![]() ![]() If you have been sold a product as new and it's obviously not, perhaps contacting Amazon isn't the only solution. I have no problem whatsoever with used CD/DVD sellers wrapping their products, just as long as the used product isn't misrepresented as new. The "unreturnable if opened" thing should apply equally to new or used products you sell. There is a legitimate reason even for sellers of used disk products to wrap them to make it more difficult for people to copy their products and then claim refunds, which happens way too often with used disk products. It's on its way back for a refund- Amazon has an easy system with most items where you can print out a prepaid address label and drop it off at any UPS Store or drop box. To top it off, the HD side still locked up during playback. Last week I got a combo HD-DVD of "Michael Clayton" to replace the copy I got a few years ago that turned out to be defective or rotted (see my long post in HD Talk about my experience with bad HD-DVDs)- this one actually had the printed title label on the top of the case, but both sides of the disc looked like they had been resurfaced. I went ahead and kept it since it was a hard-to-find title, but I was pretty pissed. I've gotten a few suspect items from Amazon sellers- I strictly only buy merchandise listed as NEW, but once got a DVD which had been sealed and had a "Security Device Enclosed" sticker on the top where the title sticker would normally be, and the disc inside looked like it had been run through a 'Disc Doctor' to remove scratches. But if you get a new disc that looks like it's been rewrapped, that's probably what happened. The stuff inside wasn't touched but I still didn't like this, especially with items that had printed labels on the shrinkwrap from the manufacturers since I always cut out and save those. They'd first put stuff on a conveyor belt where a vacuum would take off the original shrinkwrap, then they'd get resealed. When I worked at Tower, their warehouse had a process called 'beautification' where they would re-shrinkwrap merchandise that had been around a while and whose original shrinkwrap was getting worn. On Sunday I received a refund and a short, sarcastic reply Their storefront was shut down for two weeks, probably for summer vacation, but I waited patiently. Disk 1 contained fingerprints, and disk 2 was scratched all to hell. Both digipak trays were completely detached from the binding, one taking a small chunk of artwork with it. It was the Dracula 75th Anniversary 2xDVD, and there wasn't just a little wear. It just happened again, this time even after querying the merchant. I complained, returned the set at my expense, and received a mostly prompt refund but no explanation. The inside looked brand new, but the outside showed signs of shelf wear, like scuff marks on the bottom where the paint was starting to wear away. ![]() The second time was earlier this year, when I bought an out-of-print 2xDVD in all-cardboard packaging. I thought the practice was strange, but didn't complain. The only sign of wear was a light, rounded bend in the back cover of the booklet, which happens sometimes as you pry it from the jewel box. But the price was very good, and without the wrap, it would have generally passed for "like new". The first time it happened was over a CD purchase. (Many years ago, I worked at a discount store and operated a shrink wrap machine, so trust me, I know.) This is compounded if I've actually taken time to contact the Amazon merchant privately and ask, "is the item factory-sealed, with an intact UPC code, etc., etc.?" If there's one thing that makes my blood boil, it's buying a DVD listed as brand new, only to receive a used (or worse) DVD resealed in aftermarket shrink wrap. ![]()
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