Hardware Have Nintendo Stopped Putting Seals On New 3DS Boxes?

[The Real Jdbye]

My classic 3DS and 3DS XL both had seals on the box.

My brand new n3DS XL (AUS) that I got on eBay did not have the seals, nor did the brand new copy of Kid Icarus Uprising that it came with.

My brand new n3DS XL (US) that I got in a local store also did not have the seals.

My bro personally picked up an n3DS XL MM edition brand new in GameStop and it did not have seals either.

Definitely looks like a trend and I wonder why Nintendo stopped applying the seals.

I remember my 3DS XL having the seal, but only on one side, the box could be opened on the other side easily without leaving a trace. Bit of a slip up there methinks
Actually I traded it in for a n3DS at GameStop and the clerk commented on the seal asking if it was unopened/unused. I told him no and he proceeded to cut the seal open, presumably so that people won't mistake it for a new console.
I wonder what he would have done if I had told him yes. Give me a better price for it maybe? Doubtful though.

 

[gamesquest1]

I think it depends a lot of the shop/region, I haven't seen any 3ds's with seals on the box, I think it's just kinda scrapped the idea in most places as someone already said, for someone wanting to perform a dirty trick of swapping consoles, seals surely ain't gonna stop them, I fact it could have a negative impact with returns if more underhand people decide to carefully remove the seal, put a few rocks or whatever inside then seal it back up and return it to the shop.....at which point the shop either has to open it and risk having someone complain that it wasn't "brand new and sealed" or risk being scammed out of the whole console

 

[[^Blark^]]

My limited edition Majoras Mask N3DSXL came with no seal either just the flip back tab to open the box. The unit hadn't seemed to be touched either looked mint when I unboxed it. The seal isn't that big of an issue IMO. Go buy a new game from GS and watch them put a seal on right in front of you. It's happened to me, well I was buying the last copy in the store when that happened.

 

[Deleted member 361703]

I work in a local grocery store where we get Nintendo shiz all the time. There is no seals if you have a seal on your n3dsxl someone added it. But 3ds xls and 2ds all have seals

 

[stomp_442]

My 3ds xl grey had two seals on purchased new from Argos about a year ago.

Mine too. I bought a 3DS XL about 16 months ago, there was two seals on one end of the box, and one seal on the other end.

 

[Ryccardo]

Launch day, YEF10090060[6], small, white, sold in Italy, no sticker on either flap

Definitely looks like a trend and I wonder why Nintendo stopped applying the seals.

Waste of plastic (and, since Big N is a publicly traded corporation, capitalism at work)

 

[powersaver]

No seals? What, I can't believe this. Thank you for the good topic, however, I can't believe this is the case.

I'm sure if someone wanted, they could ask Nintendo directly, it would be good for the person who called, but not anyone else receiving the information 2nd hand..

I think it depends a lot of the shop/region ...

 

[gamesquest1]

No seals? What, I can't believe this. Thank you for the good topic, however, I can't believe this is the case.

I'm sure if someone wanted, they could ask Nintendo directly, it would be good for the person who called, but not anyone else receiving the information 2nd hand..

well how about the fact the MM console direct from nintendo had no seal, and the 2DS i got from argos a couple of months back and the AUS n3DS i got in December, its a bit farfetched to suggest most people consoles had been carfully tampered with before buying them and all remnants of the seal carefully removed

my original XL on the other hand did have a seal on it, so i guess somewhere between the original XL and the 2DS they dropped them and its now down to retailers to put them on if they don't trust their own customers

or more likely NoA is still doing it, but NoE have dropped them

 

[CarefulCrysis]

My only beef with the idea of no seals is that it gives opportunity for someone to tamper and you'll never know.

 

[powersaver]

The point others have made is important, how can you tell if its been tampered with? Is there another way to tell?

I think there are reports of retail NOA units also having no seal and certainly for some other products (like other electronics and stuff) it is known that its up to the retails regarding seal or no seal regardless of region.

...
its now down to retailers to put them on if they don't trust their own customers

or more likely NoA is still doing it, but NoE have dropped them

 

[Maximilious]

My MM 3DS XL that came from GS in the mail did NOT have a seal on the box. I kept everything and could easily re-sell as NIB at a later date if I really wanted to. There were no seal's what-so-ever in the packaging.

 

[hundshamer]

I bought 3 new 3DS XL's from my local Walmart, and none of them had seals.

 

[dragonblood9999]

I can also state that my MM special edition DID NOT have a seal on it. I ordered online from gamestop. IDK if it was even inside I never opened it and sold it the following day.

i got mine in store and it did not have a seal

 

[Neru]

Same here, bought the New 3ds XL from Gamestop online and never had a single seal.

 

[powersaver]

It seems we have a good consensus about this now. Is this something to complain to Nintendo about?

 

[xBleedingSoulx]

Got mine imported from Australia, one of the first batches, no seal.