cds sent through the mail

[pontifex]

i had a ps2 gameshark and the discs that come with it on ebay. someone bought it and i shipped it out USPS (with insurance).

I get an email today from the guy saying that the CDs were demagnetized by the post office. at least he isn't blaming me.

i've sent many ps1 games and music cds and i have received many music cds and ps2 games through USPS. not once have i ever had a problem.

is this possible?? i didn't think they would still be using something that could do that.
i sent him an email telling him how to use the gameshark, thinking maybe he didn't know how to use it (i didn't have the instructions anymore). i still have to wait to hear back from him about that - hoping thats all it is though.

also, how does filing a claim with the post office work? i never had to file a claim before. i have my receipts and it looks like i'll need the discs sent back to me? i dunno how they would test the ps2 discs anyway. i don't have my ps2 anymore because i sold that as well, so i can't test it myself.

 

[KillerCharlie]

Last I heard CDs weren't magnetic.

 

[monk3y]

I've also send many games/music CDs etc. And used to recieve Netflix CDs regularly without a problem. I have no clue how a CD can get demagnetized.

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: KillerCharlie
Last I heard CDs weren't magnetic.

i think he used the wrong word, thats beside the point. he thinks that the USPS somehow screwed up the cds. is that possible?

 

[jumpr]

CDs are not magnetic - the data surface is covered with thousands of microscopic pits that can be read by a laser. The buyer has no idea what he's talking about.

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: jumpr
CDs are not magnetic - the data surface is covered with thousands of microscopic pits that can be read by a laser. The buyer has no idea what he's talking about.

ok, thank you, but that doesn't answer my question.

IS THERE ANYTHING USED BY THE POST OFFICE THAT COULD AFFECT THE DATA OF A CD??

 

[MrDingleDangle]

^^^^^(damn it that was supposed to point to jumpr
yep

unless he means scratched to s***

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: MrDingleDangle
^^^^^
yep

unless he means scratched to s***

thank you.
no i'm sure he would have said scratched if they were scratched.

do you know what it is exactly that they use that would cause that?

 

[EyeMWing]

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: jumpr
CDs are not magnetic - the data surface is covered with thousands of microscopic pits that can be read by a laser. The buyer has no idea what he's talking about.

ok, thank you, but that doesn't answer my question.

IS THERE ANYTHING USED BY THE POST OFFICE THAT COULD AFFECT THE DATA OF A CD??

If it was physically pwned in the face, yes. But if it's not physically damaged, well, the guy is runnin' a scam (or is just stupid)

 

[jumpr]

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: jumpr
CDs are not magnetic - the data surface is covered with thousands of microscopic pits that can be read by a laser. The buyer has no idea what he's talking about.

ok, thank you, but that doesn't answer my question.

IS THERE ANYTHING USED BY THE POST OFFICE THAT COULD AFFECT THE DATA OF A CD??

No. If there was, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Netflix and any other online CD seller would quickly go out of business.

 

[Duddy]

Extreme heat.

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: jumpr

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: jumpr
CDs are not magnetic - the data surface is covered with thousands of microscopic pits that can be read by a laser. The buyer has no idea what he's talking about.

ok, thank you, but that doesn't answer my question.

IS THERE ANYTHING USED BY THE POST OFFICE THAT COULD AFFECT THE DATA OF A CD??

No. If there was, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Netflix and any other online CD seller would quickly go out of business.

well most of those places don't ship USPS that I am aware of.
Maybe if they know its a CD or DVD they don't run it through whatever device they have that could casue that?

 

[So]

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: MrDingleDangle
^^^^^
yep

unless he means scratched to s***

thank you.
no i'm sure he would have said scratched if they were scratched.

do you know what it is exactly that they use that would cause that?

Then NO.

CDR's might be affected by ultraviolet light, normal factory CD's are COMPLETELY immune to that.

I can't imaginge there being heating effects severe enough to delaminate the disks without destroying the envelope.

 

[snoturtle]

Other than physical damage there is nothing that USPS uses that would damage a cd

 

[djheater]

Originally posted by: snoturtle
Other than physical damage there is nothing that USPS uses that would damage a cd

OP, this is the answer to your question. Unless they're physically damaged there's nothing else that could have effected them.

 

[imported_Condor]

USPS does use a place in Ohio to irradiate mail to kill any possible anthrax threat if the mail is going to certain sorting centers. That will destroy a CD. It basically melts it. If his address was a government address or an Embassy overseas, that could happen.

 

[Krazefinn]

Neither xrays or irradiation will damage a pressed or burned cd.
You could probably microwave the thing for 30 seconds without damage...

 

[pontifex]

so what happened to the cds then? how did the data magically disappear?

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: Krazefinn
Neither xrays or irradiation will damage a pressed or burned cd.
You could probably microwave the thing for 30 seconds without damage...

Try it sometime. CDs only last a couple seconds in the microwave, pressed or burned. Then they go BZZZT with lots of sparks, it's actually kind of cool to watch. And it burns this neat pattern on the CD...

 

[Krazefinn]

Originally posted by: jagec

Originally posted by: Krazefinn
Neither xrays or irradiation will damage a pressed or burned cd.
You could probably microwave the thing for 30 seconds without damage...

Try it sometime. CDs only last a couple seconds in the microwave, pressed or burned. Then they go BZZZT with lots of sparks, it's actually kind of cool to watch. And it burns this neat pattern on the CD...

But it didnt hurt them, they still tasted the same...!
Agreed, if the cd has any metallic content it likely would spark abit.
Aside from that facetious comment though (guess i should've added a jkg smiley), I dont believe AOL would send their wares through the mail if they were to be damaged...

but did you then try to read the disc?

 

[djheater]

Originally posted by: pontifex
so what happened to the cds then? how did the data magically disappear?

Possibly an incompatibility between your burn and his hardware? Did you close the session?
There are lots of possibilities.

~~edit

Sorry... reading comprehension FTW!

maybe he has a bad CD-ROM?

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: djheater

Originally posted by: pontifex
so what happened to the cds then? how did the data magically disappear?

Possibly an incompatibility between your burn and his hardware? Did you close the session?
There are lots of possibilities.

~~edit

Sorry... reading comprehension FTW!

maybe he has a bad CD-ROM?

not burned cds...

ok, he replied. he says the one disc doesn't do anything, just doesn't recognize the disc.
2nd disc plays but its all choppy and the video (tutorial) is not playing. says its a brand new PS2. said he could try it in another PS2. I guess I'll have him try that 1st if it doesn't take too long to test it.

i forgot these cds had the blue bottom. i remembered seeing a fix for the blue bottom discs not being read and the fix was to put 4 pieces of clear scotch tape around the hole of the cd (label side of course). it fixed it for games for other people so maybe this will fix this disc.