TIPS ON BUYING
A. DO NOT BUY VALUE PACKS!!
1. What is value pack?
2. Where is value pack usually sold?
3. Why shouldn't I buy value pack?
4. Proof that value pack is rubbish (videos)
1. What is Value Pack?
From what I gather, value pack is an item that is usually very popular, but just sold very, very cheaply either online or in poorer parts of the world because it's been poorly made. An example of a value pack item might be a poorly made Nintendo DS with a very pixely screen, games that don't work, and a box that has been marked with a biro instead of a computer or machine.
2. Where is Value Pack usually sold?
Value Pack items are usually sold in very poor parts of the world, like Asia, Hong Kong, and Africa etc. Sometimes you can get Value Pack items online, but they're usually reported and deleted very, very quickly.
I think Ebay must've kept a close eye on that section or something, because at one point Value Pack was almost spamming the site, and the next they were all gone! Or maybe someone reported them.
3. Why shouldn't I buy Value Pack?
Value Pack items are usually very faulty. They have pixely screens, maybe a cracked corner, rubbish sound quality, and so on. They might feel very plasticy and light, and won't work properly, and if it's an item with a camera, the camera may not record or take pictures.
I know to some of you it may sound obvious not buying electrical goods from poor countries, but there are a lot of idiots who do it, so hopefully this guide will prevent more from doing the same! It isn't nice getting ripped off!
4. Proof that Value Pack is rubbish (YouTube videos).
I asked someone on YouTube if I could link back to their videos that they'd made of all the Value Pack items that they'd bought and had reviewed. I think they're making reviews on the poor items, so that people won't buy the rubbishy goods, and get ripped off and then hate the real thing and tell people not to buy it.
PopStation Review (PSP Ripoff)
Neo Double Games Review (Nintendo DS Ripoff)
GameStation Review (Playstation 1 Ripoff) (This particular GameStation was not a Value Pack item. BUT I have seen it being sold as one, so I'm putting it here.)
B. DO NOT BUY DVDS THAT HAVE HAD THEIR REGION CHANGED REPEATEDLY
A while back I saw a Worst Witch dvd that I was interested in buying. The item had been up for ages, and had been put up three times without anyone buying it. I soon found out why...
Originally, the description had claimed that the dvd was region 0. The next time it went up it had turned into region 2, and the third time it had been region 4. Curious, I asked the owner what region it was (I lied and said I might be interested in buying it) and they told me that it was region 17 which doesn't even exist...
Another dvd I saw up for sale was a Simpsons one. Like the Worst Witch dvd, it had been put up more than once without anyone buying it, and each time the region had changed. First region 0, then region 2, then region 1. When asked, they claimed the description had never been changed - but it plainly showed on the item that it had been...
The last I saw was a Buffy the Vampire slayer dvd. Now I don't like Buffy the Vampire slayer, but I decided that if I was going to do this properly, I'd best look in all the popular dvd categories. This one was region 12 (doesn't exist) and had then been changed to region 0. Hmmm...
Be aware that if you see a dvd like this, it's probably a scam. It is extremely important to check out everyone's feedback too, and read the description properly, the title and the history of the item.
C. DON'T BUY GAMEBOY GAMES WITH WONKY STICKERS!
Someone uploaded a guide recently on Gameboy, Gameboy Colour, Gameboy Advance and Gameboy Advance DS games. Basically anything Gameboy. Something I hadn't realised (until I read their review) was that if the sticker is blurry or isn't straight, it's a fake and won't play properly!
Apparently with fakes there are problems like the game not loading, or the game not saving or the game having pixels missing from the screen and stuff. Nintendo try and protect their games as much as possible, and it's a possibility that when the games are copied, not all of the information is copied corrently!
D. IF YOU BUY PC SOFTWARE, ASK IF A SERIAL KEY IS NEEDED
1. What is a serial key?
2. Do I need a serial key?
3. Does all software require a serial key?
4. Have I been ripped off?
5. How can I get a serial key?
6. What are the most likely programs to need serial keys?
7. Would it be common for someone to try and rip me off?
8. A last minute tip.
1. What is a serial key?
A serial key is a code that often comes with either very popular or very expensive pieces of software. The code is used to install the product that you have bought, (the software will usually start the installation, and will then ask for the serial key so as to continue), and it lets the company know that you have definately bought the product from them, rather than off an online trading site (so that the company can make more money!)
2. Do I need a serial key?
If you have bought a piece of computer software, and it looks quite expensive (like Microsoft Office, which contains a bundle including Microsoft Word, Microsoft Access, Microsoft Exel and Microsoft Powerpoint), or if it's a really popular piece of software that you're buying, like Paint shop Pro or another well known picture editing program, it is more likely that you will need a serial key to install it.
