UPC Stickers - What's the Deal?

CuriousCurious
in Collector's Corner
Hey there,



Just wondering if someone would like to educate me on the topic of UPC stickers. I've seen them mentioned on SAGE before (in Collector's Corner - unbelievable, but true), but I'm not sure what makes them so special. I just happened to come across this listing for Sonic, UPC sticker included, looked at the price, looked at it again, and thought WTF is the deal with UPC stickers.



http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Sonic-USA-NTSC-Release-UPC-Sticker-Sega-Master-System-/251462915075?pt=AU_PC_Video_Games_Games&hash=item3a8c5b9403



Please, enlighten me.



Curious

Comments

  • EverharmEverharm
    The quick version is, when 4 games were released in the USA, they just slapped the UPC sticker over the non-usa barcode.



    So some people argue to have a complete CIB USA Master System collection, you need the 4 upc stickers on the games. (Spider-man, golden axe warrior, sonic 1, and strider)



    but



    those games are no different than their more common non upc release. Sideways manual and all. released non-usa.



  • CuriousCurious
    So the UPC releases are not as common as their non UPC counterparts, but are they're considerably less common to command such lofty prices?
  • EverharmEverharm

    Originally posted by: Curious



    So the UPC releases are not as common as their non UPC counterparts, but are they're considerably less common to command such lofty prices?



    not sure what you just said.



    The UPC versions are less common.



    They are generally worth more money than the non upc versions


  • bigbaconbigbacon
    the only one that is ridiculous is Sonic, the others are still reasonable if you really need the sticker. The games are the same as the euro releases except for that sticker.



    The stickers fall off, get folded and what not over time. Sooner or later they'll just fall off like the one on my golden ax warrior did. then what do you do? Glue it back on? that would surely piss off some collectors. see why it is ridiculous?
  • EverharmEverharm

    Originally posted by: bigbacon



    the only one that is ridiculous is Sonic, the others are still reasonable if you really need the sticker. The games are the same as the euro releases except for that sticker.



    The stickers fall off, get folded and what not over time. Sooner or later they'll just fall off like the one on my golden ax warrior did. then what do you do? Glue it back on? that would surely piss off some collectors. see why it is ridiculous?



    I have a strider that looks like there used to be a UPC sticker over the bar code in back.  but it also looks like someone tried to take it off.  now there is just gunk there.



    I think I am in the it is silly camp too.


  • teh lurvteh lurv
    With how easy it is to forge a fake UPC sticker, I don't understand how UPC Sonic is able to command the price that it does.
  • CuriousCurious



    Originally posted by: Everharm


    Originally posted by: Curious



    So the UPC releases are not as common as their non UPC counterparts, but are they're considerably less common to command such lofty prices?

    not sure what you just said.



    The UPC versions are less common.



    They are generally worth more money than the non upc versions

    Autocorrect changed 'they' to 'they're, but all I was trying to ask was 'Are UPC games so rare that they are worth as much as $600?' I understand that Sonic is the most expensive of the 4 UPC games (now), but is Sonic, one of the most common games on the Master System I assume, worth an extra $580 just because a sticker was slapped on the back of it, or are eBay sellers like the one I flagged in my original post just being opportunistic and hoping someone desperate for one of these will pull the trigger at that price? Are people prepared pay that much for a UPC Sonic? Seems like a UPC sticker would be pretty easy to duplicate too. I'd be a little apprehensive as a buyer going down this path.
  • flatuswalrusflatuswalrus

    Originally posted by: Curious



    worth an extra $580 just because a sticker was slapped on the back of it, or are eBay sellers like the one I flagged in my original post just being opportunistic

    That's the nature of the beast. There are many opportunistic people out there that will try and take advantage of anything that can bring them money and retro games are one of those many things. Plus, as we all know there are pedantic, obsessive and passionate collectors out there that will pay obscene prices for seemingly silly things like stickers.
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