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Need to Vent: Got Scammed at a B&M!

B

bmwme

Senior member
All excited. Finally convinced the gf to get an Xbox 360. She got me addicted to Rock Band, but I really want it for Forza. Anyway, I got a surprise bonus yesterday and she had a $100 AMEX gift card so we met at Costco after work. We got the last Holiday bundle (20 gb, Forza and Aliance, 2nd controller, and battery packs) in the store and it was the 175w version (yeah Falcon and HDMI!) so we were pumped!

All through dinner we were giddy to get it up and running! Finally we get home and start pulling open the package. This is going to rock! I get to the console pull it out of its protective bag, turn it around to look at the HDMI glory and my heart sinks. Where is the HDMI port? So I check the psu, ok it is in fact the 175w version...so what gives? Well MS must have made yet another change and MS must include an AV adapter to convert to HDMI. So I pull open all the cables....nothing. I'm starting to get really confused now because everything I read made me think that if I had the 175w version I had the Falcon cpu and HDMI. WTF? Then it happens.........

I look at the manufacter date on the console, F'ing 10-08-2006! WTF!!!!!!!? So I think the Costco must have gotten the shaft and is getting a wierd supply of old or refurb'd units. But as the wheels turn I try the psu plug, doesn't fit. I look closely at the console and notice dirt and finger prints! Some LOSER bought this before and swapped it with there old console! I'm so disapointed and pissed. I don't have the 360 I thought I had and worse, I can't even use it! So it goes back today. I'll have to find another store that has the HDMI version in store. Wish me luck.
 
Originally posted by: Throwmeabone
Originally posted by: chrisg22
That sucks but at least you got it at costco! Much less hassle in returning it.
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Hence the reason he has a problem in the first place.
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yeah I see what you mean, this could never happen at other stores. I'm going to quit shopping at Costco.
 
Actually, he did get scammed. The box should mention HDMI if it was the holiday bundle, and he just said his didn't have it.
 
Before this gets out of control I understand this isn't Costco's fault (unless this was done by an employee). Just venting.
 
Originally posted by: bmwme
Before this gets out of control I understand this isn't Costco's fault (unless this was done by an employee). Just venting.
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Good luck man, I know I'd be pissed if that happened to me after being excited to get everything up and running.
 
Originally posted by: erwos
Actually, he did get scammed. The box should mention HDMI if it was the holiday bundle, and he just said his didn't have it.
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If anyone got scammed, it was Costco. He was just the unsuspecting consumer. Perhaps he can work it to his advantage and ask for additional compensation ("I live an hour away!")
 
1. That's really not cool. Sucks that you're going to have to return the holiday bundle, but on the other hand they're bundling it with CoD 4 now - you'll get a lot more use out of CoD 4 than Forza and Marvel Ultimate Alliance. And my local EB Games sells the Forza/MUA pack for $20 used (while selling the individual games for $29 and $27 respectively :laugh: ).
2. Damnit, I forget what 2 was. Maybe I wrapped it into 1?
3. Oh yeah, I remember what 2 was - does this mean the idiot scammer ended up with a power supply (his original) that was incompatible with the 360 that he essentially stole? 😕
 
Wait a minute - doesn't Costco sell those bundles in the hard plastic wrapping? So someone opened it up and then resealed it in the hard plastic? Can you even do that without it going back to the manufacturer?
 
Originally posted by: abaez
Wait a minute - doesn't Costco sell those bundles in the hard plastic wrapping? So someone opened it up and then resealed it in the hard plastic? Can you even do that without it going back to the manufacturer?
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That was my first thought too, but on second thought I'm not entirely sure. It is a plastic outer package, but I think it might open without cutting (it is also surrounded by cardboard and a plastic strap that makes it obvious that it has been opened, but with the proper equipment you could make it look like it hadn't been opened.)
 
It is in the plastic "case" but it isn't glued together so it opens easy, but it is also surrounded in cardboard and tape. The most difficult part is the strap that goes around the whole thing, but that was intact so they figured out how to get that off. This kid went through a lot of trouble, but it was probably worth it. IF the 203w psu works with the Falcon units. It is definately a differnt plug but the old psu might fit into the new (175w) unit.
 
Originally posted by: bmwme
It is in the plastic "case" but it isn't glued together so it opens easy, but it is also surrounded in cardboard and tape. The most difficult part is the strap that goes around the whole thing, but that was intact so they figured out how to get that off. This kid went through a lot of trouble, but it was probably worth it. IF the 203w psu works with the Falcon units. It is definately a differnt plug but the old psu might fit into the new (175w) unit.
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Or he might have figured it out after the fact and stolen the power supply out of another Costco bundle. Someone needs to kick that guy in the nads.
 
Originally posted by: CKDragon
It's crap like this that will eventually make Costco change it's return policy and ruin it for all of us.
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Pretty much. I read that when the video iPod came out, Costco sold 25,000 in the first week and in that same week people returned 15,000 older iPods. :Q That's really not what their return policy is intended for, and it's unfortunate that people don't realize that THEY are killing one of the most consumer-friendly return policies. And then those same people probably bitch and moan about restocking fees and other policies that stores implement to reduce that crap. :|
 
When I bought my 360 I remember Circuit City had to scan it or something along those lines. And no, I am not referring to the normal UPC, I am referring to something like a unique identifier. If that is the case then what is the purpose of that original scan other than to help insure this type of activity is avoided?

