'do you mind if I have a look at the disk please?'

[Popo]

If I'm buying a potentially dodgy second hand item, I alway smake sure to ask if there will be a problem with me bringing it back if it doesn't work, but because I buy alot of stuff online that's always actory sealed, I rarely have any problems like that.

[MartyG]

Well as this is NTSC-UK and I mostly deal buy new import games, I find it very difficult to inspect my purchases before paying for them, so rarely do I venture into GAME to buy PAL stuff to warrant asking - besides, PAL stuff is cheaper via Play.com

So to answer the question, no I generally don't inspect games before I buy them - though if I can with 2nd hand imports, I generally do.

Regards
Marty

[Kieran76]

I never buy from Game, but both Gamestation and Another World in Leicester always show me the disk before buying. I never have to ask. I dont think it is unreasonable to want to see a disk at all.

Just about the same here, Another World shows you the disc without you having to ask. It protects them just as much, they are always getting scrubby little kids trying to flog ruined games. Gamestation staff have never shown me a disc without asking; but then again I've sold them stuff in the past, including a GBA and they haven't even looked in the box so I'm always cautious.

[MartyG]

I can't believe there are so many people buying from Another World - the prices they charge there go beyond extortionate.

Regards
Marty

[RLench]

My local independent store has fantastic customer service. They will always ask me to look at the disc and manual, if they don't hand me a sealed disc. They have all 3 systems (plus several PCs) up and running throughout the day. If anyone asks to, they will let me play any game before I buy it. I've even asked to play a 2nd hand game because the disc looked a bit scratched and they said no problem.

I went in this week and asked if I could demo a 2nd hand GBA (not SP), to see what the picture quality was like. They let me, and didn't even keep an eye on me (and I was standing next to the door at the time). I said I was impressed with it and would probably buy it. The guy said their lighting was very good, and that outside, or at home, the picture would be a lot worse. It's very good to see such absolute honesty in a retailer. I'd like to see Game do something like that, never mind be so honest with a customer!


Shops like that really are a dying breed though.

[Kieran76]

I can't believe there are so many people buying from Another World - the prices they charge there go beyond extortionate.

Regards
Marty

They did have a spell a few months back where the shop in Leicester had some decent second hand DC games. I would never buy a new game from them.
?60 for GC WE6:FE, i don't think so.

[MartyG]

I don't think they are a dying breed, I don't think there's ever been enough like that in the first place to make it so - shops are in it for the profit afterall. It's the balance between catering to the regulars or the casual trade.

Good to see there are places around that are willing to be honest to customers though.

Regards
Marty

[?pint]

I think the N64 was the worst for games which were 'new'. People would totally trash the boxes, then take them back before ten days, and then they'd be stocked on the shelves as new. I used to expect pristine boxes, completely perfect and manuals and inlays to suit. And what would I get? Something that looks like it has been sat on, and a dog-eared and torn manual. Great. The answer? Buy online.... you'd think N64 games would get busted going through the post, but they don't. And I laughed one time when I was selling some games in CEX (don't ask... I was young and foolish and poor) and the guy commented on what good condition the games were in. They weren't particularly outstanding, just that I would always hold the disc on the edge and replace it in it's case after use. It makes you wonder what some people actually do with their stuff to get it in such dodgy condition...

[Che Musashi]

I'll buy second hand ocassionly, but if I can I'll buy new and I don't buy anything with greatest hits on the label.

Used stuff is usually dodgy especially if you buy it over the internet. I had to buy Lunar Silver Story Complete that way. It looks ok but I would have preferred it new instead.

But I keep all my GBA boxes and try and keep the manuals and everything for my games in top condition.

[MartyG]

" It makes you wonder what some people actually do with their stuff to get it in such dodgy condition"

For many people at NTSC-UK we aren't the casual market - we like our games, we like how they look and we want them to be in good condition - and as many of us are collectors, we're unlikely to be selling our games anyway.

So cut to those who sell to CEX, and lets face it, the majority of 2nd hand stuff at CEX is PAL, we're talking about casuals who don't really care about how the disks are handled - they're wanting to sell stuff to get the next Fifa (well for example's sake).

Please note that I'm not dissing PAL games over NTSC games (as I own lots of both), more that casual gamers don't really care about looking after their games because it's not really a collection thing - therefore it doesn't really matter - so a lot of 2nd hand stuff is in poor condition.

Regards
Marty

[lordcookie]

I can't believe there are so many people buying from Another World - the prices they charge there go beyond extortionate.

Regards
Marty

I never buy new games there, but as has been said already they had some very cheap DC games a while back, and their second hand prices are pretty reasonable.

[Mayhem]

Every games shop I bought something in when over in the US showed me the disc before it went into the box with the manual. Guess it's the policy where I went because presumably too many people asked them before

[xtremeboat]

Another World in Leicester are good for PAL stuff. A few weeks ago I picked up a mint copy of DC Skies Of Arcadia for ?15. They always show you the disc too. Imports are way overpriced though, but I get those online.

[RLench]

I live in a small town with 2 indy shops, a Woolworths, Comet and a Currys


The two indy shops have been fantastic with me for maybe 8 or 9 years. Maybe it's because I've been going there for so long, I don't know, but I'd never buy a new game from a Game/Gamestation/HMV etc. I've never had a problem with their games and their prices are always lower than the RRP (plus they sometimes sell the games a few days earlier than the release )

Even their 2nd hand stuff is in great condition - I've even seen them refuse rare N64 games because the box was damaged.

MartyG - you're totally right.

I only started my DC collection this year (long story) - anyway I've been looking for classic games that I'd never played. The quality of some 2nd hand stuff (all PAL) is just shocking. I bought a copy of Street Fighter Alpha 3 and the dumb git wrote his initials all over the cover, inlay, manual and disc. I didn't even check until I got home. Luckily it worked ok and was only ?5 so no harm done. Still, it really annoyed me

[Streets Of Rage]

the initials weren't EB by any chance, i hate electronics boutique writing all over games, i only buy s/h from there if ive no alternative or its extremely cheap, a trick for getting the writing off ur disc is to spray it with deodorant it'll then wipe straight off (if you didnt know that alredy )