Topic: Help identifying a possible counterfeit Pokemon DS game

[AZMerchant]

Hi, I'm sorry if this is in the wrong place.


I am a third party merchant from Amazon.com.  I came across this site because of the article that was published in 2011 regarding identifying counterfeit Nintendo DS games.

I've had countless sellers removed from Amazon for selling counterfeit Nintendo software and accessories over the years and I consider myself pretty knowledgeable in this field, however, I recently received a Pokemon Diamond DS game where I'm having trouble making a determination related to its authenticity.

The game is Pokemon Diamond.  I'm familiar with most ways of identifying counterfeits, but this one is not typical of those I've seen in the past.

It came in cellophane wrap and has the corner Y folds.  However, the seal that goes across the side where the case opens was backwards.  The best way to explain this is, the end of the wrap is actually underneath the cellophane, so you can't stick your finger in-between the cellophane (if that makes sense).  I've noticed these wraps are common on games that have hit value pricing (19.99 and under) and are distributed by value wholesalers, like Cokem (http://www.cokem.com/).

After comparing it to an authentic sealed copy I have, the weight was off by two tenths of an ounce, so I decided to open it up.  Inside, there's no Pokemon Poster and no Nintendo product registration card (which accounts for the weight discrepancy).  The case also has the recyclable cut-out logo inside.

In comparing the game case, artwork, color, serial numbers, alignment, etc., everything matches exactly.

All of this usually adds up to an authentic game that was maybe reprinted without some documentation that early releases included, but the most unusual part is there is only one seller (fairly large) with these in stock, and they have 50+ in stock of this game, as well as Pokemon Pearl and Platinum, across various Amazon fulfillment centers.  They aren't pricing with the market, instead close to MSRP (which is much lower).  Unless they have special access to certain titles, I don't understand how not a single other seller was able to obtain these to compete with them (including myself).

Nintendo, of course, was absolutely no help at all, so I want to be sure I'm not overlooking anything.  I'd also like to know if there's a way the game can be sent to Nintendo for inspection (I was told there is not) or somewhere else that can validate whether the game is authentic.