False Listings & Sticker Residue

[DaytonaUSA]

I'm a pretty lax guy when it comes to eBay auctions, and I know there's a percentage of time you will get screwed when buying on eBay. But this one really got under my skin.

 

I just purchased a "mint condition! no wear! like new" condition Rocket Robot on Wheels for the N64. The crappy pictures sure made it seem like it was mint, so I bought it.

 

I just got it in today, and there's nothing but old, gunky, half sticky sticker residue on the front and back labels. Not on the cart... no, no, they missed EVERY bit of plastic. But the labels (that you can't wash/clean without stripping the label of it's print) are completely covered in nasty sticker residue.

 

Needless to say I'm ticked. If he had let me know, that's one thing. But really? Do eBayers even know what MINT CONDITION even means?

 

I'm not going to complain about a scratch or some minor damage, but this thing literally feels nasty in your hand. Frankly, I wouldn't even both with eBay if it wasn't for the selection. If an AA member had the game for sale, I'd have bought it here instead. Ticks me off...

[The Usotsuki]

inb4 "Mint Condition: I dunno what it means except it sure makes me a mint!"

[DaytonaUSA]

inb4 "Mint Condition: I dunno what it means except it sure makes me a mint!"

 

 

Yeah, really. Seller offered me 50% discount on the item, but claimed he never felt any sticker residue.

 

Apparently the seller is Gex the gecko, and has naturally sticky paws.

[Tales from the Game Room]

One time, about 10 years or so ago, I purchased a few Dreamcast games that were sold as new and hardly played. I got them for more than half what they were going for new, so needless to say, I was very excited about it.

 

Well, when the games came in, they were burnt copies. Hell, the game discs were the black Playstation game discs. So, I contacted Ebay and the seller, because I was swindled. Even though the games were copies, and illegal ones at that, Ebay did nothing to help. All they did was ban the user, who I never heard from ever again. But banning a user does nothing, as I am sure that the person simply re-registered under a different alias.

 

I have not used Ebay for much after that, but I feel your pain, and I feel that not much has changed when it comes to Ebay. People will use Ebay to swindle others, and Ebay either contractually keeps out of it, or states that the dollar amount must be substantial for them to act...which probably was not the case in your case, and was certainly not mine.

 

My advice: Reach out and contact the seller. Ask questions...almost to the point of absurdity...especially if the item is rare.

 

I was too trusting back then, but not any longer. Now, I aim my sights to be more of a conscience consumer. If people do not want to answer your questions, or take their time in getting back to you, as good as a deal may be, it might be better to simply pass on it.

[Video]

I bought a bunch of "original" TG 16 CD games way back, and naturally they were burned copies.

 

It surprises me how many people on Ebay will say "original packaging" and the pic they post is clearly a bare cart with shrinkwrap on it. I mean, WTF?! I'm sure there may have been some game on some system that came with only plastic wrap, but for the most cart, they were all boxed.

 

Not sure why Gamestop or Game Xchange (the two primary offenders I've seen) even bother wraping a cart game in plastic, they didn't used to, but why would someone buy something from gamestop and assume it is original to have plastic wrap.

[Reaperman]

 

Needless to say I'm ticked. If he had let me know, that's one thing. But really? Do eBayers even know what MINT CONDITION even means?

 

Yeah, especially since it sounds like he wasn't listing a sealed game. I'm not sure how ripping through the product's packaging doesn't automatically make 'mint' a lie.