gamestop does), that is by FAR the easiest option.

But I agree with you- I dig buying from in-store gamestop, but actively avoid online due to the condition issues.
Title: Re: Scenario: You order a game online and the disc is very badly scratched
Post by: oldgamerz on October 10, 2019, 12:28:15 am
If you want you can get all of your discs (except Bluray or PS3 games) resurfaced for about $6 USD at "Family Video" store Locations

According to my research you can also buy used video game and even new movies for sale there too.

I only recommend getting your disc resurfaced once or maybe only 2 times, from it being new, because resurfacing and taking off most to all of the scratches more than 2 times can cause problems with your game, movie ,or music CD

as I said in this post you can remove most of the scratches off any disc. once or twice

But there is nothing you can do if it's got disc rot, in which you can tell by holding a  disc up to a light on the underside and see if any light is shining through tiny holes. if you see the light through the disc it is dead and can't be repaired
Title: Re: Scenario: You order a game online and the disc is very badly scratched
Post by: vivigamer on October 10, 2019, 08:59:58 am
Suffered from this time and time again - It took me 5 copies of Resident Evil to finally get one That was actually in Very Good Condition!

The problem is a lot of these games you simply can't buy in store - Even getting a pre-PS2 title in a Retro Store is a gamble & often overpriced in my experience! So ordering online is the only way for me to peruse singular titles. Multi-Disc PS1 games are the worst, the amount of times I have had to complain to sellers about the poor condition I've received copies of FF7, 8 & 9 is absurd - I have a good 7-8 copies in my cupboard, as the sellers usually can't be dealing with the hassle of returns & being under the threat of bad feedback.

if I see an item listed as good, I Always ask about the condition and the reason to why the sale wouldn't be put under Very Good condition instead.

Luckily since the evolution in hardware with Blu-Ray this doesn't seem to be an issue anymore! I don't think I've ever had one turn up in bad condition. the only time that does come to mind is Sonic Lost Worlds for the Wii-U - Which had a patch of serious dis-colouration on the back of the disc and I returned it after it would not load.
Title: Re: Scenario: You order a game online and the disc is very badly scratched
Post by: seether on October 10, 2019, 10:58:22 am
Sonic Lost Worlds for the Wii-U would not load.
A blessing if you ask me.
Title: Re: Scenario: You order a game online and the disc is very badly scratched
Post by: Cartagia on October 10, 2019, 11:12:35 am
Depends on how much I paid, and if the game works.  I’ve got a disc refinisher, so unless it’s something really bad my discs are probably going to get fixed and work just fine.

In fact I’ll buy “Scratched” condition games if they are cheap and they don’t look too bad.  Run them through the machine once, and *bam* $10 game for $1 and 5 minutes of my time.
Title: Re: Scenario: You order a game online and the disc is very badly scratched
Post by: oldgamerz on October 10, 2019, 11:24:48 am
I usually have a major problem with disc rot more than scratches where I live. when buying games online even JJgames sometimes. Most of my issues  actually have been mostly with PlayStation 3 Bluray games.

I mean I have a HUGE problem with having to throw out at least 2 copies of Call Of Duty Black Ops original games, and 1 ultimate saga collection for the PlayStation 3

PS3 games are more prone to disc rot than all other disc based games.

Thing is, the games often don't show it's problems  unless the laser tries to access data on a spot where the light shine through it if it has disc rot.
Title: Re: Scenario: You order a game online and the disc is very badly scratched
Post by: Warmsignal on October 10, 2019, 06:00:30 pm
I usually have a major problem with disc rot more than scratches where I live. when buying games online even JJgames sometimes. Most of my issues  actually have been mostly with PlayStation 3 Bluray games.

I mean I have a HUGE problem with having to throw out at least 2 copies of Call Of Duty Black Ops original games, and 1 ultimate saga collection for the PlayStation 3

PS3 games are more prone to disc rot than all other disc based games.

Thing is, the games often don't show it's problems  unless the laser tries to access data on a spot where the light shine through it if it has disc rot.

PS3 blu ray labels are of lesser quality than most and more susceptible to having the labels scratch off and the data layer damaged. I've come across a few PS3 discs where there's a hole as big as my finger right through the label side of the disc which is closest to where the data is. In many cases, it ruins the game. I don't think they rotted, it's just someone took no care with it, as usual.
Title: Re: Scenario: You order a game online and the disc is very badly scratched
Post by: marvelvscapcom2 on October 10, 2019, 06:02:27 pm
Probably a 2 on my scale.


