![\"user-pic\"](\"/css/images/default.gif\")
So, not to ask the obvious question, but what's on the disk?
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-185231-100x100.png\")
@the-wanderer: It's the Georgia Satellites' version of Keep Your Hands to Yourself in a constant loop.
@the-wanderer:
George Bush must certainly be missing his favorite mix tape. \"Honkey Tonk Badonkadonk\" is his jammmmmm.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-332258-100x100.png\")
@the-wanderer: I heard from another source that it was \"The Chattanooga Bandits sing Christmas/Chanukah/Kwanzaa 1987\".
@bxbrett & every other Walmart hater: Jesus people lets give this Walmart bashing a shop for a moment. Yeah it's shitty what happened to the kid, and I don't personally care for Walmart either, but as SomeoneGNU has pointed it, Walmart hasn't tried to not accepted the return. So far it sounds like they have been helpful, lets hold judgement on them until we hear otherwise, but going directly to CEO and uppermanagement for an issue like this is insane. Handle it at the store level 1st.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-453211-100x100.png\")
@bxbrett: Ah, yes. The typical Wal-Mart hating, \"I don't care how minute my issue was, but I'm going to waste the CEO's time on it\" post.
Listen, one of two things happened here. An individual employee of the store took the disk and replaced it with a blank one thinking nobody would notice. This is a case for the store's manager.
Conversely, this could have happened BEFORE the case even got into Wal-Mart's hands. In this case, I can see how it's completely logical to expect each Wal-Mart store to open every item they have to see if it's actually what it's supposed to be.
Either way, this should be handled on the store-level. Just because most of y'all hate Wal-Mart doesn't mean they're out to get you. I know I don't fool myself into thinking thinking I'm a better person for not shopping at Wal-Mart.
@bxbrett:
I'm confused here. So far the store has been polite and understanding. There has been no information that a) they did this on purpose or b) they're going to deny the return.
Why should this be immediately escalated to the CEO? Don't you think a problem should occur before an issue is made over it? I dislike Walmart a lot. In fact, I never shop there but even I feel that haven't done anything wrong yet.
In fact, by going directly to the CEO you'd only be limiting its usefulness when a real issue does come around. Remember the boy who cried wolf?
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-268564-100x100.png\")
\"Redneck Shit\" is a little lacking, stylistically, but it's internally consistant at least.
\"Music from the Sons of the South\", or \"Hillbilly Country Jambaroo\" both lack the truth \"Redneck Shit\" has in spades.
You don't need to censor the text when the image shows it clearly.
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-171069-100x100.png\")
@seamer: Sometimes at work, I am unable to read a story because the url has profanity, or contains other \"internet filter buzzwords\". Since the url for consumerist stories is taken from the headline, I'm glad that they censor them. Last year, they didn't, and I was unable to read the Best Buy Geek Squad Pron stealer stories.
@seamer: Search engines don't read the image. The image is not on the landing page, but you have to click through to see it.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-189920-100x100.png\")
When I worked there this happened a few times where people would buy a sealed Wii or 360 game and inside was a blank disc. Turns out people stole them to either keep or make copies of for the blackmarket. It's hard to deal with customer service to explain you didn't just replace that but I had argued for the customer on the basis that they open the replacement game there. After another customer came in with the same problem (it only happened twice) they were easier about it.
@kylo4iskyle4: Asking for a refund would be fishy compared to getting another game and verifying it on-site before going home.
...play up the fact that he's a kid and an unlikely scammer. Michael should return to Walmart, receipts in hand, and let them see the disappointment on his son's face. If the manager isn't as helpful as she sounds and insists that the kid is a scammer, well, we wouldn't stop him from crying
So, the advice from Consumerist is to what? Play the \"kid\" card? Use every emotional trick in the book to get your way?
Is this just for kids or does it also go for women and minorities?
\"If you don't get your way, just turn on the waterworks, honey. And you over there, be sure to let them know you're black.\"
I thought this site was about consumer advocacy and fair business practices, not petty emotional manipulation.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-762803-100x100.png\")
@Canino: hey don't forget the gays.. as a white male that's the only card i can play when i'm crying at the mechanics to get a deal on my car repair..
I don't now about having the kid cry.. but allowing him to express his dismay is the right way to go.. people need to see that it's real.. not just another number, not just another scam
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-321187-100x100.png\")
@Canino: Yes, stores should automatically give worse customer service to adult white males. That's EXACTLY what this Consumerist post was all about. Well spotted, sir!
@Canino:
That's a tad melodramatic. If a young kid is being accused of scamming, isn't the best counterargument a physical reaction that indicates distress and not guilt? I don't see what this has to do with being a woman or a minority. Innocent kids often cry when they are accused of doing something wrong or they are being denied a Christmas gift. If I accused a kid of cheating on a test, and he immediately cried and said he didn't do it, I think I'd try harder to find out if he actually did.
