F**K!!! Mexican customs drilled into my MVS cart and ruined it!!

after being held at customs for 2 days, I open the cart to discover that Mexican customs drilled 2 holes into the MVS cart and into the pcd/leads and ruined the fucking thing!

i'm still in the camp that the Mexican border/custom folks did not intentionally damage your item, on these counts:

1. you have no proof they did it. what makes you blame the customs process?
2. i googled for 1/2 hour and could not come up with 1 single example of damaging goods in order to forcibly gain access into an item.
3. the location of the 2 drill holes wouldn't get this item open, it's very suspect
4. the item was probably drilled prior to shipping
5. this entire transaction sounds like a sham by the seller

you be the judge!
 
i'm still in the camp that the Mexican border/custom folks did not intentionally damage your item, on these counts:

1. you have no proof they did it. what makes you blame the customs process?
2. i googled for 1/2 hour and could not come up with 1 single example of damaging goods in order to forcibly gain access into an item.
3. the location of the 2 drill holes wouldn't get this item open, it's very suspect
4. the item was probably drilled prior to shipping
5. this entire transaction sounds like a sham by the seller

you be the judge!

I agree I can't prove it, but here's where things start getting fishy...

-The seller showed me a picture of the cart w/ serial # and shitty label prior to shipping (pic below), then
-the cart was held at customs for further "inspection" (pic below) then,
-The box was re-taped and there were filings of plastic in box (no pic, my wife through away after I opened it like a child on Christmas)

I think they maybe just did a shitty random check and fucked it without knowin, or they hate Fatal Fury?

Either way, it sucks for the seller and I
 

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i'm still in the camp that the Mexican border/custom folks did not intentionally damage your item

In the absence of concrete proof that it was Customs who did it, I'm in the same camp for now. How did you establish that they were responsible?

My experience with shipping stuff in and out of the US between Europe, Mexico, Canada, South America, Australia, New Zealand, and Asia has seen packages opened, items turning up with tags saying that they were inspected by whatever responsible authority on their way out of their country of origin, obvious signs of rifling through boxes or other handling, etc. but never anything like this.

By no means am I saying Mexican Customs isn't a possibility, but in 30-odd years of sending and receiving stuff between countries, this is definitely a first.

Late edit: your reply to that question hit while I was watching this one. Frankly, I'd suspect the seller - given the lack of truthfulness as to where the game was actually shipping from, he's kinda suspect to start with.
 
In the absence of concrete proof that it was Customs who did it, I'm in the same camp for now. How did you establish that they were responsible?

My experience with shipping stuff in and out of the US between Europe, Mexico, Canada, South America, Australia, New Zealand, and Asia has seen packages opened, items turning up with tags saying that they were inspected by whatever responsible authority on their way out of their country of origin, obvious signs of rifling through boxes or other handling, etc. but never anything like this.

By no means am I saying Mexican Customs isn't a possibility, but in 30-odd years of sending and receiving stuff between countries, this is definitely a first.

Late edit: your reply to that question hit while I was watching this one. Frankly, I'd suspect the seller - given the lack of truthfulness as to where the game was actually shipping from, he's kinda suspect to start with.

Same for me, never have I had this experience. Look at the pics on the other response, you will see. I wish I had the box and the plastic filings to show but it's garbage now
 
Thanks for the advise man, will do. The crazy part is the ad said it was coming from Saint Paul, Arkansas, United States. I have watched "Boarder Security" shows and they actual unscrew and open it, not just drill shit instead..

Is this the listing you purchased from:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Neo-Geo-MVS-Fatal-Fury-Working-100-Arcade-Jamma-Original-/322083119101

The seller claims to be from Saint Paul, Arkansas.. as you mentioned above...

But.. If you read his description below, HE SAYS CLEARLY: Shipping is done from Mexico

In the 9th photo, it shows 2 pcb's in his (no drill holes), in your photo - you only showed us 1 pcb... where's the 2nd pcb???

Also, seller has 321 transactions, all 100% perfect feedback. 317 of these have been within the last year.
 
