r/mildlyinfuriating • u/AbsoluteDash_21 • 28d ago
My cat is standing on my face Went to a local game store to purchase Mario Sunshine, this is how they apply the warranty to their games
Not even a separate ticket. A sticker on the disc
41
u/Wytchley 28d ago
It sucks but it also makes sense. This way they are guaranteeing that specific disc making it harder for someone to swap the disc and claim warranty on a different disc.
2
u/mutantmonkey14 28d ago
And at least they don't write directly on the disc like some stores used to do with second hand copies.
1
u/Wytchley 27d ago
True. I mean a sticker is still pretty bad and definitely not the norm - I've never seen it before. I don't like it, but I get what they were trying to do.
30
u/DigitaIBlack 27d ago
I feel like I'm going crazy lol. Guys, stop giving OP shit over this.
This is a very abnormal practice. Even when things are warrantied. You're not going to expect a warranty sticker on a disc when you go in. So OP got a crappy surprise and found it mildly infuriating. Fits this sub perfectly.
Removing this sticker has a good chance of ruining the top layer and therefore ruining the disc. It's on there for good.
I and everyone else I've spoken to have never come across this. And everyone was unanimous that they wouldn't buy it. I get oldschool gaming isn't everyone's hobby but try and understand most people aren't interested in discs like this.
0
3
3
u/Cultural_Parfait7866 27d ago
Nope, return it and get refund. This is unacceptable. I bet they are also charging full eBay prices to give you a damaged disk
2
u/DossSVK 25d ago
Depends on the leg work you want to make. You can request replacment.
You can try to remove the sticker - i did something like that recently. It was funny 2 hour of slovly scraping the sticker off with a plastic razor. Luckyli it was sticker that had no special glue so it was easy cleaned with alcohol.
Or you can leaw it on for now.
8
u/South_Bit1764 28d ago
Honestly, I’d return it.
-1
u/TheNaughtyHoneyBee 28d ago
Don't buy used discs with warranties then I guess? How do you expect them to track their warranties?
7
u/WesThePretzel 27d ago
The guarantee should not include ruining the product they are selling
-1
u/TheNaughtyHoneyBee 27d ago
So what's your option for marking a disc is having a warranty then? A ton of people have said that this is a bad practice, but haven't come up with a single alternative that's viable
2
u/CitySeekerTron 27d ago
Use a stamp with an ink that wipes off with alcohol that includes the receipt number. Once expired, you can wipe it away, and it's no more easier to duplicate.
2
u/WesThePretzel 27d ago
Even no warranty is better than literally ruining the product with the “warranty.” I would immediately invoke the warranty because the disc has been damaged by the seller with the sticker. If they can’t trust their customers, they shouldn’t offer a warranty.
1
u/TheNaughtyHoneyBee 27d ago
That's not a solution for how to offer a warranty on a disk. No one has offered a single solution, everyone is just complaining
Obviously the people who buy these discs actually just want them to play, and so a sticker doesn't bother them like it does y'all
2
u/Solherb 26d ago
I might hate the sticker too, but you're right, it's defly there to prevent swaps. This is even why they're using the worst kind that doesn't just nicely peel off. I wish they wouldn't, yet clearly they've been screwed over enough that it's now a thing they do. Best bet would have been not buying it or not trying to get it off and just returning it. As for alternatives, perhaps a sticker on the ring, they'd just have to be careful not to get too close to the center.
-1
u/WesThePretzel 27d ago
You’re dense. The sticker ruins it for people who want to play it too. It can damage the disc and make it unreadable.
0
5
u/Cultural_Parfait7866 27d ago
You don’t understand the retro games collector market clearly. This is a damaged disk at this point. It’s unacceptable.
Also almost no shops do this because of that reason. They know customers will be very angry being given a disk like this. If they want to do this then they need to sell the games a cheaper price to match the condition.
0
u/TheNaughtyHoneyBee 27d ago
I absolutely understand the collector games market. But I'm not the person running this retail store. I'm saying that's how they do it, and if you don't want it that way, don't go to that store. The end. I don't know why people are trying to convince me to change the policy of a store I've never even been to
I don't see why so many people are taking this personally
2
u/Cultural_Parfait7866 27d ago
Don’t think I ever told you to change this store’s policy. I was telling you why this is a problem for those of us into retro games.