@aguacarbonica: That's a tad melodramatic.
I agree, getting your kid to cry for not getting his way is a tad melodramatic.
And I haven't seen anywhere that the kid was accused of anything yet...
@Canino: As a last resort, if a store is trying to scare you off by implying that you're a scammer who switched the disks yourself, you play the game by the same rules as the store: anything goes as long as it's legal. If a store treats me with dignity, I don't HAVE to play little games with them to get a fair exchange.
Well The best tip here is when purchasing a game make sure the plastic wrap on the case is FOLDED(similar to a gift wrapped present)on the top and bottom, If someone was to remove the game and shrink wrap it in plastic it would appear to be ONE piece of continues plastic with a rough edge at the seal.
@Michael Ortega: The shrinkwrap is different on different games, and you really never know what your going to get. You could get the infamous \"horizontal line\" shrinkwrap that was common in the NES days or you could get the folded wrap, or you could get something that looks like it was done in the back of the store, but its really just the manufacturer cheaping out on the shrinkwrapping process. I have gotten all different types of wrap when buying games, and haven't had a problem with any of them being \"not new\".
I bought games from Target that had loose wrap that looked really bad, but the game inside was fine and it really was new because there were no save files on the game.
Your best defense is to make sure that all copies of the same game you are buying have the same identical shrinkwrap, if you spot one copy of Madden 09 that has different shrinkwrap than the others, avoid that one. This doesn't always work though because sometimes there will only be one copy left or they won't let you check all the games in the case for the same type of wrap.
@Outrun1986: Doesn't always help. I bought a copy of Spore from Fry's (my mistake, won't happen again!), and it looked fine. Brought it home, installed it, and then tried to register it.
Turns out that the registration code was already registered. The game doesn't require the disk to be present to run, so someone had bought it, installed it, registered it, and then returned the disk to Fry's. EA wouldn't give me the full address so I could send the jerk a note, but suffice to say that by the time EA's support was able to give me an answer, it was too late to take it back for a replacement.
I looked at the packaging, and it was really well put back together; looked intact, and there was no indication from Fry's that it had been returned at all.
Lesson learned: don't buy stuff from Fry's.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-156354-100x100.png\")
@kanderson321: no no no no. This is all wrong. if you call up EA and your code is in use they will ask you for a number on the inner ring of the disc. Upon providing it, they will issue you a new working key. This is necessary because many key generators exist out there which work by generating real keys that are out there.
Most likely your copy of Spore never left the shelf at fry's, but some key gen out there generated your registration code. In which case it has nothing to do with Fry's, and there is nothing they could have done to prevent it.
Knowing that EA would have replaced your code with the inner ring number provided, I tend to not believed your story.
@kanderson321: I have to admit I don't buy PS2, PC, PS3 or Xbox360 games, I only buy Wii or DS games as those are the only systems I have that I can buy games for from a store these days. Perhaps the theft rate is higher for those systems than for Nintendo systems, although Nintendo games are in such demand now that I would think the theft rate would be even higher for them.
The disk was most likely boosted (not shoplifted, though technically the same thing). The disc will be placed in a paper sleeve and sold on Ebay under the title \"Madden 09 Brand New- No Box\". That way the booster can make almost pure profit. Happens all the time to items in drugstores and in large chain stores like target and walmart. People have bought Ipods and found out that all they got was 8 old AA batteries taped together.
I wonder what the disk would say if it was a PS3 or Wii game?
If I was the 'swapper' in this case...why even bother swapping...the disc doesn't 'rattle' or add appreciably to the weight so why not just remove the disc and return an empty case?
The disks have weight, and actually enough to be noticed if lacking.
We've caught this happening several times (unfortunately after the original return, but before they try to sell it).
Notice the reseal, weigh it (got to love postage scales we have for sending stuff out), open it and document it.
Ultimately, the problem is with the way the returns are being handled. crack the case open in front of the customer, ask them to bring the proper disk back for a refund/enchange.
I suppose there's a good reason I don't work doing returns...
This is amazing because I actually bought a copy of \"Redneck Shit\" a few weeks ago and inside it the disc was Madden '09. I was a little bummed because The Cracker Barrel wouldn't replace it for me.
Is this a preemptive consumerist post? Or is there a result of the situation I have missed?
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-254112-100x100.png\")
@fedoruh: preemptive. the manager promised resolution tomorrow. posting the story now increases the likelihood of walmart doing the right thing.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-219805-100x100.png\")
@wickedpixel: posting the story now increases the likelihood of walmart doing the right thing.
Right, because all Wal-Mart Store Managers are required to read The Consumerist each day before they go about their duties for the off chance that something is posted about their store. /sarcasm ;-)
This is Carey jumping the gun on a story that could have waited to be posted on tuesday after the OP visited the store.
For fun, I always try to open packages without making it appear like they were open. My closet is full of boxes that appear to be sealed, but are empty. The only wrap I can't get past is the soft plastic with the seam around the whole thing. Any other kind can be opened with a razor blade and removed if you take the time.