Level 1 -  Disney land, with the love of your life.  In the tea cups.  While Goofy waves at you.  No stress.  No pain.  All life.
Level 2-  Getting a scratched game on Ebay
Level 3 -  Dropping the remote out of bed, and now you gotta get up and get it.  Which kinda sucks.
Level 4 -  Your DVR didn't record the show you wanted it to. 
Level 5 -   You order 3 Burgers with Cheese from the burger joint.  Get half way down the interstate.  Open them up. No cheese. 
Level 6 -   Your wife had sex with your dad.   
Level 7 -   The Soviets made zombies that end up biting your favorite pet.
Level 8 -   You flew to California on vacation, than Kim Jun Un nuked your home state, destroying everything you know.
Level 9 -  You grow a head that forms out of the flesh behind your ear, and it whispers "PC master race"in your ear.
Level 10 -  Your friend rips up your vectrex box.  Because.  "I didn't know you were saving it"


Now getting a badly scratched game?  About as inconveniencing as being 10 minutes late for work and hearing the boss say "You made it" condescendingly. 

About as inconveniencing as hitting a home run at your little league park, but then you realize you have one ball and now it's in the nether regions of the park where  corn pop and the rest of the bad boys hang. 


So in general no.  It's not too bad.   You just file a claim,  return it.  Get your money and try again.  Now if it's a game you are dying to play.  It inconveniences you more.  But  not quite as bad as it getting stolen.  At least you have something to return. 


I hope you get a good one soon Seether.   I undervalued how shitty it is for comedic effect :D.  It's lame.  Amazon sends me more broken stuff than not at this point.  Returning it is boring and mundane.   
Title: Re: Scenario: You order a game online and the disc is very badly scratched
Post by: Warmsignal on October 10, 2019, 06:17:10 pm
Probably a 2 on my scale.


Level 1 -  Disney land, with the love of your life.  In the tea cups.  While Goofy waves at you.  No stress.  No pain.  All life.
Level 2-  Getting a scratched game on Ebay
Level 3 -  Dropping the remote out of bed, and now you gotta get up and get it.  Which kinda sucks.
Level 4 -  Your DVR didn't record the show you wanted it to. 
Level 5 -   You order 3 Burgers with Cheese from the burger joint.  Get half way down the interstate.  Open them up. No cheese. 
Level 6 -   Your wife had sex with your dad.   
Level 7 -   The Soviets made zombies that end up biting your favorite pet.
Level 8 -   You flew to California on vacation, than Kim Jun Un nuked your home state, destroying everything you know.
Level 9 -  You grow a head that forms out of the flesh behind your ear, and it whispers "PC master race"in your ear.
Level 10 -  Your friend rips up your vectrex box.  Because.  "I didn't know you were saving it"

This list went from mildly annoying straight to absolutely terrifying.

Also, how can it be more annoying to pick up a remote, than to go through a tedious and convoluted returns process? That's worse than burgers with no cheese, by a lot. And why is Disney Land even on the scale of how annoyed you are? A level 1 is still annoyed.
Title: Re: Scenario: You order a game online and the disc is very badly scratched
Post by: hoshichiri on October 10, 2019, 07:36:00 pm
Probably a 2 on my scale.


Level 1 -  Disney land, with the love of your life.  In the tea cups.  While Goofy waves at you.  No stress.  No pain.  All life.
Level 2-  Getting a scratched game on Ebay
Level 3 -  Dropping the remote out of bed, and now you gotta get up and get it.  Which kinda sucks.
Level 4 -  Your DVR didn't record the show you wanted it to. 
Level 5 -   You order 3 Burgers with Cheese from the burger joint.  Get half way down the interstate.  Open them up. No cheese. 
Level 6 -   Your wife had sex with your dad.   
Level 7 -   The Soviets made zombies that end up biting your favorite pet.
Level 8 -   You flew to California on vacation, than Kim Jun Un nuked your home state, destroying everything you know.
Level 9 -  You grow a head that forms out of the flesh behind your ear, and it whispers "PC master race"in your ear.
Level 10 -  Your friend rips up your vectrex box.  Because.  "I didn't know you were saving it"

Your scale intrigues me- a ripped up old box is worse than nuclear holocaust by 20%? The betrayal of your trust by 2 beloved family members is barely worse than missing cheese slices? I feel like there's a psychology paper in figuring out your reasoning...
Title: Re: Scenario: You order a game online and the disc is very badly scratched
Post by: kashell on October 11, 2019, 08:51:07 am
That scale is...something.
Title: Re: Scenario: You order a game online and the disc is very badly scratched
Post by: sworddude on October 11, 2019, 11:00:05 am
Probably a 2 on my scale.


