10 days ago I bought this...

[Reynolds]

Seagate 320gb external hard drive.

http://www.dclstore.co.uk/images/products/seagate-250gb-ext-hard-drive-freeagent-go-sil-ret-st902503fgd2e1-rk-l.jpg

I plugged it in, didn't work. I noticed the top part of the shell was lifted a bit, so I pulled it open... Inside was this:

http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/5905/98151800.png

I brought it back, with the receipt and they said "sorry we can't help you" they also said "the serial number also doesn't match".

Now what?

Yes, it was at Wal Mart, so save the "should have bought it somewhere else" jokes, because I've already heard them.

[landarch]

I'm really surprised they didn't take it back anyway. I used to work at the customer service desk back in college. One day someone returned a VCR. Opened it up and there was a 20 year old betamax in the box.

[Reynolds]

I'm really surprised they didn't take it back anyway. I used to work at the customer service desk back in college. One day someone returned a VCR. Opened it up and there was a 20 year old betamax in the box.

He said "There's nothing I can do at my level", so I said "Ok, get someone higher", assistant manager came, said the same thing, I said "Ok, get me someone higher than you", manager came....... yadda. I started getting pissed, they said they'd call the cops if I didn't settle down. There was a cop already outside, so I went outside and got him for them.

[underdog]

Find another place that sells it and try to bring it back without a receipt.

[Reynolds]

Find another place that sells it and try to bring it back without a receipt.

Problem is the serial number doesnt match so they say.

[opie's twisted balls]

How did you pay for it?

[Reynolds]

How did you pay for it?

Cash

[PapaBear]

Email the corporate office. They take care of complaints quickly. The one time I did it, they even made the manager give me a free gift card.

[Reynolds]

Email the corporate office. They take care of complaints quickly. The one time I did it, they even made the manager give me a free gift card.

Thanks, I'll give that a shot.

[opie's twisted balls]

Cash
Then my suggestion won't work.

Was going to say if you bought it with a credit card or amex they usually offer purchase insurance against loss theft or damage.

Sorry man. Like PB says, write the head office, threaten to go to the local consumer affairs reporter, etc.

[Chigworthy]

Is that a hex driver bit? Why would someone tape that inside? Is it some kind of message?

[PapaBear]

Is that a hex driver bit? Why would someone tape that inside? Is it some kind of message?
Someone probably bought it, stole the hard drive, then taped the bit in there to give it weight. Then returned it.

[Reynolds]

Someone probably bought it, stole the hard drive, then taped the bit in there to give it weight. Then returned it.

I don't understand how the previous person was able to return it then, since the serial # didn't match. Maybe I look shady.

[Chigworthy]

Someone probably bought it, stole the hard drive, then taped the bit in there to give it weight. Then returned it.

I see. So the drive is missing. I'm starting to understand why it would not work.

Reynolds, I'm a law-abiding citizen, but you tried to give the store a chance to make good on their mistake. I was wondering who would buy a hard drive, remove the drive, then return it with some dummy weight in there. Thinking about why someone would do this, I can only imagine that they purchased a hard drive, found the drive missing, and after the store refused to reimburse them, they were forced to buy another hard drive, probably with cash, then remove the drive and return it with some dummy weight in there.

[opie's twisted balls]

Is that a hex driver bit?
Looks like a Robertson (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robertson_screwdriver)bit.......filthy Canadians.....oh wait :unsure:

[PapaBear]

I don't understand how the previous person was able to return it then, since the serial # didn't match. Maybe I look shady.
They probably didn't pay attention since it wasn't suspicious. But you came in showing them that it had the bit in it, so they checked. BTW... I used to work in the camera department. Cameras ended up in the wrong box all the time, so their serial number argument is total horse shit.

[Reynolds]

I see. So the drive is missing. I'm starting to understand why it would not work.

Reynolds, I'm a law-abiding citizen, but you tried to give the store a chance to make good on their mistake. I was wondering who would buy a hard drive, remove the drive, then return it with some dummy weight in there. Thinking about why someone would do this, I can only imagine that they purchased a hard drive, found the drive missing, and after the store refused to reimburse them, they were forced to buy another hard drive, probably with cash, then remove the drive and return it with some dummy weight in there.

Yes. You are probably right. What a jerk that person is, I could nev.... :smoke:

[Reynolds]

They probably didn't pay attention since it wasn't suspicious. But you came in showing them that it had the bit in it, so they checked. BTW... I used to work in the camera department. Cameras ended up in the wrong box all the time, so their serial number argument is total horse shit.

The drives look exactly the same, it was probably just a different year's model or something.

[sr71blackbird]

You could buy another one, and put this one in that ones box and do the same thing someone did to you. Look for a store thats in a bad neighborhood where the help is not too swift.

[Reynolds]

I see. So the drive is missing. I'm starting to understand why it would not work.

Reynolds, I'm a law-abiding citizen, but you tried to give the store a chance to make good on their mistake. I was wondering who would buy a hard drive, remove the drive, then return it with some dummy weight in there. Thinking about why someone would do this, I can only imagine that they purchased a hard drive, found the drive missing, and after the store refused to reimburse them, they were forced to buy another hard drive, probably with cash, then remove the drive and return it with some dummy weight in there.

Subtle

You could buy another one, and put this one in that ones box and do the same thing someone did to you. Look for a store thats in a bad neighborhood where the help is not too swift.

Non-Subtle

[Chigworthy]

You could buy another one, and put this one in that ones box and do the same thing someone did to you. Look for a store thats in a bad neighborhood where the help is not too swift.

