When Buying a New Console Game Online, Do You Expect It to Be Shrink Wrapped?

ozchappy on 25/06/2021 - 20:51

I bought a few games in the recent Catch/Latitude Pay offer, however only 1 came shrink wrapped. They all appeared "new", however I expect brand new to mean brand new when I purchase something online. As I commented on the deal post, I can understand retail shops needing to have at least one display box open so stock doesn't get discounted by five fingers all the time, but they still usually have a drawer full of brand new, shrink wrapped games somewhere.

Am I being overly neurotic or do I have a legitimate concern? I've emailed them a polite email suggesting that in future they notify users if the games will be opened or not, and that will be the end of it for me, but it has been lingering in my mind whether I should have even sent that email to them.

What say you OzBargainers?

Poll Options expired

  • 40
    Brand New Should Mean Brand New, In Original Packaging
  • 1
    Brand New Without Original Packaging and Minimal Wear is Fine
  • 8
    II Should Not Have Made This Thread, What am I, a Child?
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Comments

  • Hybroid on 25/06/2021 - 20:52
    +1

    PlayStation games should always be sealed. Every single one I've ordered new, both locally and from UK or US are always sealed. EBGames locally are an exception and hit or miss so I don't buy games there, not priced competitively anyway.

    Switch games I've heard is a mixed bag but largely sealed too.

    • ozchappy on 25/06/2021 - 20:54

      These were Switch games. And one included a single use, scratch off code for DLC or whatever. One of my concerns is who's to say some sticky fingers might stick to the card inside the case, which wouldn't be a problem if it were sealed.

      • Hybroid on 25/06/2021 - 20:56
        +1

        All Amazon Switch games I've had are sealed (Pokemon, BotW etc). I don't trust places like Catch/Kogan so never order from them.

        • ozchappy on 25/06/2021 - 21:02

          I wish I knew they were price matching on the day - I found out about the Catch deal which expired at midnight after I'd had a few drinks, and without wanting to miss the deal, I neglected to check OzBargain first (which I would have also found out about an extra percentage discount I could have used by purchasing gift cards). I won't make that mistake again. Always check OzBargain before a purchase, even if you think it's a bargain, someone most likely has already posted about it here.

        • Swapware on 25/06/2021 - 22:02
          +6

          Not true - Many Nintendo First Party games don't come factory sealed because they are packed at Nintendo's HQ in Stud Park Victoria as the cartridges come in through extra secure transit from Japan.

          Titles that have additional prints are sometimes manufactured in a facility in Queensland (eg, Pokemon, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Animal Crossing (after first print).

          Eg - Mario Golf is not sealed
          Game Garage is not sealed
          DC Super Girls not sealed
          Miitopia Not Sealed
          Bravely Default II….
          Cadence of Hyrule….
          Minecraft Dungeons - Heroes Edition….
          Super Mario 3D All Stars…
          Pokemon Snap ..etc

          Swapware Games

          • Hybroid on 25/06/2021 - 22:06

            @Swapware: Nothing I said is untrue. Holding a sealed AU copy of Breath of the Wild right now.

            • Swapware on 25/06/2021 - 22:08
              +5

              @Hybroid: Because that game has gone through multiple prints ..like 8 prints now in Australia

          • ozchappy on 25/06/2021 - 22:09
            +1

            @Swapware: When you say "after first print", do you mean that the first print happens in Japan, and they expected to sell 500,000 copies in AU but exceeded expectations and had to print another 100,000 in AU, therefore the AU print won't have factory seals/shrink wrap due to the cartridges arriving from Japan to be placed in Australian printed labels/boxes?

            *Edit: I think I got it wrong, and you mean the cartridges are printed in second and subsequent "prints" in AU, therefore they are also sealed here - is that correct?

            Apologies for not knowing the ins and outs or terminology.

            • Swapware on 25/06/2021 - 22:29
              +7

              @ozchappy: I'll just give an example thats easy to understand. This only applies to Nintendo First Party Titles (you almost had it right..lol)

              There are 3 different cartridges made in Japan - USA - EUR and JPN (after mario odyssey was released before that there were AUS and ASI cartridges)

              The first print is always done in Japan for security reasons, then cartridges are sent to Kentucky US, Leipzig EUR, Melbourne AUS and Hong Kong ASI

              Both US and Europe go to manufacturing facilities, Hong Kong the same , however in Australia they are hand packaged at Nintendos Head Office in Melbourne.

              Once the cartridges are exhausted (ie. first print) then the next lot (next print) are manufactured in a secret facility somewhere in QLD - these copies ALWAYS come factory sealed.