Level 1 -  Disney land, with the love of your life.  In the tea cups.  While Goofy waves at you.  No stress.  No pain.  All life.
Level 2-  Getting a scratched game on Ebay
Level 3 -  Dropping the remote out of bed, and now you gotta get up and get it.  Which kinda sucks.
Level 4 -  Your DVR didn't record the show you wanted it to. 
Level 5 -   You order 3 Burgers with Cheese from the burger joint.  Get half way down the interstate.  Open them up. No cheese. 
Level 6 -   Your wife had sex with your dad.   
Level 7 -   The Soviets made zombies that end up biting your favorite pet.
Level 8 -   You flew to California on vacation, than Kim Jun Un nuked your home state, destroying everything you know.
Level 9 -  You grow a head that forms out of the flesh behind your ear, and it whispers "PC master race"in your ear.
Level 10 -  Your friend rips up your vectrex box.  Because.  "I didn't know you were saving it"


Now getting a badly scratched game?  About as inconveniencing as being 10 minutes late for work and hearing the boss say "You made it" condescendingly. 

About as inconveniencing as hitting a home run at your little league park, but then you realize you have one ball and now it's in the nether regions of the park where  corn pop and the rest of the bad boys hang. 


So in general no.  It's not too bad.   You just file a claim,  return it.  Get your money and try again.  Now if it's a game you are dying to play.  It inconveniences you more.  But  not quite as bad as it getting stolen.  At least you have something to return. 


I hope you get a good one soon Seether.   I undervalued how shitty it is for comedic effect :D.  It's lame.  Amazon sends me more broken stuff than not at this point.  Returning it is boring and mundane.

I approve of this rating system



Also, how can it be more annoying to pick up a remote, than to go through a tedious and convoluted returns process? That's worse than burgers with no cheese, by a lot. And why is Disney Land even on the scale of how annoyed you are? A level 1 is still annoyed.

i disagree lower ends of the scale could be you having a neutral reaction or on the very bottom end very happy with the deal that you've made.

level 1 is not annoyed it could actually have a positive effect upon receiving a broken disc. If i where to get a 150 - 300$ game for 5$ - 20$ and the disc is broken I'd be at lvl 1 and profit from the manual and packaging to name one example of actually being positive of receiving a broken game. it can happen maybe even more luck next time.

also as for examples a neutral scale say 2 to 3. i mean most returns from stores especially if your well known with said store but with good stores even for newcomers are super easy. sellers are human and make mistakes and refunds are very easily done with cash refunds. I'm pretty sure plenty of people would not be annoyed at all mistakes happen especially when they where regular customers of said store with good experiences in the past. doesn;t apply for all stores but for sure with the good ones.
Title: Re: Scenario: You order a game online and the disc is very badly scratched
Post by: hoshichiri on October 11, 2019, 11:57:08 am
The exact circumstances could also make for more complicated reactions. I bought Chaos Legion over the summer, and the game had light water damage to the art insert. I was disappointed. Then I opened the case and there was a 3rd Party memory card inside along with the game. I didn't need the memory card. I gave away the memory card. But it made me feel better about the whole thing, like I'd come out ahead even though the end result was still me having a slightly damaged game.

I bought a game from a Japanese seller this summer. It got all the way to my local post office & was returned. He made me pay again for re-shipment. Watched the tracking like a hawk- popped up 'return to sender' again. I had to wake up early on my only day off in a 2 week span to go to the Post Office, show them the tracking, and hope they could find it before it left. Took 30 minutes, but they found it- he'd written the wrong house number on the package. I could have raised a stink, but honestly I was so relieved to just have the game & be done with it, I don't think I even left negative feedback.
Title: Re: Scenario: You order a game online and the disc is very badly scratched
Post by: Warmsignal on October 11, 2019, 06:58:00 pm

also as for examples a neutral scale say 2 to 3. i mean most returns from stores especially if your well known with said store but with good stores even for newcomers are super easy. sellers are human and make mistakes and refunds are very easily done with cash refunds. I'm pretty sure plenty of people would not be annoyed at all mistakes happen especially when they where regular customers of said store with good experiences in the past. doesn;t apply for all stores but for sure with the good ones.

We're talking about eBay here. Where first you have to contact the seller and wait, then if they even agree that what they sold you is not good, issue a return label. Then you gotta print the return label, then you gotta pack it back up, then you gotta mail it off. Then you gotta wait for them to get it back, then they issue you a refund a week later if you count the time it took since you originally made the purchase. That's the smoothest it could possibly go. That's not fun. That's annoying.
Title: Re: Scenario: You order a game online and the disc is very badly scratched
Post by: sworddude on October 11, 2019, 08:05:44 pm

also as for examples a neutral scale say 2 to 3. i mean most returns from stores especially if your well known with said store but with good stores even for newcomers are super easy. sellers are human and make mistakes and refunds are very easily done with cash refunds. I'm pretty sure plenty of people would not be annoyed at all mistakes happen especially when they where regular customers of said store with good experiences in the past. doesn;t apply for all stores but for sure with the good ones.

