Sealed copy of Pokemon Yellow graded A+ allegedly destroyed by US Customs

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Stephen Kick, who runs under the username of @pripyatbeast, posted on Twitter an image of a received package after being handled by customs. The package was supposed to be an encased sealed copy of Pokemon Yellow, graded A+ with a score of 9.2 by Wata Games with an alleged worth of around $3'800 dollars, but instead, the owner got a broken acrylic case, with a mangled seal and sliced box of Pokemon Yellow.

The highest rated Pokemon Yellow game is also an A+, but with a score of 9.4, which is currently going up for around $10'500 dollars in price.
While the morality and legality of sealed copies of widely available games as Pokemon Yellow is highly questionable and up for debate, and regardless of its alleged worth, it's always heartbreaking to see something you ordering getting destroyed in shipping or customs.

 

lolcatzuru

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Define “collector”. @Sicklyboy is under his roaring thunder more often than he’s behind the wheel, based on his socials. :lol: Not sure if that’s collecting, but it’s certainly an automotive hobby. Other than that, a lot of locals in my area dabble in it, actually. It’s not uncommon to see vintage cars with antique plates on, and by vintage cars I don’t mean jalopies, I mean actual collectible cars with government-recognised antique status (in the UK you get special plates, and if your vehicle is older than 1982, it’s exempt from tax). This is in part because my county runs an annual classic car show, so yes, it’s a fairly popular hobby. Every August there’s *hundreds* of them on the streets.

EDIT: I don’t think it’s any secret that I live in Wales, so I may as well provide a link. I get to enjoy this every year:

https://www.rctcbc.gov.uk/EN/Newsroom/PressReleases/2022/May/ClassicCarShow2022.aspx

it was to me, its none of my business where you live, you are your own person, can you go ask some of them and see how theyd feel, maybe conduct a survey
 

SylverReZ

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I mean, if you get your shit destroyed by some guy you'll expect him to repay you? right?

Look, i don't know how you run your stuff but i do it like this. "you break my expensive shit im gonna make you pay for it and never talk to you again."
Correct, that sums it up. But why for picking up an expensive sealed WATA graded item? You think they'd be foolish to do so.
 

Metoroid0

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damn, these comments are awful
i get that you don't like the wata system
but this dude just spent his money and got his shit ruined
have some empathy
I have 0 empathy for people who feed such companies that amount of money instead of emulating the game or buying decently priced one, a bit damaged game perhaps for AT LEAST 100X cheaper and actually playing it. Later if he decide to get his money back he will sell it for double the price and that game will circulate amony deep pocket people instead being shared with people who really apreciate games and play them.

If i was him, id feel stupid myself and realize how foolish i was for giving that amount of money for piece of plastic.
Post automatically merged:

Why do people even make vapid replies like this? Like motherfucker if I wanted to emulate the game I would have just done so. I like owning games physically.
I also like owning games, but i dont go around spending 10k on a gba game. there has to be some common sense. that game than curculates in wethy circles and some games regular gamer like you cant ever afford some games because of that.

I own phyysical games but i payed my pikachu 20$ not 10k just cause it has a box. I also printed out my own boxes, and i wait if i can find a bargin..not cashing out 10k.

Its his cashe, he can do whatever, but thats not the point, its the mentality of some gamers that defend these things and find excuses, "compassion" its astonishing to me...

id like to focus on bigger picture.
 
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JackTheHorse

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I mean, if you get your shit destroyed by some guy you'll expect him to repay you? right?

Look, i don't know how you run your stuff but i do it like this. "you break my expensive shit im gonna make you pay for it and never talk to you again."
You're talking to a dumbass whom couldn't even reply to my post calling him out. I wouldn't bother.

It's all fun and games until something they care about gets destroyed by the customs.
 

Metoroid0

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I mean, if you get your shit destroyed by some guy you'll expect him to repay you? right?

Look, i don't know how you run your stuff but i do it like this. "you break my expensive shit im gonna make you pay for it and never talk to you again."
it wasnt destroyed by "some guy" but by customs. if package is insured, yes, he gets a refund, if not than tough luck, he got a lesson.

If this is all not made up....
 