I could be wrong about what the second scan was for and perhaps they stopped doing it. I guess it could have been a CC specific (smart) idea as well.
 
Originally posted by: mugs
Originally posted by: CKDragon
It's crap like this that will eventually make Costco change it's return policy and ruin it for all of us.
Click to expand...

Pretty much. I read that when the video iPod came out, Costco sold 25,000 in the first week and in that same week people returned 15,000 older iPods. :Q That's really not what their return policy is intended for, and it's unfortunate that people don't realize that THEY are killing one of the most consumer-friendly return policies. And then those same people probably bitch and moan about restocking fees and other policies that stores implement to reduce that crap. :|
Click to expand...

I guess it would require more effort but why can't they just compare serial #'s on receipts to the actual 360's to make sure someone is returning the right one.

And damn, that's crazy that there were that many iPods returned. Some people really are idiots.
 
Originally posted by: mugs
Originally posted by: CKDragon
It's crap like this that will eventually make Costco change it's return policy and ruin it for all of us.
Click to expand...

Pretty much. I read that when the video iPod came out, Costco sold 25,000 in the first week and in that same week people returned 15,000 older iPods. :Q That's really not what their return policy is intended for, and it's unfortunate that people don't realize that THEY are killing one of the most consumer-friendly return policies. And then those same people probably bitch and moan about restocking fees and other policies that stores implement to reduce that crap. :|
Click to expand...

oh stop it. You're making too much sense.
 
Originally posted by: Fingolfin269
When I bought my 360 I remember Circuit City had to scan it or something along those lines. And no, I am not referring to the normal UPC, I am referring to something like a unique identifier. If that is the case then what is the purpose of that original scan other than to help insure this type of activity is avoided?

I could be wrong about what the second scan was for and perhaps they stopped doing it. I guess it could have been a CC specific (smart) idea as well.
Click to expand...

It was probably the S/N they were verifying. That is why they put that little flap on the box..
Most places verify the console S/N (flap) & box S/N (UPC) then print it right on the receipt,

If you come back, and the box/console does not match the reciept you are SOL.
 
Originally posted by: Yreka
Originally posted by: Fingolfin269
When I bought my 360 I remember Circuit City had to scan it or something along those lines. And no, I am not referring to the normal UPC, I am referring to something like a unique identifier. If that is the case then what is the purpose of that original scan other than to help insure this type of activity is avoided?

I could be wrong about what the second scan was for and perhaps they stopped doing it. I guess it could have been a CC specific (smart) idea as well.
Click to expand...

It was probably the S/N they were verifying. That is why they put that little flap on the box..
Most places verify the console S/N (flap) & box S/N (UPC) then print it right on the receipt,

If you come back, and the box/console does not match the reciept you are SOL.
Click to expand...

ANd why doesn't Costco do this... I know that Wal-mart does, or at least they did when I bought/returned a PSP and when my brother bought a 360.
 
People are generally stupid and take little to no responsibility for their actions. Now I can kinda understand certain things where consumers will do whatever it takes to get even or get what they desearve, but this isn't one of them. And stuff like this will definately get costco to repeal their free return policy.

It is not MS screwing over the early adopters like a lot of people make it out to be. It is gradual improvments during the life cycle of a product. Would these people be happier if companies NEVER improved the product and just kept reproducing the same broken crap? OK...so MS should never have released a product that had such a high death rate...but they've warranted the things for 3 damn years, stop complaining.

I think MS has made some worthy improvments and it is one of the reasons I'm FINALLY getting a 360. You've been enjoying you 360 for two years already, stop complaining.
 
Originally posted by: chrisg22
Originally posted by: mugs
Originally posted by: CKDragon
It's crap like this that will eventually make Costco change it's return policy and ruin it for all of us.
Click to expand...

Pretty much. I read that when the video iPod came out, Costco sold 25,000 in the first week and in that same week people returned 15,000 older iPods. :Q That's really not what their return policy is intended for, and it's unfortunate that people don't realize that THEY are killing one of the most consumer-friendly return policies. And then those same people probably bitch and moan about restocking fees and other policies that stores implement to reduce that crap. :|
Click to expand...

I guess it would require more effort but why can't they just compare serial #'s on receipts to the actual 360's to make sure someone is returning the right one.

And damn, that's crazy that there were that many iPods returned. Some people really are idiots.
Click to expand...

Electronics stores usually do, but general merchandise stores like Costco/Walmart/Target don't. I guess the cost to implement is the deciding factor?
 
Originally posted by: chrisg22
ANd why doesn't Costco do this... I know that Wal-mart does, or at least they did when I bought/returned a PSP and when my brother bought a 360.
Click to expand...

You can switch serial numbers on some consoles. The Nintendo Gamecube is extremely easy to get the serial off of not to mention it had no tape that showed that the console was opened or not (if I remember correctly).
 
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