Just bought an UNO from Maplin (UK) and when I get home I realize that the circular transparent adhesive seal has already been broken and it has just been stuck back down with a piece of selotape which has been cut to size and which I didn't notice earlier on in store. The board seems to be in perfect functioning order (although I am a newby and the sketches that I've have ran are pretty basic) but I'm wondering whether anything was missing from the box. For instance, I saw somewhere that you are supposed to get 4 small rubber stands to attach to each corner to keep the board isolated from the table surface. These would be handy and if I have paid for them I would like to have them. Plus... the board did not come in an anti-static bag. Is this normal?
I would take it back. It looks like it has been out and returned. You did after all pay a premium for a premium product.
Maplins should be open till 4 or 5.
I've never seen rubber stands in an Arduino box. Usually just a piece of paper and maybe some Arduino stickers.
I also have opened four or five sealed boxes and never once found rubber stand-offs. Just the paper and stickers.
Can't say why the seal was cut and re-taped, could be simple as some one opened to show a customer what it looked like or to check the board prior to sale, or a return for good or bad reasons.
Good stores mark working returns tested or checked if they are such. Not so good stores just put them out buyer beware.
But with out asking the store hard to say which of the above it its.
If it works great, if not return it.