[cannyvalley]

Hey, so I'm new here, and have yet to go through with my first online SE, but I've been doing some in-store returns. I've pulled off a bunch of items (mainly electronics), all in the range of $75-200. I would like to SE a new power supply for my PC, but I worry about running into problems with a $300 item. I have been returning resealed boxes, but I wonder if it'd be better or worse to just go to customer service and say it was empty. With higher-priced items, how much more of a hassle would this be? Also, would it be this easy to return a re-sealed box (again, in-store) for say, a $1800 GPU or a $1200 phone? It seems almost too good to be true! Any other advice is appreciated!

[mothered]

Which company/store are you looking to target?

[cannyvalley]

Which company/store are you looking to target?

BestBuy has been an easy target thus far. I have a bunch of their stores within driving distance but I'm worried I might attract attention if I use them too much in the near future (one employee already said "Welcome back" at one of the locations, so I left).
I'm going to research microcenter, which I think will be more careful.
I fucked up a Walmart attempt a while ago, but possibly Target or a different Walmart.

So lets say either a BestBuy I haven't been to in a while, or a Target/Walmart.

[mothered]

BestBuy has been an easy target thus far. I have a bunch of their stores within driving distance but I'm worried I might attract attention if I use them too much in the near future

As with every company, It's paramount to allow a sufficient gap from one SE to the next, Inclusive of legit purchases In between and taking a break every so often.

All that will minimize the risk of the account being Investigated.

[justlooking222]

Which company/store are you looking to target?

BestBuy has been an easy target thus far. I have a bunch of their stores within driving distance but I'm worried I might attract attention if I use them too much in the near future (one employee already said "Welcome back" at one of the locations, so I left).
I'm going to research microcenter, which I think will be more careful.
I fucked up a Walmart attempt a while ago, but possibly Target or a different Walmart.

So lets say either a BestBuy I haven't been to in a while, or a Target/Walmart.

What methods have you been using at BestBuy? Just sealed box? I'm looking to SE some computer parts.

[papken]

Hey, so I'm new here, and have yet to go through with my first online SE, but I've been doing some in-store returns. I've pulled off a bunch of items (mainly electronics), all in the range of $75-200. I would like to SE a new power supply for my PC, but I worry about running into problems with a $300 item. I have been returning resealed boxes, but I wonder if it'd be better or worse to just go to customer service and say it was empty. With higher-priced items, how much more of a hassle would this be? Also, would it be this easy to return a re-sealed box (again, in-store) for say, a $1800 GPU or a $1200 phone? It seems almost too good to be true! Any other advice is appreciated!

interesting. were you busted atleast once by rep unpacking the box during the return?

[EquitableEngineer]

I fucked up a Walmart attempt a while ago, but possibly Target or a different Walmart.

Can you go into detail on this please

[cannyvalley]

I fucked up a Walmart attempt a while ago, but possibly Target or a different Walmart.

Can you go into detail on this please

Yes. @papken guessed it, although the issue was not the opening, but what led them to open it.
It was a device that came in a large box that came in shrink-wrap. I saw the serial number sticker under the shrink-wrap and decided I'd un-wrap and return the box, replace product with similar weight, remove the serial sticker, and seal with  neatly cut packing tape. Everything was close enough except that I hadn't considered that they save the serial number with the transaction info, and scan multiple barcodes (the one being the s/n) at return. So it was after a bunch of failed scan attempts that the employee opened it, and I argued that the box was exactly as I had received it, and I hadn't opened it. The issue was that it had scanned fine at checkout. I had answers for everything, but they eventually told me to call the hotline and report it to be investigated. I printed a replica label since my dumb ass had tossed the original, re-wrapped the box w/ heat-shrink, and returned it successfully at another location a week later.

I was in a rut and sought the thrill of getting away with something new to me, so I'm embarrassed at how sloppy of a job I did and how little thought I gave - it wasn't even something I needed. It was a learning experience though, and led me to join here and learn more.

Tldr: removed S/N barcode, wouldn't scan.

---

Which company/store are you looking to target?

BestBuy has been an easy target thus far. I have a bunch of their stores within driving distance but I'm worried I might attract attention if I use them too much in the near future (one employee already said "Welcome back" at one of the locations, so I left).
I'm going to research microcenter, which I think will be more careful.
I fucked up a Walmart attempt a while ago, but possibly Target or a different Walmart.

So lets say either a BestBuy I haven't been to in a while, or a Target/Walmart.

What methods have you been using at BestBuy? Just sealed box? I'm looking to SE some computer parts.

So far, different variations of SB, yes.
There was one time returning a product from the shelf.

[mothered]

There was one time returning a product from the shelf.

Nice one.

Did they not ask for a receipt?

[EquitableEngineer]

Everything was close enough except that I hadn't considered that they save the serial number with the transaction info, and scan multiple barcodes (the one being the s/n) at return.

Interesting story, thanks for sharing. I was definitely aware that at least with the higher end devices like expensive phones and such that they had a record of the serial / IMEI at the at the store. I have also noticed a barcode beside serials too but I just assumed that it was purely for manufacturers use. I have even considered removing said IMEI and barcode and replacing it with a fake so that once the device was found to be missing they would not have an IMEI that they could cross reference against returns and block. After reading your story I dont think i'll ever do this.