JackTheHorse

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it wasnt destroyed by "some guy" but by customs. if package is insured, yes, he gets a refund, if not than tough luck, he got a lesson.
A lesson on what? Being forced to spend money on insurance (that may or may not refund you) because your own government can't tell the difference between a collector's item and drugs? Did you drop out of middle school?
 

Metoroid0

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??? What the actual fuck?
Whenever you send something by mail or as a package, the company that is dilivering can see the price and if package is ensured, in the case of damage the person gets the refund... he should at least in my country idk for the fucked up US of A, everything is backwards there, especially these days as i hear and see.. but i hope laws and consumer protections work.

So yeah, he should be ensured, and if not he will learn. Every lesson costs, this was his price
 

JackTheHorse

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Whenever you send aomething my mail or as a package, the company that is dilivering can see the price and if package is ensured, in the case of damage the person gets the refund... he should at least in my country idk for the fucked up US of A, everything is backwards there, especially these days as i hear and see.. but i hope laws and consumer protections work.
If they work as much as your english then we're all fucked.
 

Foxi4

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it was to me, its none of my business where you live, you are your own person, can you go ask some of them and see how theyd feel, maybe conduct a survey
Considering the fact that they’re actively driving their prized collectible cars in Wales, the world’s capital of rain, I don’t think I have to my guy. My “survey” is hundreds (not an exaggeration) of classic cars driving around the county every year.
 
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sombrerosonic

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Correct, that sums it up. But why for picking up an expensive sealed WATA graded item? You think they'd be foolish to do so.
Easy, maybe you want it perfect as it came from a gamestop. I own a few complete in box games for my sega. Am i an idiot for wanting it like that?

Emulation is fine but FR some people prefer the real hardware, and not a emualtor
 
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SylverReZ

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Easy, maybe you want it perfect as it came from a gamestop. I own a few complete in box games for my sega. Am i an idiot for wanting it like that?

Emulation is fine but FR some people prefer the real hardware, and not a emualtor
In my opinion, just don't buy a mint 100% grade A+ sealed copy to begin with. You can already get used boxed copies for a better price.
 

Marc_LFD

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Easy, maybe you want it perfect as it came from a gamestop. I own a few complete in box games for my sega. Am i an idiot for wanting it like that?

Emulation is fine but FR some people prefer the real hardware, and not a emualtor
The difference is that those games probably are not in a ridiculous transparent coffin.
 

osaka35

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I'm fine with protecting your collection. boxes are good for that. It's...what collectors do.

So, why would anyone want to use one of these services? One of the reasons collectors like the concept of companies like this is the promise of an unbiased standardized rating system. Since it's completely on the company doing the rating to establish the accuracy, precision, and consistency, a few big names usually bubble to the top over time.

though, of course, people with deep pockets who want to filter or generate money with companies like this will also bubble to the top. so...it comes down to reliability of service. It's important to be able to appreciate the distinction between legitimate desire to establish a collection of established quality, and of those looking to abuse a system to make themselves rich.

Now would I spend this much on this game? no. I suspect this is an example of someone generating drama to get into the news, in an effort to be shady and make money (Or someone with money to burn who bought into the hype).

but 3rd party assessors for things such as cib (complete in box) games? absolutely understand the desire for this.

Why collect and not play? easy. preservation of a moment in time. Because for many, the context of a game is very much worth preserving as well. Or, put another way, the "whole" of the game is preserved, rather than just the data. This is also why folks will collect promotional materials, same-era toys, magazines, etc., for a game as well. While preserving a working version of the game is preserving the game itself, preserving a cib game and related products is about preserving the culture and context of the game. Even if you don't think it's worth your time, hopefully you can understand someone wanting to collect with that mentality.

Though tbh, most of the serious collectors I know have a "to play" collection and a "preserved" collection. because game are meant to be played *and* preserved. The larger issue is all those games with batteries on them for saves. Those things will leak eventually,
 
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LainaGabranth

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Collecting something to deny it its purpose is stupid, full stop. Imagine buying cars only to never drive them. If you do not have the appreciation of something you collect, such as vehicles and their engineering or designs, to use them for their purpose, you literally just want something for status. There is no empathy for people who engage in nonsense like this. In fact, I hope customs actually *charges* them money just out of spite. Collectortrogs do not belong in my hobby.
 

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