SNK Packaging Goof?

Joneo

Joneo

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I got a "new" Alpha Mission II in the mail today. I'd intended to leave it sealed, but due to the insert sticking up above the window and having some spine tears, I decided to open it to re-seat the artwork.

What greeted me inside was a brand new... Ninja Combat!? Double-Yoo-Tee-Eff? :confused:

AM2_Combat.jpg


What's worse is that the seller had previously sent me a used cart+book only copy of AM2 in place of the "new/sealed" one I paid for.

Since they sent me a prepaid return label & this one was indeed sealed when I got it, I'm not assuming shenanigans, but it has been a strange and frustrating ordeal.

I contacted them, but am not really sure what to expect. FWIW, I've bought from them once before and it was 100% perfect.

At any rate, I'm curious; has anyone else had a strange experience like this? Ever open a Neo game to find something other than what you expected? :annoyed:
 
Kid Panda

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uh, the only way a neo game is new is that little sticker on the side right? i think you got duped, got your monies back
 
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dedalusdedalus

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Hm, I dunno if it's just the camera or something but it looks like there's a smudge or an insertion mark on the right side of the cart...if that's the case, I call shennanigans.
 
Jaelus

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dedalusdedalus said:
Hm, I dunno if it's just the camera or something but it looks like there's a smudge or an insertion mark on the right side of the cart...if that's the case, I call shennanigans.
Click to expand...

I was thinking the same thing. That doesn't look like a minty fresh cart.
 
Joneo

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Kidpanda said:
uh, the only way a neo game is new is that little sticker on the side right? i think you got duped, got your monies back
Click to expand...
Yes, the sticker was intact and looked legitimate (no air/haze underneath it). I lifted the seal and both the vinyl & cart inside emitted the unmistakable new Neo Geo smell.
The spine tears were already disappointing to see on a new game, but it's not impossible to find that issue either. :/

dedalusdedalus said:
Hm, I dunno if it's just the camera or something but it looks like there's a smudge or an insertion mark on the right side of the cart...if that's the case, I call shennanigans.
Click to expand...
The manual baggie had a small piece of tape over the flap and it left sticker residue there. Definitely no insertion marks on the cart.
 
cdamm

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its still not what you bought. return, yo.
 
Kid Panda

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jon, ive got aes carts with that sticker that i have opened, you cannot tell when i reseal them, im just saying :/
 
mr_b

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Follow the everyone's advice, if that's from Ebay you need to file a complaint. Hard part is proving you aren't trying to pull a fast one. I've started buying everything paypal related using my credit card so I have double protection.
 
Joneo

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Kidpanda said:
jon, ive got aes carts with that sticker that i have opened, you cannot tell when i reseal them, im just saying :/
Click to expand...
Oh wow, I had no idea they were possible to (convincingly) re-seal.
I still can't see a business going to that much trouble to dupe me, pay to send back the first one and do it again. They were even charging the same price for both games. :conf:

mr_b said:
Follow the everyone's advice, if that's from Ebay you need to file a complaint. Hard part is proving you aren't trying to pull a fast one. I've started buying everything paypal related using my credit card so I have double protection.
Click to expand...
It wasn't from the 'bay. I would have been more suspicious if it was and they hadn't already sent me a pre-paid return label (for the first mix-up). It was a credit card payment, but I'd rather not resort to a chargeback unless there was absolutely no other option.
 
Renmauzo

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Just playing devil's advocate here, but it is possible there was a mix up in packaging during the production process. I once got in a factory sealed copy of FFXI on PC that had the master disc of the game inside the box.

If the seller is willing to take full responsibility, then it's either the aforementioned scenario or he gave false information about the product being new, mixed carts to boxes while trying to pass off a re-pack as new, and will placate you in favor of not being exposed as a fraud.
 
Kid Panda

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see if they will refund the shipping too, cause that is seller error and you shouldnt be penalzied for that
 
Joneo

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Renmauzo said:
Just playing devil's advocate here, but it is possible there was a mix up in packaging during the production process. I once got in a factory sealed copy of FFXI on PC that had the master disc of the game inside the box.

If the seller is willing to take full responsibility, then it's either the aforementioned scenario or he gave false information about the product being new, mixed carts to boxes while trying to pass off a re-pack as new, and will placate you in favor of not being exposed as a fraud.
Click to expand...
Yes, this is my assumption (factory mis-match). It's definitely been weird, but I'm not suspecting they pulled a fast one (though not impossible, the scenario doesn't quite seem fit the facts). It's lose-lose for us both, so I assume I was just unlucky with this oddity.

Kidpanda said:
see if they will refund the shipping too, cause that is seller error and you shouldnt be penalzied for that
Click to expand...
Other than hunting down a box to ship it back to them, they've already provided for the first return.
 
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doggydodomi

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The same thing happened to me abt 8 yrs back. These brand new sealed AES carts were not on the market then. I got mine from a very reputation vendor in my country, NOS and sealed from their warehouse. I was there on a liquidation buy out and witness the opening of the carton box (from SNK) so there were no reason to suspect tampering (at least on my end).

When the packages were open for checking and resales at my office, I have a number of Alpha Mission that contain Ninja Combat cart and manual inside.

