This is not recent, but this is such an incredible story I would like to share. It was, bar none, the greatest video game-related deal of my life.
January 8, 2006. On this day I was thinking of re-purchasing a Super Nintendo. On this same day I saw a topic elsewhere about a UK Super Nintendo magazine called SUPER PLAY, and being a huge fan of well-written gaming mags, I knew I had to own it some day.
1/17/06 I re-purchased a Super Nintendo... got back in it in a big way; all the while searching eBay weekly for a lot of
SUPER PLAY MAGAZINE.
You will not believe the journey I took.
February 23, 2006 I began what would become a LONG PM discussion with an old friend who helped scored me some SEGA SATURN MAGAZINES in the past (my former favorite publication).
I told him, being based in the UK, if he knew any collectors who had a (close-to) complete Super Play set. I told him I was willing to trade my TAROMARU (ultra rare expensive Saturn import) game for a Super Play set. Here's what my UK pal James wrote back to me in February 2006
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You are correct - Super Play was indeed pretty much the equivalent of SSM but for SNES. Loads of good import coverage, lots of techincal features, amazing artwork on every issue (provided by Wil Overton). Hard to find but a great mag. Will see what I can do on that front if you like. Would appreciate Issue 200 of EGM if you can get it for me.
So while my friend James scoured the UK for Super Play, I scoured the States for EGM #200.
March 1st arrives
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I may have a lead for you for the Super Play mags. I'll need about a week but I know a guy that I think has a complete collection of Super Play mags and I know he is into his Saturn stuff so I may be able to work something out for you guys. I'm not entirely sure how many Super Play mags there were - I think it was around 37 or 38, maybe 40. I'm certain he has at least 1 to 35 and maybe some of the last issues too.
March 18 I am informed he will be meeting his collector friend over brunch to discuss Taromaru for the Super Play mags, and exactly what condition they're in and which issues.
April 24 I receive this
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Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. Been unbelievably busy and had some problems with my PC. I've met the collector guy. He has the following issues:
1 - 7 inclusive
9 - 28 inclusive
30 to 38 inclusive
Let me know your thoughts. I will continue to ask around for the few missing issues. All issues are in good condition.
May 2nd he sent me several pictures of the set. May 27 comes this message
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Sorry for the delay but I can also get Issues 39, 40, 41, 43 and 44 of Super Play for you in addition to the ones listed before.
Everything looks good to go. The trade was Taromaru+EGM #200 (which I found) for Super Play lot. Unfortunately James went through some tough times and did not contact me until July 31st when I received this PM:
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I'm really sorry mate I've had some things going on over the last couple of months and the whole trade thing was sadly at the bottom of a huge pile of other things. I have always had fantastic trades with you and am very happy to continue with this trade.
24 hours later I am thrilled by the next message. Finally, closure. Or was it?
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Have packaged up the mags and will get them posted asap. Will confirm when they are on the way to you and provide a Tracking Number etc if I get given one (depends on the postal method I guess). Apologies once again for the ridiculous delay - will be good to see this trade through
A week later, August 6 I receive an update
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Just to keep you updated. The magazines are all packed up (currently in two separate boxes) and ready for posting. However after going to the Post Office to send them via the usual method is going to be way expensive and also means they won't be insured. So I'm going to look at Courier options which means they should be delivered in around 3-4 days after they are sent, and they will be insured and it should work out cheaper to send. The thing is that I am away with work until next week-end so it will likely be next week-end that I actually send them. Just letting you know that I am working on this and you will get the mags (eventually). Just got to work out the details with the Couriers.
I was a bit disappointed but hey, I waited over six months so far, what's another month gonna hurt?
MEANWHILE
I had to keep my options open. I continued searching on eBay each week.
On August 11 I found a NEAR COMPLETE LOT on eBay! Super Play Issues 1-45 (missing #9) plus 3 official Super Play Binders. Also includes Super Play Gold 1993 SNES Guide. I put it on my watched list -- it would end August 17, 2006.
Thursday August 17, 2006. There I was. Local library (my bro took our PC to the shop to be fixed). Had my digital alarm on me, ready to snipe. With 2 seconds to go I input my only and maximum bid. I won!!!!!!!
I paid the very next day. Shipping didn't come out to cost an arm and leg... and total? I spent $183. For 45 issues (it had a 47-issue run). Not bad at all! Considering I paid $225 for 29 Sega Saturn Mags in late 2003.
TWO days later I receive this PM from James
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I've got some bad news buddy. I've been talking to various couriers (4 different ones up until now) and it is just too expensive to ship these mags to you. The cheapest I can get quoted is £150 which is over $280 dollars and that doesn't even include insurance! Even shipping the slowest method (6 to 8 weeks without insurance) is $250. I just don't have that sort of money spare at the moment and it is just too much. I've tried every combination of normal shipping/by sea/by air/by specialist courier. I've even tried breaking it down to 5 magazine bundles but no joy. I'm not sure what to do though as I feel bad about this (especially with your patience over this prolonged trade). Let me know your thoughts. I'm really sorry about this
Imagine how I was feeling! GOOD THING I WAS BEING PROACTIVE and took matters into my own hands so to speak. I excitedly then replied to James informing him on my win. This also cancelled our trade meaning... I had Taromaru to auction!