I am sure WalMart will exchange the disc and maybe even give you some free toilet paper for your time and trouble.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-765136-100x100.png\")
maybe i should start opening my items ASAP rather than letting them sit for days/weeks/months.
Why doesn't this surprise me. WalMart gets owned like this all the time.
I was in a WalMart with my gf returning something she purchased and didn't want. A guy was there returning one of those above ground inflatable pools. He opened the box and pulled the pool part way out on the counter. It was full of dirt and ripped. Apparently someone bought a new pool, stuffed they're old one in the box and returned it. The item was just put back in stock instead of being checked first. I did also consider for a moment that this guy was the one who did it and may also have been trying to pull a scam himself.
Either way it just goes to show that some people suck..
Thats astonishing- I suppose there is not real difference though between the disc you got and the one you'd been hoping for. Better luck next time.
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-1511-100x100.png\")
I once bought a spindle of CD-Rs from Staples, didn't realize that the thing was taped in the back. Got home, took off the top disk, and found the rest were DVD+Rs of a really really bad brand.
It's a lesson I decided to learn, instead of trying to get my money back from a place that obviously doesn't care enough to check their own items on return.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-37033-100x100.png\")
Being a kid does not make someone an unlikely scammer.
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-17616-100x100.png\")
@TechnoDestructo: Yes it does. Being a kid does not make someone not a scammer, but most little kids returning items are not scammers.
\"...we wouldn't stop him from crying or explaining to anyone that Walmart stole his Christmas present.\"
WTF is it with Consumerist and Walmart? I'm honestly curious from where this irrational and juvenile hatred of Walmart has sprung? Perhaps you're just shilling for someone?
Walmart didn't steal this poor kid's present -- the scammer that swapped the disc and returned it did. If it was so cleverly re-sealed that it looked unopened, it's completely unreasonable to blame Walmart for not noticing it.
And to be fair, who's to say that the kid didn't swap the disk? Or the parent? It wouldn't appear likely at first glance, but how's Walmart to know? If the previous customer played the return-game, what's to say that the author of the email to Consumerist couldn't do the same thing? And in either case, Walmart is not to blame -- in fact, Walmart is an actual victim here, too.
I'm hoping that they replace the disc for the child. Blaming Walmart, however, for the underhanded actions of an amateur or professional thief is not only idiotic and juvenile, it's part of the problem we have in the country today of blaming those with deep pockets instead of the actual perpetrator of the crime.
In fact, I'm willing to bet that if Walmart does come to the rescue here, Consumerist would still find some way to bash Walmart. If you really wanted to support the consumer, you'd put blame where blame is due and stop your bitching and whining about companies that might not be as irrationally liberal as you want them to be.
Grow the f**k up, please.
@VRWC:
And like wise you should also grow up. This type of irrational & juvenile banter on your part towards the consumerist is no better than what your accusing them of doing.
Just take a deep breath and relax.
@VRWC: Thank you. I was about to say that myself. The blame for this situation falls clearly on the scumbag who stole the game from the case, whether he purchased it or simply asked for it out of the case and then left it \"by mistake\" on a counter.
The actions of these few is what causes Walmart to lock the games in cases. It's also what causes GameStop to open every game and put empty cases on the shelf, only providing you the game when you've paid for it. Funny how Consumerist has a vendetta against GameStop too.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-411202-100x100.png\")
@VRWC: Consumerist hates on Walmart and assumes the worst in every story because Walmart gives the consumer nothing else to go on.
Read up on the other more legitimate Walmart fuck-fests to see what I'm talking about.
While your at it, do some research to see how Walmart hurts our economy and kills competition.
And then when you're done sucking the Walmart cock, while your mouth is still full of semen, tell me why Walmart is so amazing that you'd make this ignorant vomit of a comment.
Walmart is a horrible company that takes every opportunity to blame the consumer, call the cops on its customers, and hire the worlds most ignorant employees. Prove me wrong, please.
(Hopefully this response isn't too explicit for the Consumerist taste. If it is, feel free to devowel it or delete it.)
@Ein2015: because paying overpriced prices from \"local\" merchants is so much better.
There have been stories here and there of walmart doing the right thing, but they are always ignored. the comments never tally beyond 20.
Instead we get amazing comments from people that assert, \"I would never purchase anything from wal-mart because they treat their employees like crap...\" \"...on the way out I told the hag working at the front door to leave me alone\"
Yes, boo to walmart for treating their employees like crap and yay to holier-than-thou consumerist poster who calls walmart employee a hag.
Makes a whole lotta fuckin sense doesn't it?
He Ein2015 - have you seen the South Park where 'smug' begins polluting the entire town due to all the people driving hyrbids that think they are better than everyone else? Just asking since there is a plume of smug several miles long coming out of your ass.
