[cannyvalley]

I saw a post asking if shoplifting was SEing, which it is not, but this got me thinking about my experiences with in-store techniques. Some of them seem like they must count as SEing, given the social elements, others avoid any need for that (but may require it if something goes wrong). For example, I have had great success with returning boxes after taking the items out.

There are many variations I've worked out, and I'd like to share my experiences and thoughts, and hear others.

I usually go to a store, look around, inspect the packaging of the item I want to get, and then evaluate the my options:
I have several choices to make about how I will return the box:

• Obviously opened OR resealed
  
• Removing parts OR removing the whole item
  
• Replacing what you removed VS leaving it missing
  
• If replacing, what will it be replaced with? Similar-looking object(s) OR filler-material (for weight)
  

My choices are based on the answers to these questions:

• Does it have a serial number on the box?
  
• If there's a visible serial number barcode, is it printed on a label, or the box itself?
  
• Is the box in Heat-shrink/cellophane wrap?
  
• Is the Box sealed with stickers/tape? Are they printed with branding, or just clear/blank
  
• Is the product visible through the box?
  

Alternatively, a product can be returned from the store's own shelves. This has worked well for me, and I have even pulled it off on products with SN barcodes printed on the box. (I felt pretty smug after that lol)

I have only had one screw-up, which was because I destroyed the barcode label on one of my first tries.
In total I've gotten over $3k worth of products this way, all within 6 months, the biggest was a $500 smartwatch, and have found this far easier in many ways than online SEing. I am weary of doing it too much, and I've rotated through different stores and locations, but am now taking an extended break since I was close to be recognized as a regular at one place.

Would you agree that (at least some of) these count as SEing? What experiences have you had? Any other strategies you have?

[Azballer97]

I saw a post asking if shoplifting was SEing, which it is not, but this got me thinking about my experiences with in-store techniques. Some of them seem like they must count as SEing, given the social elements, others avoid any need for that (but may require it if something goes wrong). For example, I have had great success with returning boxes after taking the items out.

There are many variations I've worked out, and I'd like to share my experiences and thoughts, and hear others.

I usually go to a store, look around, inspect the packaging of the item I want to get, and then evaluate the my options:
I have several choices to make about how I will return the box:

• Obviously opened OR resealed
  
• Removing parts OR removing the whole item
  
• Replacing what you removed VS leaving it missing
  
• If replacing, what will it be replaced with? Similar-looking object(s) OR filler-material (for weight)
  

My choices are based on the answers to these questions:

• Does it have a serial number on the box?
  
• If there's a visible serial number barcode, is it printed on a label, or the box itself?
  
• Is the box in Heat-shrink/cellophane wrap?
  
• Is the Box sealed with stickers/tape? Are they printed with branding, or just clear/blank
  
• Is the product visible through the box?
  

Alternatively, a product can be returned from the store's own shelves. This has worked well for me, and I have even pulled it off on products with SN barcodes printed on the box. (I felt pretty smug after that lol)

I have only had one screw-up, which was because I destroyed the barcode label on one of my first tries.
In total I've gotten over $3k worth of products this way, all within 6 months, the biggest was a $500 smartwatch, and have found this far easier in many ways than online SEing. I am weary of doing it too much, and I've rotated through different stores and locations, but am now taking an extended break since I was close to be recognized as a regular at one place.

Would you agree that (at least some of) these count as SEing? What experiences have you had? Any other strategies you have?

Love these ideas! Thank you! You get an Apple Watch?

[Zelda7711]

Exactly how many hours do you return the product after purchase? In an hour? Or do you immediately return to the store for a refund 15 minutes after purchase?

