What I've learned from 5,000 video game RETURNS

[@N83Gaming]

The zapper guns only work on old CRT tv's, people are trying to play with them on todays tv's. They where not made to work on flat screen tv's.

[@maitreduhuit]

Exactly, people don't realise they need a CRT to use them, they think it doesn't work, they don't make the research and then they return them.

[@cheese6536]

Came here to say exactly this. The average Amazon customer isn't going to know this, so they just return it thinking it's defective.

[@TheIowaGamer90]

It’s this. If you use it on a flatscreen it seems like it works and that you’re just a bad aim, but that’s not the case. Only works on CRT Tube tvs. All light guns have high return rates because of that.

[@njohan81]

.. "Hyper Blaster HD" works in modern TV they say, but not the old Zapper 😢 LED, OLED, WLED, PLASMA, LCD.. wonder which one of does are the best.. "semi-working" with modern TV´s and with Zappers? 🤔 it must be the nearest with a "blinking" -tech..as.. old CRT-tech is.. 🫣

[@anthonytovar5892]

My first thoughts on this exactly

[@MrDkspur]

I would bet that people are ordering Mario Kart 8 and not realizing that it is a Wii U copy and not the Switch version.

[@lucius952]

thats what i was thinking probably grandparents or parents with little knowledge about consoles buying the wrong mario kart for there kids

[@markagon]

I agree. I had this thought and came to look for this comment. Making insanely explicit and up front notices about these kinds of things help. Even if you think it's obvious.

[@XtraBees]

Or that they think it can play on a Wii.

[@beegchunguz7425]

I would have to say its probably because the disc was bad. The Wii U discs are very prone to imperfections that render the discs useless. Panasonic supplied them and theyre not great quality.

[@the____collector]

@@beegchunguz7425 gotta be both. the discs get top holes so easy, and the people confusing wii/wii u is probably still common

[@Shinobi001]

Wild you've made over 2 million reselling games and you weren't cleaning your carts. It takes less than 24 hours for exposed carts to get dusty or dirty enough to not work. Clean them really well then put them in an area dust can't get to them. I feel like this should be basic knowledge.

[@TheRetroWorld]

Sometimes you'll clean a game and then the customer has a dirty console that won't read games. Not as common to happen but sometimes it will.

[@felix-ve8jk]

For sure that happens. Ive been getting a lot of controllers returned too and I re-test and they seem to work fine. Even took 2 apart to clean but they were already clean inside.

[@mindbodysoul360]

Do your customers know that the Duck Hunt gun doesn’t work on new TVs? It was optimized for old tube TVs. Now that technology has advanced so much, the gun doesn't recognize the square and read it as anything. To play light gun games, you'd still need a CRT.

[@crackedwindowproductions]

Heres what I think of Mario Kart 6. People buy it for the weekend to play a game night with friends and return it shortly after. And for the guns, I think they are returning them because they are using them on their regular TV instead of a CRT tv. They wont work on todays tvs. Just my take.

[@nick-db2pv]

8

[@EzCane]

I just had a nes and figured that was my issue lol I have a newerr tv I test on. Thanks for the confirmation

[@FlippinandTrippin]

This is why I stay away from selling on Amazon. The higher prices you get are more than counteracted by the much higher return rate and overall hassle you go through compared to eBay.

[@superj2644]

You're probably get lightgun returns because they not using a crt tv

[@ryanhill906]

That was my first thought. As far as aim, I think it's a matter of distance to the TV. But I also remember lots of running up to the screen with the zapper, screaming in fury that it wouldn't shoot right, at childhood sleepovers. So I'm pretty sure it was challenging back then, too!

[@NerdNationUS]

Friends are always blown away when they see how many returns we have. Just part of the business

[@illadope777]

Zappers are being returned because they require a CRT tv to work properly. Most folks don’t realize that trying to have them work on LED screens and that won’t happen.

[@BrianB2099]

On Amazon, I’m convinced people don’t know that the zapper needs to CRT and they’re blaming your product when it’s there not knowledge that is the issue

[@BrianB2099]

I do think a high reason of Wii U returns are the fact that people are buying them and putting them in a Wii because that was we’s problem all along people didn’t understand they were two different systems.

