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Technology

Woman Embarrassingly Buys $180 Block of Wood Thinking It’s an iPad

Aug. 31, 2011 7:23am Jessie Abrams

“Spectacularly stupid.”

That’s what Gawker is calling Ashley McDowell, the woman who bought a block of wood with an Apple logo on it, thinking it was an iPad.

Two men approached McDowell in a South Carolina McDonald’s parking lot and told her they had a special deal on new iPads. They wanted $300 for their specially-painted block of wood, but when McDowell only had $180, they decided to make the deal anyway. It wasn’t until McDowell got home that she realized her super cool new gadget was really a wooden block.

There’s more.

After McDowell realized her mistake, she called the police and they actually launched an investigation into the duplicitous scammers. McDowell claims that the men told her they bought the iPads in bulk and were selling them at a discount.

But the craziness doesn’t end with McDowell’s less-than-prudent purchase or the police investigation. The crooks are bonkers, too. They took the time to paint a screen and a couple of fake icons onto the block of wood they sold in a taped-up FedEx box. They may be good artists, but if anyone asked to open the box it’d be pretty hard to pass a block of wood off as the sleek (not wood) new tool, even with the most accurate of painted-on icons. It’s probably a better idea to keep people from opening the package in the first place.

A warning to all the bargain hunters out there: If you swipe the screen of your new iPad and get a splinter, you may have gotten duped. In addition, a general caution to not make purchases from guys who approach you in McDonald’s parking lots.

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Comments (152)

Ghandi was a Republican
Posted on August 31, 2011 at 9:12am
She got exactly what she paid for..

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- 13th Imam
  Posted on August 31, 2011 at 9:41am
  She got very tired from untangling the string between the two tin cans from her previous phone.
  
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- gotta light
  Posted on August 31, 2011 at 9:42am
  LMAO !!!!
  
  I bet the last time she was CONNED this well was in 2008!
  Think about it… think about it….. there ya go… You get it now….
  She voted for who in 2008? LOL
  
  God I know she got taken but this story made me smile ear to ear… You know there were probably lots of red flags, bells and buzzers going off around her that she CHOSE to overlook…
  
  Hey bud gotta light?
  
  Report this comment
- robroy1974
  Posted on August 31, 2011 at 9:58am
  WOODEN you have thought that she WOOD have SAW that she had a a fake iPad when she tried to LOG on to the internet?
  What was she… a blonde? Check her ROOTS.
  Selling these from a TRUNK should have been a clue.
  Did she AXE about a warranty?
  To use the keyboard she WOOD have to have been a “Hunt and WOODPECKER” typist.
  One glance and she should have seen it was KNOT real.
  I think I saw these guys selling down at the intersection of MAPLE and ELM.
  I’ll bet she feels like a real ASH.
  Could she return it if it didn’t work because it was OAKEN.
  The art work was low resolution as the picture on the screen was a bit GRAINY.
  
  Enough.
  
  Report this comment
- SeanW
  Posted on August 31, 2011 at 12:46pm
  Got not only exactly what she paid for but exactly what she deserved. EVERYONE knows full well that someone approaching you in a parking lot or on a street corner with any gadget for sale is a thief or selling chinese knockoffs. The dirt bag thought she was getting ahead and getting what she was entitled to. Should arrest her for attempting to procure stolen property.
  
  Report this comment
- robroy1974
  Posted on August 31, 2011 at 12:56pm
  Hey, I just noticed her name is ASHley McDOWELL.
  
  Report this comment
- BKing15
  Posted on August 31, 2011 at 1:04pm
  @ROBROY1974 i love you
  
  Report this comment
- DTOM_Jericho (Creator vindicator)
  Posted on August 31, 2011 at 1:06pm
  $180? What a steal!
  
  Report this comment
- pavepaws
  Posted on August 31, 2011 at 1:26pm
  It doesn’t say if she got a wall charger or not.
  