Yet I still wanted to do a trade with James. After all, I had EGM #200 and he had Super Play #9 (the auction was 1-45, but #9 missing). How nicely did that work out! Super Play 9 arrived in late August. It was my first experience of the magazine, and it blew me away. It was the Sega Saturn Magazine equivalent of SNES!
Meanwhile, I'm waiting on eBay seller Linda to come through. Eventually she emails me "Sorry I didn't ship it til September 2nd."
I was a bit ticked. I paid 8/18 and you don't send til 9/2 and you didn't tell me earlier!? Fine, whatever.
Meanwhile, I auctioned Taromaru off in early September, and it ended at $148.
9/17 comes. 1 month since I won the auction of 45 issues. Got nothing to SHOW FOR IT
Sent her an email. Never got a reply. Another unanswered email, and another, and another. I was starting to fear the worst.
9/24 I emailed her telling her in advance I'd file a dispute with Paypal on 9/30... the last day for me to do so (45-day window since August 17)
9/26 she replied. She understands, and will check with her post office to confirm when the package was shipped. (she's overseas). It had been only her 2nd email to me, and I felt better about her SIMPLY communicating. That's all I ask for.
9/30 I filed the dispute. No mags yet. By 10/20 if they do not arrive, I would be forced to escalate the dispute to a claim, due to the 20 day window you have.
Linda informs me October 13 of the following:
Hi, I have been to the post office and had them look at the records.
They say because of an admin issue the mags did not leave there post office until the 19th of sept.
I have gone mad at them and have asked what can be done.They say that nothing can be done becasue I did not have it tracked.
I have asked them what sort of time are we looking at and they have said 4 to 5 weeks from the sent date which is now the 19th of sept.
So we are looking at the 16th/17th of October which I am very sorry about, as I said I did have a right go at them for this but all they could do was say sorry.
Once again I am so sorry about the delay.
Please let me know on the 16th/17th if you have had the mags.
Thanks in advance.
Needless to say I was feeling a bit like this once-in-a-generation eBay win was simply too good to be true. No tracking number, admin issue, etc. etc. It all spelled doom to me.
Being proactive again I PM'ed James to update him, and if he'd be willing to send me his collector friend's issues, provided I pay the insane $300 something shipping. He said he'd look into it.
October 20 comes but not the mags. At this point I am not surprised. Just frustrated. Escalated the dispute to a claim, and wanted my money back. Though I rammed the fact home that I rather have the magazines, and should they arrive in November or later this month I'd gladly refund Linda.
Also on that day I won off eBay Super Play issues number 46 and 47 -- keeping hope alive that Linda would come through and I would have a complete set 1-47 including the spinoff Super Play Gold 1993 SNES Guide issue.
TUESDAY OCTOBER 24 2006
I was filling out an application to graduate studies when I heard the mail truck rumbling. I peered out the window. The mail lady got out and went to the back of the truck. I wasn't expecting ANY OTHER PACKAGE but the mags, so I knew THIS HAD TO BE IT!
She rung the door bell and had one of them pink-ish slips in her hands.
"Can you help me carry this big box? It's too heavy and I have a bad back?"
I knew officially that my moment... which I waited about nine months for, with so many twists, turns and heartbreaks... had finally culminated to this point.
Of course, there had to still be a little drama.
It'd be only fitting, you see.
"RECEIVED IN DAMAGED CONDITION" was stamped on the box.
"Wait, it came in damaged condition?" I asked.
"I'm sorry, it did. The box was split open. They had to tape it back up, as you can see."
"Everything is intact right?"
"Oh sure. We can't take anything..." Her voice trailed off.
And here I am thinking "Oh right sure lady! I've heard of the horror stories you don't gotta play me for a fool!"
But I kept my cool, signed the pink slip and bought the box inside for inspection.
Amazingly, everything was intact and in better condition than I thought it would be. I went to Paypal and happily cancelled the claim. Linda was honest after all. The box states it was shipped September 19, not the 2nd.
The nine-plus months of agony came to an end with a very happy ending.
Super Play is an awesome mag. I love retro mags, the whole archive thing I dig plenty. It's truly a diehard SNES fan's companion. Not only is it well written but it focused a ton on the Japanese side of things. They highlighted plenty of Japanese-only games and reviewed 'em. Even the obscure ones like Syonen Ashibe!
Overall, this 9 month saga was one for the ages. Super Play is the "SNES Bible" or the closest thing to it, and it without a doubt my holy grail. I'm surprised that nearly all of these issues are in mint condition with no torn or missing pages. This may sound weird but it even has that "new smell" to it still. Nowadays, Super Play is fairly well known in the SNES community and many are seeking a complete set. I'm so blessed that back in 2006 SP was still flying under the (collector's) radar. Perhaps the craziest thing about this win came when I shared it back in 2006, a guy actually responded that he was watching the same auction and was going to bid an INSANE amount for it, but he simply forgot the ending time. He also congratulated me and said after reading my story he's "happy" (as can be, anyhow) that the magazines went to me.
Here's just a glimpse of the SP collection. I have all 47 plus the HTF 1993 Super Play GOLD edition. Best gaming win of my life. As you can imagine, having received them on October 24, 2006... that Halloween-Thanksgiving-Christmas-New Year season was very special indeed. I remember reading through all 48 issues front to back, back to front in that 3-4 month span. Some of the most fun I have ever had in this hobby. I still get goosebumps thinking back to this whole Super Play 2006 saga
Behold... the GLORY of SUPER PLAY MAGAZINE!
