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akakaze

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Import Resale And Importance of Descriptions

As a frequent import gamer, I've run into a problem that has become more and more prevalent as of late.  
 
When I am finished with import games, and the time comes to resell them, I run into an issue.  Amazon, where I like to do most of my game buying and selling, does not have listings for all of the import software I sell, so I will often put my import copies up for sale under the listings Amazon does have.  In the case when there is both an import and domestic version, I do not post the import version under the domestic version listing UNLESS THE GAME IS NOT CURRENTLY RELEASED DOMESTICALLY - this is an important distinction.
 
Ever since gaming has become more casual, I've ran into a huge problem - people who do one-click ordering and don't look at descriptions, and then complain to me when the item they receive isn't what they've ordered - only it actually IS what they've ordered.  This is ESPECIALLY prevalent among Wii consumers - a guy from Utah thought he was going to get arrested because the back of the Milestone Shooting Collection game he mistakenly ordered from me stated 'FOR JAPAN ONLY'.  Another time, a soccer mom from Massachusetts bought a copy of the Japan-exclusive Nintendo Puzzle Collection and told me it was broken because it wouldn't play in her Gamecube, after explaining to her that she needed special devices to play imports she still didn't understand and thought the GBA cable I shipped with the game was the "Action Replay" device she needed to play the game - thus the game I sent her was obviously broken.  After 3 email exchanges, I gave up and refunded her - after she shipped the game back to me...which of course, worked perfectly with my JP Wii and ActionReplay + GC.
 
  When I put an import game up on Amazon, I follow three specific rules: 
1.)  I do not post an import game under a domestic listing unless the game is not released domestically;
2.)  In the case when I do post an import game, I state in the description that it is an import and will work with imported consoles only in the case of region locked games;
3.)  I mark the condition field as USED (which, in combination with rule 1, means people should actually understand what they're buying).
 
Before I get the response of "SELL ON EBAY INSTEAD", I do, but prefer Amazon generally due to turnaround on purchases, ease of use, and protection (I've been burned by a few 'lost' games that have actually been delivered when selling on eBay).   I am not trying to rip people off here, and have always refunded those that come to me - though I am never ceased to be amazed by the idiocy of some of my customers in regards to the products they order.
 
So I ask you, GiantBomb, who is in the wrong here?  Me, for selling the games on Amazon , or the people who don't read the description before ordering a used copy of an unreleased game?

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akakaze

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Edited By akakaze

As a frequent import gamer, I've run into a problem that has become more and more prevalent as of late.  
 
When I am finished with import games, and the time comes to resell them, I run into an issue.  Amazon, where I like to do most of my game buying and selling, does not have listings for all of the import software I sell, so I will often put my import copies up for sale under the listings Amazon does have.  In the case when there is both an import and domestic version, I do not post the import version under the domestic version listing UNLESS THE GAME IS NOT CURRENTLY RELEASED DOMESTICALLY - this is an important distinction.
 
Ever since gaming has become more casual, I've ran into a huge problem - people who do one-click ordering and don't look at descriptions, and then complain to me when the item they receive isn't what they've ordered - only it actually IS what they've ordered.  This is ESPECIALLY prevalent among Wii consumers - a guy from Utah thought he was going to get arrested because the back of the Milestone Shooting Collection game he mistakenly ordered from me stated 'FOR JAPAN ONLY'.  Another time, a soccer mom from Massachusetts bought a copy of the Japan-exclusive Nintendo Puzzle Collection and told me it was broken because it wouldn't play in her Gamecube, after explaining to her that she needed special devices to play imports she still didn't understand and thought the GBA cable I shipped with the game was the "Action Replay" device she needed to play the game - thus the game I sent her was obviously broken.  After 3 email exchanges, I gave up and refunded her - after she shipped the game back to me...which of course, worked perfectly with my JP Wii and ActionReplay + GC.
 
  When I put an import game up on Amazon, I follow three specific rules: 
1.)  I do not post an import game under a domestic listing unless the game is not released domestically;
2.)  In the case when I do post an import game, I state in the description that it is an import and will work with imported consoles only in the case of region locked games;
3.)  I mark the condition field as USED (which, in combination with rule 1, means people should actually understand what they're buying).
 
Before I get the response of "SELL ON EBAY INSTEAD", I do, but prefer Amazon generally due to turnaround on purchases, ease of use, and protection (I've been burned by a few 'lost' games that have actually been delivered when selling on eBay).   I am not trying to rip people off here, and have always refunded those that come to me - though I am never ceased to be amazed by the idiocy of some of my customers in regards to the products they order.
 
So I ask you, GiantBomb, who is in the wrong here?  Me, for selling the games on Amazon , or the people who don't read the description before ordering a used copy of an unreleased game?

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MattyFTM

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Edited By MattyFTM  Moderator

Never trust the general public. The general public are idiots. I know someone who tried to sell his broken DS on ebay once. The item was clearly listed as "Broken DS lite", and he went into more detail in the description about what was wrong with it, and stated it was only suitable for a repair, or to be used for spare parts. Someone put in a bid in the last seconds of the auction (obviously they saw it with only a few seconds to go, and put in a bid without reading it). They read it in more detail after the bid, and refused to pay, giving a reason something like "Why the hell would you sell a broken console on eBay? You were obviously trying to scam people!!!!!!". In the end he was forced to relist it and sell it to someone else.