We're talking about eBay here. Where first you have to contact the seller and wait, then if they even agree that what they sold you is not good, issue a return label. Then you gotta print the return label, then you gotta pack it back up, then you gotta mail it off. Then you gotta wait for them to get it back, then they issue you a refund a week later if you count the time it took since you originally made the purchase. That's the smoothest it could possibly go. That's not fun. That's annoying.

it could be ebay but the topic starter did not mention that it has to be ebay only.

Title: Re: Scenario: You order a game online and the disc is very badly scratched
Post by: Warmsignal on October 12, 2019, 07:51:18 pm
I really think we need a perpetual bad transaction thread meant for venting our frustrations that can be an ongoing thread, we might reach 100 pages by the end of the year.

This crap happened to me twice in the past few days. Both from eBay. "New" condition game comes with a piece of scotch tape over the edge... you know, like all new games do. What do you think new games are sealed? Are you nuts? Never mind that it smells funky like someone's house and there's a hole ripped in the back of the artwork. It's new!!!! It was so cheap though, that I just said screw it.

Then another purchase I paid quite a bit more for comes, poor condition. I request a return, and ohhhh no... can't accept the return. Who cares if I'm satisfied, he's already got my money!!!$$$$ Seriously, **** people like that. What a jerk. I just accepted a return from a near $100 order from someone. It's the decent thing to do.
Title: Re: Scenario: You order a game online and the disc is very badly scratched
Post by: dharmajones93 on October 14, 2019, 01:12:47 pm
Slightly off topic but relevant to this thread, I've had terrible experiences with returning products lately. Got a bad copy of Luigi's Mansion from Gamestop. Returned it with the return label (provided in the box) at a UPS drop box, only to have the broken game returned and on my doorstep the next day... After writing bad feedback and emailing their customer service I did have a new one in less than 48 hours, so I guess I can't really complain, but they didn't make it easy. I dare any of you to go to the Gamestop Knowledge base and decipher how exactly to return for an exchange a pre-owned product. I even took it to the local Gamestop, where they refused to take it because it was a Gamecube game.

Worse than this though, I requested a replacement part for a piece of home gym equipment. When the replacement arrived, it arrive with another package. The extra package weighed probably 50+ lbs. I opened it only to find it contained industrial machining tools and parts. They accidently printed two labels with my info and sent me the wrong thing. Not a huge problem, except they expect me to print a label and take it to a FedEx... Like, for crying out loud just order a pickup. It's like I'm being punished for buying a defective product!
Title: Re: Scenario: You order a game online and the disc is very badly scratched
Post by: Warmsignal on October 16, 2019, 02:18:28 pm
The other day I was told by GS employees that even if I placed an order online with an option to pick up at their store, they couldn't let me just have the copies that were there in-store. I'd have to wait for more to be shipped to them. Thus preventing me from getting the B1GH they had going unless I wanted to wait. Well, I realized I could get both games cheaper from eBay than their sale price. Oh well.

These kinds of things are hallmarks of a business prone to fail.
Title: Re: Scenario: You order a game online and the disc is very badly scratched
Post by: pzeke on November 01, 2019, 10:43:21 am
Quite pissed, to be perfectly honest; I hate when people waste my time.

I really think we need a perpetual bad transaction thread meant for venting our frustrations that can be an ongoing thread, we might reach 100 pages by the end of the year.

This crap happened to me twice in the past few days. Both from eBay. "New" condition game comes with a piece of scotch tape over the edge... you know, like all new games do. What do you think new games are sealed? Are you nuts? Never mind that it smells funky like someone's house and there's a hole ripped in the back of the artwork. It's new!!!! It was so cheap though, that I just said screw it.

Then another purchase I paid quite a bit more for comes, poor condition. I request a return, and ohhhh no... can't accept the return. Who cares if I'm satisfied, he's already got my money!!!$$$$ Seriously, **** people like that. What a jerk. I just accepted a return from a near $100 order from someone. It's the decent thing to do.

Yeah, I've had quite a number of "bad transactions" myself over the past few months. From people taking longer than they should to ship, to sellers downgrading the shipping, to orders passing their EDD by nearly a month because the seller either downgraded the shipping or wrote my address wrong, to receving items not as described, to dealing with new sellers and their "I'm a new seller" excuses. I've had a string of mediocre sellers one after the other that leaves me perplexed to put it mildly. I've never had to call eBay customer support, and so far I've had to do it more times than normal during the course of October.