Buying from e-bay?

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Tanya_19

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#1 Tanya_19
Member since 2009 • 396 Posts
A lot of games are unavailable [especially the old ones] in stores, so i though i might try e-bay. But i really scared that i might get a bootleg. How can i spot one? i know that i should stay away from asian countries. Are bootleg hard to detect? Someone here buying from ebay? I bought a lot of stuff from e-bay [not games], and i know how things are working, feedbacks & stuff.... But i wont be able to sleep at night thinking maybe i got a bootleg game... Help will be appreciated.
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Elann2008

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#2 Elann2008
Member since 2007 • 33028 Posts

I have been "ebay-ing" for 6 years. I sell and buy. I do not advise on buying out of your country, as shipping takes extremely long and more than times, they forget to ship it or never ship it at all. I've experienced one buyer, although he had a really great feedback score. He refunded me the full amount though. You will always have Paypal to back you up, especially when you have a legitimate claim. If you are within the U.S., just buy within the states or U.K. I find to be really good as well. To be honest, you cannot detect anything.

You go by the description which you should always read carefully and seller FEEDBACK SCORE. I wouldn't settle for anything less than 99.8%. But that's clearly your call. Some buyers leave negative feedbacks that are unecessary just to spite the seller for stupid reasons. When it comes to PC games, always buy new. As some PC games are one-time activation only anyways like STEAM games. Be sure to do your research first on games that require steam activations and never buy those games used because it will not work. If you have any more questions, PM me. I'll gladly help.

1. Read description of item carefully. Everything from shipping fee to item description.

2. Seller feedback score.

3. Ask seller questions if unsure.

4. Keep these messages and do not delete them.

5. Buy only with paypal.

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Tanya_19

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#3 Tanya_19
Member since 2009 • 396 Posts
Yeah, i know about Steam, im using it but i still prefer the boxed version of the game. Im aware of all that, and i never wanted to buy a second hand game, only wanted to be sure its not a bootleg. Ok i have another question... the people that making the bootlegs, from where they getting the cases, the booklets? I mean... its pretty hard to fake a bootleg with over 30 pages, no? I never had a problem with the shipment, they all arrived pretty soon and i bought a lot of thing on ebay, over 60 diffrent stuff. But im kinda... scared when it comes to games. I asked one seller if the games are bootlegs or not and the sayed "The game is original and direct from my wholesaler". Like he would tell me its fake....
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Elann2008

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#4 Elann2008
Member since 2007 • 33028 Posts
I wouldn't worry so much. Let's just say I've purchased dozens of PC games and I have yet to come across one bootleg. I even resorted to buying one from India once and they game was totally legit. Dead Space - came with original game case, booklet, and everything. CD-key worked perfectly and everything was fine. That was my only purchase from India though.
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MisterEditor

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#5 MisterEditor
Member since 2010 • 185 Posts
Ebay is great for games. Just stick to reputable sellers, as with all other ebay transactions.
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matty_patty1232

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#6 matty_patty1232
Member since 2005 • 107 Posts

I got Frontline Fuel of War, Warhammer Mark of Chaos, and RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 Platinum for a dollar a piece. I love buying from Ebay.

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skrat_01

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#7 skrat_01
Member since 2007 • 33767 Posts
Check out the seller and make sure you're paying through paypal. I have bought tons of games from eBay, especially old big box titles, all of which have been exactly as I expected.
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gigatrainer

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#8 gigatrainer
Member since 2006 • 2029 Posts
I wouldn't worry so much. Let's just say I've purchased dozens of PC games and I have yet to come across one bootleg. I even resorted to buying one from India once and they game was totally legit. Dead Space - came with original game case, booklet, and everything. CD-key worked perfectly and everything was fine. That was my only purchase from India though. Elann2008
Indians are pretty legit, considering that I buy from Indians 99% of the time.
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Tanya_19

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#9 Tanya_19
Member since 2009 • 396 Posts
it might be as expected but who knows if its a bootleg or not.. -___- ok, i guess ill give it a try.
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IU_Stizzal

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#10 IU_Stizzal
Member since 2010 • 382 Posts

1. Seller Rep

2. Ask the seller about anything that worries you?

I have bought probably about 15 games from ebay(all individual transactions) and never had a bad experience following those to guidelines. I would say about one-third of those games were from outside the US. Just read everything carefully and use your brain. You will be fine.

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BEENEES

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#11 BEENEES
Member since 2008 • 43 Posts

I dont really risk money on 2nd hand PC games as the seller might keep the CD - code which making yourself being unable to play mutiplayer.

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Elann2008

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#12 Elann2008
Member since 2007 • 33028 Posts

I dont really risk money on 2nd hand PC games as the seller might keep the CD - code which making yourself being unable to play mutiplayer.