[@zonezip719]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@DisguisedPigeonLOL]

Nah, I used to do a lot of flipping of Wii U systems and games and it's unbelievably shocking how often a completely clean Wii U disc fails to load. They really are super fragile.

[@welldoopwelldoop]

not cleaning the pins was absolutely not an "efficiency" thing it was a negligence thing. shitting my pants to save the travel time to the bathroom is not efficient lol

[@CGTripping]

In any form of selling The vendor should clean, test the items before putting it for sale I mean, in the USA, vendors woukd just sell items in condition where they found it ir bought it, dont make the effort of cleaning ir testing it, you can see that in some resellers and almost all flea market and garage sales or in any form of reselling In Japan, flea market items are cleaned and tested and package neatly, thats why they can sell it more

[@getwreck3d13]

Wii U games might be getting returned because people are ripping them and downloading them on to they’re console via usb loader

[@ShredderMediaRetro]

From my experience resurfacing blu ray format disc will more often than not cause the game to be unplayable. Testing the game beforehand resulting in the game playing just fine, resurfaced the game test again and it doesn't even read it. I believe it has more to do with the protective layer being removed from resurfacing. They also feel different afterwards

[@Stiv64_]

7:50 Because soccer mums will only realize after the fact that it is the ulterior version on the wii u, return it and get it on the switch afterwards.

[@kompressahdnb]

Zappers need a CRT tv to work. LCD or LED they wont work at all.

[@rcellis6767]

This is the answer.....

[@Goobneptizle]

Yes agree 👍

[@the____collector]

all this video told me is you shouldnt sell wii u, zappers, or move controllers. Do you really move enough in any of these categories to justify the headache?

[@jackfry]

The great thing about Xbox 360 games is that you can install them directly onto the console's hard drive. If a game successfully installs, it's a good sign that the disc is non-defective. Once installed, the disc is only needed at the start of the game to verify ownership. After that, it's just like playing a digital version of the game.

[@cardboardempire]

Every game or system I sell, I enclose a link to me actually testing the item. I also enclose a "Read Me First" sheet explaining the proper way to handle, care for, and use your product. You would be surprised that people try to return disks because they slop peanut butter on it, then load the disk upside down, then complain the item doesn't work.

[@phoenixasheslevelup]

If you have 5000 returns you need to switch up your business plan. I’ve sold thousands of games and have maybe 6 returns total and all 6 were shipping damage issues.

[@johnwilliamson8367]

Are you doing it on Amazon though? Amazon gets crazy returns.

[@kens976]

Wii U games are notorious for disc rot especially towards the center. You sometimes can spot it when you put the disc against light, you will see small pin hole or two. Towards the center will make the disc unreadable and unrepairable. And this can happen to discs in your collection that are brand new sealed.

[@krowland7584]

For the NES zapper my guess is that people don't know that you can't use them on non-crt tv's.

[@skatespyx]

While I was on my journey for a complete Wii U set a couple of years ago, I came across quite a few discs that simply would not read. And the majority of them looked flawless. I'm not sure why that's the case, but unfortunately it's very common. My local game store said they are one of the most returned formats as well.

[@jamess.9743]

I gave up selling on eBay after someone filed a complaint saying my game lot was scratched up but it was because he was able to get a huge discount around black Friday specials that was marginally more than my used lot. the fact that eBay believed him and forced me to accept the return I gave up.

[@YaBuddyC]

With the zappers, as others have mentioned in the comments, you likely get returns because people don't realize you can't use them on newer TVs and they must be only used on older CTR TVs. I don't know whether or not you put that disclaimer in your listings already or not, but you absolutely should. I don't sell too many of these on eBay I sell them to someone else I know locally when I get them, but when I used to sell them on eBay I would always put in the disclaimer about only usable with older fat back CRT TVs.

[@paulregan5888]

Maybe people return the light guns because they realize they need a CRT TV for them to work.

[@shannonrobinson9042]

The "lazer" gun was for the CRT and even then it was hard to shoot the ducks even point blank. However at the cord end it worked well. Again on the CRT only

[@gripseddk8417]

Thanks again for great content Caleb! keep your head up buddy 🙂 Love and support as always!!

