PLA Forums
Other Stuff That Has Little To Do With PLA => General Discussions => Topic started by: chokedamp on December 29, 2008, 02:21:59 AM
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I have been considering buying a broken TV from the internet, one which is identical to one sold in a store ie walmart bestbuy ect. Then also buying a brand new one from the said store and shortly after returning the broken TV in the box in place of the new working model. I have considered doing this with a multitude of things from xbox's to TV's anything like that.
Also switching the serial number stickers on the back of the item before returning it.
What would be the downfall of this, how would i get caught and what would happen.
Also posted this in another section, i want to discuss other idea's involving doing this or anyone that has done it.
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Why did you post the same thing twice?
http://www.phonelosers.com/forums/index.php?topic=3846.0
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Yeah, that works... you can also "borrow" alot of items as long as you keep the reciept.
Check the store's return policy before you try. Some places will only give you store credit for returns.
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Has anyone done this before if so with which company, i would imagine walmart would be easy as hell to do this with, but I'm not sure if a company like best buy has something in place to prevent this from happening.
Perfect example
http://cgi.ebay.com/Broken-TH-42PZ80U-1080p-Plasma_W0QQitemZ180315738049QQcmdZViewItemQQptZTelevisions?hash=item180315738049&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1234|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A1|293%3A1|294%3A50
then
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=1202650462402&type=product&_requestid=746216
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For a big enough item, the store may insist on testing it before processing your return. Make sure the damage isn't superficial, and that there are no signs of wear on the outside. Find out what the store's policy is on DOA products, and find out if they're tested prior to shipment or purchase. Also, try buying something small there first, and then returning it a little later, to find out what kind of information the store takes from YOU at the time of the return.
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There are so many numbers and stickers on the back of a TV, I would just unscrew the entire back of the TV and swap those. That way the return people wouldn't happen to notice that the serial number stickers aren't staying on very good or that the edges are all messed up from you peeling them off.
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Walmart is really fucking dumb, they will just open it to see if there is a TV in the box w/o even taking it out to check it over, but ill keep that in mind.
With that being said i looked up best buy's policy for returns and if its over 250$ they send you a check through the mail, which i personally dont like the idea of cause maybe they will notice its a different TV somewhere down the line, then they have your info ect, so it seems walmart is the way to go with this.
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Perfect example
http://cgi.ebay.com/Broken-TH-42PZ80U-1080p-Plasma_W0QQitemZ180315738049QQcmdZViewItemQQptZTelevisions?hash=item180315738049&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1234|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A1|293%3A1|294%3A50
then
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=1202650462402&type=product&_requestid=746216
I hate to be Debbie Downer (actually, not really), but I find this hard to believe. If this works, you're making a $1150 profit. That's more than some people make in a month. If it were really this easy, why isn't everyone doing it? An Xbox or DS or something would be fine, but a ginormous TV seems a little extreme. Or maybe I'm missing something....
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I remember reading a story where someone returned a PS3 minus the PS3. They had filled the box with rocks to make it heavy. Probably to Walmart.. I bet if you did it on a real busy day like boxing day they would likely be so over whelmed they wouldn't look inside.
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maybe I'm missing something....
You're not missing something at all. A friend of mine has a family that owns an appliance store, and he said (at his store, this is. I can't speak for any other company) most of the high-price items (computers, TVs, appliances, etc, etc) are tested either by the manufacturer prior to delivery, or in the store prior to sale, to try to prevent DOA products. This means, essentially, if someone has a computer or bigscreen that just "stopped working", the store can say "well, fuck you. We sold you a working product, so exercise your warranty and, if by luck, you get a new, working product back before the end of our return period, you can return it then". This is another reason that stores will send extended "protection plans". They have no intention of taking back your DOA product, and the only way you will get your money back is by sending the product to the "service" broker, who may or may not honor your request. Plus, since less than 10% of users ever actually enact their protection plans, it's a great way to make up for the low margins on high-demand electronics.
We never took back a DOA at OfficeMax when I was there; the person either needed to contact the manufacturer for the standard warranty (in order to replace the product), or enable their MaxAssurance (assuming they bought it) in order to get a refund from the service provider.
If you DO find a store willing to give you a cash return for a non-working product (especially one so expensive), you really do need to find out what information of yours they'll take. For a return this big, I imagine they'll at least take your name and address (off of a photo ID), and possibly another piece of info (driver's license #, DOB, phone #, etc, etc). Retail chains are SLOWLY wising up to shit like this, and tracking big-ticket returns is a really great way to stop shrink. Your information attached to the return is a good way to make sure you don't keep returning "defective" products, and it's also a way to track you down, should they discover the item you returned isn't the item they sold.
Again, the best way you can find out how a store handles returns is to buy some merchandise and then return it. If they won't process your return without your ID, you'd better believe Loss Prevention will have access to that list of returns, along with your sensitive info. If they won't give you cash, but will instead mail a check, then LP will have your name and address.