What do you mean when you equate "bad neighborhood" with "not too swift"?

[underdog]

What do you mean when you equate "bad neighborhood" with "not too swift"?

I think he's trying to say Portuguese people are dumb.

[Reynolds]

What do you mean when you equate "bad neighborhood" with "not too swift"?

It would be a more difficult chore to find a Wal Mart with "swift" employees

[opie's twisted balls]

It would be a more difficult chore to find a Wal Mart with "swift" employees
Whatever do you mean......doesn't walmart recruit from the local Mensa chapters?

[Reynolds]

Whatever do you mean......doesn't walmart recruit from the local Mensa chapters?

More like mrsa

[SatCam]

You could buy another one, and put this one in that ones box and do the same thing someone did to you. Look for a store thats in a bad neighborhood where the help is not too swift.

Actually a bad neighborhood is where they'd be more likely to check for this sort of thing

[Tenbatsuzen]

This is becoming more and more prevalent, about the insides of stuff being stolen and dummy weights filling the inside. Consumerist had done a bunch of stories on them.

I would advise calling Wal-Mart corporate, saying that you bought a previously returned item that has been stolen/altered and you want a make good.

[JustJon]

I would contact corporate to complain, and I would most definitely say the employees threatened to call the cops on you. Make it known that they scammed you then tried to call the police when you tried to make it right.

[PapaBear]

I would contact corporate to complain, and I would most definitely say the employees threatened to call the cops on you. Make it known that they scammed you then tried to call the police when you tried to make it right.
Definitely mention the bad service. In the case I referred to, rude service was key to them kissing my ass to make things right.

[Mitch&Murray]

This is one of the bigger complaints about Walmart. They take returns from people,many of whom will say it doesn't work,its defective etc. They reseal it with tape or shrink wrap and put it right back out on the shelves for the next sucker to buy until eventually the sucker has no receipt or electricity in his fat guy scooter to go back and return it.
Any reputable retailer would send back" defective" returns to the manufacturer. Not just put it back on the shelf.

[sailor]

i blame damon wayans.

[Reynolds]

I wrote corporate, we'll see.

[jennysmurf]

I wrote corporate, we'll see.

Let us know. I'm curious to see what happens.

[PapaBear]

This is one of the bigger complaints about Walmart. They take returns from people,many of whom will say it doesn't work,its defective etc. They reseal it with tape or shrink wrap and put it right back out on the shelves for the next sucker to buy until eventually the sucker has no receipt or electricity in his fat guy scooter to go back and return it.
Any reputable retailer would send back" defective" returns to the manufacturer. Not just put it back on the shelf.
That simply isn't true. They do send defective stuff back. But the customer doesn't always tell them that it's defective.

[JustJon]

Stores will also often rewrap returned merchandise and sell it as new without telling you.

[Suspect Chin]

Stores will also often rewrap returned merchandise and sell it as new without telling you.

They have a cellophane machine in the back room?

[opie's twisted balls]

They have a cellophane machine in the back room?
All you need is some plastic window film, a hot air gun/hair dryer and some practice. My first job was in a computer store and we'd open up everything, make a copy to disk (this is back in the days of 5 1/4) then reseal.

[KatPw]

They have a cellophane machine in the back room?

Yes, they do. Most retail chains have a shrink wrap machine.

[topless_mike]

your a shifty fuck.
but i agree, something needs to be done. i dont think a thief would go as high to corporate.
most would just chill on the pond scum that works at the store level.

[ScottFromGA]

do what I do one time...they wouldnt let me exchange a copy of COD4 that I had purchased and the disc was scratched from the manufactuer. I asked them what I was suppose to do cause there was no answer for this besides getting in touch with the maker of the disc, which would never work. They told me that I was bascially SOL...I got very irate and went right to the manager (knew exactly who he was) and gave him a piece of my mind. They have a policy on all electronics/DVDs/Video Games that they cannot "REFUND" on these after they have been opened. I reminded him that I just wanted to exchange it for another copy since this one was damaged when I opened it and he told me that he could do nothing. I flung the disc up against the wall, shattering the case and the disc went somewhere, then told him I'd never be back and walked out.

He started screaming for me to pick it up or he'd have me arrested. I told him to fuck off cause I knew there was no security there.....Wal-mart employees are the biggest pieces of shit on the face of the planet.

[Chigworthy]

They told me that I was bascially SOL...

Shit Out Luck or Shit Of Luck?

[Suspect Chin]

I flung the disc up against the wall, shattering the case and the disc went somewhere, then told him I'd never be back and walked out.

He started screaming for me to pick it up or he'd have me arrested. I told him to fuck off cause I knew there was no security there.....Wal-mart employees are the biggest pieces of shit on the face of the planet..
<object height="344" width="425">


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[topless_mike]

what was the remote up the butt deal?

[Suspect Chin]

what was the remote up the butt deal?

Hilarious?

[opie's twisted balls]

.
<object height="344" width="425">


<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Rp_8ZhhCBE8&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></object>
I like the original version (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3rJ0hASVho) better.


what was the remote up the butt deal?
Planning for the future as third mic on a hilarious satellite radio program.

[ScottFromGA]

Shit Out Luck or Shit Of Luck?

yeah, I never got that either....but its just how it's said here.

wonder if it's Shitout Of Luck ?

[hunnerbun]

yeah, I never got that either....but its just how it's said here.

wonder if it's Shitout Of Luck ?
Shit outta luck...