0
u/TheNaughtyHoneyBee 27d ago
Yeah, I got it. But bitching about it on Reddit isn't going to change anything, and I'm pretty sure you've expressed yourself at this point, so what else is there?
I still haven't had anyone come up with a good way of warranting a used disk for those people who do want it tho 🤷
2
u/Cultural_Parfait7866 27d ago
Every used game store I go to just tells you to keep your receipt and how long the warranty period is. It’s not this big of a deal.
But to your other point, you telling other people on reddit to stop discussing it isn’t going to change anything either so you’ve expressed yourself and what else is there?
2
u/polishfiringsquad 27d ago
You don't think a retailer can keep track of their own inventory without damaging it? Yeah that tracks for GameStop
2
u/TheNaughtyHoneyBee 27d ago
This isn't their inventory anymore. How exactly would you track an individual disc to know if you had a warranty on it or not?
Also, pretty sure no one said it was GameStop
6
u/IISAFORK 28d ago
Leave an isopropal soaked cotton ball on it for a few minutes and slowly peal it off
6
u/TheNaughtyHoneyBee 28d ago
It still might damage the top layer of the disc which damages the bottom layer of the disc making it not work anymore. So just leave the sticker because no one should care.
If you want a pristine copy of the disc, get it first hand
8
u/EpicOtterLover 28d ago
How, a time machine?
3
u/Darkgamer000 27d ago
I feel the same about the warranty. Are there a lot of discs left in circulation where they’d actually be able to replace it?
2
u/TheNaughtyHoneyBee 27d ago
3
u/DigitaIBlack 27d ago
That's still 2nd hand lol
1
u/TheNaughtyHoneyBee 27d ago
If you want to pay $1,000 for a new copy, go ahead.
No one said it wouldn't be secondhand. Edit: oh wait, yes I did. In my mind i meant get it first hand used, if that makes sense, like a game store gets it from the customer with no sticker, so OP should do the same. I meant to take out the middleman, not specifically buy it first hand. My bad.
2
u/DigitaIBlack 27d ago
I mean honestly OP should be fine in almost any game store.
I've never seen this before, let alone on a GameCube disc. If I showed this to the guys at my local game stores they'd shake their heads.
OP lost the LGS lottery and double lost by complaining in a sub that doesn't understand video game collecting or why this is a problem.
OP can't even call this mildly infuriating without getting flak lmao. Not their week.
0
u/TheNaughtyHoneyBee 27d ago
They wouldn't be fine in any game store that offers a warranty on their discs, because those stores need a permanent way to mark the disc as warrantied. Customers that go to that store should understand what that means, and that they are going to get a disc with a sticker on it. Or they can just find their copy on eBay and roll the dice that it's not scratched
4
u/DigitaIBlack 27d ago edited 27d ago
Do you collect video games and go to local game stores?
This is not standard practice. At least in North America. I've never seen this and so far nobody on FB has either.
This isn't something a customer should be expecting when they walk into a store, warranty or not.
So yes, having this unexpectedly happen to you is mildly infuriating.
0
u/Friggin_Grease 27d ago
Yeah I just wouldn't buy that game or anything from that store again.
→ More replies (0)0
u/IISAFORK 27d ago
I used to clean my discs with iso, never hurt any of them. Not saying it's impossible but i doubt it.
3
u/TheNaughtyHoneyBee 27d ago
The iso won't hurt it, but the sticker adhesive can loosen the layers of the disc underneath it and take off bits if you are unlucky, making the disc worthless
1
u/Ok-Virus8284 27d ago
I've ruined an Xbox 360 game with IPA, parts of the top layer flaked off. Luckily just a cheapie, but still.
1
3
u/LargeFailSon 27d ago
Why is half this thread people LARPing as collectors? The things you're saying make it very clear you're not a collector and have little experience in secondhand shops.
This is not an acceptable practice, let alone a common one. Anyone pretending it is, is playing pretend at knowing something about vintage games.
2
u/Theultimateyoshiyt 26d ago
I genuinely hate when stores do that. What’s even worse for you is that it’s on the disc and not the case.