@VRWC: Of course Walmart didn't scam the kid. But I disagree with your assertion that they are not to blame for this. Even if Walmart is also a victim.
It's still Walmart's fault for selling him a bad product. Whether or not it's feasible for them to check every video game before selling, it's ultimately their responsibility to ensure that the product they are selling is what they say it is. The fact that Walmart got scammed is a separate issue.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-391270-100x100.png\")
@Shadowman615: @Ein2015: Because Walmart is so much different than other stores like Target or Best Buy.
I understand that they're not perfect, but in my experience, I haven't had any problems with them. And there ARE some stories of Walmart doing a good thing.
In this case it's a little unfair to point the finger directly at Walmart. They returned a game that looked unopened and had no reason to believe it wasn't legit. If they didn't let the first guy return the game then they would probably be villified for that.
It's a \"damned if you do, damned if you don't\" situation.
Roz, or Ben, or any of you who work here: in addition to the much-needed \"Edit\" option, what are the chances of your adding a killfile-type setting on our profiles so we can ignore comments by certain readers? I have an occasional problem with self-control and am not always able to stop myself from reading something that just pushes every button I've got. Not seeing those comments might prevent my going apeshit on someone before I calm down enough to realize I'm being just as obnoxious as they have been.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-776577-100x100.png\")
@CheritaChen: I second that. Most of the time I feel compelled to respond to idiots in kind, which in turn makes me look like an idiot.
While it's ultimately an issue of self control, I wouldn't turn down any tools that might help me to that end.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-357824-100x100.png\")
When I was working at Office Depot I remember someone returned an \"unopened\" computer, where they had broken the tape on the bottom, and lifted most of the individual components (memory, cpu, hdd). I was so mad because they called me to reshelve it and I IMMEDIATELY knew that something was fishy. Was so angry at the lady at the counter for taking it back w/o checking with me first. 99% of the time this is just lazy, uncaring return employees.
I also recently bought a vacuum cleaner from Wal-Mart that had been swapped. Fortunately, they were very understanding and immediately swapped it out for me. Was the last one and I had to pay a little more but was better than getting taken advantage of.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-333397-100x100.png\")
Does anyone actually open movies and games in the store? That seems like impractical advice to me.
@SenorDunda: This is EXACTLY what struck me when reading this article. That is the most ridiculous advice ever. Assuming one does take the time to either hold up the line/find an empty counter/etc and do this, then where does it stop? Open every box you buy? Open every movie? Every game? Make sure the last page of the book says 'the end'? taste test the bananas and make sure they are cucumbers in disguise?
Opening your purchases in the store is not only ridiculous, I am positive it is frowned upon by the stores. Simply because the level of scams someone can run by doing this are astounding.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-472416-100x100.png\")
@exo: I've only ever opened ONE product in store. That was a laptop. I asked the customer service rep at the tech counter to open it, plug it in and power it on just to make sure. They were very understanding. It was a very expensive purchase for me so I was feeling extra cautious. Otherwise I've never even considered the idea of opening and inspecting packages in the store. I can only imagine the looks I'd get inspecting tampons at the grocery store! LOL.
@SenorDunda: I have done it at Costco, because they have a handy counter space next to the exit and have been very nice about lending me a pair of scissors. Mind you, I don't generally do this when I'm buying something that's a gift.
Same sort of thing happend to me. I bought Mario Kart for my Game Boy Advance and when I opened it up I found an old crusty battery instead of my game cartridge. Took it back to the store and they happily replaced it. Looked like return fraud because the plastic wrapping on the box was different from the skrink wrap on the legit box.
I don't open them in the store, but then again I buy very few games from the retail stores where the games come in shrinkwrap.
It seems like if you were opening them that it would seem even more suspect to the cashiers. Its not an issue with other items as for most big electronics they open it and verify the contents in front of you.
If this is such a big problem and its happening all the time and retail stores are unwilling to swap out a copy of a game from some innocent victim who bought it there then stores need to have an official policy about games and dvd's where you do not get the product that you pay for and then post the policy in the electronics department so everyone knows before they buy games.
I wouldn't be surprised if a Consumerist reader had done this judging by the comments on past Walmart-related articles..
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-355288-100x100.png\")
Been there, done that. Photographed everything, advised Microsoft, and brought the game back to WalMart (ironic, eh?). They replaced it, no problem.
@ViperBorg: OMG. Your comment will be disemvoweled for not hating on wal-mart! Didn't you read the sign at the door? no rational even handed comments allowed in regards to wal-mart!!! Sputtering Hatred only!
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-257922-100x100.png\")
I must take issue with the fact that you showed a picture of the disc with \"Shit\" clearly written on it, but felt the need to censor yourself and type \"Sh*t\" in the headline and article. Who ya tryin to save?
i think we can blame walmarts far too lax return policies!
they shouldnt return anything. that would prevent this!
yah same thing happened with me i bought rockband 2 at best buy it was fully sealed opened it in my car it was a white labeled cd r with the transformer movie on it , they switched it for me cause i came right back , the guy looked at me as if i switched it i had to wait in a 2 hour line for returns cause this was after xmas, just for him to get me another one and open it and show me it and just gave it to me , there was no reason for me to go into that line guy was a an asshole.
