Switching filter boxes at Walmart

[Stelth]

It's not just auto parts stores and oil filters. I've seen plenty of faucets for sale at Home Depot that have been returned, either after being installed, or with missing parts. Some have even had the boxes re-banded.

Years ago, I returned a defective motherboard to a computer store for exchange. The proprietor didn't believe it was bad (sound didn't work correctly), and I'm pretty sure he put the returned one back on the shelf.

So you have dishonest customers, and sometimes dishonest store staff.

 

[burnrider]

Originally Posted By: 2009Edge
Originally Posted By: rszappa1
I think a lot of people will cheat the store and get a low grade filter and replace it with a better one and pay the lower prise. Just like people will take extra coupons for a lower price on oil......


You call it cheating, I call it THEFT.


Shoplifting, theft, dishonesty all fit the bill. Check anything you buy if the box has been opened, especially big box hardware stores.

 

[armos]

Originally Posted By: Stelth
Years ago, I returned a defective motherboard to a computer store for exchange. The proprietor didn't believe it was bad (sound didn't work correctly), and I'm pretty sure he put the returned one back on the shelf.

That's always a problem, though many times I think it's just incompetence or laziness, not intentional.
About a year ago I returned a motherboard to Fry's which was definitely defective. It was setting a very low Vcore, so the system would POST but it was unstable. BIOS settings weren't the problem, I made sure of that. I explained the problem explicitly to the guy in the Returns line, and it was supposed to be tested by the people in the repairs dept. I had the serial number and always intended to check back a week later and see if that board ended up back on the shelf, but I forgot to look. But it wouldn't surprise me if they just powered it on, saw the POST screen and threw it back on the shelf again.

 

[Loobed]

Several years ago my walmart was discontinuing the sale of Mobil-1 filters. I saw a M-209 box on the shelf for $2.50 and decided to look inside to see if, by luck, their was a M-206 inside instead. It had the right filter. About a month later I looked on the shelf and the box was open and their was a black crinkle textured filter inside instead of the glossy black Mobil-1 filter. I pulled it out and looked at the number. I checked the price of the Fram in the box and it was $3.6something. Some idiot paid more for the Mobil-1 filter by putting it in a Fram box then they could have gotten it @ closeout price.

 

[ZeeOSix]

Originally Posted By: Loobed


Several years ago my walmart was discontinuing the sale of Mobil-1 filters. I saw a M-209 box on the shelf for $2.50 and decided to look inside to see if, by luck, their was a M-206 inside instead. It had the right filter. About a month later I looked on the shelf and the box was open and their was a black crinkle textured filter inside instead of the glossy black Mobil-1 filter. I pulled it out and looked at the number. I checked the price of the Fram in the box and it was $3.6something. Some idiot paid more for the Mobil-1 filter by putting it in a Fram box then they could have gotten it @ closeout price.

... classic.

 

[BobThe]

This happened to me today. After hearing these stories, I check the boxes out well before I make any purchases. I went to walmart to get a Fram Ultra for my Titan and one for my father in law's Malibu. The box for the Malibu filter looked good, but the bottom of the box for the Titan filter was open. Inside was a Purolator white can. I took it to their automotive counter and gave it to the staff. I then went to get another one. The only other XG7317 on the shelf was also open and also had a Purolator white can in it. I took it up to the staff again.

I asked if they had any more and they said that inventory showed a total of 8 in stock. They came over to look for the other 6 that should be there and they couldn't find any. So 6 had walked off and 2 were tampered for theft. Perhaps 6 other people were walking around the store with XG7317's in their carts, but I doubt it.

I read on another thread on here that some guy bought some oil at walmart and when he cracked it open to pour it in to his car, it was full of used oil. Is it really worth it to do something like this? Changing boxes and returning used oil. What is this world coming to? It friggin disgusting.

 

[KCJeep]

The depravity of fallen man knows no bounds, sadly nothing is surprising.

But it's not just Wally's, I always check filters etc. no matter where I am, I've gotten used filters in new boxes at AAP before too.

 

[Kira]

Hello, On this board I read that employees of discount stores have to open and smell oil filters and jugs of oil brought in for return because scummy people will bring back used supplies claiming they bought the wrong item. That is pretty low. Kira

 

[ZeeOSix]

News Flash - the world is full of scumbags.