  Report this comment
- loriann12
  Posted on August 31, 2011 at 1:29pm
  Where is the poster that keeps telling (spamming) everyone with the great deal they and their sister got on gadgets? I’m surprised they haven’t given the website on this link.
  
  Report this comment
- myway
  Posted on August 31, 2011 at 1:33pm
  Another obama voter gets her ipad from a concerned black salesman and even got a nearly 50% discount. What is she complaining about she got one hell of a deal. I have a hard time with painted wood and shinny plastic too!
  
  A Jewish ****** was selling in a parking lot and was asked how much and she said 25 dollars same as downtown. All I have is 15 dollars mam! Well OK, but I want you to know I am not going to make anything off this deal.
  
  Report this comment
- myway
  Posted on August 31, 2011 at 1:35pm
  She is an obama voter it is not her fault.
  
  Report this comment
- right-wing-waco
  Posted on August 31, 2011 at 2:12pm
  Beachfront property for sale here…
  
  Report this comment
- old white guy
  Posted on August 31, 2011 at 2:46pm
  where the entire country is headed.
  
  Report this comment
- Evil Bert
  Posted on August 31, 2011 at 4:31pm
  She should be arrested for being so stupid. The “crooks’ should be applauded for either being such good salesmen or for being abel to identify the dumbest person on earth. The cops should fine her the other $180 bucks fro wasting their time.
  
  Report this comment
- Thombob
  Posted on August 31, 2011 at 5:54pm
  A fool and their money are soon departed.
  
  Report this comment
- looseyloo
  Posted on August 31, 2011 at 11:43pm
  There is an old saying, “You can’t cheat an honest person.”
  
  The woman got what she deserved. But, adding more debt to her Karma, she called the police, in an attempt to portray herself as an honest woman who got robbed.
  
  She should have left it alone, thankful for the lesson learned, but now she is on the public record as a certified simpleton. And she has a block of wood that she paid $180 for. Justice was served.
  
  Report this comment
- Pontiac
  Posted on September 1, 2011 at 1:42am
  @robroy1974
  lol, that was great man.
  
  Report this comment
- Wyatt's Torch
  Posted on September 1, 2011 at 6:00am
  She probably oPINEd for some time about buying a SPRUCEd up piece of wood.
  I CAMBIUM think of anything that could make her SYCAMORE than losing that much cASH.
  Too bad she did KNOT have her husband with her, because she CORD have had HEMLOCK the doors when they SAW these ASHs approaching and then LEAVE the area.
  Only a DOGWOOD do something like to this to another person, but then again how HARDWOOD it have been to just open the BOX ELDER?
  She just didn’t think, but MAPLE next time she WILLOW. ELM pretty sure she will never do this again.
  I hope these type of crimes and criminals don’t BRANCH out become more POPLAR.
  
  Report this comment
- loriann12
  Posted on September 1, 2011 at 7:17am
  @robroy1974
  
  That was too funny! Love the puns. But you better watchout, the thought police may come after you.
  
  Report this comment
- mils
  Posted on September 1, 2011 at 9:10am
  she probably voted for obama…
  
  Report this comment
ddg7
Posted on August 31, 2011 at 9:10am
It’s Apples new ‘GREEN’ version of the ipad. Their still trying to work the ‘bugs’ out of it.

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- CurlyJ49
  Posted on August 31, 2011 at 9:25am
  Can’t be that green if it requires the killing of trees to produce…
  
  Report this comment
- TomFerrari
  Posted on August 31, 2011 at 9:36am
  trees are a RENEWABLE resource.
  At least that is what the greenies are saying NOW.
  They wanted all the paper bags gone, so they forced plastic on us.
  Then, they realized they filled landfills. So, they added cornstarch.
  Then, they decided that wasn’t good enough. Now, they are saying trees are renewable.
  
  The fact is, “green” is a scam that dupes the gullible, willing naive.
  I’m all for being good stewards of the earth, but, these people will jump on ANY and EVERY bandwagon that comes along, as proven by the above example.
  