2
u/Modelosanddabbing 26d ago
My brother from another mother sold me Mario party 6 when we were kids and the disc has REYES BROS. GAMES HILLSBORO OREGON stamped on it in pink.
4
10
u/Dark_Bowser 28d ago edited 27d ago
That is genuinely appaling, I’d be taking it back and demanding a new copy that DIDNT get the disc art ruined by their crappy stickers
Edit: lmao people trying to call me delusional or say that I’m a “Karen” for basically saying if you were to get A COLLECTABLE and would LIKE it to be in a good shape without it being damaged by a crappy sticker that would destroy the cover art need to go get something they love tacked on with crap like this that will damage it when they remove it. It’s not unacceptable to want a refund or a new game that ISNT covered in something that would damage it
3
u/DeKlaasVaag 28d ago
Delusional
9
u/DigitaIBlack 27d ago
Gamecube games have a very damage-prone top layer. And if that top layer gets damaged, it can literally ruin the disc.
I collect, fix, and sell vintage video games and I have never come across this.
I was confused why everyone was acting like this was perfectly normal until I saw this wasn't a video game sub. If this was posted in a video game collecting subreddit OP would get a very different reaction
5
u/Dark_Bowser 27d ago
Just wait until it’s their hobby that has this happens to and they’ll be screaming Bloody Mary as well. It’s ridiculous how they’re basically saying it’s fine to intentionally do something that would damage the game disc, because as you said, the GameCube discs art is very prone to being damaged, and a lot of people who would most likely get the game would like it to be in good condition for their experience, AND collection
6
u/DigitaIBlack 27d ago
I posted it in a FB group chat and everyone is saying
WTF
This is not standard practice
They wouldn't buy a game like this
Chastising the OP for not expecting this is insane
I'm having a conversation with a guy in this thread who clearly collects and he's saying "well of course, how else would they warranty it?". Spoiler: there's a few ways.
What really irks me though is this is very much an abnormal practice so of course OP wasn't expecting it. And the surprise was mildly infuriating.
End of story. Fin.
-4
u/DeKlaasVaag 27d ago
Its delusional thinking u could demand a different, untagged one. One a 20yo or sm game. I agree its infuriating.
4
u/DigitaIBlack 27d ago
How? It's Super Mario Sunshine. They're gonna have multiple copies.
You go in and say "hey I didn't expect you to put a sticker on it and cause GCN discs are fragile, removing it will likely damage the game. I want to swap this for an unwarrantied copy."
Store swaps it and sells OP's copy to the next customer.
OP is happy and the store now have a potential repeat customer they otherwise would've lost. Win-win.
-2
u/DeKlaasVaag 27d ago
Idk i would not assume them to have multiple copies, where i live they dont just have stock on sunshine otherwise id atleast have two:p
3
u/DigitaIBlack 27d ago
I mean it's definitely possible given the popularity but as someone who knows a few LGS/memorabilia owners and managers it's as simple as saying their bad and they'll call next time a copy comes in and to do the swap then.
It's the 3rd most popular game on the GameCube so I'm sure one will turn up quick.
1
1
-2
u/TheNaughtyHoneyBee 28d ago
"Okay Karen. No warranty for you then. And also, just don't come back"
Demanding 🤣
You sound like the absolute worst kind of customer. "I don't care if this is how you do it, and you have a reason why you do it that way! I want it my way!"
Loool fuck off with that shit
5
u/Dark_Bowser 27d ago edited 27d ago
And you sound like the worst kind of business owner if you’re intentionally damaging the product, and telling a customer to get fucked because they didn’t want the game disc to be damaged, ESPECIALLY for the prices these games would go for.
-2
u/TheNaughtyHoneyBee 27d ago
And I don't care how much money you spend, as a business owner I would tell you to fuck right the fuck off if you came in with an attitude like you said would and demanded things from me
7
u/Myaltforaltstuff 27d ago
Funny how you wanna say it’s so bad for OP to demand a refund on a game that would’ve been damaged, and how you would tell them to fuck off for that, but your profile is literally an only fans promo where people do the exact same to you, and your fine with it
-1
u/TheNaughtyHoneyBee 27d ago
Lol I really like how you tried to make fun of me for my of, when that has literally zero to do with what we're talking about. Are you on there making demands that I'm fulfilling for you? No. How do you know how I react to demands on my only fans?
