Accused of Trying to Defraud Target

"who would do something as stupid as that??" People try to do that all
the time. Target employees didn't check the return, and now they're
sticking you with it. Target also should not be restocking returned
merchandise without disclosing it.

Take the Store Manager to small claims and sue for the replacement or
cost of the filter system. Name all the employees that you talked to
for replacement of the unit ini the complaint.

I wish that would situation happen to me. I hate big business and
their lack of concern for a regular guy trying to live a normal life.

Hi.

I hate to be the one who says, "I will never shop at your
establishment again" threat rarely works.
They honestly don't care about one person; and,
rarely do we keep our threat/promises. Either render the threat
useless.

Another issue raised by others, and the first thing I thought, was
"How does Target know you didn't?" They don't. They simply know the
item is not in sale condition, you have it, and therefore, posession
is 9/10 of the law.
About the only way you can explain your position successfully, is to
demonstrate that it is unlikely you had time to change things, and run
back to the store.

I've learned over the years to inspect packaging carefully. And, if
possible, to open the item, and make sure it contains everything its
supposed to, etc.

And, while you might not even consider doing such things, as having
been explained, not everyone has a solid moral character. I remember
attempting to explain to Best Buy that a Visioneer scanner they had
placed on the "opened items" section was wrong. They of course did not
want to acknowledge they had been taken. But, it didn'take a genius to
realize that the model the scanner lid had was not the same model it
belonged to. Unfortunately, someone had purchased a newer model, and
exchanged it with their older model, and simply exchanged the covers.
Since they were the same, it didn't matter to them. The only
difference in covers, was model numbers. But, in the models? the more
expensive model had more buttons, more features. So, yes, people do
this. And, in all honesty, they will make the same claims. And, stores
dont want to take the loss. That's for sure. And, of course, we who
get ripped off don't want to get stuck either.

Sadly, someone will lose on these propositions. Therefore, let me
again, strongly urge you to pay attention to the packaging. That is
really the best way to protect yourself. You can't count on store
employees doing their job correctly. Which is how these things happen
to start with.

I thought this letter was well written, despite your apparent outrage.
You did NOT resort to all caps or swear words! Good for you.

I hope this situation is addressed and rectified.

One day, I needed a new toaster. I bought the cheap $10 toaster at
Target and took it home. It didn't work -- the lever that moves the
bread down to be toasted didn't actually stay down, so you had to hold
it down yourself if you wanted toast. Not good.

I took it back and got another, identical toaster (thinking the first
one was just defective/bad luck). This 2nd toaster did the same thing
as the first one. I returned this toaster for money/store credit and
headed back to the toasters to bump it up a notch expense-wise.

What I found was the first toaster I had purchased (remember, the one
that was defective). I could tell they had just taped the box back up
and put it on the shelf because I had written someone's phone number
(in a pinch) on the box, and that number was still on the box on the
shelf. I got out a marker, and I wrote on every single box of that
specific toaster: "DEFECTIVE."

Shame on that Target store for returning defective merchandise to the
shelf for someone else to buy and deal with.

(Great name - BTW, my Great, Great Grandfather was named Mathias!)

You would be amazed at the stuff people pull. I have seen with my own
eyes that things can show up in the wrong box (and sadly, they don't
always check them well to make sure all parts or There or for usage)
when taking in a return. I myself bought a clearance booster seat at
Babies R Us for my son - turns out that not only was it a USED seat,
it wasn't even the right seat (or even the brand) pictured on the box.
And BRU almost gave me a hard time over it, but eventually gave in
and refunded it to me.

But the way this manager handled things makes me more suspicious of
him. Typically (in our store anyway) the LOD's (managers) would bend
over backwards, even when it was CLEAR the guest was not in compliance
with the returns policy. Almost makes me wonder if this guy KNEW they
had taken in and put out merchandise for sale that was used and he got
caught, so he cracked down.

Again, just a theory, but I can't find any other logical reason for
his insistence that YOU must have returned used goods (I have NEVER in
all my days heard of a Target LOD or other management staff flat out
accusing the guest - it's just not allowed!)

Worst case scenario (if disputing the charge doesn't work) try
contacting PUR to see if they can help. I can bet they want a happy
customer and would be glad to help you out.

The sad truth of this is that there are people who are dishonest and
will do things like this. Because some people are dishonest, honest
individuals end up being treated like they've done something wrong. I
understand why it happens, but it doesn't make it right. When you feel
like you're being accused when you've done nothing wrong, it's
frustrating.

