Alleged tampering detected on new Nintendo Switch 2 units: Unsealed products received by UK customers from various retailers.
Here's a fresh take:
Troubles with Nintendo Switch 2 and Mario Kart World Bundles!
Folks who've just bagged their Nintendo Switch 2 and Mario Kart World bundle are reporting some surprising findings - sealed boxes that, well, aren't sealed! Posts on Reddit indicate a widespread issue, with big UK retailers like Currys, Argos, John Lewis, and Smyths not immune, even for those who claimed they bought directly from Nintendo!
One Redditor alleges that Argos staff blamed Nintendo for using "seals of weak strength," prone to breaking in transit or storage. While others argued it seemed more likely the seals were deliberately snipped. A curious case, ain't it?
A customer picking up their pre-order at Currys encountered the same predicament. Staff suggested the boxes were opened to check if the Mario Kart World code was inside. Some customers reported the code was missing, leading to the suspicion that someone in the supply chain, at least in the UK, decided to do the checking for them. Talk about a violation of privacy, right? One even complained of a sticker on their box, possibly hinting at tampering with their swanky new handheld.
One commenter from Italy, who bought theirs from Unieuro, had the same predicament. They implied that the entire Italian stock arrived in that state.
Nintendo nor the other retailers have issued an official statement about this yet. EE and Currys remained unavailable for comments. Argos chose to zip its lip on the matter.
Although the units had broken seals, nothing seems to be missing, providing a bit of relief to affected buyers, especially as some had concerns they'd ended up with a tampered unit or, worse, rocks instead of the handheld!
This isn't the first turbulence Nintendo's faced with the launch of its most-anticipated console. U.S. GameStop customers were left bewildered when staples punctured their console screens due to poor packaging. While some were miffed at the retailer, many more were let down by Nintendo for its subpar protection of the device's precious contents.
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(Note: While the initial reports suggest broken seals in the UK, it's essential to remember that not all units or retailers may be affected. Stay tuned for updates as more information becomes available.)
Insights Added:
*While the initial reports suggest broken seals in the UK, it's essential to remember that not all units or retailers may be affected. Stay tuned for updates as more information becomes available.
*There appears to be a download code issue with the Mario Kart World bundles as well, which may need resolution.
*There seem to be two different SKUs (Stock-Keeping Units) for the Mario Kart bundles, with the bundle requiring a download code experiencing issues, whereas the one with the game pre-downloaded does not.
The broken seals issue might not be limited to the UK, as similar reports may surface elsewhere with different retailers.Some users are also experiencing problems with the download codes for the Mario Kart World bundles, suggesting a possible technology-related glitch.