Rocks replace iPods in Texas Target stores
updated 05:20 pm EDT, Mon October 8, 2007
iPod scam in Texas
Two Texas Target stores have served as scenes of embarrassment for the brick-and-mortar retail chain after an angry mother discovered rocks inside the box that was supposed to contain a shiny new $350 iPod. The box, which weighed as much as the iPod it was supposed to contain, was destined as a birthday gift to her teenage daughter. Upon returning to the store, Target employees believed the story but said they were sold out of that particular iPod model and that the woman was not allowed a refund in cash because she had purchased the device on her Target card. Driving with her daughter to another Target store in Grand Prairie, they used their store-only credit to purchase another iPod after Target employees forbid them to open the box before purchasing the device. Opening the supposed iPod in front of Target employees revealed yet another helping of rocks with no portable player in sight.
The mother was again refused a refund in cash, so instead told her daughter to pick out $350 worth of Target merchandise. Target said it is working with local law enforcement to resolve the issue but gave no details about the ongoing investigation, according to Star-Telegram.com.
The Texas resident's misfortune is not the first time scammers used cellophane-wrapped Apple boxes to get their hands on the company's market leading iPod. Two separate reports surfaced in December of 2005 describing the experiences of Wal-Mart customers who purchased what they thought to be an iPod, only to find a sealed fish or meat product in one instance and a six-pack of AA batteries taped together in another. The culprit in the latter case even took the time to tape a piece of paper to the batteries with buttons and a screen drawn on the surface.
amusing
10/08, 06:03pm reply
Despite the serious nature of this article, this bit made me chuckle. "The culprit in the latter case even took the time to tape a piece of paper to the batteries with buttons and a screen drawn on the surface."
How sweet.
felixkunze
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jun 2007
Well
10/08, 06:21pm reply
That's why so many companies have taken to wrapping their products up in that impossible to open plastic.
And how come no one has done a series of box openings with the iRocks?
testudo
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2001
Target engaged in fraud
10/08, 06:59pm reply
Seems like Target was pretending to sell an iPod for $350. It's not a defective iPod in the box, or a customer changing their mind. It's FRAUD and Target is doing it unless the give the lady back her money, either in cash or as a credit to her Target card. End of story. Should make everyone think twice about using a store credit card at Target.
quiviran
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jan 2007
Fraud?
10/08, 07:19pm reply
Surely they just credited back her card - they just aren't going to give her cash back when she paid by card.
Clive
Mac Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2001
nasty
10/08, 07:47pm reply
"The culprit in the latter case even took the time to tape a piece of paper to the batteries with buttons and a screen drawn on the surface."
Wow, how much more of a jerk can you be? Stealing is one thing, but stealing with a laugh at the victim's expense?
mr100percent
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Dec 1999
two words
10/08, 07:49pm reply
inside job!
bigpoppa206
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jun 2003
inside job
10/08, 07:55pm reply
no doubt. 2 different Target stores with the same pet rock'pods? next stop, their regional shipping, then warehouse staff.
:P
Flying Meat
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jan 2007
Stores are the prob.
10/08, 08:03pm reply
That's why so many companies have taken to wrapping their products up in that impossible to open plastic.
And how come no one has done a series of box openings with the iRocks?
--
Umm. THAT is the problem. If the stores DIDN'T open the box in the first place. The employees couldn't replace them with rocks in the first place. I highly doubt they shipped from Apple with rocks.
exca1ibur
Mac Elite
Joined: Oct 2000
I understand but...
10/08, 08:36pm reply
but if Apple would ever release iPod branded rocks, put me down for a box.
Jonathan-Tanya
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Oct 2004
Crappy customer service..
10/08, 09:51pm reply
That was crappy cutomer service not letting this woman who twice was struck with the exact same incident get a full refund. The Apple stores wouldn't have been so obstinate. It's going to make me think twice about buying anything from Target.
howiethemacguy
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Sep 2007