Is this BBA really new?

[Mikity]

Hi Dreamcast experts...

Bought this BBA a while ago, it was supposed to be "brand new". The more I look at it, the more I doubt that's the case. Here are some photos:


The baggie looks all crumpled, not what I would expect if something hadn't been used before.


Note the label is yellowed, this is unlikely to have happened if the BBA was stored inside its box as the seller claims.


Can you see the parallel scuffs on the connector? Suggests to me that the BBA has been attached to a Dreamcast or two in the past!

Well, there's the evidence. Do you agree with my findings or do you think I'm being paranoid? I realize none of these factors will affect the functioning of the adapter, but it would have affected the price...

Thanks,
Mikity

[irixith]

I would tend to go with your feeling on this one -- you were sold a used adapter as new. Perhaps the seller made a mistake and shipped you used instead of new, or perhaps they just flat-out lied to you. The scuffs on the unit itself are what show you it's been used.

[vlame]

how much did you pay? complain to ebay.

[Beak]

I would complain; you paid extra for a reason. The seller may have been dishonest to try to make some extra money out of the buyer.

[Mikity]

Thanks guys - glad to hear I wasn't imagining things What would you say is the difference in $$$ between a used BBA and a new one?

Thanks again... Mikity

[Hobie-wan]

The bag does look rather wrinkled for new. Was this purchased from some place that has a store? Maybe it has been pulled out a lot for people to look at, but nobody bit so it kept being stuffed back in the box?

I can see the model number sticker yellowing if it is a paper sticker and this sat in a warm store or warehouse for quite some time.

The scratches go up under the lip of the other piece of metal and are mostly very straight. This means they are from when the metal sheet was bent into the shape needed and not from the BBA being plugged into a DC.

Still very iffy either way though.

[vlame]

40 to 60?

[jinn]

Same thing happen to me a few days ago. Bid on a BRAND NEW, NEVER OPEN Psone/LCD Combo and had to open a case with ebay because the Item I got had the security seal broken and when I opened the flaps I could tell the item had been taken out at some point. Settle for a partial refund, got half of my money back.
Every package I get I record myself opening the box and and inspecting the item. Then I take high res pictures. Main reason I was able to get half my money back.
I don't mind bidding on NEW, Open Box Items, as long it is stated.

[Purkeynator]

I was duped into buying one of those "new" Sega Dreamcast systems a couple years back when they were making the rounds. I bought it off an ebay seller for around $80 or so and received it in the mail. When I opened it the bag was also crumpled and there were some light scuffs on the Dreamcast. I was pretty pissed but I think these were actually factory refurbishements from Sega or something. I never did ask for any money because I figured it would be pretty hard to prove it was not new as it did come with all the brand new manuals and as and the power supply and video cable were new and sealed. One more odd thing was that the Sega swirl on my new controller was blue instead of orange so there's no way the box was unopened before it got to me. You are right though, even if the item is in mint condition, it is still not new as the difference between a new Dreamcast and a "mint" condition one is probably around $50 in my case.