the ipod seems to be a target for this scam so apple could easily fix it by changing their packaging to the clear stuff they're using for the nano and shuffle or using shrinkwrap that's not easily replaceable and/or duplicated.

they shouldn't have to do this but it's a popular product and it'll make people happier in the end.

I actually bought a boster pack of HeroClix from target once that was completely empty except for the plastic packaging. The Clix are actually pretty light compared with all the packaging, and I didn't notice until I opened it. I was still in the store and had been the whole time (in the food court area), so I walked over to the customer service desk and explained to them. They were kind of confused, but let me give them the empty box and go pick up a new box and open it. There were HeroClix inside that box, so I was good to go with those.

Obviously there is a difference between a six dollar item and a $300 item, but I thought I'd at least share my experience with a similar situation at a Target.

All this stupid talk of Class Action lawsuits is why the American Legal system is a laughing stock around the world. You can't hold a company responsible for something a criminal did after they delivered the product.

I would forensically examine the iPod (FileSalvage or Disk Warrior would do the job) and find out who owned it. Then take matters further from there.

(Of course in the US that would mean taking a gun around to his place and executing his family) ;-) Just kidding - not trying to start a flame war here...

A reasonable post mike7204, but that doesn't appear to be the target way. Though I'm sure scams happen via fed-x, I'd say-next time-order on line.

A reasonable post mike7204, but that doesn't appear to be the target way. Though I'm sure scams happen via fed-x, I'd say-next time-order on line.

Um, three MBPs ordered from Amazon. Two stolen off truck.

So, yes, scams happen on the truck as well (though I ended up getting my money back, it took a while to even get the charge back, then re-order, then watch it get stolen again).

Big tip, ship it overnight. It'll cost more, but there's so much less time for it to be sitting around on a truck to be stolen in the first place.

1) Do the right thing for the customer. 2) Target: Check the serial # with Apple to see if it was registered. 3) if registered, check the name against target's employee list. 4) Don't be surprised when theres a match. Fire employee. 5) Issue a public written apology to the customer.

Problems:

1) You need PROOF to fire someone. Just saying "Hey, this looks like once owned by you, you must be guilty!" isn't good enough. Registering an iPod requires just a name. h***, maybe someone registered it with a co-workers name to get them fired.

2) Privacy. Where in Apple's privacy policies does it say they'll release registration information on any phonecall from anyone claiming to be from 'target security" wanting to get serial number information.

You want a good way to get yourself sued, just start passing out your customer information. What happens when it turns out that someone calling turns out to be a stalker/rapist?

I second the motion. Total inside job. I'm very surprised Target would refuse to exchange the product for the customer. And I think that store manager needs to be fired. In business there is no transaction more valuable than a customer's willingness to return. I don't know how much an iPod costs at wholesale, but I got a good idea it pales in comparison to what Mr. Suit is gonna spend next month at Wal*Mart for Christmas. Not to mention the bad publicity for the Target brand. How many people are now thinking like me? - Target is a good place to buy your toilet paper, but a bad place to plunk down hundreds on consumer electronics.

1) You need PROOF to fire someone. Just saying "Hey, this looks like once owned by you, you must be guilty!" isn't good enough. Registering an iPod requires just a name. h***, maybe someone registered it with a co-workers name to get them fired.

testudo, maybe you should actually try to know what you're talking about before you post. In many states you don't need PROOF nor any other reason to fire an employee. It's called at-will employment. As for Apple releasing registration info, I'm also pretty willing to bet that you don't have ANY right to ANY sort of protection of your personal information if you didn't actually purchase the product. The requisite elements to form a contract simply aren't there...

Target should have handled this better. It's really unlikely the person who bought the iPod would be the one pulling the scam considering the attention he draws to himself in returning it and that he used his credit card. Nevermind wearing a suit or not, that has nothing to do with it. Above all, that 30GB iPod is evidence so handle it as such. Target should have done that. My first instinct would be to hunt for someone employed in the supply line, starting with the Target store and working back.

Target store managers with a collective IQ of 48, rampant retail store employee theft, a box of rocks and No Refund Ever For Any Reason.

Thats why my card is American Express. They'll reverse that charge and take care of Target while I enjoy 'uncinhcing 'my Walmart tie collection for the rest of the day.

Don't waste your time arguing with idiots.

Instead adding your dramatic spin to the story why not just relay the facts? The mother who found rocks in her iPod was not issued a cash refund because she bought the iPod using a Target credit card and got a 10% discount. She didn't pay cash so she didn't get cash. Also the one she wanted was not in stock when she went back. You didn't bother even proofreading your article - obviously facts were too much trouble too.

