TESCO - Bad news for cellophane lovers

As from this week, I have noticed my local Tesco have stopped using the hard case "Safer's" to protecct their games and Dvd's, and have instead opted for the cheaper (And obvously space saving) red tags.

Now these tags are already used in stores such as HMV and Virgin, and fix to the opening spine of a game or Dvd. Hence the odd shaped holes on the opening flaps. These little red tags are designed to prevent the game or Dvd from being opened, even if it is stolen they are almost impossible to remove without specialist equipment or damaging the actual plastic case.

Now these little red tags can only be affixed to the case if the cellophane wrapping is either removed or worse, broken, leaving a hole in the cellophane.

Games that are affected include:

* PlayStation 2
* Nintendo GameCube
* Nintendo Wii
* Nintendo DS

Xbox and Xbox 360 games are not affected as the opening spines are covered with the Microsoft Certificate Of Authenticity label. PlayStation 3 games are also not affected as the cases lack the necessary holes to affix the tags to. The case designs of both are generally different to those required for use with the red security tags. Also, some (But not all) Dvd's are affected


Personally, I find it outrageous that they would resort to physically damaging these items in order to save a bit of time. Safer's are an excellent way to protect the games / Dvd's from theft and also damage, whereas these red tags leave the products open to shop soiling and physical damage by customers. It's bad enough that they puncture special sets like Buzz or Singstar with clothing security tags (Leaving a pin-hole in the packaging)

the device to remove those "red" tags is kind of neat. it's another magnet system to allow spruce to be pulled out, however for all of us purests, it's yet another bane.

(the only reason that I know how they work is that while visiting london last winter, I picked up a few autographed copies of "shaun of the dead" from forbidden planet, only to find that they forgot to remove the [red] tags after I had returned home here in the states. thankfully, I work for a very large company that manufacturers and distributes media for companies like microsoft, thq, capcom, ea and the like so we had access to the tool to remove them).

your best best is to either avoid those shops altogether or get in good with a few employees if the shoppes themselves are the ones inserting them and try to get your goods prior to the damage being done. if the titles are coming with the tags already inserted, maybe you could get them to leave them in rather than remove and break the seal?

It seems that I am finding myself having to ask almost every seller whether or not the cellophane on a specific game has been broken along the opening or not. Some sellers neglect to mention the fact that they purchased a game at Tesco or other store which uses these new red tags, and thus makes buying sealed games that much more difficult for people like us.

I am considering writing to eBay and asking them to include a new option in their "Item specifics" area to denote an "Ex-tagged sealed game. If a game is listed as sealed, then the seller should be forced to mention whetehr or not the cellophane is perfect or "Ex-tagged"

I don't know why stores such as Tesco's can't just put games in plastic "Safers" like they have always done. Especially given that their value is much higher than Dvd's. They are forced to do it with PSP and PS3 games, as well as Xbox / X360 games and all DigiPak's / Steelbooks, so why not all games in general?

I also believe that it is unlawful to break the Microsoft Certificate Of Authenticity before sale. I'm not 100% on that fact though, so I need citation on that. Although, some Xbox gamesdo have the facility to use these red tags, but others do not, so stores don't usually waste time and effort finding out and simply use "Safers" instead.

This really makes me upset^^, all the electronics stores in my town have many PS2 games left (unlike the videogame stores) still they have ridicoulus prices (feels like the prices are from 2005) and they also are allways unsealed except the few newest games. Whats their problem? Because they often have the games in safety plastic boxes still....



I just want to see some stupid employee in action open new game and just go "what the fuck are you doing, are you stupid, whats the point in breaking the seal you stupid idiot"

Yeah, then jump over the counter and slap him!