Side note: unless a store specifically states on their return policy that they only give store credit for returns, you can still get cash, even if you were given a giftcard. FL corporate policy is that we'll always cut someone a check in exchange for their merchandise return giftcard, which is what we'll give for a return with either no receipt, returns after 30 days, or returns without ID. I don't know about any other company, but I'm almost positive that retail div's Loss Prevention investigators don't have any access to FL.com's in-store customer service logs or resolutions; the only thing LP would see is that the gift card the customer was issued is either de-activated, fully redeemed, or just deleted from the database (I don't have access to the gc database, so I'm not sure what info gets shared with investigators when a gc is deactivated by us).
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Here's something that works. Go to future shop, buy expensive keyboard and mouse. Pay with cash. Wait 3. Return broken keyboard and mouse. Give fake info. PROFIT.
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I have personally done this trick with game systems before actually, but never with something like a TV, i actually worked at walmart before and from what i can remember when something is returned most of the time the product isint even checked other then to make sure there is a TV in the TV box.. My own mediocre attempt at humor has been highly amusing to myself.. But anyways, just tell them the screen was cracked when you got it home or it just wouldent turn on whatever and they will take it back 100% at walmart. My only problem is that they might take down personal info, but they do not check your ID from what i can remember.
Another question, if i actually switched the serial number on the back of the TV, who would be the wiser to that it ACTUALLY wasn't the TV i bought?
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I have personally done this trick with game systems before actually, but never with something like a TV, i actually worked at walmart before and from what i can remember when something is returned most of the time the product isint even checked other then to make sure there is a TV in the TV box.. I am now laughing and it's out loud because what was said previously is so funny.. But anyways, just tell them the screen was cracked when you got it home or it just wouldent turn on whatever and they will take it back 100% at walmart. My only problem is that they might take down personal info, but they do not check your ID from what i can remember.
Another question, if i actually switched the serial number on the back of the TV, who would be the wiser to that it ACTUALLY wasn't the TV i bought?
God.
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Some of the products inside the TV will also be stamped with serial numbers, especially if the TV manufacturer doesn't manufacture all of the internal components. Theoretically, the stickers on the back of the TV won't match up with the serials stamped on the components, but it's a pretty big reach that someone (other than the manufacturer, should it be returned) will actually check it.
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This thread has some stories relating to this in a more ethical manner.
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/9vkjz/askreddit_has_anyone_tried_to_return_something/
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I'm only posting here to help "advise" anyone reading this topic, thinking they might give this technique a try.
If you're reading this, you were searching about how to successfully commit fraud. You found this topic which describes a scenario of how one might do this.
DON'T DO IT.
For small items (e.g. under $100) it will probably work, but for any higher ticket items you will very likely be caught. How? These kinds of items have a special RFID tag embedded inside them. This isn't something stuck to the cabinet, but actually located inside the electronics. You won't be able to find it. This item is scanned to verify the serial number of the item. If you take a broken version and simply swap the casing part that has the model and serial #'s, they won't match the internal serial number. So, when the manufacturer receives the defective merchandise from the retailer and finds the discrepancy, the retailer will be notified and be denied credit for the merchandise. At this point, the retailer contacts the local authorities to report a crime, with your name and contact details on it. Let the hunt begin.
Now, you're thinking... OK, I'll try it and if it doesn't work then I'll just plead ignorant. No. Your very act of returning a swapped product like this constitutes grand larceny, which is a misdemeanor. Do you really want a criminal record? I highly doubt it.
If you want to take a risk on getting something for free, play the lottery. Committing larceny is simply not worth it. Good luck to you...
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I'm only posting here to help "advise" anyone reading this topic, thinking they might give this technique a try.
If you're reading this, you were searching about how to successfully commit fraud. You found this topic which describes a scenario of how one might do this.
DON'T DO IT.
For small items (e.g. under $100) it will probably work, but for any higher ticket items you will very likely be caught. How? These kinds of items have a special RFID tag embedded inside them. This isn't something stuck to the cabinet, but actually located inside the electronics. You won't be able to find it. This item is scanned to verify the serial number of the item. If you take a broken version and simply swap the casing part that has the model and serial #'s, they won't match the internal serial number. So, when the manufacturer receives the defective merchandise from the retailer and finds the discrepancy, the retailer will be notified and be denied credit for the merchandise. At this point, the retailer contacts the local authorities to report a crime, with your name and contact details on it. Let the hunt begin.
Now, you're thinking... OK, I'll try it and if it doesn't work then I'll just plead ignorant. No. Your very act of returning a swapped product like this constitutes grand larceny, which is a misdemeanor. Do you really want a criminal record? I highly doubt it.
If you want to take a risk on getting something for free, play the lottery. Committing larceny is simply not worth it. Good luck to you...
Okay lets say this does happen, how could they prove it was you that did the swap? An unknown 3rd party could have swapped it and you have purchased it that way.
Also if you pay cash, how would they go about finding you? I know some retailers are starting to record personal information on all returns but many if you have your receipt require none.
But yea I suppose you can get in trouble if you do it repeatedly but once or twice I think you will be fine. Plus I'm going to build a huge microwave so I can fit a TV in to fry the rfid chip so jokes on you sucker!