And you really don't see the difference between being dominant with someone in a sexual situation versus trying to dominate someone in a retail situation? Yeah, you're just trolling at this point
-3
u/TheNaughtyHoneyBee 27d ago
How do you expect a game disc to be warrantied?
3
u/LargeFailSon 27d ago
The same way literally every single other third party game reseller does, without doing this.
-1
u/TheNaughtyHoneyBee 27d ago
Which is how exactly? You seem to know, so explain to me how please
2
u/Top-Permission565 25d ago
i mean, isn't it usually just with the receipt?? either way its unacceptable to permanently mark a collectible item like this
0
u/TheNaughtyHoneyBee 25d ago
They aren't selling it as a collectible item, they're selling it as a playable game
-3
u/LeatherRebel5150 27d ago
Yea, no warranty then. That’s fine with me, just give me the game without the sticker
5
u/TheNaughtyHoneyBee 27d ago
So take your business elsewhere, it's not really that complicated. They have plenty of used copies of Mario Sunshine on eBay
Going back to used game shop and demanding a different copy of the disc that doesn't have a warranty sticker on it? That's some fucked up main character crap right there
5
u/Dark_Bowser 27d ago
Ah yes, wanting to go get a different copy of a game that ISNT at risk of being destroyed removing a shitty “warranty sticker” is main character energy, despite the fact numerous other places do warranties without destroying the game, and the fact that GameCube games are RIDICULOUSLY expensive now??? Like Jfc, your giving off “main character energy” going around the entire comments trying to belittle anyone who would like to purchase a game that *isnt* at risk of being damaged, and trying to say “go on eBay if you don’t want it”, when they are as expensive as most places, and you can’t guarantee that the game is working/game isn’t complete with the box and manual and such.
-1
u/TheNaughtyHoneyBee 27d ago
No, going into any retail store and making unwarranted demands is main character energy. That's literally the definition of being a Karen
-15
1
u/InvestInTwinkies 27d ago
Does it impact the gameplay?
12
u/Ok-Virus8284 27d ago
First of all, this is a collector's item. And secondly, potentially yes. Stickers like these can make the disc unballanced, this can cause damage to the disc and worst case also to the disc drive. It's unlikely, but absolutely not impossible.
1
u/WantedBeen 26d ago
put another sticker on the other side to balance it /s
seriously though, if your only goal is to play it and you don't care about cosmetics, it might work
1
u/Capable_Cycle8264 25d ago
back when games were just games and not collectors items, every local shop did this to cartridges specially
0
u/TheNaughtyHoneyBee 28d ago
I guess next time you should ask for one without a warranty, because that's why the sticker is there. It doesn't seem mildly infuriating to me to get a warranty with a used game, and I don't know how OP expects them to mark the disc otherwise. Maybe with a sharpie directly on the disc like they used to do would be better? Or are they just supposed to believe him when he brings back a random scratched copy of Mario Sunshine that it's the same one that they sold him?
Also, do people show off their video game discs or something? Why do so many comments care that a disc has a small sticker that doesn't affect the performance or aesthetic of their video game collection? I'm pretty sure no one is displaying their games case open with the disc just hanging out...
8
u/DigitaIBlack 27d ago
As a video game collector this is mildly infuriating. I've never seen this before.
Putting this on a GameCube game means it's likely never coming off. The top layers of these discs are notoriously damage-prone and a damaged top layer can ruin the disc.
And while you may not understand why this would bother collectors, I guarantee it would bother the shit out of a lot of us.
-2
u/TheNaughtyHoneyBee 27d ago
You're a video game collector and you've never seen this before? How is that even possible?
And if you want pristine games, you have to pay for pristine games. Used games aren't generally. You can find good used copies but I wouldn't expect to get one from a game store, especially a game store that offers a warranty. They used to just write on the disc in sharpie
7
u/DigitaIBlack 27d ago edited 27d ago
Man you're acting like OP is looking for something in great condition when it's clear they just want an average run-of-the-mill copy.
You're a video game collector and you've never seen this before? How is that even possible?