  Report this comment
- allredtail
  Posted on August 31, 2011 at 11:08am
  Why is it not “green” to kill a tree for your use, but it is “green” to kill a lettuce or broccoli plant for your use?????? CURLYJ49 what is your house made from??? Greenies can be so ignorant at times.
  
  Report this comment
- loriann12
  Posted on August 31, 2011 at 1:33pm
  @TomFerrari
  
  I agree. We’re called to be good stewards, but these people just go too far. Aldi’s (if you have them, you’ll know this) grocery stores don’t give out bags at all. They offer the chance to purchase a high quality plastic bag (not the flimsy little ones that a container of spaghetti will tear) so you can use it again, or a paper sack or for a little more a canvas one that you can reuse and wash, with a hard plastic bottom. I prefer to reuse my bags, so I bought several cloth ones. As for when I forget to bring them with me, I reuse the flimsy plastic ones that haven’t torn as liners for the living room waste basket or to hold kitty litter scooped out.
  
  Report this comment
- fatjack
  Posted on August 31, 2011 at 2:08pm
  What a dodo bird, I would have sold her my Brooklyn Bridge for $170.
  
  Report this comment
BarneyFyfe
Posted on August 31, 2011 at 9:02am
Can’t fix stupid!

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- Mike11C
  Posted on August 31, 2011 at 6:08pm
  Sure you can. “Stupid” is just a “rectal-cranial inversion”. All you need to cure it is a tub of vasoline and a cro-bar.
  
  Report this comment
A MERICAN
Posted on August 31, 2011 at 8:47am
It’s hard to con someone unless they are greedy – price so low you just gotta know it’s stolen. That should be enough to make you walk away right there. By buying stolen property you are infact helping (after the fact) rip somebody off. Well, then you find out you got ripped. I bet she would not have called the police if she had indeed bought a real ipad fir 180 bucks tho would she. Nope – she called them cause she got ripped trying to buy stolen property.

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HTuttle
Posted on August 31, 2011 at 8:46am
I wonder who she voted for in 2008?

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- cemerius
  Posted on August 31, 2011 at 9:05am
  Obama…or maybe we are lucky and she didn’t vote at all…one of those “zombies”
  
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CaffeineJunkie
Posted on August 31, 2011 at 8:45am
How long was she trying to turn it on I wonder before she realized it was fake?

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- biohazard23
  Posted on August 31, 2011 at 8:52am
  You know she has to be a blond. She also probably tried to get curtains for her PC since it came with Windows. :)
  
  Good night, folks – I’m here all week. Try the veal, and don’t forget to tip your servers.
  
  Report this comment
- TomFerrari
  Posted on August 31, 2011 at 9:37am
  good one, bio!
  
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- biohazard23
  Posted on August 31, 2011 at 9:59am
  Thanks! :)
  
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felix
Posted on August 31, 2011 at 8:43am
another obama voter,without a doubt!

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- Heffe44
  Posted on August 31, 2011 at 11:45am
  I bet she voted for Bush… Twice.
  
  Report this comment
- Jim in Houston
  Posted on August 31, 2011 at 12:56pm
  Heffe44: You lose, loser.
  
  Report this comment
- Heffe44
  Posted on August 31, 2011 at 2:25pm
  Lose what?
  
  Report this comment
kgneese
Posted on August 31, 2011 at 8:43am
This was actually sent to me wonder how often it works

Please we notify you mail just now, I writes to confirm you that it is true that we received an ordered to commence the transfering of your fund to you and be informed that the payment has be sent some money on your name today but be informed that you have to pay us the total sum of $185 being your payment file verification and confirmation fee before you could be allowed to pick up the $6,000 which was sent in your name today and I wish to assure you that this payment was legally approved by the federal government of this federation assigned by the ministery of finance in your favour.

I re-checked the status of the transfer for more confirmations and find out that as a result of your file verification and confirmation
which has not be properly done, you can not pick up this this first remittance until you redeem the payment of $185 As soon as you send us the required $125 we shall logg your fund into western union telegraphic machine and thereby proceed the daily transfer of $6000 to you ( 6 ) six times per week.

