Working out a scratched/smudged game with sender

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DeejayKnight Posted: 11-19-2008 12:36 AM

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Hello everyone.

I received a game in today that was below a standard I'm comfortable spending points on. Rather than giving the user - who happens to be fairly new - negative feedback, I'm attempting to sort it out with the user so we both benefit.

Here is the message I sent to the user, regarding the trade:

I received Lost Odyssey today, and have a couple of problems with the game as-is. I'd rather contact you directly to rectify the problem than going directly to Goozex, so here goes.

Disc 1 has scratches that cover a good portion of the readable area of the disc, as well as a sticky substance on the top of the disc, with a small amount of the substance on the readable area as well. There is also a light chip out of the edge of the disc.

Disc 2 also has the sticky substance on the top of the disc, and Disc 3 has a light amount of the same substance. All discs have many scratches along the mid-outer area of the readable area of the discs, with light chips on the edge of disc 4 as well.

All in all, I find this unacceptable for trade. Rather than giving you negative feedback, I would like to arrange a return of your copy of Lost Odyssey. I request that you do a couple of things that would rectify the situation completely in my eyes:

1) Cancel the trade. I feel that my canceling the trade would be unfair, as the error isn't mine.

2) PM me your address and send me $3.50 via PayPal to pay for the shipping fees and materials for the return of your game. As with all of my Goozex shipments, I will add Delivery Confirmation to your package so you can track it via USPS.com.

After you've canceled the trade and the PayPal transaction is complete, I will pick up the package materials for the shipment and mail out your game within a day.

If you have any questions, feel free to PM me, and I will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Is this a good way to try and resolve the problem? From what I've read here in the forums, this was a good way to attempt to correct the problem, but I'd like to know what other users here think.

Thank you in advance for your replies.

-DeejayKnight

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Shady replied on 11-19-2008 12:46 AM

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the only thing, is that you might want to say that he should cancel after you've already  paid for shipping with the d.c. and give that to him then he cancels.

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madfigs replied on 11-19-2008 12:46 AM

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Sticky substance?  Sounds like Fox News is going to be doing a follow-up report pretty soon

Seriously though, this is a completely fair way to handle it.  It sounds like a disc-read error would be pretty likely at some point based on the condition, so giving the seller the option to avoid the negative is at least a nice thing to do.  You're still out the time it takes to resolve the issue either way...

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DeejayKnight replied on 11-19-2008 7:09 AM

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Shady and Madfigs, thank you for your replies!

Unfortunately, the sender didn't agree with my suggestions. This is the message I received in return.

I checked the discs myself prior to sending - they are fine. It is a USED game not brand new, and you knew this when you used this service. If the game is playable (which, by the way, is the criteria for leaving negative feedback ONLY an unplayable disc) - and I guarantee it is - then I ask that you accept the trade and leave neutral feedback.

Trust me - the game works fine and you will enjoy it. Please complete the transaction.

Thank you

I refuse to accept this,  and replied to him with this PM:

Thank you for being civil and discussing this.

On a note of something you mentioned, I'm aware that this service is for used games - that, I can't deny. The problem I'm having currently though, is the fact that the games I send out through the service are almost new in their quality. The other games I've already received were scratch and smudge free, guaranteeing that I can play them through.

Your game, on the other hand, has many scratches/smudges on every disc, chips on multiple discs, and a sticky substance on no less than two of them. While I've played a short amount, based on the the length of the game and the quality of the discs, I'm not sure if it would play all the way through. The fact that I'm not sure of that is unsettling to me, and I find it unacceptable. I will not accept this transaction, considering the fact that it's worth 650 points - or $32.50.

You may be fine with accepting chipped, scratched, and sticky games, sir, but I'm not comfortable with it at all. In fact, I'll send you the game back free of charge - you don't even have to worry about sending me any money. My reason for contacting you first instead of Goozex was to save you any feedback other than positive. I find feedback important, and I figured you would as well.

So, I'm asking that you cancel the trade and I'll send you your game back immediately. I'd rather take my chances on waiting for the next person's disc quality than settle for less than the standard I hold myself to.

-DeejayKnight

PS, thank you for reading my site. I'm happy to have you as a reader, and hope that we can work this out favorably for the both of us.

Have a great day.

I don't care what anyone says regarding points, but I equate them to money when I see them. 100 = $5 is the way that I see them, and I always calculate the dollar amount when looking up games.

I'm not comfortable spending $32.50 on a game that I find to be less than acceptable. I would have a hard time GIVING AWAY a game in this condition, let alone getting paid for it. I feel also that trying to get me to accept the transaction when I'm obviously having second thoughts is a bit suspect for him to get this trade off his hands.

So, do I email feedback@goozex.com if he doesn't agree to cancel the trade? There's no way to play through this game in time to see if it plays properly before the 13 remaining days are up, and I have many other games I could be spending these points on.

Any help you could offer is extremely appreciated. Thank you in advance.

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cheeznrice replied on 11-19-2008 7:33 AM

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There was a thread regarding what appeared to be a ring of scratching on Lost Odyssey discs about a month or so ago.  I checked my copy of Lost Odyssey and so did a few other members and even brand new copies had these marks.

I obviously don't know what your discs look like, but what you described seems to be more than the ring.  Have you tested the game at all?

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DeejayKnight replied on 11-19-2008 7:49 AM

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This isn't a ring at all. The scratches are all over the disc, just focused more toward the outer edges. It's not in the kind of ring you'd see if the console was scratching at all.

Even if it was, there are chips ont he edge of the disc and something sticky like Coke or something was spilled on it and allowed to dry.