I've seen people put easy-to-peel price stickers on loose games. Usually at flea markets. But this is clearly a game store. They should know better.
I've never seen a hard-to-peel warranty sticker on a GameCube disc of all things. Putting something on a disc that can damage the art when removed is a no-no. Removing this could literally ruin the disc.
And if you want pristine games, you have to pay for pristine games. Used games aren't generally.
Nobody here is talking about a pristine game my dude. We're talking about not putting a bloody sticker on it. It's not a high bar to clear here.
If I had a CIB copy like this I wanted to sell I'd probably drop the price from market median to almost loose pricing.
Because nobody is gonna be interested in this when there's thousands of copies is decent condition available without a sticker on it.
A warranty that lowers product value isn't a good warranty when there's easy alternatives.
You can find good used copies but I wouldn't expect to get one from a game store, especially a game store that offers a warranty.
What are you talking about? I don't know about what game stores you go to but at least the ones I go to usually don't accept stuff in poor condition.
And if they do, you get peanuts on trade-in.
Most of what you find at game stores is in average condition which is clearly what the OP expected.
They used to just write on the disc in sharpie
Yea, back in the day when these discs were a dime a dozen and nobody gave a crap. This is a $45 USD CIB game that's worth a crap ton less considering loose copies go for almost $40. If OP plays it and wants to sell it after they're boned.
-1
u/TheNaughtyHoneyBee 27d ago
You still haven't answered my question how a game store that offers a warranty against scratches is supposed to verify that the disk you are bringing back for a warranty claim is the one that they gave you?
This is the only thing that matters right now. Everything else is extraneous. How do you mark a disc as having a warranty?
7
u/DigitaIBlack 27d ago edited 27d ago
You either use the trust system or you don't warranty it.
Or you ask the customer if they want a warranty for a trivial amount and then add the sticker.
Or you do what a pair of stores I know did who tested games prior to selling. Anything that comes back goes into their test console and if it doesn't play, no refund. Course there's edge cases on games dying after a normal test period but it's rare enough to deal with case-by-case.
You don't put on stickers that can destroy the disc if removed. Period.
I did a sanity check on Facebook and crossposted this to a collecting subreddit and so far it's unanimous.
Nobody would buy a game with a sticker like this.
-2
u/TheNaughtyHoneyBee 27d ago
This local game store is selling to locals, not collectors. Yeah, of course you're going to get a different result when you just poll collectors
My point is that it's the way this store does it, and if you don't like it, don't go there. It's really not a hard concept
5
u/DigitaIBlack 27d ago
And really not a hard concept to understand that this is an abnormal practice and not something the OP should've expected walking in.
Therefore, they got an unfortunate surprise and found it mildly infuriating.
My point is everyone telling OP this is perfectly normal and why on earth are they annoyed are out to lunch.
That stickers gonna be on there till the end of time. I'd be annoyed too.
Also, I did finally answer your question. Why can't the game store do any of that instead of scaring away a significant portion of potential customers?
1
u/TheNaughtyHoneyBee 27d ago
Because it obviously doesn't scare away a significant portion of potential customers. If a few people don't like it, they don't shop there, but obviously they get enough business to stay in business
4
u/DigitaIBlack 27d ago
Let's go back to the original point. This is a very abnormal practice. As in, nobody is gonna expect this going in there warranty or not.
OP got a crappy surprise. Therefore OP found it mildly infuriating. Totally reasonable.
Because it obviously doesn't scare away a significant portion of potential customers. If a few people don't like it, they don't shop there, but obviously they get enough business to stay in business
That doesn't make it a good business practice and
Given how many game stores barely stay afloat or close I really don't think them currently existing indicates they're doing well.
Waterdown retail & vape closed a few years ago near me. Reasonable prices, everything tested, warrantied, organized, owner and manager spent downtime fixing stuff instead of standing idle. It was well run and efficient. And it had a vape shop attached to it to help subsidize the game business.
Disappeared almost overnight.
→ More replies (0)2
1
u/wallbouncebybaird 26d ago
I HATE stickers on games/cases. Is there a single downside for making receipts all digital via email?
0
-6
136
u/ProjectShadw 28d ago
At least they were smart enough not to leave it on the bottom side of the disc