Fake Ipad Purchased at WS Target

[DDWS]

I don’t know if this is the correct place to post this, but readers might be interested … I purchased a 16 gb wifi Ipad at Target last night, went home and opened the box only to find out that it was a hollow plastic display. I went back to Target, only to be told that they couldn’t return it and that I’d have to take it up with Apple. I called Apple who told me that it was Target’s responsibility to refund my purchase. I then went back to Target and after an hour of trying to resolve the situation, I was on my way out the door with a $500 plastic Ipad, frustrated and tired, the Target security guard ran out the to parking lot to tell me they had decided to replace it for me. It was a frustrating experience for me … and also probably for the Target employees as it was late and they were unsure of what the protocol was to deal with this. The Target staff was courteous with me even as I was angry so I don’t fault them at all. Long story short, I would advise anyone purchasing an Ipad at the WS Target to have the box opened before they leave the store

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[GAnative]

Not the first time this has happened. Here is one that was bought at Walmart in GA.

http://techvirtuoso.com/2011/02/14/fake-ipad-purchased-from-walmart-cannot-be-returned/

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[Weezie]

It stands to reason that this could happen in other places, so why bash Target? They resolved your issue, did the right thing, so why? Isn’t the lesson here to inspect an expensive purchase before you leave the store?

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[quesera]

Weezie, I don’t think it was “bashing” Target; merely warning that Target may be carrying this fake merchandise. Note also that they did refuse to remedy the problem at first and almost refused to handle it at all.

I certainly don’t assume I’m buying a box worth nothing, and don’t open everything in the store before going home. It is not the customer’s responsibility. That is on the store.

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[Weezie]

quesera, I still think this makes Target look unnecessarily sketchy. I am sure they have a huge problem with losses from all kinds of fraud and thievery, and their return policies reflect that. The more expensive the merchandise, the tighter their policies are going to be. Knowing how difficult it is to return an expensive purchase should something not be right, I would certainly accept some responsibility for making sure I get what I am paying for. Why wouldn’t you? Caveat emptor.

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[Ken]

http://www.wsdeal.com/ID030W/iPad_Model_for_Apple_iPad_Display_Exhibit_White.ws

This unit looks like a shoplifters/ bad employees dream.

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[chrisma]

Looks like they got the weight just right on the dummy model, too. Looks like the old switcheroo is exactly what this is designed for.

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[DDWS]

A couple things: Target did originally refuse to allow me to return the merchandise, they told me I had to take it up with the manufacturer, Apple. After attempting to return the merchandise I left the store with the fake Ipad, being told they wouldn’t accept the return. I called Apple, Apple told me that it was the store’s responsibility refund my purchase.

When I returned a second time and Target finally decided to allow my return I did ask to have my replacement product opened in the store, Target staff seemed unsure if they were allowed to do that (I was worried there could be a whole shelf full of fakes) … I told them that if I wasn’t allowed to open it in the store, that I would open it in the parking lot with a Target employee. They were able to open it in the store. The point of my original post was to reiterate your point Weezie that if shopping for an Ipad at Target that shoppers insist on having the product opened in the store, something I neglected to do in the first place.

I apologize if it appeared that I was bashing Target, that wasn’t my intention. It was likely a problem in the distribution process and not Target’s fault at all. I went online thinking that this was something that was prevalent, which it is not … I found one case at a WalMart in Georgia and a case at a Best Buy, neither of which allowed the return. So thank you to Target for actually accepting the return.

The Target employees also went out of their way to help me; however, I don’t think there was any protocol on how to deal with the situation until they talked to someone higher up (which they were unable to do since it was past 9pm). Even as I was getting more and more angry over the situation the Target employees were very courteous and seemed understanding of my frustrations … I shop there weekly and will continue to do so.

It’s not fun having to prove that you were scammed by the product and was not trying to scam Target. It felt to me like the responsibility was shifted to me to prove that I hadn’t been the one doing the scamming, but had been scammed.

Thanks to Target for taking care of the issue for me and for being as helpful as they could with a difficult situation.

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[Franci]

DWWS

Thanks you for educating your community on the potential risk of purchasing expensive fake electronics from big box stores.

I am curious if the packaging appeared to have been opened prior to your purchase or did it appear that it still had the factory seal?

I can see where the stores might not want customers to open every electronics item before they go out the door, but perhaps if the packaging has been previously opened – verifying the contents might not be a bad idea.

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[DDWS]

Perfectly packaged and shrinkwrapped … however, I’m pretty sure it weighed significantly less than the real ipad.

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[JanS]

so you’re saying that a store can sell you something for 500 bucks, and they don’t have to stand by that product? I realize that Target did eventually, but their first inclination was to not. You were just going to be out of luck if you had taken them at their word?

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[DDWS]

The Target employees first told me I had to take it up with Apple and that I wasn’t out of luck, but that Apple would resolve the issue for me. After I talked with Apple, who told me it was Target’s responsibility to accept the return, the Target employees didn’t seem to know what to do until they were able to talk to Target’s internal customer service folks who were off because it was past 9 pm. Target did promise to resolve it for me the next day. As I left the store for the third time with my $500 plastic Ipad they finally ran out to me in the parking lot telling me that they decided to allow me to return it.

To be fair to the people at Target, I don’t think they knew how to deal with this. They had to make a determination whether I was scammed or whether I was scamming them. But you’re right that I could have just been out of luck, although they would also have been out of luck because I’m certain that Target has made well over $500 on me in the past and will certainly make more than that in the future since they resolved this issue for me.

Note that people who have had the same thing happen at WalMart and Best Buy that I found online were not allowed to return the product.

Also, Target claims that they don’t restock any returned Apple merchandise (Apple policy) and all the merchandise is locked. If Target is honest about this policy and there are no other internal security issues at Target, Target shouldn’t be any more vulnerable than any other store to this, as it was likely a breach in the distribution process.

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