I can't in my right mind be cool with accepting something from someone else that I wouldn't be comfortable giving out, and I'm sure others here would agree.

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Catastrophic replied on 11-19-2008 7:54 AM

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DeejayKnight:

I can't in my right mind be cool with accepting something from someone else that I wouldn't be comfortable giving out, and I'm sure others here would agree.

I'm with you on that, as are many people. Unfortunately, there are people out there who just don't care. I like to refer to this people as...oh look, something shiny!

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Renaissance 2K replied on 11-19-2008 8:14 AM

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The seller has a point, in that negative feedback is reserved for games that are unplayable in their entirety.

You can get a general idea of the playability of each disc by attempting to load it on your hard drive using the New Xbox Experience.  If you encounter disc errors during the copy process, it's safe to say that you'll run into issues later on.  If you are unable to update your console, creating a disc image using the DVD drive on your computer is an adequate test as well.

The one thing that really makes this difficult, though, is the sticky substance on the disc as that could ultimately be damaging to the Xbox itself, depending on how much of it is on there.  That, I think, warrants a little extra care and attention.  If you can't convince the seller to cancel the trade (and it doesn't sound like he's willing to bend), throw some Goo Gone or isopropyl alcohol on the disc and clean it carefully before feeding it to your Xbox.

Also, if he won't cancel the trade, be very explicit (in details, not in language... ha!) in your feedback so a pattern will develop if this behavior continues.  He may have spilled a two-liter of Coke on his entire game collection and is trying to liquidate it (no pun intended).

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cheeznrice replied on 11-19-2008 8:26 AM

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DeejayKnight:

This isn't a ring at all. The scratches are all over the disc, just focused more toward the outer edges. It's not in the kind of ring you'd see if the console was scratching at all.

The ring isn't from the 360 scratching the disc it, for some reason, comes brand new like that.

DeejayKnight:

I can't in my right mind be cool with accepting something from someone else that I wouldn't be comfortable giving out, and I'm sure others here would agree.

I completely agree with you, but you have few options if the seller won't accept the trade cancellation.  You'll have to test the game in order to leave appropriate feedback, that's all I was getting at.  I'd hate to see you leave a negative only for Goozex to test it and deem it playable.  Follow what Renaissance 2K suggests and keep us posted.

edit:

If possible take pictures of the package in its current condition to help support your case.

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DeejayKnight replied on 11-19-2008 9:08 AM

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Renaissance 2K:

Also, if he won't cancel the trade, be very explicit (in details, not in language... ha!) in your feedback so a pattern will develop if this behavior continues.  He may have spilled a two-liter of Coke on his entire game collection and is trying to liquidate it (no pun intended).

The fact that he could've spilled Coke on his games and traded them, with nothing to protect the buyer is what bothers me. I honestly feel that there should be feedback for dirty/smudged/scratches on games. I'm very picky about mine, and feel $60 is worth being picky.

Nonetheless, I'll try copying the discs to the drive. I'm not happy that I may be stuck with this game, but we'll see.

cheeznrice: My apologies if I seemed to be taking my frustrations out on your reply. I'm just disappointed that people can send discs out in such a condition and the buyer has no say. It feels like a twisted game show: "Disc scratched to hell and back, but works? Sucks to be you - You're playing PWN3D!"

Again, I'll try out what Renaissance 2K suggests, I'm just not going to be happy about it.

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naytk replied on 11-19-2008 9:33 AM

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DeejayKnight:

I honestly feel that there should be feedback for dirty/smudged/scratches on games

There is:  +5  (leave a detailed comment and express disgust at the condition).  If you see a pattern of this in a user, then leave an email at feedback @ goozex . com

DeejayKnight:

I'm just disappointed that people can send discs out in such a condition and the buyer has no say.

I feel your pain, there.  Luckily, I've only had this happen once, myself.  I've been more likey to receive new games (which has happened twice).  You certainly should not have had to clean it.

DeejayKnight:

I'll try out what Renaissance 2K suggests

Please be careful with solvents.  I'm pretty sure that they are not good for discs.  My understanding is that distilled water is the first (and only, if you can help it) substance you should use on a disc (with a soft, lint free cloth).  If you absolutely have to, you can make a light solution of alcohol:water (50/50 or less).  Don't use windex or any ammonia based solvents.  Also, the label side of the disc is the most important and easily destroyed.

DeejayKnight:

I'm just not going to be happy about it.

As they say around these parts:  I hear ya barkin' dawg.

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cheeznrice replied on 11-19-2008 9:57 AM

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naytk:

As they say around these parts:  I hear ya barkin' dawg.

I've read quite a few threads (almost as many as I've posted in ) and this is the first time I've come across "I hear ya barkin' dawg."

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I-Weapon-X replied on 11-19-2008 10:07 AM

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DeejayKnight:

cheeznrice: My apologies if I seemed to be taking my frustrations out on your reply.

Don't apologize; in fact from now on, i believe that all frustrations should be taken out on cheez

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DeejayKnight replied on 11-19-2008 10:08 AM

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Great news!

I just got a PM from the owner, accepting the send-back and cancellation of the trade. :D

I'll be mailing out his game with Delivery Confirmation within 12-16 hours, and he should receive it within a week.

Thank you very much for the assistance, everyone.

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I-Weapon-X replied on 11-19-2008 10:12 AM

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DeejayKnight:

Great news!

I just got a PM from the owner, accepting the send-back and cancellation of the trade. :D

I'll be mailing out his game with Delivery Confirmation within 12-16 hours, and he should receive it within a week.

Thank you very much for the assistance, everyone.  EXCEPT FOR CHEEZ

Fixed*