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Is this the listing you purchased from:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Neo-Geo-MVS-Fatal-Fury-Working-100-Arcade-Jamma-Original-/322083119101

The seller claims to be from Saint Paul, Arkansas.. as you mentioned above...

But.. If you read his description below, HE SAYS CLEARLY: Shipping is done from Mexico

In the 9th photo, it shows 2 pcb's in his (no drill holes), in your photo - you only showed us 1 pcb... where's the 2nd pcb???

Also, seller has 321 transactions, all 100% perfect feedback. 317 of these have been within the last year.

Yes, that is my order. I did see the shipping to Mexico, but when Paypal sent the seller an invoice for shipping, because it wasn't listed to Canada, he said that he also has people shipping from the USA for faster shipping, he would charge $30. I don't blame to seller, other than he shouldn't have location in Saint Paul, Arkansas, United States, it should just say Mexico. I'm not sure about the photo, you mean the first pic I posted? The second (under) pcb wasn't drilled, only the top
 
****UPDATE****

The seller got back to me and refunded the order. I sent him another message saying that I would pay for the game at least, or go 50/50 as I think it was more customs responsibility, but he told me to keep the game. He told me if he was to contact customs, it would take 3-4 weeks for resolution and not worth the time.

I would have rather paid for it and didn't intend it to go down like this. Sucks. He told me to just give good feedback, which was the least I can do and did. I don't feel good about the situation because with all the opinions, right or wrong, I have a broken MVS cart and the seller is out money.

Thanks for everybody's help on how to fix the cart and conversation on the matter. I respect the help and opinions you all gave me.

Steve
 
Now that you have $$$ coming back, I'd make an attempt at repair - you have nothing more to lose at this point (except time perhaps...)

I work for a vendor that sells hardware and one of the items we'd import were toilets. We had to change manufacturers because, somehow the cartels would get a hold of the shipments and smuggle drugs inside the toilets. I guess dogs have a tough time sniffing thru porcelain! I don't think our company or customers ever had a surprise in the toilet tank, however - the boxes were always damaged from searches and the shipments were delayed for ages!

I guess the cartels wised up and decided to start using MVS carts to get their drugs across the border!! :)
 
F**K!!! Mexican customs drilled into my MVS cart and ruined it!!

The stupid thing is here if it was customs they could've drilled the case if that's what they do rather than just unscrewing it and there's a solid inch of air before they even hit the PCB.

Almost seems like they thought the PCB itself was made from drugs and so drilled into it to test it?

At least the seller did the right thing and refunded your money.
 
Now that you have $$$ coming back, I'd make an attempt at repair - you have nothing more to lose at this point (except time perhaps...)

I work for a vendor that sells hardware and one of the items we'd import were toilets. We had to change manufacturers because, somehow the cartels would get a hold of the shipments and smuggle drugs inside the toilets. I guess dogs have a tough time sniffing thru porcelain! I don't think our company or customers ever had a surprise in the toilet tank, however - the boxes were always damaged from searches and the shipments were delayed for ages!

I guess the cartels wised up and decided to start using MVS carts to get their drugs across the border!! :)

Really, toilets...That's kinda smart actually...You're right, I may even make a video about trying to repair it as mentioned before. It would be my first time, and based on my restore history, should be a delightful disaster.
 
The stupid thing is here if it was customs they could've drilled the case if that's what they do rather than just unscrewing it and there's a solid inch of air before they even hit the PCB.

Almost seems like they thought the PCB itself was made from drugs and so drilled into it to test it?

At least the seller did the right thing and refunded your money.

That's exactly what I think happened. Honestly, the seller was great. I have no complaints.
 
Have to admit when I saw the thread title my first thought was that it was an ultra rare/expensive game like Pulstar/Blazing Star/Twinkle Star Sprites/Windjammers etc.

Regardless of the game, that's still crap
 
LMAO! Well played, sir! I have to laugh at that. Side note, a friend of mine has given me access to a "hammer drill" what ever the hell that is and said to use that with lube and there will be no more problems..For now, I have no more coin doors to drill out..

Do not use a hammer drill for locks. It is for drilling concrete. Just use a drill and make sure you have a good sharp bit. Don't buy the black drill bit they are not very good.


Glade to hear everything worked out for you.
 
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