Trading In Import Games

[EXH1LARATE]

well i traded my cod4 at game no problem and it was the us version. it all depends on who is serving you

[arumisan]

hm, kinda weird when it comes to trading in games, especially i've noticed in a couple of games i get from games stores like game and eb, as well as retail stores like target and kmart, some of their games are from other regions, for example i got a ds game from jb, checked the boxed and cartridge, it's from USA. Also, some game don't match up the region from which the box says it's from, eg, recently got "the world ends with you" from supposedly europe, but the cartridge is from ukraine!

this, i might note, usually happens to portable game, since well, the portable consoles in the market are both region free

[doopits]

GAME have it on their website now that they don't accept copies purchased overseas, seen here: http://www.game.com.au/tradeoneoffer

*Terms & Conditions - Games must be in resalable condition. Games must include all supporting documents and include original DVD case, manual and sleeve. 'Not for Resale' items not accepted. Items purchased overseas will be refused trade-in. Game you are trading towards will always be the standard edition unless otherwise specified. "Trade more, get more" cannot be used in conjunction with any other trade offer. GAME reserves the right to refuse any item at its discretion. Guitar Hero Metallica trade offer is for standalone game only. GAME reserves the right to change these terms & conditions at any time.

[Nicholas]

Just thought I'd let people know that I tried to trade a US version of uncharted at EB (Fountain Gate) and got knocked back. JB across the road let me trade it in no problems (although it might just have been the girl that put the sale through had no clue).

[Charlie Miso]

Got knocked back at JB Sydney City, both Galleries and Strand, trying to trade in a UK Wii game for some Grand Slam Tennis action.

Said head office has clamped down and still refused when I politely pointed out there were non-AUS games all over their pre-owned shelf saying it was a new policy.

Bummer.

Looks like it gonna have to be the old switcharoo on the covers next time I go in.

[Neo]

Game over boys...

[doopits]

Traded in a UK copy of a game today. Had the same rating as Assassins Creed, which I know I can't trade in anywhere for anything worthwhile, so I swapped out the stickered Assassins case for the UK cover art. No problems with the barcode or anything at EB.

The game continues!

[Neo]

well i guess we can print out our own oflc stickers dunno if that goes under criminal activities tho

[doopits]

I traded a UK version of Stranglehold today, but thanks to the forum knew to make sure it had the Aus rating sticker on it (luckily, same rating as Assassins Creed) -- scanned & traded no questions at EB

[Charlie Miso]

EB took my copy of Dragon Quest Swords (from the UK) today. Gave me more than I paid, which was nice.

Must just be JB then.

[azamat bagatov]

Just on this issue guys, please be aware that it is the OFLC that has really clamped down on this. They are spot checking retailers and (yes they actually have people employed who go to retailers to ensure that product on the shelf is correctly rated) essentially want answers/reasons as to why a certain product is on the shelf without an Australian rating.

Now to clear some further queries/confusions:

* No MAJOR retailer of games here are importing product and stickering them with rating stickers themsleves. That's an absurd assumption - do you think the staff at JB, K-Mart etc have the time to do that?? Further more why would an EB or GAME jeopardise their relationship with the publishers/distributors down here.

* Some product is brought into the country from overseas (usually the UK) and has the Aussie rating sticker placed over it. Why is this done? Well for some publishers it's easier/cheaper/quicker to bring the product in, rate it with stickers and then ship it out to retail stores than have to print their own Australian specific slick (with the Aussie rating sticker printed on them).

* For those of you who are complaining that they can't trade in an overseas copy of a game even though it has already been released in Australia (eg trading in UK copy of Crackdown etc) - be aware that these stores are only following orders from their respective Head Offices who are following orders from the OFLC. End Of Story. No discrimination. No rip-off. It's just the way it is. Don't complain on forums like this - call the OFLC. Why should a store trade in a imported product that they technically can't put on the shelf. Doesn't make good business sense does it? And for those of you who are still able to trade in overseas product at a certain retailer -good luck to you. Just be aware that it probably won't happen next time.

So the moral of the story -trade in product which has the Aussie rating sticker on it to avoid any frustration or confusion.

[Gameboy]

Damn, I had a rubbish UK DS game I was planning on trading in soon :\
Is there anywhere that I could get my hands on a ratings sticker? :p

EDIT: Oh wait! Just realised 365games sent me an australian copy of the game, even though it came from the UK. Bizarre but awesome.

[original iron man]

azamat bagatov wrote

No MAJOR retailer of games here are importing product and stickering them with rating stickers themsleves + some publishers it's easier/cheaper/quicker to bring the product in, rate it with stickers and then ship it out to retail stores than have to print their own Australian specific slick (with the Aussie rating sticker printed on them =


Consumers in Australia are still being sold imported games with altered ratings only on the case. On what legal basis are the OFLC then saying that consumers cannot trade the same game back in to the same retailers in a different case which could have easily been broken, lost or even have a different game stored in it?

THE RETAILERS refusing to do this should have obtained a legal opinion on this issue independent of the OFLC, whose legal opinion on this matter is irrelevant because they are not selling these imported games to consumers. The retailers concerned are responsible for their transactions because of the trade practices Act, and it is they who may ultimately be taken to court for unconscionable conduct ie selling imported games with limited value without informing their customers that the case that they are sold in may be more valuable than the game inside it. Now that is very funny and utterly moronic.

azamat bagatov's conclusion 'Why should a store trade in a imported product that they technically can't put on the shelf' doesn't reflect his own statement ' that some publishers it's easier/cheaper/quicker to bring the product in, rate it with stickers and then ship it out to retail stores than have to print their own Australian specific slick (with the Aussie rating sticker printed on them' and as such is misleading and out of place in this discussion.

it is hypocritical to sell an imported game in a specially stickered case and then refuse to take it back without the special sticker on the case. Keep your receipts and when someone refuses to accept them as trades back take it up for false advertising. Games are either elegible or not - especially if foreign copies of the same game are readily being sold in Australia.

And eb and game have been adding these stickers to traded games readily on sale for years within Australia without incident until very recently. it is only because games in Australia have become so expensive that it has become cheaper to ship them in. This change says more about price fixing in Australia than anything else, and if as claimed the oflc are involved in promoting a protected market their involvement should as a matter of necessity be investigated by the Accc urgently because such activity is unarguably anti-consumer. Do not bother the oflc - lodge an online complaint form with the Accc against any company that refuses to accept any game readily on sale in Australia allegedly on the advice of the OFLC.

Looks to be just another anti - consumer labor gov rort. They hate parallel imports because they keep prices down and stop them controlling the price fixing.

[Sinali]

Dungeon Crawl in the city (Melbourne) sell alot of imported video games, and they have a trade back system for games purchased at their store... not sure if they take in games brought elsewhere but if they do they might be more lenient in trading imported games.
(Never traded there so I don't know how generous they are).

[Charlie Miso]

I was in JB earlier in the week and they had a bunch of  Kloona and two other Wii games with the OFLC stickers wacked on the cover.

Bit rude selling import games new and not taking them as trade in. Bastards.