This happened to me a couple of years back when I tried purchasing a first generation XBOX Tony Hawk game. I had a blank looking disc, so I took it back to the store and they looked on it and found some strange spreadsheets. Thank goodness Circuit City was nice enough to exchange the product.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-11093-100x100.png\")
I wonder what the \"Cid\" on the disc is. (Look closely, it's upside down by \"SHIT\")
How strange.
It might not ever have left Wal-Mart before they bought it. Thieves slit packages and swap the contents around all the time. I had that happen more than once when I managed a store.
Standard policy at computer game stores is to check the innards of returns to make sure that nothing is missing or tampered with. Obviously Walmart isn't solely a computer games store, but you would think they would have almost the same policy and if they did then you might find the culprit is an employee, not a customer returning the game.
@SurakshaPaddock: game stores do not however remove shrink wrap and such to check the contents if they believe it is still new, otherwise they cant resell it (other than gamestop who could technically resell it as used). Either they fooled the returns person into thinking it was never opened, or it was slit and swapped in the store and never returned in the first place.
I had a nearly identical experience at a walmart in South Carolina a few years back. I purchased a hockey game for my old sega saturn and when I got home there was a blank CD in the case. I went back and they gave me no real problems because I wanted the same game. I guess they realized that if I was trying to scam them I would not be after the same game.
I had a similar problem years ago. I purchased a NIN cd called Broken from Best Buy. As soon as I reached my car I opened it up. If you're familiar with the case, you know it folds out three ways. Once opened, I noticed the disc was missing. The cd case was shrinkwrapped so apparently it left the factory that way. I marched right back in. I told them they sold me a case without a cd in it. I had to speak to about three people. Two kids who passed the buck to each other before someone in charge showed up. I could tell they were skeptical. I said I'm not going to scam you out of a CD. I have a $2500 line of credit with this store and I buy stuff from here all the time. I have no reason to lie about this. They finally caved in and let me exchange the cd. They made it seem as if they were doing me a favor. After that incident I payed off what I owed Best Buy and stopped shopping there for a few years. I eventually caved and went back because they often do have good prices and is convenient, especially since I have two within walking distance.
So I guess my advice is, if they don't believe you, is to explain how absurd it would be for you to scam that way. Why would you write Redneck Shit on a cd, involve your kid, and go through all the bother just for a videogame. Ask them to check the security cameras and they can see that you did indeed buy the cd there. Tell them if you were really into ripping off videogames you wouldn't even go into the store, you could buy a bootleg for a $5 or download them yourself.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-87239-100x100.png\")
#1 - probably STOLEN, replaced by the blank and taped up. Easy enough to accomplish and THEY REALLY SHOULD HAVE LOOKED AT THE PACKAGE MORE CAREFULLY.
I buy video games at Walmart all the time, and STILL I go over the entire little package to make sure it hasn't been tampered with.
As soon as I've paid for it, I take my pocket knife and OPEN IT UP IN FRONT OF THE CASHIER. I explain to her that I have to make sure we BOTH agree there's a real disc inside. Once done (takes 30 secs) I leave.
#2 - this really shouldn't be such a big frackin deal. Walmart replaces nearly anything that's broken, even stuff that's perfectly ok but the wrong size, wrong color, etc. If worried about being scammed, start requiring photo id for returns, and if someone brings in more than one video game like this - TELL 'EM TO STOP SCAMMIN'!!
Otherwise, Walmart should honor the American code of putting the customers first. *snort*
@banmojo: Elitist douche award to you my good sir. Come on, you pull out a pocket knife and open your games in front of the cashier.
I own hundreds of games and have been buying them for years. Not once have I opened a disc in the store, and not once have I ended up with some blank disc or other miscellany.
Incidentally, I've never made myself look like a retard by insisting on opening my game in front of a cashier while holding up the entire line either.
Do you also read the first chapter of any books you buy to be sure the literature has not been tampered with?
A similar situation happened to me at Target a few years back. The game disc had been replaced with an AOL disc. The manager insisted I had swapped the discs; however, an employee said he had seen this before in the store. I was lucky that time. hopefully this guy will be lucky enough to get the game replaced.
