Why do so many Genesis games have the letter "P" written on them?

[ComradeOj]

I've come across 2 copies of bio-hazard battle, one sword of vermilion, and one sonic the hedgehog that all had a letter "P" written on the label in permanent marker. I have also seen various Genesis games on eBay with "P" written on the label.

Did some retail chain mark all of their games with a "P"? I searched online, but couldn't find an answer.

[Xalphenos]

Interesting. I've come across the same thing on sword of vermilion and sonic at my local used game store. I thought it was just an initial but if it's showing up other places too maybe there something to it.

[ComradeOj]

@Xalphenos

Yeah, it's really weird, especially since I bought these games from different places. One bio-hazard battle was in an eBay lot, the other was from a thrift store, Sonic was from a local shop, and Vermilion was from a different local shop. Not only that, but I've seen games with "P" on them for sale on eBay.

I also thought it was just someone's initial, until I saw more. My only guess is that they all went through the same used game shop chain at some point.

[Qjimbo]

I have a boxed UK Sonic the Hedgehog cart that has a black "1" printed on the cart and box. I've wondered about that as well.

[Zz Badnusty]

I have a boxed UK Sonic the Hedgehog cart that has a black "1" printed on the cart and box. I've wondered about that as well.

I just got a Master System Cheese Cat-astrophe from France which also has a black "1" sticker on the box.

And just because it's so good, here's the plot behind the game:
"It has been several years since Speedy's village was last bothered by the troublesome cat, Sylvester. Speedy and his fiancee Carmel and the other residents had almost forgotten about the fiendish feline, until a few months ago, when the region developed a sudden and complete shortage of cheese! A large factory had appeared almost overnight in one of the valleys nearby and strange leaflets started appearing, advertising a new cheese substitute called "Cheese-oid" developed by the 'Cheesefinger Corporation.' The villagers, faced with starvation, had no option but to buy the synthetic cheese from the mysterious 'Dr Cheesefinger', who is Sylvester.

[TailsCD]

I saw a video on Youtube where someone had a Sega Saturn game disc (I think it was Independence Day) and it had a letter P in permanent marker on the disc itself.

[4Runner]

I had a complete copy of Shinobi III that had a "P" written on the cart label and the UPC code on the cover art. Weird.....

[Benjamin]

Peter's still disgusted about it. He'll never forgive his mom for that.

[The Coop]

The "P" means "preowned." Electronics Boutique wrote that on their used discs and carts a lot back in the day. I believe a few other chains did as well, but EB was the main culprit that I always saw do it.

[4Runner]

BAM! Mystery solved! Well, except for the number "1" that some of the others have seen.

[ComradeOj]

The "P" means "preowned." Electronics Boutique wrote that on their used discs and carts a lot back in the day. I believe a few other chains did as well, but EB was the main culprit that I always saw do it.

Mystery solved! That's what I suspected it was, but I thought the P was part of the store name or something.
Now this thread will slowly fade away into obscurity, only to be reawakened in 3 years when someone starts finding games with % signs mysteriously written on them. See you then

[Thief]

I hate it when store chains do this. Prevents me from buying their games.

[Xalphenos]

Thanks for that gem of knowledge The Coop. My local used game store actually also has a copy of master of monsters with a big P written on the label. $19.95 is a decent price if not for the defaced label.

[Hans-CD]

I would say P as in "Pre-owned"? But maybe the mistery is deeper than my feeble mind.

[PrinceOfBrains]

I dunno, maybe I'm just a weirdo but I like stuff like that. A lot of my NES and Genesis games still have Blockbuster stickers on them, and it takes me back. Also those versions are usually decently cheap if you can get over the "BE KIND REWIND" stickers.