[@mikeschneider361]

As people mentioned, the Zappers don't work great on most modern TVs and Mario Kart 8 is likely a lot of people looking for the Switch game and buying the wrong thing. ( Note your other Wii-U returns include Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Minecraft w Super Mario Mashup, etc. Common titles kids want on Switch which grandparents can screw up on Amazon. ) I remember whenever my Grandfather would help with the Christmas shopping, more than half the stuff he bought would be the wrong version, model, size, format, etc. I almost miss the day after Christmas tradition of returning and buying the right version of gifts.

[@marsbase1357]

My brother used to sell on eBay. He would sell 10 things he would get 6 return 3 of them sometimes would be not what he send them they would switch it.

[@anthonywhite6847]

Definitely agree with some of the others on the NES zappers. Had someone buy two from me on eBay and messaged me unhappy that they did not work on her flatscreen. I think many are unaware of a CRT TV being a necessity.

[@TimeLagGaming]

Zappers and MK8 Wii U returns? Most people don’t realize Wii U games don’t work on Wii. And people don’t know zappers require a CRT. These are Amazon consumers, not game collectors. Just like with the cleaning pins thing, it’s uneducated people.

[@jeremylowe1988]

glad to see you are marking your games because a common thing people do is buy your nice looking game get it home and send back a busted copy of something, and they get a refund and good looking game to go with it, I seen it a lot when I worked retail. I don't know if you have experienced that or not but its a old school scam

[@theretrogamecave8493]

As a brick and mortar store owner I’d say it’s simple. Wii U games are manufactured flawed, many games come up invalid disc as If they are possessed. Maybe resellers are pushing bad discs on you 🤔. I heard rumors it’s from mere UV exposure can’t confirm that though. Every game is mint, scratch resistant coating as well, zero need to resurface and hard to do. Simply set a Wii U up link to pad (no tv required) if disc icon of game shows up on pad it’s good. You need to test these! If it says invalid disc it’s crap. This was happening to me a lot so now I won’t let one go out without being checked beforehand. As a matter of fact I test everything on the spot.

[@alextushie-lessard650]

Mario Kart 8 is on the Switch. I wonder if people are buying the Wii U version by mistake and returning it.

[@gne08]

Maybe it’s the prices you list your items for. Maybe customers are finding better prices than making excuses for the returns. So as you said before you tested them with no issues.

[@yo.m.3967]

What’s to stop people from using you as game fly, or purchasing your inventory to replace their old broken and not working games? People might be buying them, and then playing the hell out of them, or replacing their broken or fake versions of cartridges or discs. If you’re checking the micro serial number on each game the maybe that’s not the case, but I am curious about that. 🤔

[@camerontinker1948]

Great video! I know it takes more time, but I always test games by booting up cartridge games and ripping disc based games to HDD on their respective console. Wii U for example, I use a disc dumper homebrew application to do a full disc test. Anything with read errors, I don't sell as working. I have only successfully resurfaced DVDs. Blu-Ray and Wii U are tricky. There are other dumping utilities for other consoles.

[@tobo1]

I reckon buyers assume it's the Switch Mario Kart 8 rather then the Wii U version. The zappers only work with the old CRT TVs same with the Super Scope.

[@hbvcsa...]

I only have ever had one cartridge game run after I first received it. I never expect any old game to be cleaned prior to receiving it I always use a strong liquid cleaner with a Q tip. Plus, I always open my game to be sure the board is legit. I wouldn't blow in a game cartridge. It doesn't clean tge pins and you are taking chance of spitting in it.

[@Primetime-te7jx]

A trick with WiiU games. If you hold then up to a light and see pinholes on the data, the game will eventually fail at some point in the game. Sometimes even flawless WiiU games fail.

[@Primetime-te7jx]

Also, never rebuff them. It usually runs them.

[@lordboston05]

Its buyer remorse. Games today simply do not give people the experience they expect and people have less and less money to waste.

[@MrCoffeeMrRadar]

You're not wrong I have seen plenty of WiiU games just out right now work and the discs are in perfect condition.

[@leviwarfield4988]

I think for the same reason the Wii U failed, confused people don’t know that the Wii and Wii U are separate consoles. I’d almost be willing to best most of those Wii U returns work fine.

[@hasbulla619]

I bet people don’t know the blaster only work on old TV. You can’t use them on flatscreens.

