Hot New Crime: iPad’s Returned to Retailers Are Fake
- Posted on February 14, 2011 at 8:11pm by
Meredith Jessup
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It’s not clear if Walmart was tricked into selling Ken Lemal a fake iPad, or if a customer swapped out the product for a forgery, but one thing is for sure: Lemal wants a refund.
According to local NBC affiliate KPLC, Walmart has refused to accept Lemal‘s fake gadget with no certainty it wasn’t actually his:
Lemal‘s isn’t the first case of its kind. About two months ago, another unlucky iPad purchaser was reportedly sold a fake iPad by his local Best Buy retailer.
In both cases, stores and customers alike may have been duped by an increasingly popular fraud called “brick in the box” returns, where someone purchases a real iPad device only to switch in a fake and return it for cash.
Since Walmart has refused to refund his purchase, Lemal has pledged to take the retailer to court.
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Jessica
Posted on February 16, 2011 at 2:27pmI don‘t know what’s worse–the waste of money or the apostrophe abuse in the title of the article.
Report Post »NC
Posted on February 15, 2011 at 11:25am@ the ancient one…I really don’t want to get into a ******* match with you, because I would most likely lose, and I am typically kind and gentle with the elderly and feeble minded.
To clarify my earlier post, the Sony Bravia KDL46EX710 is superior to the Sony Bravia KDL46EX711 sold at Walmart. The typical consumer would not notice the difference in the last number in the model number and assume the two TVs were the same. If Walmart wanted to be above board, they would do more than alter just the last digit of the 11 digit model number.
Now on to the John Deere. I’ve asked at several of the local Lowes Hardware stores if this JD mower was the same as the one offered at the JD dealer. Every time I’ve been told “Yes it is”. The JD dealer, OTOH, has refuted this claim.
NC (Am old and feeble himself)
Report Post »the_ancient
Posted on February 15, 2011 at 11:50amI understand your points, Unfortunately 90% of the floor level employees at Big Box retailers know as much about the products they are selling as Obama does about balancing a Budget. NOTHING.
As to Walmart, since I know how they operate, I am sure Walmart does not even know or rather care, they more than likely went to Sony and said “If you want to sell your TV’s in our stores you will provide us with a 46in TV for XXX price” so Sony complied.
Walmart does not buy product, manufacturers beg for shelf space, it is not a normal buyer/seller arrangement
Report Post »Cabo King
Posted on February 15, 2011 at 10:32amthe I-BRICK think about it!!!
Report Post »Pat Alexander
Posted on February 15, 2011 at 9:51amWell, I wouldn’t buy an iPad anywhere but an Apple Store Or from Apple online.
There is no advantage. The prices are controlled & exactly the same everywhere.
And Apple gives you free shipping.
Big Box stores commonly reseal & resell returned items. And the employees are not well trained enough in spotting counterfeits. This guy probably got a “returned” iPad someone switched.
I don’t buy the “We send them all back to Apple” I’ve seen too many resealed products at Walmart.
Report Post »the_ancient
Posted on February 15, 2011 at 10:25amReturns are set by the Manufacturers as to what happens after the Return. I have destory’ed 100.000 of thousands of dollars of perfectly good product purely because the manufacturer had a no restock policy with the retailer, meaning I would come in, fill out a log, issue the store credit for the items, and toss them in the compactor, I did this for 5 years……
Report Post »the_ancient
Posted on February 15, 2011 at 10:27amTo Clarify, most of these items were destroyed because it was to costly to ship back, an IPad would probably not be trashed but refurbished, but many many many items are “throw away” items
Report Post »Codger
Posted on February 15, 2011 at 8:48amShame on Walmart for not making this good for the customer.
But the report missed the obvious… instead of ‘FAKE IPAD’ it shoulda been called LIEPAD.
Report Post »Pocono Countryboy
Posted on February 15, 2011 at 8:17amFactory sealed packaging!
One famous electronic store chain sells opened boxes with the excuse that “The Geek Squad checked everything over to make sure it’s ok”
Uh huh… not exactly.
Report Post »the_ancient
Posted on February 15, 2011 at 9:25amShopping at Best Buy was your first mistake….
any company that employees a “Geek Squad” and runs around in little girl cars with fake badges have some seriously mental issues to deal with.
Report Post »SmokinBugsy
Posted on February 15, 2011 at 9:46amAnd to top it off at Best Buy they charge you $89.99 more for that open item product! Because the geek squad made it better by going through it. It’s funny because I worked at Best Buy 10 years ago and all open products/returns were discounted 20-40%, now they charge more. LOL
Report Post »Uncle Dave
Posted on February 16, 2011 at 4:25pmI used Geek Squids once … never again! I bought a new laptop & virus software; they were going to “set up the computer and install the software for ”free”". $79.95 later arrived home to find my new, in the box computer would not boot. I had to wipe and restore the laptop and install my own virus software … not a big deal and the computer ran fine for years BUT wht did I pay 80-bucks for and what did they screw up? These so-called computer professionals could not even set up a virgin computer?? Oh, not to mention the hour I waisted waiting for the Geeks to setup/screw up my machine.