              Example - Animal Crossing (First Print - March - Not Sealed, Second Print - June - Sealed, Third Print December - Sealed) etc..etc..
              Luigis Mansion 3 (First Print - Not Sealed, Second Print - Sealed, No Third Print Yet)

              Pokemon games are 'mostly' manufactured & distributed direct from Japan through 'the Pokemon Company' - I noticed Pokemon Snap however was done through Nintendo (Same with Pokemon Rescue Team DX)

              ALSO Bandai Namco Entertainment Australia is the same for security reasons however they shrink wrap there switch games before shipping.

              Hope that shines a light on how Switch Games are distributed in Australia and Worldwide

              • ozchappy on 25/06/2021 - 22:54

                @Swapware: Wow thanks for taking the time to share that. I understand a lot clearer now.

      • twadds on 25/06/2021 - 20:59
        +1

        Switch games often don't come shrink wrapped from the manufacturer.

        • ozchappy on 25/06/2021 - 21:03

          Right, thanks for the input. I wonder why that's the case. As I said, one of the games was shrink wrapped, and I don't believe it has any bonus DLC cards inside.

        • Swapware on 25/06/2021 - 22:04
          +1

          Every Australian release done through a third party (excluding Nintendo) is Factory Sealed.
          Overseas release - always factory sealed.

          • trustnoone on 25/06/2021 - 22:11
            +1

            @Swapware: this is something I've heard also. Not sure if I'm right on this but was told basically if its sealed either eb games did it internally or its likely a UK similar/based copy for switch games.

            • Swapware on 25/06/2021 - 22:47
              +1

              @trustnoone: Resealing games in my opinion is dishonest.. Sometimes companies do it to stick the australian classification (for imports on the actual case) then reseal the case (thats an exception though, following Australian classification standards), Bandai Namco didnt do it to Oninaki (stuck the M rating on the outside of the seal) and they left collection of mana opened with the rating sticker..

  • funnysht on 25/06/2021 - 21:10

    don't worry..in a month you'll either have
    1) finished the game or
    2) chucked the game out since it was shit

    either way i dont think you'll care if it was gift wrapped or not.

    • ozchappy on 25/06/2021 - 21:15

      You may very well be correct, however I enjoy giving gifts to those younger than me.

      I remember the feeling of unwrapping something brand new for the first time and knowing that you were the first person to own it. Plus, it just seems a little unprofessional. But I'm not too worried either way, I'm sure the games are fine and nobody will complain if I give them something that doesn't appear 100% brand new off the factory conveyor belt.

  • Mechz on 25/06/2021 - 21:15
    +5

    20 years ago when I worked at Harvey Norman in the computer department we had a shrink wrap machine so we could borrow the games then reseal them and put them back on the shelf.

    I imagine your world will crumble after learning this information and nothing you buy new will ever look the same because you'll never know if it's actually untouched from the factory, or just resealed.

    You're welcome. No thanks necessary.

    • ozchappy on 25/06/2021 - 21:17

      I already knew about that, I worked with a guy who had one. Sorry, you can't give me a complex, I'd really like something else to fret over instead of existential dread.

      • Mechz on 25/06/2021 - 21:19

        If you already know then why bother wondering? If the game works and looks brand new, it probably is. Why do you need more plastic if it's already in a case?

        • ozchappy on 25/06/2021 - 21:20

          It's silly, I know, but like I said earlier I couldn't get it out of my head. Why wouldn't they re-seal them? Why did they unseal them in the first place, if in fact they did? Why are we the third rock from the sun which will eventually burn out and die, killing every known form of life that has ever been known, or will be known?

          It's a mystery.

          • Mechz on 25/06/2021 - 21:25

            @ozchappy: Likely they didn't come from the factory with wrap on them, cost saving etc. Or if they did, they were unsealed to be inspected.

            • ozchappy on 25/06/2021 - 21:33

              @Mechz: Yeah tjat kinda makes sense, but there's still the mystery of one shrink wrapped game and multiple without.

              Catch are a pretty large company, or group of companies now, I believe. Being the EOFY, I reckon they were trying to get rid of a bunch of stock to get them in the books this financial year for whatever purpose they may have for doing that. I personally would like to know when buying something physical, such as a Switch game, that it is in fact brand new, coming in shrink wrap alleviates almost all of my concerns. Unless, of course, there's no game inside or there is obvious damage to the shrink wrapped item. I expect this would be rare, though.

              Still, I appreciate your comments.

  • pharkurnell on 25/06/2021 - 23:20
    -1

    Wheres the option Do I Give a Shit ???

    • ozchappy on 25/06/2021 - 23:33
      +2

      Right where all the other posts you can ignore are?

    • Heaps for Cheaps on 26/06/2021 - 06:27
      +1

      You see, this wasn't a post specifically asking for your feedback.

      We all aren't going around making YOUR priorities our very own like you're the beacon of light showing us the way.

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