[@dwighthm]

I'm pretty sure the NES zappers only work on the old tube TVs

[@cheshiredon]

The zappers only work on CRT TV's not on modern flat screens and they for sure don't realize that.

[@JoshRetro]

People from Amazon seem to be really picky

[@robert_roland63]

Here’s something you can get those NES zapper guns on. Hogan’s Alley. You have a larger target but you have to be quick. Just letting you know we have an orange and a gray zapper. The orange one is mine and I’ve had for years. I couldn’t get it to work. I’m not throwing it away. I might fix it or use it as a prop for a Splatoon cosplay.

[@brentvance9090]

Dude I love this channel

[@treyprice04]

Mario Kart 8 had a lot of returns for me on eBay. I ask people to send a pic of their system and 9 out of 10 send a pic of the original Wii. When they do that I let them know and if they still return I deduct return shipping.

[@frieddata]

I wonder the amount of returns because people buy not knowing it wont work for their setup, be it a lcd tv for the zapper, wii u game on the original wii, or 360 games people assume will be backwards on a One or Series.

[@bloodihd]

Almost all my Wii U returns are because the customer bought it for Switch or Standard Wii😅 nothing to be done about that other than factor it in or get out entirely

[@BrickArtsGames]

Legit think people are buying MK8 thinking it’s the Switch version (don’t ask me how). It’s the best selling game on Switch so I assume that it’s a highly sought after game.

[@ameliajones8772]

I think the reason your getting the zapors sent back is they don't work on new TV's only the older TV's and I don't think the people that buy them realise that.

[@pnx_world]

Phoenix why don't you include a little instruction manual that includes how to properly use and care/maintain the cartridges explaining how to clean the pins safely. This is something people will have to do over time anyone as they collect dust to. I wonder if the return window is too much for games that get played a lot. That maybe also people are finsing out they can get for cheaper elsewhere. So they return that one.

[@jamesb1385]

Caleb, what disc surfacer do you recommend? If you are just starting out what company do you recommend to do the disc repair for you?

[@shopepicgifts9468]

On the NES guns. I wonder if people relize you need a crt tv to make it work

[@legoboy-ox2kx]

People probably buy Mario Kart 8 thinking it's the switch version and then realize it's for the wrong console, and obviously wii U discs are super easy to damage the top label on, which will cause problems.

[@ResellinGrizz]

I think people are mixing up Wii with Wii U. I’ve heard of this mix up with my sales via Mercari. It’s very possible that people are buying Mario Kart 8 thinking it’s original Mario Kart

[@djbpah]

Are the zappers being used on a CRT or a modern day flatscreen? Guarantee it’s not working bc it’s not a CRT.

[@lisafan6365]

I think the zappers are coming back because some people don't realize you need a tube tv not a modern hdtv most people have.

[@AlPalC]

Did I miss something about the handheld consoles? Or were they just not mentioned?

[@putridabomination]

Bet they found it at a **good price** and felt ripped off with those Amazon prices

[@deankruse31]

Recently had A PS3 game returned and the buyers reason was doesn't work on PS5 lol. Also get some series x games returned because they don't work on Xbox one. Buyers just don't know or don't pay attention. Sucks when they are new also and they open then just return. Best is when they return a expensive game that was perfect with a broken non working disc.

[@retrogamerescue]

Nobody realizes you have to use those zappers on a CRT. We always let people know at our store and 9 out 10 people dont end up buying because of it

[@antonyjcarter]

Mario Kart 8 is the most popular switch game, could just be people not in the gaming sphere buying it for the wrong system especially if its cheaper than the switch version

[@perrodelmal]

About the Wiiu returns, many friends I have have bought Wiiu games for their wii's children system, and they ask me if I know why doesnt work

[@justinh1642]

Mario Kart is one of the most played games. Kept in the console the most maybe it warps? And maybe they swap them and send you back the ones that don't work?

[@DemetriosVaroumas]

Crt tv’s have a faster refresh rate compared to new tv’s. That’s why the zapper guns don’t with today’s TV’s.

[@LordDiscord]

For some reason i read this title and thought this was a video warning about returns where the buyer keeps the game disc and returns the case

[@jerryjerry9229]

I’d test the Wii U games before buffing again, I know people that have bought Wii U games thinking they’d also work on the Wii.

[@comicsfan1973]

Great video as always.

