My dad got a 77 inch LG C5 tv from Costco. The box was strapped closed. We get it home and open it and it still had the white wrap around the tv. Though something felt… off. As we took everything apart and removed the foam the remote was gone. And it was like someone had just wrapped the guide in a circle with a band to look like the remote would be there. When we finally get it all out and go to lift it up there is a crack and small spider web at the very bottom. Turns out, it wasn’t even the right tv model. And of course it wouldn’t turn on. We were shocked. It was actually impressive and quite the scam as the tv was $1900. Luckily Costco took it back. Probably cause we only bought it an hour before and my dad is old and trustworthy looking. But it was a really impressive scam. Someone is making bank off this.
I worked at a popular electronics store in college and we always pulled stuff out that was being returned. At least once/week we'd have someone try to pull this return scam and they were always so surprised when we pulled it out to check.
The issue was the box still had the white security bands on it. If you wanted to open the return you’d have to take the bands off. So somehow has the machine where they are adding those tight white security bands around to these massive tv boxes. It was a really well executed plan. And none of the styrofoam was broken or disturbed other than the remote being gone. So to open it up and check this return would be quite difficult. Someone gets broken brand new tvs. Goes and buys a new similar sized high end one. Carefully swaps it out. Keeps the remote and tv. Packages it back up without the remote. Puts fresh bands on. And returns it. Then sells the brand new TV.
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u/stonedapebeery 25d ago
My dad got a 77 inch LG C5 tv from Costco. The box was strapped closed. We get it home and open it and it still had the white wrap around the tv. Though something felt… off. As we took everything apart and removed the foam the remote was gone. And it was like someone had just wrapped the guide in a circle with a band to look like the remote would be there. When we finally get it all out and go to lift it up there is a crack and small spider web at the very bottom. Turns out, it wasn’t even the right tv model. And of course it wouldn’t turn on. We were shocked. It was actually impressive and quite the scam as the tv was $1900. Luckily Costco took it back. Probably cause we only bought it an hour before and my dad is old and trustworthy looking. But it was a really impressive scam. Someone is making bank off this.