13 Arrested In Connection With Can Scam
- Thread starter Homerboy
- Start date
Anubis
No Lifer
so its illegal because they didnt buy the cans in MI?
so it illegal to return a can in a state you did not purchase it in?
so it illegal to return a can in a state you did not purchase it in?
Anubis
No Lifer
i remember thinking of this scam as a small child but i didnt realize it could be that profitable.
BrokenVisage
Lifer
- Jan 29, 2005
- 24,771
- 14
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Originally posted by: jjones
lol, there's a Seinfeld episode for everything.
And yet it's a show about nothing, funny how that premise worked out.
Non-redeemable out-of-state cans. They're selling cans claiming they can be redeemed, when they cannot.
Well, if you buy a can in NY you are paying a 5 cent deposit... the reason there is a deposit is an incentive to recycle.
If you return that can in MI they pay out a 10 cent deposit, you are effecively scheming 5 cents per can.
[/confusion]
theknight571
Platinum Member
- Mar 23, 2001
- 2,896
- 2
- 81
I'd have to look it up, but I thought that "technically" you're supposed to return the cans/bottles to the place you bought them... since that's where your "deposit" is. Accepting them anywhere is done as a courtesy to the customer.
Like I said... I could be wrong.
I think the solution would be to reduce the deposit to $0.05 like the other states instead of the $0.10 it currently is here.
It used to be that there were different cans/bottles for MI and the other states... nowadays it seems most several states for deposit.
For example : IA,MA,ME,OR,VT,NY,CT $0.05 : MI $0.10
The return centers now scan the bar code from each can (at least the bigger ones do)... that makes it a little more difficult... but when the cans are all encompassing you can still get away with it most of the time.
Like I said... I could be wrong.
I think the solution would be to reduce the deposit to $0.05 like the other states instead of the $0.10 it currently is here.
It used to be that there were different cans/bottles for MI and the other states... nowadays it seems most several states for deposit.
For example : IA,MA,ME,OR,VT,NY,CT $0.05 : MI $0.10
The return centers now scan the bar code from each can (at least the bigger ones do)... that makes it a little more difficult... but when the cans are all encompassing you can still get away with it most of the time.
OK this is how it works.
You buy a Diet coke for $1.00. the state adds on another .10 cents(Deposit/Fee) to make your diet-coke cost $1.10. Bring the can back and you get your .10 back.
What they did was take cans from states that don;t charge a deposit/fee such as this and then return them to a state that ahs a fee. Since they never paid the can fee they are in fact stealing from the state.
You buy a Diet coke for $1.00. the state adds on another .10 cents(Deposit/Fee) to make your diet-coke cost $1.10. Bring the can back and you get your .10 back.
What they did was take cans from states that don;t charge a deposit/fee such as this and then return them to a state that ahs a fee. Since they never paid the can fee they are in fact stealing from the state.
GoPackGo
Diamond Member
- Oct 10, 2003
- 6,515
- 585
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What about cans that never get returned? The state is in fact stealing from you then?
I don't think the problem is if you are on vacation in wisconsin, buy a 12 pack of pop for the ride home and then return them in michigan for th 1.20 is where the real problem exists.
Also...no one has mentioned when Michigan gets the cans they must get money for the aluminum...so in fact as a whole they should be coming out ahead.
mugs
Lifer
- Apr 29, 2003
- 48,920
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Well, it's called a deposit. Meaning you paid money with the expectation that you'll get it back eventually. If you didn't pay money to begin with, it seems like common sense that it'd be illegal to take the money. Of course they only care when it's a large-scale operation like this.
As it said they lose over 13million a year. So most of the time its not people not returning cans but returning ones that should not be.
Kinda like a guy asked someone why he kept saying guys don;t this or that when talking about sexual harrasment and not women. He admitted women have harrised others, but in his years with the State Department 99% of the time is way guys going to far with women.
Same here, state loses a lot more then then make.
clamum
Lifer
- Feb 13, 2003
- 26,252
- 403
- 126
You're not supposed to be able to return them here in Michigan. If you look on the can it shouldn't say anything about a MI 10 cent deposit, IIRC.
A 12-pack of pop is cheaper in WI, my Mom sometimes will pick some up if she goes there for another reason. When they're empty, we don't bring them back, recycle or throw them away.
mugs
Lifer
- Apr 29, 2003
- 48,920
- 46
- 91
They're not stealing from you, it's your fault if you don't return the cans...
I was recently in Michigan for a wedding and picked up 15 12-packs of Vernor's to bring back (they don't sell it in NJ). Man was I pissed that I forgot about that deposit. Should have waited until I was going through Ohio. Oh well. I :heart: Vernor's.
JulesMaximus
No Lifer
- Jul 3, 2003
- 74,550
- 940
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