Right now, you can find the MTCN below as well as other vital informations for you to pick the first $6,000.00 which was transfered to your name today but you should understand there is no possibility for you to pick up the first $6,000 untill your contract payment file is verified and properly confirmed and that is why you needed to pay the file verification and co

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- loriann12
  Posted on August 31, 2011 at 1:36pm
  I get junk email like that. I’ve been awarded some huge amount of money and need to claim it, or a lady has a huge inheritance and needs help so she’ll pay me. Like the other poster said, you have to be a bit greedy to fall for it. I don’t even open the emails, for fear of a virus.
  
  Report this comment
DanWesson455
Posted on August 31, 2011 at 8:41am
They are amongst us and they are reproducing. AHHHHH!

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- TruthSpeaker
  Posted on August 31, 2011 at 7:20pm
  call them practice targets – oops ! can’t say that !
  
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Secessionista
Posted on August 31, 2011 at 8:33am
She can make a couple of thousand dollars selling it on ebay now that this wooden ipad has notoriety. I’d buy it.

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- cycloid
  Posted on August 31, 2011 at 8:43am
  It’s not so spectacularly stupid. We bought Oboob.
  
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Rickfromillinois
Posted on August 31, 2011 at 8:33am
Never underestimate the stupidity of some people.

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dave88
Posted on August 31, 2011 at 8:23am
They failed to mention that this unit was actually better than the ipad 2. Typical apple user.

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- one years food ration like glenn says
  Posted on August 31, 2011 at 8:29am
  The crooks are bonkers, too. They took the time to paint a screen and a couple of fake icons onto the block of wood they sold in a taped-up FedEx box. LMFAO !! this is just too much.. There’s a sucker born every minute, They must’ve saw her coming a mile away.. lol
  
  Report this comment
- Divineliberty
  Posted on August 31, 2011 at 8:33am
  Ok how stupid do you have to be to fall for this…Ive having a hard time believing the story is true.
  
  Report this comment
- donttreadonme
  Posted on August 31, 2011 at 8:34am
  Exactly. Why have cutting edge technology free of viruses and crashes when you can have a microsoft product?
  
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- biohazard23
  Posted on August 31, 2011 at 8:49am
  Looks like someone around here enjoys getting the BSOD as well as OS “upgrades” that break your machine in record time……
  
  Report this comment
expatinontariocanada
Posted on August 31, 2011 at 8:18am
Stupid is as stupid does….

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Gonzo
Posted on August 31, 2011 at 8:06am
Hey, at least she didn’t pay full price! Hey lady, I have a bar of soap painted black, want to buy an Iphone?

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- one years food ration like glenn says
  Posted on August 31, 2011 at 8:31am
  LMAO , I read your comment and then looked up at your icon and couldn’t help laughing myself silly..
  
  Report this comment
hempstead1944
Posted on August 31, 2011 at 8:05am
Obama voter…

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- RepubliCorp
  Posted on August 31, 2011 at 8:22am
  Oldest scam in the book…….. they try to sell a box with a brick in it.
  
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- Jim in Houston
  Posted on August 31, 2011 at 12:58pm
  RepubliCorp: OweBlamer voters are about as smart as a box of bricks.
  
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RichNGadsden
Posted on August 31, 2011 at 8:02am
LOL, apparently Steve at Wood Working For Mere Mortals (.com) prophesied correctly when he did his parody video on the iWood. Well, we know what they say about fools and their money.

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- one years food ration like glenn says
  Posted on August 31, 2011 at 8:33am
  The thing is how in the hell can you tell anyone ? I mean, they’re even printing her name and everything. I would feel like a fool and just chalk up the loss.. Use in this winter for kindling ..
  
  Report this comment
- Anonymous T. Irrelevant
  Posted on August 31, 2011 at 9:27am
  She was dumb enough to buy it in the first place, I guess she was dumb enough to think she would get her money back.
  