Report Post »NC
Posted on February 15, 2011 at 7:39amWhile shopping for our first flat screen TV, we researched using Consumer Reports and other rating services.
The Sony Bravia TV model 710 is not the same TV as the model 711 @ Walmart. Outside appearance may be the same, but the guts are a cheaper quality at the discount stores. The same goes for a John Deere mower tat Home Depot/Lowes and the same model at the JD dealer. Outside may look the same, but internals are lower in quality.
I believe scams are happening. The big box stores are scamming the customers, and some of the customers are scamming the stores.
NC (speaking his mind)
Report Post »the_ancient
Posted on February 15, 2011 at 9:23amHow are they “scamming” the consumer? No where does the Electronic Manufacturer Claim a “Model 710” is the same as the Module 711, or they would be the same model, it is you the consumer whom is responsible for looking at the price and features and figuring out what you want to buy.
a 46in TV from Sony for $700 is probably of lower quality or lower specs than a 46in Sony TV from Fry;s for $1400…. If you think Walmart has THAT great of pricing I have a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you.
as to the John Deere, John Deere Dealers DO NOT carry the same Tractors as the HD/Lowes, I have some inside knowledge on this I cant disclose but the Series 100 that is Sold in the big box is clearly different then the X Series sold buy the Dealers, any look at the specs will tell you that. Again this is not Lowes or John Deere “Scamming” anyone one, it is offering a different product to a different client base, most people that go in to Lowes looking for a Law Tractor are not also looking at Case/John Deere/ Bobcat/ etc dealers. Those are farmers and other people that need a High Quality product and are willing to pay $$$ for it, Lawn Tractors at Big Box Stores are for lazy people and grandma’s
Report Post »MissCherryJones
Posted on February 15, 2011 at 11:32amNC, THE ANCIENT is right. I work for Lowes. We sell DIFFERENT models than those at many other stores. Notice that the model numbers are different, therefore a different product. We aren’t scamming anyone. Many times, the manufacturer will make product for stores like us to sell exclusively. This goes for many things, from Dewalt drills to Pergo flooring. They do this so we can offer our “everyday low prices.” Why do you think the prices are cheaper? As consumers, it is partly our responsiblity to know what you are buying. In Big Box stores, there are employees who truly know about the product, but there are also are just there for a job, and have no clue. Do the research. I often wonder why somebody would buy something high dollar and have know nothing about it, just buying the name or whatever.
Report Post »that said, I’ve worked retail for over 16 years. People will scam the stores. It does not surprise me that the thieves have moved on to using Chinese fakes. You should see the things they try at my store. A foot cut off a 2×4, a piece of wood and a can of beer in a drill box, the used faucet in the new faucet box, painted trim, used caulk guns….unbelievable.
J.C. McGlynn
Posted on February 15, 2011 at 11:40amI used to work for The Pep Boys auto stores. I found out there were only 6 or 8 major battery manufacturers in the country. However, they make products to the sellers specifications. Next time you are in an auto store look at the battery manufacturers name. Many are made by the same people.
Report Post »the_ancient
Posted on February 15, 2011 at 4:14amWhen buying at a retailer, any retailer, MAKE THEM OPEN THE BOX to ensure all accessories are in the box, the item is not damaged and this does not happen.
Never trust the big box store. I spent 5 years in Big Box Merchandising (working for the Manufacturers not the stores) and you would not believe the crap I have seen in returns and restocks
Report Post »Pocono Countryboy
Posted on February 15, 2011 at 8:17am“make them open the box”
in front of you!
Report Post »KICKILLEGALSOUT
Posted on February 15, 2011 at 11:00amIt’s either a set up to make the company and Apple look bad or it is Chinese fakes that are in fact being returned to make money off real products through this scam. Either way, they need to start cracking down harshly on the Chinese fake products that flood our markets.
Report Post »oldoldtimer
Posted on February 15, 2011 at 11:07amTime for laws requiring returns be labeled as returns. I found sheet sets at Walmart that were returned. They took out part and put in rocks so the weight was right. No I did not buy it. I showed it to a manager. the next week it was still on the shelf. Just becuse it looks unopeneed does not mean it was not.
Report Post »firstHat
Posted on February 15, 2011 at 11:14am@KICKILLEGALSOUT
Nope, I got a laptop 15 years ago and got home to discover it was an entirely different (much older and much kicked about) model in the box. When I took it back to Office Depot we could see the bottom tape had been pulled and re-taped over. Office Depot exchanged it for the one I was supposed to get.
Since then, yes, I have folks open the box for me.
Report Post »Secret Squirrel
Posted on February 15, 2011 at 2:00pm……………………..
Report Post »Or, the store got a great deal on a truckload of “new” I-Pads and sold them at a big profit.
“Hey, Vinny, I got a bunch of “hot” sellers here, you want in on the action?”