My stock of NOS Alpha Mission with the Ninja Combat did NOT make it to the market. They were resold as loose cart with manual and empty new vinyl case.
 
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holyver

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Joneo said:
I got a "new" Alpha Mission II in the mail today. I'd intended to leave it sealed, but due to the insert sticking up above the window and having some spine tears, I decided to open it to re-seat the artwork.

What greeted me inside was a brand new... Ninja Combat!? Double-Yoo-Tee-Eff? :confused:

AM2_Combat.jpg


What's worse is that the seller had previously sent me a used cart+book only copy of AM2 in place of the "new/sealed" one I paid for.

Since they sent me a prepaid return label & this one was indeed sealed when I got it, I'm not assuming shenanigans, but it has been a strange and frustrating ordeal.

I contacted them, but am not really sure what to expect. FWIW, I've bought from them once before and it was 100% perfect.

At any rate, I'm curious; has anyone else had a strange experience like this? Ever open a Neo game to find something other than what you expected? :annoyed:
Click to expand...

only Kinder car deliver the same level of surprise
 
Joneo

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doggydodomi said:
The same thing happened to me abt 8 yrs back. These brand new sealed AES carts were not on the market then. I got mine from a very reputation vendor in my country, NOS and sealed from their warehouse. I was there on a liquidation buy out and witness the opening of the carton box (from SNK) so there were no reason to suspect tampering (at least on my end).

When the packages were open for checking and resales at my office, I have a number of Alpha Mission that contain Ninja Combat cart and manual inside.

My stock of NOS Alpha Mission with the Ninja Combat did NOT make it to the market. They were resold as loose cart with manual and empty new vinyl case.
Click to expand...
So this exact scenario has happened before? Interesting... and strangely reassuring. Thanks for letting me know!
 
D

doggydodomi

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I have a couples that contain ASO II with corresponding japanese manual but with dogtag case as well.



Joneo said:
So this exact scenario has happened before? Interesting... and strangely reassuring. Thanks for letting me know!
Click to expand...
 
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Jaelus

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Have you tried playing it to see if the game is actually ninja combat and is not something else mislabeled?
 
T

trenog

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That's such a weird thing to happen if it's actually a distribute thing rather than a seller thing. If it's a seller thing though, fuck it. Get the guy on the line and tell them what's up
 
Electric Grave

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That's what you get for buying games you intent to keep sealed. Horrible side of video gaming in my opinion.
 
Comrade Porn King Mikhail

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I used to own three completely unused old-style case sticker sheets. They came 15 per sheet IIRC. Shawn had some in his store back around 2002. Anyone who picked those up, or happened upon a stash of them, can whip up "new" home carts.

Another reason to switch to MVS and have less hassles :)
 
phipscube

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I've bought a few NOS sealed games and most of them came with the inner trays smashed, and the outer part either squashed on the spine, or torn. I wanted to use the games but also have satisfaction in opening the seal to get that brand new game feeling, its disappointing to open and find damage. One was so bad that when I demanded a refund, the guy said the cases often "fall apart" in shipping because of their age.... hmmm, right. I finally got a new box sent (after I said i'd buy another game to get it sent), and it was one of those sealed empty boxes, it arrived in mint condition.... but why would anyone at SNK officially seal empty boxes? It doesn't add up. Suffice to say i've stopped going for these NOS games now.
 
Electric Grave

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I've only owned a handulf of AES carts that were brand new, the rest were always games I got by trading my oldies but they were in great shape. Personally I didn't buy any AES carts online, it was in person, it wasn't until I switched to MVS that I started aqcuiring things of this nature online. That very particular smell the new Neo games produce is very unique, I haven't seen any other carts have that smell. I've opened all my new Neo games right away, the same can't be said about other consoles and is not 'cause I'm gonna collect them like a douche but 'cause I'm just not gonna play it yet. The other day I ended up opening at least 12 gameboy advance games, some were doubles for multiplayer, some dumb idea I started ever since the Neo Geo Pocket...never again.
 
Comrade Porn King Mikhail

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Back when NCSX and Buy-Rite got their original NOS restocks around 2000-2002 you could easily get home carts new and minty. I remember getting at least a dozen games from them, everything from Cyberlip, NAM, Ghost Pilots, to Top Hunter and Sengoku 2 euros, all with minty inserts and trays that didn't have a single crack. You have to imagine, since then it's been close to ten years of selling and reselling to various subdistributors with boxes being tossed back and forth. Going for a NOS home cart nowadays there is no guarantee that anything will be mint inside and no blame to be placed on the retailer.

If I was to ever go back and have a home cart system just for a half dozen 1990-91 classics (which would be a waste of money at this point considering I barely even have a chance to play my MVS), I would not even consider buying NOS carts.

ElectricGrave said:
I've opened all my new Neo games right away, the same can't be said about other consoles and is not 'cause I'm gonna collect them like a douche but 'cause I'm just not gonna play it yet.
Click to expand...

Yup, I have the same philosophy. The few rare situations where I pick up PS3 games, or Blu-Rays, on Black Friday sales, I do not open anything until I'm ready to play. This way if you ever change your mind odds are you can make your money back on the sealed game.
 
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