  Report this comment
oldwmn
Posted on August 31, 2011 at 7:55am
awwwww its a shame the nurse dropped her on her head when she was born..STUCK ON STUPID…

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LOLReally
Posted on August 31, 2011 at 7:48am
In texas and florida I have had young men in a white van pull up next to you in traffic and say “hey! you want speakers? we were picking them up for my boss when we see there are 2 too many and if we take it back they will just keep them, and our boss will too. but we will sell the $900 pro concert speakers to you for $50 each before we get there. hurry gots to do it now” I laughed at the guys and drove off both times. However my buddy did not, in his own incident he actually bought some. when I heard about it I wanted to see just how bad they were, once unboxed they were very large 4′ tall 2′ wide but with a tiny 4″ 10watt speaker HAHA. I knew something was off, but dang $2 worth of speaker for 100 bucks.
I also recall a young man (african) that came door to door selling a “cleaning” product. he made it sound like it was a super cleaner, ok I said see if it will remove this stain. It did not. I asked to spray it and put some in my hand and smelled it and its WATER. I told him, if he could remove the stain then I would buy it, he left after 10 min of trying.
The lesson learned, do not belive anything you hear, check it out for yourself, then if it does not work out you have nobody but yourself to blame.

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- one years food ration like glenn says
  Posted on August 31, 2011 at 8:37am
  (african) <<<<< I guess you told us this because then we would know he was dumber than your average criminal, right ? Pfffttt ..
  
  Report this comment
- trolltrainer
  Posted on August 31, 2011 at 8:51am
  Your true colors come shining through…
  
  Report this comment
- RRFlyer
  Posted on August 31, 2011 at 9:11am
  How did you know he was African?? Was he speaking Swahili, or did you just ask for his birth certificate?
  
  Report this comment
RootsOfTruth
Posted on August 31, 2011 at 7:47am
a fool & their money are soon parted

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wesleyapril
Posted on August 31, 2011 at 7:44am
I have to agree – lol – thanks for the laugh of the day – I needed one -

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macpappy
Posted on August 31, 2011 at 7:33am
Boldness of thief, stupidity of consumer..
If it seems too good to be true, it usually is.
However, it was not crazy to try to find the thieves.

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shirelover
Posted on August 31, 2011 at 7:29am
sooo many things to say about idiots looking to make the deal of a lifetime… LOL

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SpankDaMonkey
Posted on August 31, 2011 at 7:28am
.
Was she good looking? And does she have a sister?…………

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- one years food ration like glenn says
  Posted on August 31, 2011 at 8:39am
  Yes and they are both looking to buy a bridge.. Do you have one ?
  
  Report this comment
- drago
  Posted on August 31, 2011 at 10:44am
  Yes, she does have a sister, and paid full retail for her………at least her sister works properly, just add air, and see……
  
  Report this comment
kickagrandma
Posted on August 31, 2011 at 7:28am
LOL…. tell me she isn’t blonde????

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- robroy1974
  Posted on August 31, 2011 at 10:37am
  WOODEN you have thought that she WOOD have SAW that she had a a fake iPad when she tried to LOG on to the internet?
  What was she… a blonde? Check her ROOTS.
  Selling these from a TRUNK should have been a clue.
  Did she AXE about a warranty?
  To use the keyboard she WOOD have to have been a “Hunt and WOODPECKER” typist.
  One glance and she should have seen it was KNOT real.
  I think I saw these guys selling down at the intersection of MAPLE and ELM.
  I’ll bet she feels like a real ASH.
  Could she return it if it didn’t work because it was OAKEN.
  The art work was low resolution as the picture on the screen was a bit GRAINY.
  She was STUMPED when she couldn’t figure out how to turn it on.
  
  Ok Enough.
  
  Report this comment
Ron Staiger
Posted on August 31, 2011 at 7:27am
This moron attempted to buy a stolen ipad and when she got ripped had the audacity to report it to the police. Off-setting penalties-no reason to investigate

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