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Russell Pearce · November 28th, 2006, 09:31 AM

Couple Gets Pasta Sauce In Camcorder Box

ST. LOUIS -- The Rittenbergs are pretty steamed over their sauce.

Jim and Melisa Rittenberg said they bought a $1,600 Sony camcorder at a suburban St. Louis Best Buy.

But when they opened the box, the Rittenbergs said they found a jar of Classico pasta sauce, a telephone cord and an outlet cover where the electronics were supposed to be. According to the couple, store officials told them the box was sealed, so the switch couldn't have happened at the Best Buy.

So far, the Rittenbergs are stuck without a camcorder.

http://www.wdsu.com/news/10406617/detail.html?taf=no

oh dear..

Emre Safak · November 28th, 2006, 09:39 AM

I wonder how that happened?

Chris Hurd · November 29th, 2006, 04:02 PM

Obviously the jar of sauce was intended to give the box the same weight as the camcorder, so nothing would be suspicious just from handling the box. It's obviously a case of theft from somewhere within the distribution chain.

Nice to see that Sony is stepping up to accomodate these folks, according to CNN.

Gary McClurg · November 29th, 2006, 07:38 PM

Maybe its just me. But any time I buy something even its just for $5 bucks. I open the box to make sure its not broken.

Emre Safak · November 29th, 2006, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Hurd

Obviously the jar of sauce was intended to give the box the same weight as the camcorder, so nothing would be suspicious just from handling the box. It's obviously a case of theft from somewhere within the distribution chain.

Nice to see that Sony is stepping up to accomodate these folks, according to CNN.

Maybe one of the factory workers wanted to give their family a little present for Thanksgiving?

Scott Ellifritt · December 17th, 2006, 12:39 AM

Years ago a friend bought a vhs player "sealed in it's box" from two cats on a motorcyle. He paid $50 dollars for a brick!

Christopher Lefchik · December 18th, 2006, 12:50 AM

Apparently this is a somewhat common scam where a person purchases a product, carefully opens the box and replaces the item and then reseals it before returning it to the store for a refund. The next customer unwittingly buys what amounts to a big paper weight.

Pasta sauce in camcorder carton is just one example of common scam

That's got to be really disappointing to plunk down your hard earned cash only to open the box and discover you've been had.

Kevin Randolph · December 18th, 2006, 11:45 AM

Yeah, it is a pretty common scam. I used to work at an electronics retailer and we had to take to opening all returned computers - regardless of having to mark them down to sell them later - because we had people buying computers and returning their old computer in the box. A lot of the guys that run this scam are very good. You have to have a clerk at the return desk that really checks all the seals on returned merchandise to make sure that there isn't two layers of tape on the bottom of the box. If anybody was wondering, this is one of the reasons that there are restocking fees at most major retailers.

November 28th, 2006, 09:31 AM	#1
Russell Pearce Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Birmingham England Posts: 69 Images: 1	Spaghetti western Couple Gets Pasta Sauce In Camcorder Box ST. LOUIS -- The Rittenbergs are pretty steamed over their sauce. Jim and Melisa Rittenberg said they bought a $1,600 Sony camcorder at a suburban St. Louis Best Buy. But when they opened the box, the Rittenbergs said they found a jar of Classico pasta sauce, a telephone cord and an outlet cover where the electronics were supposed to be. According to the couple, store officials told them the box was sealed, so the switch couldn't have happened at the Best Buy. So far, the Rittenbergs are stuck without a camcorder. http://www.wdsu.com/news/10406617/detail.html?taf=no oh dear..

November 29th, 2006, 04:02 PM	#3
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	Obviously the jar of sauce was intended to give the box the same weight as the camcorder, so nothing would be suspicious just from handling the box. It's obviously a case of theft from somewhere within the distribution chain. Nice to see that Sony is stepping up to accomodate these folks, according to CNN. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

December 18th, 2006, 11:45 AM	#8
Kevin Randolph Major Player Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 423	Yeah, it is a pretty common scam. I used to work at an electronics retailer and we had to take to opening all returned computers - regardless of having to mark them down to sell them later - because we had people buying computers and returning their old computer in the box. A lot of the guys that run this scam are very good. You have to have a clerk at the return desk that really checks all the seals on returned merchandise to make sure that there isn't two layers of tape on the bottom of the box. If anybody was wondering, this is one of the reasons that there are restocking fees at most major retailers. __________________ "... the drama is on your doorstep..." - John Grierson www.grvideo.net

November 28th, 2006, 09:39 AM	#2
Emre Safak Trustee Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Brookline, MA Posts: 1,447	I wonder how that happened?

November 29th, 2006, 07:38 PM	#4
Gary McClurg Major Player Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Springfield, MO, USA Posts: 389	Maybe its just me. But any time I buy something even its just for $5 bucks. I open the box to make sure its not broken.

December 17th, 2006, 12:39 AM	#6
Scott Ellifritt Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: MS Gulf Coast Posts: 146	Years ago a friend bought a vhs player "sealed in it's box" from two cats on a motorcyle. He paid $50 dollars for a brick!

December 18th, 2006, 12:50 AM	#7
Christopher Lefchik Trustee Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: US Posts: 1,152	Apparently this is a somewhat common scam where a person purchases a product, carefully opens the box and replaces the item and then reseals it before returning it to the store for a refund. The next customer unwittingly buys what amounts to a big paper weight. Pasta sauce in camcorder carton is just one example of common scam That's got to be really disappointing to plunk down your hard earned cash only to open the box and discover you've been had.