BEENEES
The CD-key will prevent you from playing the game, PERIOD. The TC is well aware of this though. He/she is concerned about BOOTLEG games.
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KLONE360

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#13 KLONE360
Member since 2007 • 1119 Posts
[QUOTE="BEENEES"]

I dont really risk money on 2nd hand PC games as the seller might keep the CD - code which making yourself being unable to play mutiplayer.

Elann2008
The CD-key will prevent you from playing the game, PERIOD. The TC is well aware of this though. He/she is concerned about BOOTLEG games.

Well then without the CDkey the whole argument is null then. Technically speaking a game minus a cd key is basically a bootleg without a crack. There is also direct2 drive and GOG.com that have some old games. D2D is to friggin expensive i think though.
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Elann2008

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#14 Elann2008
Member since 2007 • 33028 Posts
[QUOTE="Elann2008"][QUOTE="BEENEES"]

I dont really risk money on 2nd hand PC games as the seller might keep the CD - code which making yourself being unable to play mutiplayer.

KLONE360
The CD-key will prevent you from playing the game, PERIOD. The TC is well aware of this though. He/she is concerned about BOOTLEG games.

Well then without the CDkey the whole argument is null then. Technically speaking a game minus a cd key is basically a bootleg without a crack. There is also direct2 drive and GOG.com that have some old games. D2D is to friggin expensive i think though.

Ahh ok. I didn't know that's what "defines" a bootleg. I have no clue what I was saying... forgive me lol
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#15 Frenzyd109
Member since 2007 • 2276 Posts
Check Amazon too, I personally find it more reputable. And always use Paypal
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#16 noctilucus
Member since 2006 • 191 Posts

I've also been using e-bay for several years now. Fully agree with the posters above, buy from reputed sellers inyour own country and you should be fine.
Just do the basicresearch up-front to see if that particular game can be installed on a new pc or not; there are limited cases where only 1 install willbe possible(sort of an extreme version of copy protection).

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yemen_headshot

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#17 yemen_headshot
Member since 2010 • 514 Posts
I bought Fallout Collections from Ebay, the game was sealed but i didn't get a manual !, does the game come with a manual or the seller ripped me off ?
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Tanya_19

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#18 Tanya_19
Member since 2009 • 396 Posts
Amazon wont sale to my country. Ok, another question... How come all of the stores i checked [and i checked a lot, like shopto, games.co.uk, play asia, etc.....] dont have the games i want, but e-bay sellers have them? from where they getting them? If they have them, the stores should have them also.... no?
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#19 vfibsux
Member since 2003 • 4497 Posts

Buy only from high feedback sellers 99-100%, and saty away from overseas sellers, esp Asian countries where a high volume of bootlegs come out of. Do those two things and you will be fine.

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bonafidetk

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#20 bonafidetk
Member since 2004 • 3911 Posts
I buy old PC games on ebay all the time for 99p or so.... Just check the seller rating, buy within your country and make sure the game does not require steam activation if its 2nd hand.
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KLONE360

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#21 KLONE360
Member since 2007 • 1119 Posts
[QUOTE="Elann2008"][QUOTE="KLONE360"][QUOTE="Elann2008"] The CD-key will prevent you from playing the game, PERIOD. The TC is well aware of this though. He/she is concerned about BOOTLEG games.

Well then without the CDkey the whole argument is null then. Technically speaking a game minus a cd key is basically a bootleg without a crack. There is also direct2 drive and GOG.com that have some old games. D2D is to friggin expensive i think though.

Ahh ok. I didn't know that's what "defines" a bootleg. I have no clue what I was saying... forgive me lol

I didnt say thats what it means I said its basically equal to that because both of them would be unplayable. Both have all the files you need to play the game minus the key to the DRM lock. A bootleg copy is basically the same as a retail with the exception that it wasnt created with any money going to the devs or publishers and that its illegal and more then likely a crack is required to even allow it to run.Often these pirates include a crack though.Usually a bootleg could be just a burned disc but it could also be a retail one minus a cd key thus requiring the user to use a crack. Plz read and dont skim over next time.
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Tanya_19

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#22 Tanya_19
Member since 2009 • 396 Posts
Ok... i found most of the games i wanted in my country. though they a little bit more expensive. But i guess its better to spend a little bit more and be sure i have the real thing. Do you think retial shops can sell bootlegs also? [without knowing it]
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Tanya_19

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#23 Tanya_19
Member since 2009 • 396 Posts
Isnt it useless to ask a seller "say, you have any idea if its a bootleg?" They probably dont see the games and cant be sure. Also i doubt someone will tell you "yeah mate its a bootleg"
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noctilucus

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#24 noctilucus
Member since 2006 • 191 Posts

Indeed, I can't imagine any seller admitting to selling bootlegs.

Shops might be selling bootlegs in some countries (I'm thinking of China here as an example) but then they do it knowingly.