Well I have a possible explanation of this story. My ex-roommate did this a lot, he bought PS2 games and DVDs, and took off the plastic wrapping carefully with an exact-o knife. He then took out the game/dvd, then placed a blank CD in it (so it's the same feel as if the real stuff was inside). He then carefully glued the wrapping back on, and returned it. And he was NEVER caught, did this many times.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-10261-100x100.png\")
Redneck Sh#t? Laugh out loud. If it was a Wii game would it have said Casual Sh#t?
as much as i hate walmart they really are not the ones to blame. if they didn't accept returns on \"sealed\" games everyone here would be bitching about that instead.
and to those berating the consumer (a young kid in this instance), he will likely have this game for a couple of years and it will serve him well in the time. if he saved up christmas money to buy it he will probably not get madden 2010 at all.
imo, the best time to get sports games is never when they first come out but two months after the newer version comes out when they drop to about $12 used. one or two new nailed on useless features and an updated roster are not worth an extra $50 and cellophane wrapping
I once purchased a very high end (at the time) video card from CompUSA. The box was sealed, but when I opened it at home, it contained an ancient microchannel modem card, a blank CD-R and a folded sheaf of paper that was labeled \"instructions\". They gave me a huge amount of grief when I returned it, I argued for an hour, and it was only when the manager on the next shift came in that I was able to exchange it. Apparently, it was about the third one that was like this.
Is it just me or does it seem like these stories are always about \"the poor kid who lost his Christmas present money\" or the 12 y/o who saved his allowance for months\" or some other sob story? I;m not saying that things like this doesn't happen but the back stories all seem so fabricated.
@Scatter: he was going to use that money to buy his mother christmas shoes. but she died of cancer so he went for madden instead.
I've heard of this happening before, people buy a gam, cut the wrapper with a razor, slip the disk out, add a blank one and then use a small amount of super glue to seal the cut. Typically it seems to happen at WalMart's and Targets, probably due to their easy return policies.
First: Unless you are buying something you don't want people to know you bought, then don't pay cash for stuff. A credit card purchase costs the same amount if you pay if off in full and as a bonus you get fraud protection. You can also get a card that gives you some kind of bonus back. So if you pay cash then you are paying more for less.
Second: Don't use the kid as a pawn in so idiotic guilt trip. If the manager won't exchange the item then smile, go into the store buy a real copy of the game and one or two other things you want on your credit card, then go home and file a dispute on the second purchase. The credit card company will reverse that charge which gets you the copy of the game you paid for plus whatever else you got to compensate your for wasting your time.
Seriously, 90% of the things on this website are just people crying about stuff they could easily deal with themselves if they'd just think a little bit.
I was a victim of a bait and switch myself, except that the person who did the switch at least took the time to find similar item to put in the box. I had to go back to the store and explain that the brand in the box was not the same as the brand on the box.
I have seen this more often than not. You cannot blame the consumer but on the other hand you cannot trust them either. It will ultimatly fall on the manager to decide if this person did or did not swap this game out themselves. (not that the op did that in this case) Some of you guys are acting like Walmart should just give them a new game and go about there day, well I doubt thats gonna happen without some questioning and other fact finding.
PS. Some of you are WAY off topic here. I really don't care if this kid purchased Madden 03. What game and when he purchased it has no relevance on weather or not he received a swapped game.
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Perhaps this is the sequel to the game \"Redneck Rampage\".
\"Michael's story shows the importance of always opening your purchases in the store to make sure that the product you paid for is the product you received. \"
What?? I have a library of hundreds of movies and video games, and not once have I ever opened my purchase in the store to \"verify\" it. Are you guys serious? Is there some sort of unwrapping booth in the front of the store, or am i expected to just stand in line and open it right there in front of the cashier while everyone in line waits on me? Come on now, that is straight up ridiculous to suggest.
This happened to me once when I bought Splinter Cell from Circuit City. Luckily I open the case in my car outside the store. When I opened it there was not disc inside so I go back in to tell them this. At first they thought I just took it out and try to get another game but told them they can check the camera's. Lucky they gave me another copy with a disc inside.
Unfortunately this apparently happens a lot at Walmart! A friend of mine bought some motor oil thereWhen he got home and was about to put it in his van, he realized it was USED motor oil. Another friend of mine bought a Nintendo DS Lite for his daughter, when she opened it on Christmas she found a beat up broken DS (not lite), In both situations it was like pulling teeth to get Walmart to take the items back.
Just a note, Walmart, Best Buy, Target, etc, have a nasty habit of just reshrinkwrapping stuff they get back and putting it back on the shelf. As someone who works for a game publisher, I can't tell you the number of customers we get who call us with this problem, and the stores' response is, \"its the manufacturers problem, they must have mispacked it\"..yeah right. Of course, the consumer gets stuck in the middle, we tell them it's the stores fault, the store tells them it's ours, and we usually end up eating it and providing the customer with the product, even though we know it was not mispacked(like the time a consumer swore up and down their brand new game came with a disc of a MOVIE from 6 years ago).
What is the original source?
You have to overcome a lot of logical leaps to come to the conclusion of this post, that a person unknown obtained, defaced and caused this disc to be returned to the shelves for sale for purchase by an unwitting consumer.
A much more logically consistent theory is that a consumer hoping to snag a free copy of the disc defaced it and then returned it while claiming status as victim of an unknown third party.
