Amazon is attempting to curb the sale of used Nintendo games on its platform, according to a mass-email that has been going out to sellers. Starting today, those who sell on Amazon can no longer list used Nintendo titles, or at the very least, first-party ones. No explicit reason was given for this change, though sellers speculate that this is due to an overabundance of bootleg products. Those who list an item for sale that has Nintendo marked as the producer of said item, have been reporting that their listings have been removed for violating Amazon's new rule. In order for sellers to sell any first-party used condition Nintendo controllers, games, or accessories, they need to file for approval on an item-by-item process. Amazon can then deny, or approve said game sale. At this time, it only affects Nintendo games, and Amazon has not clarified as to whether this will impact other first-party products, sold by Xbox or PlayStation.

UPDATE:

Following the initial report of Amazon seller restrictions on used Nintendo products, Amazon has responded to the claims in a very brief official statement. Amazon claims that the email that was distributed to sellers was sent in error, and any removed listings have now been reinstated. Further details are vague, but it appears that sellers will NOT be impacted when selling used first-party Nintendo hardware or games.

Yesterday’s email [to third-party Amazon sellers] was sent in error, and all impacted listings were reinstated within hours.

Source

 

[NoNAND]

*knock* *knock* hello there pirated/modded copies and first gen vulnerable switches.

 

[b17bomber]

Be careful what you wish for when Gamestop and your local used bookstores go out of business.

 

[x65943]

The used market hurts Nintendo and Amazon's bottom line

Of course they will want to restrict it

This is the problem with online monopolies

 

[ChaosEternal]

The used market hurts Nintendo and Amazon's bottom line

Of course they will want to restrict it

This is the problem with online monopolies

Banning the used market helps Nintendo's bottom line, but the move only helps Amazon's bottom line if enough people switch to buying new games. They might lose money instead if those people just continue buying used games somewhere else.

 

[8BitWonder]

Hello again, EBay my old friend...

 

[x65943]

It hurts Nintendo's bottom line, but it only helps Amazon's if they make more money from people buying new games instead of used. They might lose money if those people just buy used games somewhere else.

I made two assumptions
1. Amazon earns a fixed percent from sale of items
2. Majority of people who shop for games on Amazon will not look elsewhere

I suppose an alternative could be pressure from Nintendo - but I doubt Nintendo has that much negotiating power

 

[ChaosEternal]

I made two assumptions
1. Amazon earns a fixed percent from sale of items
2. Majority of people who shop for games on Amazon will not look elsewhere

I suppose an alternative could be pressure from Nintendo - but I doubt Nintendo has that much negotiating power

If those assumptions are true, then you're definitely right. I wonder if any surveys have been done to find out what price difference will trigger people to switch stores.

 

[wurstpistole]

Switch bootleg games?
Did I miss something completely or since when can any Switch run some kind of physical copy of a gamecart?

 

[raxadian]

People will just use a different online selling stuff service.

 

[James_]

stares at eBay

 

[Arras]

Switch bootleg games?
Did I miss something completely or since when can any Switch run some kind of physical copy of a gamecart?

Amazon doesn't just sell switch games. For a highly bootlegged example, https://www.amazon.com/slp/pokemon-gba-games/c7st2qogcm8zcbj.

 

[Chary]

Switch bootleg games?
Did I miss something completely or since when can any Switch run some kind of physical copy of a gamecart?

Here's a bootleg Switch Pro controller.

Bootleg GBA 1000-in-1.

There's many more like it

 

[HRudyPlayZ]

I still see the used switch offers though... and i took a look at amazon.com.
If they do ban used sales, it will be illegal in some countries, including France and i have no doubt someone will take an action.

 

[bobmcjr]

Makes sense. Used games are almost as much competition as ROMs to Nintendo's current titles. Didn't they fight used game sales/rentals back in the 90's? Legally they failed, but now they found a company that's enough of a corporate bitch to do their bidding. Woohoo. Large corporations.

If Nintendo actually wanted to fight bootlegs they should meet the demand people have for older games instead of basically banning people from buying them. Bootlegs aren't going anywhere, this will just harm legitimate resales.

 

[kevin corms]

Calm down nintendo, this sort of stuff does more harm then good.

 

[DJPlace]

wow that's dumb this hurts people a lot.

 

[GhostLatte]

*laughs in eBay*

 

[pedro702]

tbh amazon so far unless you get a good deal new its usualy cheaper on ebay to buy used, but that is for me because my country doesnt have an amazon store so shipping on amazon is always more expensive than shipping on ebay for me.

 

[phillyrider807]

Welp back to ebay or more importantly, Dhgate.

I have 2 "knockoff" switch pro controllers and 1 knockoff wii u pro controller and compared to the official ones they are every bit as good besides lacking the ability to use amiibos(which i never use anyway)

Saving over 40$ for the exact controller is amazing. Sure i'll miss amazon 2 day shipping but to think this will suddenly make me buy official products is laughable.

But yea im assuming this is because of how popular the "knockoff" controllers became. I don't know of any "bootleg games" how would those even run on patched consoles?