Gamestop Dilemma

Spoiler for Explanation:

Well I bought a new copy of Persona 4, waited a year and a half to play it (I really wanted to finish Persona 3 first, and it took me forever), and then when I finally played Persona 4, the PS2 kept telling me to "Please insert a PS2 disk." So I tested it out with Swap Magic, and it did work. This means that the disk has some kind of regional error, and disks don't just forget which region they're from over time, which means that the disk has been broken from the first day I bought it. But I don't want to play Persona 4 with Swap Magic because that process involves leaving my PS2 open and sticking pieces of plastic in it. I tried to return the disk, using my logic to explain that it had been broken from day one, but the cashier just played the policy card to overrule my logic and tell me he couldn't gimme my money back. He was apologetic, but I felt it was insincere and said, "I guess it's OK to steal from people." Somebody thought I should buy a second copy of Persona 4 from the second Gamestop in the area, and then return the first copy to them within a week, pretending it's the second one. The second Gamestop just got in a Used copy a day earlier, and it was in mint condition. And the second copy worked perfectly. So now I have everything I need to go through with this plan. Except... I've got cold feet.

Against the plan:
1. It was kind of my fault for not testing the first copy of the game the day I bought it.

2. I'm a little bit worried that this is a set-up. It's a little bit too convenient that a perfect used copy of the game should show up in the second Gamestop only two days after I tried to return the original copy, and one day after I called the District Manager to complain.

3. I'd have to manipulate my dad and lie to him for a little while, because I'm fairly certain he wouldn't go for this if I flat-out told him my plans. I don't like the idea of lying to him.

4. In Australia, the cost of a new game is around $100. Even paying as much as I did, I still lucked out compared to them.

For the plan:
1. I'm worried that maybe a disk CAN forget its own region over time, and that my second copy of the game will do it too. If that's the case, then it would've been meaningless to spend anymore money, so maybe I should return the first copy.

2. I paid $75 for a game that was only supposed to cost me $40, and Gamestop is a huge entity with massive piles of money. They wouldn't notice two Andrew Jacksons missing.

3. It's frickin' Gamestop. They screw people over all the time. And I've heard countless stories of people being unable to return games even within the return limit, because the cashier would actually try to blame the customer for whatever problems the disk was having.

4. I never get scammed; I get even. But is this really "getting even"?

What do I do? Leave it alone or follow through with it?

You're asking us to tell you whether or not you should commit fraud?

A disk won't forget its region over time. It is indeed your fault for not checking it sooner, and now you'll just have to live with that. Pop the disc into your computer and compare the Game ID to the registered ID of the European P4 and see if it's PAL. If it is, too bad. Sell it on eBay or something and get yourself a new copy from Gamestop or wherever.  If you go through with your plan you'll just ruin some other persons day by fucking them over and that's hardly nice, is it?

You're asking us to tell you whether or not you should commit fraud?

Fraud that may be justified. (Remember, moral rights and legal rights make up a Venn Diagram, and many of them don't fit in the middle.)

A disk won't forget its region over time. It is indeed your fault for not checking it sooner, and now you'll just have to live with that. Pop the disc into your computer and compare the Game ID to the registered ID of the European P4 and see if it's PAL. If it is, too bad. Sell it on eBay or something and get yourself a new copy from Gamestop or wherever.  If you go through with your plan you'll just ruin some other persons day by fucking them over and that's hardly nice, is it?

Ruin someone else's day? I'm planning to tell Gamestop that it doesn't work, and the disk is unscratched. Don't you think they'd just throw it out instead of trying to pawn it off to some other kid? I dunno, some Gamestops aren't above that, but the ones in my area are usually nice.

Well I bought a new copy of Persona 4, waited a year and a half [...] I tried to return the disk, using my logic to explain that it had been broken from day one, but the cashier just played the policy card to overrule my logic and tell me he couldn't gimme my money back. He was apologetic, but I felt it was insincere and said, "I guess it's OK to steal from people."

This is like something I'd read on Not Always Right.

You're asking us to tell you whether or not you should commit fraud?

Fraud that may be justified. (Remember, moral rights and legal rights make up a Venn Diagram, and many of them don't fit in the middle.)

It may not be morally justified, as (I think) you technically did agree to their policy. They always remind me of their policy when I buy something from there.

A disk won't forget its region over time. It is indeed your fault for not checking it sooner, and now you'll just have to live with that. Pop the disc into your computer and compare the Game ID to the registered ID of the European P4 and see if it's PAL. If it is, too bad. Sell it on eBay or something and get yourself a new copy from Gamestop or wherever.  If you go through with your plan you'll just ruin some other persons day by fucking them over and that's hardly nice, is it?

Ruin someone else's day? I'm planning to tell Gamestop that it doesn't work, and the disk is unscratched. Don't you think they'd just throw it out instead of trying to pawn it off to some other kid? I dunno, some Gamestops aren't above that, but the ones in my area are usually nice.

It certainly wouldn't surprise me even if they did let you return it (which is really unlikely since, as said, you did agree to the policy and you'll just have to stick with it)

Why the fuck would you buy a game and not play it for over a year? If anything, you should have to pay them more money.

LOL

I'm an ass hole I'd just send the fake one back saying its broken.

Your game is not broke, you have a game from a different region.

DISKS DO NOT FORGET THERE DAMN REGION EITHER.

My heard hurts from reading that.

AnimeFan's Paranoia.

Bringing hilarity to RMRK since August 23, 2007.

2. I'm a little bit worried that this is a set-up. It's a little bit too convenient that a perfect used copy of the game should show up in the second Gamestop only two days after I tried to return the original copy, and one day after I called the District Manager to complain.

...what?

2. I'm a little bit worried that this is a set-up. It's a little bit too convenient that a perfect used copy of the game should show up in the second Gamestop only two days after I tried to return the original copy, and one day after I called the District Manager to complain.

...what?

This is coming from the same person who thinks Google will one day have an army of its own, one that even Cloud can't hope to take down. This particular conspiracy paranoia isn't too far-fetched compared to some he's had.

We are not going to help you commit fraud, whether you think it's justified or not, Rorschach.