3. Does all software require a serial key?
Not all software requires a serial key. There are hundreds of computer games that you can install immediately without any sort of code, and hundreds of computer programs that have the same situation applied to them. However, since there's still a lot of software out there that does require a serial key, it is always best to check with the seller first.
4. Have I been ripped off?
If you've ever bought a piece of software off Ebay or another online trading site, or even in a store like Game or a place for second hand computer things, and found that you couldn't install the software because you needed the very serial key that wasn't provided, then you will know that you have been ripped off. All pieces of software that require serial keys, should come with them.
However, I would be wary of buying software out of second hand computer shops, or software that just happens to be second hand altogether. I learnt my lesson from that. I bought Age of the Empires 3 for 5.00 from Game, and when I got it home I found that I couldn't install it because there was no serial key with it. Not only that, but I hadn't been told that I needed a special video card for it, and therefore the game looked all pixely and bad.
5. How can I get a serial key?
Now, there are ways to get serial keys online, but I think it's illegal. I don't particularly want to be banned off Ebay, so I'm afraid that I won't be able to tell you how, but if you go onto a computer site or a gaming site or something, there are usually hundreds of members who have also been ripped off and who would like to help you.
If you have bought a piece of software brand new, then there should be a serial key with it and you should be alright. It's just buying off other people when the software has been used that you need to be wary of.
6. What are the most likely programs to need serial keys?
The most likely programs to need serial keys, are either very expensive ones like the Microsoft Office bundles (which includes Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Access and Microsoft Powerpoint), or they're very well known or popular pieces of software, like picture editing programs and games like Age of the Empires.
The companies want to make as much money as they can, and if they know that their product is being bought by loads of people, they'll give you a serial key with the product, and sometimes they'll make it so that you can't just give the software with the code for a small ammount of money to someone else, whilst still using the same code yourself on your computer.
7. Would it be common for someone to try and rip me off?
Loads of people sell on their computer software without the code, knowing full well that you will need the serial key. Sometimes they do this so that you will have to buy the serial key off them seperately (which will obviously cost you more, and a lot more if the product is big, bulky and popular), and sometimes they're just idiots who have lost it or who have given it to a friend and that friend hasn't returned it.Some people though don't realise you need the serial key so we'll forgive them, but just ask anyway incase anyone tries to trick you. 8. A last minute tip.
If you're in doubt about which products may need a serial key, I would advise asking around first. If a friend has the software, ask them, or if a family member has a piece of software that you're thinking of buying, check and see if you need anything extra.
You can also ask around on several gaming sites, or computer forums. These are the best places to go (but I warn you - don't ask anybody on Deviantart. For anyone who doesn't know, it's an art community with a huge forum, that has loads of boards for everything you can possibly imagine - but you do tend to get a LOT of abuse there if you don't know something.)
E. IF YOU DON'T LIKE COPIES THEN READ THIS.
I have no problem with copied dvds or games or whatever, just so long as they work. Don't ban me - I don't go out and look for copies to buy, or download films illegally or anything, but if I'm provided with a copy off Ebay, I won't leave negative feedback. However, if you don't like copied stuff, I've written up a few ways that'll help you to recognise copies.
DVD Copies
1. The dvd might come from a poor country like Asia, South Africa or Hong Kong.
2. It might be a region 0 (ignore this if the original dvd was released as a region 0)
3. It might have a dodgy item photo that'll be blurred, tiny, scratched or extremely poor quality.
4. The episodes might all be on one disc or two discs, unlike the original which might've had four or five discs. Check this out first! Especially in the Anime section!
5. The so called DVD might have 'exclusive' stuff on it that doesn't come on an ordinary DVD. These might be illegally downloaded games or TV interviews.
6. A series that might've only recently been made might already be up for sale on Ebay. Season seven of the Simpsons has only just been released, but already season seventeen and eighteen are up for sale on Ebay.
Video Game Copies
1. The sticker might be wonky on the game cartridge.
2. The sticker might be bad quality on the game cartridge.
3. Disc copies (such as Playstation, Nintendo and Xbox) might be on ordinary discs.
4. Disc copies might have had a replacement 'DVD' case. If it doesn't look like an Xbox, Playstation or Nintendo case - don't buy it.
5. The so called game might have 'exclusive' stuff on it that doesn't come on an ordinary DVD. These might be illegally downloaded games (as extras) or other stuff.
Fake Game Consoles
1. They will have the word Value Pack in the title.
2. They will be unusually (or suspiciously) cheap.
3. They might be available before the official release of a games console.
4. They might come from Asia, Hong Kong or South Africa.
5. They will feel very light and plasticy.
6. They will often have horrendous designs on them (like stickers and stuff).
7. They will have tinny music and very pixely screens (with blocks missing here and there).
8. The instructions will come on a small, single sheet.
PopStation Review (PSP Ripoff)
Neo Double Games Review (Nintendo DS Ripoff)
GameStation Review (Playstation 1 Ripoff)
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