[CValentino]

Hey Guys, and thank you in advance.

After spending a few hours reading through the different threads, I had an idea to take some of the spoken principles of SEing and try my hand at using them in the physical (In Store).

My chosen store was a technology franchise, the object to gain being an video game.
I know this store doesn't store the discs for their games out back as most do, (which made this possible) all games on display have the disc in, pre sealed. This results in several staff being present throughout the store, so the approach had to be thought through.

My Approach;

Walking into the store I greeted the staff member on the door asking if they had a charger to fit my phone (distract) .
He said to follow him. On way to the section I picked up said game x2.
Arrived at section, kept him occupied with conversation about which charger would be best ect.
On way to till I put one of the games onto a shelf out of the line of site of the staff, amoungst other less value games on same platform. Arrived at till, payed for both gave & charger.

Left store, continued around the mall for an hr or so before returning. Putting the game in a safe place, keeping the charger and receipt in the store branded bag.

Returned back to store bag in hand, on the phone to a friend (a tactic I took from @motherd on a forum about avoiding train fare) making sure the conversation was loud enough for the staff close to hear. Talking about how the game purchased was for the wrong platform.

I picked up the alternate platform version of the game & approached the till on way picking up the same version of the game purchased thatI left out of sight. So I now have in my hand the game I already purchased & another for another platform.

When I approached the staff on the till, I remained on the call going back & forth with staff and the person I was on the phone to. Explained I bought this for my nephew who I found out has a different console to the one I bought the game for, coming across frustrated. As they were about to swap the games I said forget it and continued to take my frustration out to the person on the phone saying, forget it I'm just going to get a refund & pass you the money instead.

I asked for the refund which they proceeded in doing no questions asked. Then left with the refunded money & game still in safe place.

Have since tried same method in a clothes store, also a success, only thing be sure to make sure the item you buy doesn't have security tags as when u take their own item back to them at till you can do yourself over if they see the tag in.
Be sure to have a method thought through before attempting to help things run smooth. Good improv skills help too.
Going to attempt in few other stores.

Thanks for your time, hope this can help.

CV

[trapthot]

method is good but i think you left some things out

you returned to the store for a refund but left the game in a safe place ? you returned to the store with only a receipt ? did you swap the original game with a duplicate ??

[CValentino]

Yeah. So the game I returned was one already in the store. The one originally payed for was left with a friend while I went back.

[CValentino]

Hey Guys, and thank you in advance.

After spending a few hours reading through the different threads, I had an idea to take some of the spoken principles of SEing and try my hand at using them in the physical (In Store).

My chosen store was a technology franchise, the object to gain being an video game.
I know this store doesn't store the discs for their games out back as most do, (which made this possible) all games on display have the disc in, pre sealed. This results in several staff being present throughout the store, so the approach had to be thought through.

My Approach;

Walking into the store I greeted the staff member on the door asking if they had a charger to fit my phone (distract) .
He said to follow him. On way to the section I picked up said game x2.
Arrived at section, kept him occupied with conversation about which charger would be best ect.
On way to till I put one of the games onto a shelf out of the line of site of the staff, amoungst other less value games on same platform. Arrived at till, payed for both gave & charger.

Left store, continued around the mall for an hr or so before returning. Putting the game in a safe place, keeping the charger and receipt in the store branded bag.

Returned back to store bag in hand, on the phone to a friend (a tactic I took from @motherd on a forum about avoiding train fare) making sure the conversation was loud enough for the staff close to hear. Talking about how the game purchased was for the wrong platform.

I picked up the alternate platform version of the game & approached the till on way picking up the same version of the game purchased thatI left out of sight. So I now have in my hand the game I already purchased & another for another platform.

When I approached the staff on the till, I remained on the call going back & forth with staff and the person I was on the phone to. Explained I bought this for my nephew who I found out has a different console to the one I bought the game for, coming across frustrated. As they were about to swap the games I said forget it and continued to take my frustration out to the person on the phone saying, forget it I'm just going to get a refund & pass you the money instead.

I asked for the refund which they proceeded in doing no questions asked. Then left with the refunded money & game still in safe place.

Have since tried same method in a clothes store, also a success, only thing be sure to make sure the item you buy doesn't have security tags as when u take their own item back to them at till you can do yourself over if they see the tag in.
Be sure to have a method thought through before attempting to help things run smooth. Good improv skills help too.
Going to attempt in few other stores.

Thanks for your time, hope this can help.

CV

Additional Note, This method worked for me in B&Q (UK based company). Picked up a BBQ Grill worth £250. Returned an hour later picked another one up, brought that one to the till for a refund said my partner had already bought one elsewhere.

[trapthot]

Yeah. So the game I returned was one already in the store. The one originally payed for was left with a friend while I went back.

thats actually a really good method. when you walked back in and was on the phone being loud how did you manage to sneak and grab another copy without them noticing ?

[Defeat]

Yeah. So the game I returned was one already in the store. The one originally payed for was left with a friend while I went back.

thats actually a really good method. when you walked back in and was on the phone being loud how did you manage to sneak and grab another copy without them noticing ?

probably went back at peak hours or something. Interesting method op! Idk if a game would be worth that risk. I also assumed each individual one would have it's own unique bar code which the employer would have to scan to verify based on your receipt, guess not lol. Reminds me of what some people try to do with alcohol, except they'll bring random bottles stolen from other stores to ours (when I worked at a liquor store).

[CValentino]

Yeah. So the game I returned was one already in the store. The one originally payed for was left with a friend while I went back.

thats actually a really good method. when you walked back in and was on the phone being loud how did you manage to sneak and grab another copy without them noticing ?

Didn't need to sneak as game was on an isle out of view of the staff, so when I picked up the game on way to till they could only see my shoulders & -above. The phone conversation was loud enough to notice I was on the phone but not make out what was I was saying untill at the till. Best to do at peak hours too to so not all attention is on you.

[CValentino]

Yeah. So the game I returned was one already in the store. The one originally payed for was left with a friend while I went back.

thats actually a really good method. when you walked back in and was on the phone being loud how did you manage to sneak and grab another copy without them noticing ?

probably went back at peak hours or something.  Interesting method op!  Idk if a game would be worth that risk.  I also assumed each individual one would have it's own unique bar code which the employer would have to scan to verify based on your receipt, guess not lol.  Reminds me of what some people try to do with alcohol, except they'll bring random bottles stolen from other stores to ours (when I worked at a liquor store).

Precisely. Busy days/times are ideal. Aslong as the approach is well thought through the risk is very low. They will have no clue untill they do a stock check.

Regarding the barcode. They are all identical, they link to their inventory so it will only come up with the game name when scanned. I can't see them cross referencing their stock list and checking cameras unless you come across very suspicious.

I

[bringer]

This is fascination to me. It also helps that many stores check receipts on the way out but of course not going back in.

[CValentino]

This is fascination to me. It also helps that many stores check receipts on the way out but of course not going back in.

Yep, they'd have no need to.
One think I'm interested in is what would happen if they caught you trying to do this refund to them.
Would they class it as theft? as you've already payed for the item. You haven't actually stolen anything.
Just gave their own item in store back to them?

Maybe fraud attempt, what do people think?