I hope you are able to exchange the product.

I just wanted to say that I like your responses. You've handled your
replies with class.

My question is why would you buy a box that wasn't sealed??

They have mishandled this. While people DO lie, cheat, and steal, an
attempt to return an item like this, with receipt, should definitely
result in them giving you a new one.

However... you say "It's not only an insult to my moral standards but
also to my intelligence: who would do something as stupid as that??)"

You're right. No one would be stupid enough to put an old filter into
a box and then return it.

But, if that's the case... then how DID a used filter end up on the
shelves. At some point, someone must have used the filter, put it in
the box, and somehow had it put on the shelves. So, yes, apparently
there are people who are THAT stupid.

So, while I still agree with you, you're not making a very good claim
by implying that no one would do such a thing. Obviously, someone
had.

Dispute the credit charge with your card company, if it was a charge
and file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. I have learned
to check everything I buy that comes in a box by taking it out and
inspecting it unless it is in a sealed package.

Anything that looks like the box has been opened or resealed is not
acceptable to me. I have also learned through past mistakes to remove
several boxes from the shelf and take one from close to the back,
comparing to be certain it is the same item. I also will accept
nothing that comes out from the stockroom that has been opened (like a
printer or computer).

I have heard more than one case of empty electronic item boxes being
sold. This seems to be especially so with gaming devices and the
like. I suspect switched package contents happens more often than we
might imagine.

Good letter. The benefit of the doubt in cases where there is doubt,
like this one, should always be in the favor of the customer. Yes,
Target may have people who defraud the company, but that doesn't mean
everyone who returns an item should be eyed as suspect when they take
the trouble and time to go so high up the ladder. Rather they should
take steps to insure that this kind of stuff doesn't happen in their
stores...or eat the charges when it does.

Mathias...

Good letter.

I had something similar happen to me at WalMart. I bought my son a
camera for Christmas, wrapped it up and when he opened it there was no
camera ~ apparently the clerk gave me the box the display came in. I
was furious and took it back. The store argued with me that I was
outside the window for returning electronics. I told them they didn't
sell me electronics, they sold me an empty box.

They eventually gave in and gave me a replacement. Which is what
Target should do for you.

I hope they follow up with your complaint.

If I were the one working, I would have done the return. I do
understand why they didn't. It's all up to the store you go to because
each one has their own interpretation and application of the policies.

Not to be rude or anything, but how are they to know you are telling
the truth. I mean they probably get that story lots of times.

"who would do something as stupid as that??"

Evidently the guy that returned it before you.
This has happened to me before (Not Target). When it did, the store
apologized and said sometimes they take non defective returns and put
them on the shelf if they were returned "as new". The thing I happened
to buy looked like it was about a year old.
I think if you had the receipt they should have honored the return.

I browsed the responses and I see a wide array of responses. I see
many people are eyeing you suspiciously. Frankly, I believe you.
Your letter is well thought out, sincere, and written by someone with
a fair amount more than half a brain.

Maybe it is because I haven't worked in customer service, but it
seemss logical to me that some idiot before you committed the illegal
act. I think Target put the box back on the shelf after it was
returned.

I hope you get some satisfaction out of your complaint, but with all
these employees ganging up on you I don't know how you can prove what
happened. This situation sucks.

Although I may not agree with Ahsha's conclusion she does raise a good
point. Why did you want a refund instead of an exchange?

This is just another reason why returned items should not be resold. I
bet you that if it was the original item, there would have been a seal
on it. Although most of the time, you can tell if an item has been
opened before or not. This is why, when customers' at my store return
high priced items, but also the other items, we always open the
package to make sure its the right item of the box. People DO cheat
companies (gotta love scum!)

Why did you want a refund instead of an exchange? You obviously wanted
it (At about 12:45 pm that day, when my wife came home for lunch I
wanted to install the filter on our kitchen faucet.) An exchange would
have been the logical move, then your integrity and moral standards
would be vindicated.
Also, many, many people would do a thing like that (It's not only an
insult to my moral standards but also to my intelligence: who would do
something as stupid as that??)
I think your outrage is because you didn't get away with a sneaky.

