Newbie Burnt ! - Help please

papawaigo

Hi there,
I have just joined ebay and i have quickly learned that everything is often not what it seems. I successfully bid and won on a gameboy advance game which in the description claimed "This game was purchased from a major game outlet store by our UK agent (see the photos below)" which i naively believed and led me to think the game would be an original even though the seller was in Switzerland. But after i payed the seller they sent me a confirmation email which right at the bottom had this
"P.S. The box may be slightly different from the one shown and will be unfolded and flattened to avoid shipment damage but you can fold it back to its original shape easily."
I thought this was strange so i did a quick bit of research and found out that most probably the game is a copy. I am buying the game for my nephew and i don't want to give him illegal copies so i sent an email to the seller in which i stated that i thought they had mis-advertised the item and i didn't want a copy therefore could they give me a refund and not send me the item, i told them that i wouldn't give them any negative feedback or take this any further after my refund. He sent me this confusing message back:

please note that that email is a template for all winner bidder. Occassionally, there are newer editions of the game and the box will be slightly different (e.g. with an additional promotion logo) etc. We cannot update the photo all the item when there are slight change to the box. The game you will receive is original. Refund will be possible only if we go thru the unpaid item dispute and you will get the strike. Please advise if it is what you want to proceed.

I am not sure what to do now as i do not want any negative feedback as i have only just started out on ebay, do you think that i am wrong and gthat the game is original ?
Does anyone have any advice?
has anyone else on here got any experience with buying copies of games?

papa


ps: people please investigate any gameboy advance game auctions you are thinking of buying from if you don't want to buy fakes so you don't get burnt like idiot me!

greencatrus

The game is a copy 100%. We got one it worked okay but you couldn't save it at all there must have been a cheap battery inside. You need to file a dispute with ebay "item not recieved or significantly difrent to discription". Inform the seller your doing this and tell them if thye give you a good feedback you'll still do the same. If they do you can give them what they deserve. If they don't hold back on the feedback as they won't give you a negative for fear you'll do the same. P.s. I do sell genuine games on ebay as I get a excellent staff discount so if you want a reliable supplier p.m me -Paul

hjb123

Maybe if you have already won the auction you should pay for and receive the game and see what you actually receive and then file the item not as described against the seller?!

Lorian

As I posted not so long ago, the Gameboy Advance game category seems to more than 80% fakes, copies and imports.

https://www.find-games.co.uk is a good place to find GBA games from reputable retailers at discount prices.

As you are new to ebay and can't cope with the neg then I'd pay up and put it down to experience. It might work if you are lucky, or it may crash a lot.

carrie483

hjb123 wrote:

Maybe if you have already won the auction you should pay for and receive the game and see what you actually receive and then file the item not as described against the seller?!

I agree, i would do that and not only would i file a not as described against the seller i would also shop him to ebay for selling fakes (if it turns out to be). If it does turn out to be fake email then seller politely but firmly stating that selling fakes on ebay is against the rules and that if you do not get a refund you intend to file a dispute against him.

You are paying by paypal aren't you?

Carrie.

Anic

I have been caught out before with buying a fake gameboy advance game. At the time I didn't think you got fake GBA games (naive - I know).

Anyway, when the game stopped working properly after a few months, I sent it to Nintendo UK for repair. When I contacted them to find out how much this would cost me they confirmed it was a fake.

They told me all genuine UK cartridges have the CE mark on the front and if you look closely at the top of the "strip" where all the metal "chips" (sorry - can't think what else to call it) are it will have Nintendo printed on it. I must admit that bit was quite difficult to see.

Unfortunately in my case it was too late too claim my money back through Paypal but it did make me more aware of what to look out for in future.

A couple of weeks ago my son bought a Brand new Pokemon Emerald off of Ebay. It looked "genuine", with the holographic, shiny box, etc but after palying it for a couple of days it wasn't doing what it should and knowing what to look for we realised that it was a fake. We tried to contact the seller askign for a refund but he did not reply to any of our e-mails until I opened a dispute through Paypal, pointing out the signs. I received a full refund the next day.

Have you paid through Paypal? If so, if it is a fake then it is the seller who is in the wrong - not you. When it arrives you will know what to look for and if it is a fake file a dispute with Paypal/Ebay for item not as described.

mike230652

papawaigo

You say " I thought this was strange so i did a quick bit of research and found out that most probably the game is a copy" Where and how did you do your research?????..

The buyer has assured you it's genuine, and told you why he'll flat pack the box. If he's confirmed it's an original I personally don't think you can renege on the deal...not least cos your feedback as a newbie will take a serious hit and put other folk off from dealing with you.

As for greecatrus comment " The game is a copy 100%. " please tell us greencatrus how you know "100%" it's a copy????!!!!!...do you know the seller personally i.e. you've bought from him..or you just trying to panic papawaigo??

Lik anic says... buy it and when it arrives take it to Game or some other games retailer and ask them , then take it up if need be. Fingers crossed it works out for you.

Mike

carrie483

How did this end?

UKays_Finest

Mike, are 'you' the seller by any chance