I have had a similar experience with HomeDepot purchasing a BOSTICH nail gun. Upon opening the box, the nailgun was so used that it still mudcaked on it and all kind of scratches on the case housing and the carrying case was sealed. I have returned within the hour of purchase just like the guy did. Thank goodness, the manager witnessed the purchase because he was the one who retrieved the item from the cage. I think TARGET is VERY wrong on this one. Heck, all they have to do is to exchange it (the customer has has his receipt) and send the item back to Apple for inventory credit. Besides, the customer did not even wait overnight to state his case. How difficult is that?

Ditto on AMEX purchases!

This isn't isolated to iPods. Last week I bought a new cordless telephone shrink wrapped from Circuit City. When I got it home the 'phone wouldn't work. When I played around with it I noticed it already had someone's address book programmed into it. I took it back to the store and got a refund. They told me that the store policy is that if the product is returned shrink wrapped it goes back out on the shelf with few questions asked.

I would guess the same is true of these iPods. Someone is buying them, taking the iPod. Shrink Wrapping the box and returning it for a refund.

I had to take a broken iPod back to Best Buy for exchange under their extended warranty and they noted all the serial numbers. I noticed the guy next to me returned one in the box still shrink wrapped (said he had received two for his birthday) and they checked nothing.

Still Targets should have treated the guy in the article better.

Buy your iPods from an Apple store. It's not like Target sells them for cheaper. If you don't have a local store then buy it online from Apple. Easy.

something is fishy with the whole story. I'm going to reserve judgement for now. Who goes into this much detail about something that happened yesterday? I'd have just taken it back, explained to Target, and let them decide for the first round. I wouldn't have pictures and have "cinched up my tie". Liars should learn that too many details makes it seem like they've been planning it out.

testudo, maybe you should actually try to know what you're talking about before you post. In many states you don't need PROOF nor any other reason to fire an employee. It's called at-will employment.

Sure, it sounds great in theory. But, then, why do so many companies spend sooooo much time documenting problem workers, writing them up, etc, just to fire them? Its to keep themselves from being sued for wrongful termination (regardless of whether you've got a job where the letter says "at-will"). And you think anyone is going to fire you because they THINK you're a thief? Please. Anyone with half a brain would sue Target so fast for defamation of character, it would make even Apple's lawyer's head's spin.

As for Apple releasing registration info, I'm also pretty willing to bet that you don't have ANY right to ANY sort of protection of your personal information if you didn't actually purchase the product. The requisite elements to form a contract simply aren't there...

Um, so you're saying that Apple should just believe someone calling them, saying that such-and-such product was stolen, and give me that personal info. Right. Again, another way to get sued (and not just by the person breached, but by everyone else wanting to make sure they're not the next one who's info is just given away).

And until you know they haven't bought it, how do you know they didn't buy it? I know. I bet you just believe that people should prove their innocence and authorities should have the right to dig through private information of all people, just looking for something that might be bad.

BTW, how happy will you be when a squad of police cars show up at your house, asking you questions and taking you in, all because someone put your old iPod you sold or recycled in that box? Because, as you say, criminals are stupid, so if its got your name on it, it probably was you!

Not that the police would bother, since its such a small crime they could give a flying leap. h***, you can't even get them interested over ebay sales gone wrong.

testudo, most states in the US are 'at-will' employment states. You can be legally fired for no reason at all. Companies document why an employee was fired, to protect themselves from civil action in case a fired employee alleges discrimination, and also in case the ex-employee tries to claim unemployment insurance. One cannot claim unemployment if one was fired 'for cause'.

When you're wrong, don't filibuster; just shut the f*** up.

Better yet, shut the f*** up in the first place.

I'd doubt that it was an inside job. That would make it much harder to pull off actually.

What most likely happened is that someone bought the new iPod, put an old one in the box, shrink wrapped it, and then returned it. Shrink wrap isn't too tough to get a hold of.

The key here is that Target doesn't track who buys and returns items based upon serial number. If they did, they could see that the iPod was in fact returned and track down the original purchaser.

It should be standard policy in the store to collect information from anyone doing a return, as there are plenty of crooks out there. As a consumer, I have no problem providing that info to a store if I needed to do a return.

Target and Wal-mart should have replaced the iPods with new ones after inspecting the replacements to make sure they have not been tampered with either. Employees at both stores should have been able to catch the phony boxes and wrapping and should not have put them on store shelves to begin with. Both Target and Wal-mart could and should eat the costs and make the customer happy. This is what I call poor customer service. With proper investigation and examination of the packaging they should be able to tell if the boxes have been tampered with. If the shrink wrap isn't the same then that would be proof enough that stock in the store was messed up before it got on the shelf. Maybe both Target and Wal-mart need to beef up there warehouse security as it looks like those folks might be replacing units for themselves! Rocks, fish, and old 30gig iPods just don't get into new product boxes by themselves.

when it comes to customer service. I bought a cable modem and took it home only to find that it was a used modem (the screws had been pried open and the warranty seal was broken). Took the box back to Best Buy and they promptly exchanged it with a note that if I had problems they would change it again or refund. Best Buy - You rock...