[dopesmope]

Be careful doing this sort of replacement thing. Ive known people to try this and have employees open the shrink wrap, which for many places is actually store policy for items over a certain amount, although rarely enforced. They also wont open the item in front you, out of courtesy, but take it to the back and do it discreetly. Loss prevention will ask cashiers to do this after a loss and then theyll slowly back off, over time. you can also circumvent this by going at busy times.
Obviously pay in cash, and generally avoid card transactions at the location your doing this at, and park far away, in shade, backed in.
If you get caught with this its a crime, its something like theft by deception at least thats the charge in some states, so whenever attempting something like this do yourself a favor and keep your weight on the balls of your feet in case a uniformed figure approached you, and you have to book it. This may seem like overkill but know that if you fake return an item around $500 to a store with the right Loss prevenetion hero officers they will take it personally and use every resource (which is suprisingly alot) to identify you, compile the evidence available, and go to the police

[8y5tui4o]

Thanks for the sharing! I want to try this in store method because it's annoying to use glft c@rds and other opsec stuff just to create a bunch of new accs. But do you think it would get suspicious to use a lof of cash nowadays? I would also be freaked out if they open the box in front of me

[cannyvalley]

Exactly how many hours do you return the product after purchase? In an hour? Or do you immediately return to the store for a refund 15 minutes after purchase?

I have usually waited many days. I don't think I've ever returned it on the same day, except maybe once bc I was driving past another location of the same store.
If you want to claim the box was empty when you opened it, then I'd do it right away, as if you drove home, saw it was empty, and drove back immediately.

Thanks for the sharing! I want to try this in store method because it's annoying to use glft c@rds and other opsec stuff just to create a bunch of new accs. But do you think it would get suspicious to use a lof of cash nowadays? I would also be freaked out if they open the box in front of me

I haven't had to deal with anyone opening it in front of me, except one time when I was a complete idiot and removed the SN barcode.
(I solved that one with a barcode generator and a print shop lol.)

I have used a lot of cash, but on many items I use card. Not the safest, but there's plausible deniability: "I didn't open it, anything wrong with it must've happened before I bought it." Haven't had any issues so far. Although I feel comfortable paying cash up to $2k, I don't like the idea of returning it for $2k in cash. I think I made a ~$700 return for cash, and they didn't have enough across all of the registers, so they checked in the back or something, and then asked if putting it on my debit card would be okay instead. It went fine, but it was a lot of attention, and the card was then linked to it. Luckily it was a legit return, not a re-seal. Idk about most people, but when I see someone paying with massive stacks of cash, my assumption isn't return fraud.
Probably they just an interesting job
Also NGL, I get a lot of satisfaction from pulling a bunch of bennies from my wallet in front of the cashier/line.

I have also used return policies for an occasional free "rental service". Nothing like buying a Dyson, vacuuming my dorm and house, then full refund without anything illegal.

---

I saw a post asking if shoplifting was SEing, which it is not, but this got me thinking about my experiences with in-store techniques. Some of them seem like they must count as SEing, given the social elements, others avoid any need for that (but may require it if something goes wrong). For example, I have had great success with returning boxes after taking the items out.

There are many variations I've worked out, and I'd like to share my experiences and thoughts, and hear others.

I usually go to a store, look around, inspect the packaging of the item I want to get, and then evaluate the my options:
I have several choices to make about how I will return the box:

• Obviously opened OR resealed
  
• Removing parts OR removing the whole item
  
• Replacing what you removed VS leaving it missing
  
• If replacing, what will it be replaced with? Similar-looking object(s) OR filler-material (for weight)
  

My choices are based on the answers to these questions:

• Does it have a serial number on the box?
  
• If there's a visible serial number barcode, is it printed on a label, or the box itself?
  
• Is the box in Heat-shrink/cellophane wrap?
  
• Is the Box sealed with stickers/tape? Are they printed with branding, or just clear/blank
  
• Is the product visible through the box?
  

Alternatively, a product can be returned from the store's own shelves. This has worked well for me, and I have even pulled it off on products with SN barcodes printed on the box. (I felt pretty smug after that lol)

I have only had one screw-up, which was because I destroyed the barcode label on one of my first tries.
In total I've gotten over $3k worth of products this way, all within 6 months, the biggest was a $500 smartwatch, and have found this far easier in many ways than online SEing. I am weary of doing it too much, and I've rotated through different stores and locations, but am now taking an extended break since I was close to be recognized as a regular at one place.

Would you agree that (at least some of) these count as SEing? What experiences have you had? Any other strategies you have?

Love these ideas!    Thank you!    You get an Apple Watch?

Samsung Watch5 Pro