For the disc to have been presented for sale in the state shown, one has to assume that:
• Either an outside criminal or a store employee opened the package, lifted the original disc, replaced it with a blank, defaced the package and returned it to the shelf for sale (despite the added risks the time and preparation needed to conduct these steps would take), or that ....
• A person unknown with access to shrink-wrapping equipment and/or original EA box seals returned the box as presented in \"new\" condition for a refund, or that ....
• A person unknown presented the box as opened but defective in hopes that the clerk would not notice the missing disc and the fairly obvious defacement of the packaging, AND that ,,,
• The clerk or clerks who accepted and handled the box post-return it did in fact, fail to examine the package AND defied policy in returning defective items to the shelves for sale.
Again, all of these things are, I suppose, technically possible, but they stretch the imagination.
On the other hand, the simpler explanation of good old fashioned consumer fraud doesn't require any such leaps. Stores wouldn't have security guards and surveillance equipment if people didn't come in to their stores and try to steal their stuff, so let's not make the patently false assumption that corporations are always out to cheat and consumers are always innocent. Sometimes, not infrequently, it's the other way around.
As for the argument that the \"victim\" in this case isn't likely a scammer because he's a kid ... I am making a leap myself here, but I'm going to guess the author of this post, Carey, isn't a parent. Kids, even good kids, are known from time to time to do stupid, sorry things that their parents wouldn't expect. I rather doubt, then, that Carey has never faced a child pleading with great intensity that the dog broke the lamp or that going to excessive lengths to explain how soda bottle fell over by all itself, or well, you get the point.
And while, as a father myself, I want to believe the poster's defense of his child, I do note that in this case, the claim is that the child used his own money for this purchase.
Under the trust but verify doctrine and without accusation but only supposition, I would suggest that unless the parent watched the disc being opened fresh from the store, which the posts indicates is not the case, perhaps he or she needs to do a little internal investigating before turning sights on Wal-Mart.
About a year ago, I bought a couple DIsney Blu-Ray movies at a Target where I encountered the same thing. The case was covered with Target labelled plastic shrink wrap, as if the item was a return from a previous customer and re-packaged and put back on the shelf.
I found blank cd's in both cases. However I had no problem in returning them as I pointed out that other copies of the same movies were in factory wrapping and you can see the obvious differences. I got an exchange for the same movies...this time in the correct factory sealed wrapping.
Needless to say, I now open any and all media before leaving the store to make sure I got what I paid for.
I do have to say this about Target customer service, they were more than willing to help and were very understanding/courteous.
Years ago when I was a kid, I bought a Playstation game from Toys r' Us and when I opened it up it was a Rod Stewart CD. They did give me my money back, but looked at me like I made it up and was trying to scam them.
This happened to me once. I bought a gamecube game, the package was perfectly seal, opened it and found a cd that was cut down to fit into the case. I went back to target and they had no problem returning it because it was with the same hour I had bought it
This sort of stuff happens all the time at big corporations like Wal-Mart & Target. From the article I have come to the conclusion that the person who swapped the disc probably bought it elsewhere. With the return policy being as such that a reciept is not required for an exchange it leads me to belive the scammer had Madden 2009 for a long while, purchased a different game and swithced the wrapping. This is all speculation on my part obviously.
Also, the majority of 360 games simply have a regular plastic shrink wrap like video stores used to do. You just put the casing in the plastic wrap and heat seal the bottom edge then take a heat gun to the shrink wrap so it's tight on the casing. All of that can be done with simple reynolds wrap and a hair dryer. The only other thing you need is the security stickers along the top, bottom and side. The PS3 & Wii games are wrapped in a different manner and have tight corners like you would do on a christmas present.
Wow, this is classic Walmart. If you're pro-Walmart, here's a perfect example of why you should avoid the Bentonville behemoth. If you're anti-Walmart, I encourage you to join me at WakeUpWalmart.com!
Nothing personal against the author, but why am I the only one who's thinking to himself \"i wonder if this guy made the story up\"? Do we really know that this disk was in fact sealed into the container? Who would put all the effort into doing such a thing, and why? Isn't it far more likely that the guy wrote \"redneck shit\" on a blank disk himself for whatever reason, got his money back, and kept the actual game?
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I apologize for this... but that story is pure gold.
I can't blame Walmart here though. It's pretty damn easy to keep the stickers on the box and if it looked unopened then they wouldn't have any reason to check.
It's sad that you have to be cautious enough to check this sort of thing. Buying from a store like Gamestop would be better because they either give you a shrinkwrapped game (So you know it's been unopened), or, if it's the last copy, they'll put the game in the display copy.
And there's nothing wrong with buying Madden after football season. You do know that sports games tend to go down significantly in price after a few months right?