[@MichaelConroy24]

I'll buy your bulk returns you don't want to send back in. Great video as always. Hope all is well

[@Apexflipper]

Really good vid Caleb. Thx for all you do

[@TheBretsky]

Never had a bad NES Zapper gun.. only 2 reasons.. they can't shoot (walk up to screen and put it against the screen and hit the duck to prove it works) ........ or they are using no non CRT tv.

[@p0ck3tp3ar]

Similar experiences here, especially Wii U. I avoid them or pay low. Normally I pay high but Wii U games are so problematic.

[@FO0F]

I think people also don’t know that you need a crt tv for zappers.

[@odigomez1787]

A lot of people treat amazon like blockbuster, they’ll play the game for 30 days and return it.

[@srbe4170]

I once bought a zapper and it wouldn't work on my Sega. It wouldn't even plug into the system. That could be one of the reasons why your getting alot of returns

[@CyberScizor]

put the link of your for amazon store front

[@Blazenjester]

Lmao use a light bulb that’s one and aim the NES Zapper at it you’ll get the duck haha

[@smerk429]

Charge them half for renting it. Seller protection

[@brando3106]

mario kart wii return rate so high because when it returns you ship it right back out

[@chitzzz1384]

Lesson: never send defective items

[@Scarletpanda17]

My theory os people are buying the guns and not using them with a CRT tv which is the only way they work.

[@blizzysgarden]

Caleb, the more you make, the more handsomer you get.

[@speedchopwtf]

do you not think that a lot of the Wii U games may have been bought by people not realizing they are not compatible with Wii? or do they really all come back not working?

[@speedchopwtf]

and yeah. light guns only work on CRT screens. most casual users don't know that

[@alecskursha2090]

most of these retruns are people probably not being honest, as well as swapping your good disc with their bad disc and returning the game. I got so tired of the bs returns and these companies siding with the buyer that I stopped most of my selling online.

[@vandiggypvb]

How do you prevent the good ol Switcharoo? I had one original XBox on a FBA SKU with pictures on the offer, sold for 200. Customer OF COURSE, claimed it was defective. A month later and a completely different controller is back in my hands, Different Serial number, shredded controller thubsticks, destroyed console. I opened a claim with Amazon. Had to send pics three times and ultimately they said since they said they would deny me because the pictures look like the same unit model. They "Work on offers" so they blatantly ignored the serial number and the fact that I only have ONE quantity on that SKU. Obviously you can't completely avoid shysters, but how do you combat the BS? This crap gets me fuming b/c Amazon blatantly refuses to support sellers in this matter.

[@bocanegrageorge]

Light guns only work on crt tvs. Modern tvs will have such a large lag it is impossible to hit anything. People trying to use them on modern tvs are probably most of reasons why they are getting returned. Most gamers that played these games would know this as well😂

[@davidwilkinson2342]

Agree with this, I would guess a certain percentage of people buying a lightgun today don’t even consider that they need a CRT TV and then return the item once they realise it doesn’t work with a modern TV

[@andrewanderson4555]

There’s no way that most of these returns are not exactly because: A: you need a CRT to use light guns And B: Because people buying games for there kids buy the wrong Mario Kart 8 thinking it’s for switch.

[@Christophersanchez1326]

Zap guns dont work on flat screen tvs😂. Only on cr TV's 😮

[@PLRAHAPL]

Are these tips free ?

[@gilbertos1984]

THE GUNS ONLY WORK WITH CRT TVS

[@n0stalgiag4mes]

I think people are buying wii u games thinking they will work on original wii as well

[@ChrisEpp]

Looks like a handful of comments already mentioned to make sure you are using the zapper on a CRT. Also my guess as far as Mario Kart 8 is that the kid tells his parents he wants Mario Kart 8, his parents don’t realize their kid uses a Switch and just search for Mario Kart 8 and find a cheap copy and order it, then when it comes in the kid tells his parents that it’s not the right game and it gets returned (Very straight forward logic, but not sure if that’s a big portion of the issue or even an issue at all).

[@PartenJoe]

Wiiu games get returned for you because people who are buying them thinking there original Wii games not that there returning them cause it’s broken same with the zapper people don’t know they don’t work on new tvs so there using them on new tvs and that’s why the return them