Same thing happened to me at Wal-mart, my heart goes out to you. In
my case, a brand new $80 Eureka vacuum turned out to be someone's used
old Hoover. I called first and then drove back, just knowing they'd
call me a liar and I'd be out $80. They challenged me all right,
after all they "check every return" so they found it unlikely that a
customer, say, bought a new Eureka, took it out of the package and put
their old vacuum in, then returned it for the cash, but in the end the
manager took my word and gave me a new vacuum. I now know to open
anything costing more than $20 in the parking lot and carefully check
it over - that way I've got the lot security cameras proving I didn't
pull a switcharoo. Good luck.

I see a lot of people suggesting that it is acceptable for Target to
act this way because of other people that MAY try to defraud them.
Frankly, if you own a business you suffer losses. And this would be
one of them. Target has insurance for this kind of crap. Though they
won't use it because the claim is so small, they can and do report it
on their taxes at the end of the year. All thefts are tallied up and
reported as a loss. Target is rapidly losing it's customers due to
this and their return policy in general. They think they are making
money by preventing fraud. If they would look at how many customers
they are losing versus how much fraud they are preventing, they would
be changing policy. I have told MANY of my girlfriends to not register
at target for their baby shower because you can't return anything.
Each and everyone of them had no idea about this and refused to
register there. That is hundreds of dollars per person. Sorry for the
ramble.

If you paid by credit card simply dispute the charge. It is a simple
process...tell them you got a used item instead of a new item and had
no clue. Chances are you will get all your money back!

A very similar thing happen to me. I had purchased a DVD at Target.
I found it much cheaper a few weeks later at Sam's Club. I was going
to return it and buy the one from Sam's. I still had the receipt and
it was just like I purchased it sitting in my wall unit.

Customer service left the counter and spoke to someone behind a door
that was partially open. Next thing I know I was surrounded by
security.

Turns out the DVD had been carefully slit along the top of the
package. I honestly had no clue. It was done very carefully. I had
just recieved my DVD player as a gift. This was like only the 2nd DVD
I had ever purchased. I am now very careful to check and recheck
everything I buy to make sure it as it should be in the package.

I was very upset....but realized coming from retail background how
this must look to the store. Anyway the store manager allowed me to
swap for the same thing with a product in the package. I stil ended
up paying a lot more for it than I would of paid if I had gotten the
one from Sam's Club. They could check their computers and see I had
Never returned anything to them without a reciept. That said I was
happy I did not end up paying 45 dollars for an empty DVD carton.

I absolutely believe you, but we've had people on this site do this
exact same thing, or suggest that peole do this. We have Adam who
sees nothing wrong with exchanging something at Target even though it
wasn't purchased there; and recently someone had a defective camera
(and a lot of immature coworkers) - it was suggested that she purchase
a new camera, then go back with the receipt and the old camera and
return/exchange it.

Now, that's just a few people, but imagine how many people do this and
think it's just fine. It's unfortunate that you're caught in the
middle.

Good luck to you.

If some target employees accuse me of fraud, i'll sue them for
slander.

Mathias,
As I was reading your letter a major red flag jumped at me where you
mention that later that afternoon you attempted to the return the
item.
The moment you found the product you describe you should have called
the store, spoken with a manager, gotten their name and hot footed
back to the store.
As the other commenter said..there are folks out thier committing
scams and stores must make their judgement based on what they know as
they don't know you from Adam.
BillR.

Although, I no longer shop at target, because of their rapidly
decreasing customer service, I have to agree that this would sound
suspicious. But, I wish you luck and I hope that you win this one!

Did you by any chance make this purchase with a credit card? If so,
you might have some recourse by disputing the charge with the credit
card company. Isn't there a way to dispute a charge when you didn't
get the product/service that you paid for? Anyone know for sure?

Good luck - I think this stinks! Although I do like shopping at
Target, I strongly feel that they are going too far in the other
direction - from too lenient to far too suspicious.

There are actually people that would do such a thing. That is why they
are suspicious. I think someone before you bought a new water filter
and returned it with their old used filter to get their money back.
Target did not check what was in the box and put it back on the shelf
for someone else to buy. You happened to be the unlucky person that
got the used filter that someone else returned. If you could somehow
get proof that they did not check the product before putting it on the
shelf then hopefully you can prove your innocence.

Mathias, I believe you 100%. I completely get how insulted you are
that someone thinks you would defraud anyone or anything. If this
happened to me, I don't think I would have written such a civil
letter. Good job. Good luck!