Besides, he didn't have an Xbox until recently, so the point is moot.
get it fingerprinted
Well this is Wal-Mart we're talking about. Larry the Cable Guy territory, GIT-R-DONE hats, censored music, etc. It's safe to bet anything sold there has at least a slight chance of being redneck sh*t.
its walmart, they will take literally anything back. ive returned stuff from a different walmart without a receipt at all!
ive never tried it but im fairly convinced you could return an item from another store if you really wanted to. buy something at target for a lower price then return it to walmart for a bit of profit lol...soo wrong but hey at least they are easy to deal with in that respect.
@grimdeath9740: oh and I saw someone returning a package of opened candy (the candy were individually wrapped at least). friggen insane
Just this last Christmas, my son used his gift money to buy the\"Naruto The Broken Bond\" Xbox 360 game from Best Buy. After driving home 50 miles, we found nothing but a blank Comp Usa DVD inside. The package was sealed and there was no sign of tampering. Luckily, Best Buy was nice enough to exchange it. Unfortunately we had drive back 50 miles to do it and in the end Best Buy gave $5 for our \"troubles\". I've never been a fan of Best Buy and this surely doesn't help.
The same thing actually happened to me!!!
I was in the Arizona Ave Wal-Mart in Chandler. It was pretty late, around 11PM or so, a buddy of mine came over and we decided to go buy GT5 prologue and an extra controller, and some beer at the Wal-Mart so we can play some racing.
When we got to the store, we talked to the sales person at the electronic place for a while. After searching for the games, they only have one copy left, we paid for it and didn't think twice about it. We picked up everything else and left. When I got new toys, I always opened it up in the car. When I open the seal, the disc inside was a badly scratched CD with label Summer Rap or something like it. We promptly returned to Wal-Mart. The sales person at the electronic apartment said the game can ONLY BE RETURNED if it were sealed, otherwise, it can ONLY BE EXCHANGED. Since they only had one copy, we cannot exchange it. I talked to the store manager, made a big deal about how the electronic person is accusing me of stealing a game and won't let me get my money. She was pretty reasonable and said we cannot return your money, but if you want to exchange for something else, we can. So we left the store with Assassin creed, which, I probably played for 20 minutes and never played it again.
This is a story that nobody believe me, but luckily, one of my friend was there as witness...
The seal was kind of strange because the other game should have a tape around it, where you can peeled off the tape and get the whole seal open in 10 seconds. this one did not. Some CONSUMER probably did this...
I am not happy this happen to someone else again...
I stepped in some redneck shit the other day.
I picked up my truck from the shop today there was a Gran Turisimo game box behind the seat with no game. It was for PS2. I have an xbox. I am still scratching my head.
Is anyone at least a bit curious on what's on the disc?
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I had a friend who used to buy N64 games and replace the cartridge with a crushed can.
He found that if he wrapped it with saran wrap and popped in the toaster for a couple seconds it was close enough to trick WalMart into thinking it was sealed.
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i am sure you have bought xbox games before. they are all pretty standard in how the packaging looks. if anything was questionable, i would have spoken up at the point of sale.
i doubt this is a scam, but for goodness sakes, please take a look to make sure the packaging hasn't been tampered with. would you notice this on say... a bag of chips?
also, madden 09 is a great game. it's a shame that you are buying it WHEN THE FOOTBALL SEASON IS PRETTY MUCH OVER. Maddenoliday - celebrate it.
@lotussix:
When my options are pay $70 for the game during the season or 1/2 of that by being patient and waiting a few months I think that i'm fine with waiting. It'll be the same game when I eventually buy it at a discount.
@lotussix: So in essence you're saying:
1.) He's dumb for not checking it
2.) He's stupid for wanting it
3.) He should be taught a lesson anyways and this is the time to teach him that lesson, suck it up
Call me crazy here but if that isn't arrogant snobbish BS, I'm the Queen of freaking England.
First layoff the holier than though you should have checked it BS, the last thing any happy kid should have to deal with is worrying they have gotten ripped off. I don't care about the whole 'well its the way life is'. That is a BS excuse.
Next the whole don't get it cause the gameplay isn't 'the way it was meant to be played anymore', for goodness sake, its a kid.... your not making the kid smarter, you are talking down to the kid. That'll teach'em real good...... *sigh*
And the final point is just that geek trait that everyone really hates. The rub it in your face I was right stuff. So what if you are right, its enough to not have the game/product, don't need Captain Obvious statements' like that.
@lotussix:
This is actually an issue with store policies more often than not. In many cases you may never look at the actual item before it enters the bag. Since they have to remove it from the glass case and which they take to the electronics counter to check you out, while the whole time you may have never even touched it.
This might have been a very good reseal job, the one ringing it up didn't notice, these people apparently did not without closer inspection.
@lotussix: Uh, during football season you're watching football, not playing a video game about football, right?
The issue isn't that the consumer failed to spot the problem - the issue is that WALMART did, and put this on its shelves for sale. Wouldn't surprise me if this were an employee helping himself to store merchandise.