Action Figure Fraud: Is this a problem at your local stores???
 

There seems to be an ongoing problem at my local Wal-Mart. Someone keeps returning figures with the wrong packaging.

So far I have seen Marvel Universe figures being returned with G.I. Joe figures from the movie. I have also seen Marvel Universe figures being returned with a Wolverine figure from the Wolverine and the X-Men line. Most recently I have seen a 6 inch Mark 5 Iron Man on the selves with the suit case from the 3 inch line and no right hands. This person switched all the right hands with lefts.

This is considered fraud and a criminal offense. I do hope that whoever is doing this gets caught. Not only are they committing a crime but they are filling the selves with crap that no one wants. This means that there will be a delay in getting any new stock or shipments.

Are any of you guys experiencing the same problem at your stores?

Re: Action Figure Fraud: Is this a problem at your local stores???
 

I haven't seen any at my stores, but we read about it all the time on the transformers forums at cybertron.ca People returning smaller transformers in boxes meant for larger figures, or returning old/broken figures in boxes as if they were new.

The merchants seem to tacitly approve of this as Walmart and Zellers have put the items back on display, even after informed fans (such as us) bring the item to customer service and complain that it is not the right item. I know they're probably just trying to cut their losses, but it bothers me to think that some kindly mother/father/grandparent/uncle who doesn't know any better is going to buy one of these things, assuming it's what their child/grandchild/nephew/niece wants, only to result in disappointment all around.

Re: Action Figure Fraud: Is this a problem at your local stores???
 

Not lately, but for a while I saw a lot of GI Joe repacks. I saw a Serpentor Chariot in a Hiss tank box, which seemed like the most glaring offense. Here's a hint to those who may be lurking and are doing this kind of thing: It's theft. You are a thief if you do this. If you cannot afford to buy the toy outright, you cannot afford it. And if you are willing to trade your personal integrity in by stealing a plastic toy, well, then there's no hope for you. It's that simple.

Re: Action Figure Fraud: Is this a problem at your local stores???
 

I started collecting as an adult in 1995 and it was happening then. Not much one can do really.

The stores should honestly be a bit more on the ball about this as its not that difficult to figure out.

Re: Action Figure Fraud: Is this a problem at your local stores???
 

I see it happening at TRU now. Just today I saw on the shelf DCUC batman from the 2-pack with Clayface in a DCUC Batman all-stars packaging with no accessories or figure stand.

It's really sad that people have to commit fraud and scams over toys. If you really can't afford it you should just leave it for people who can.

Honestly I would rather see a scalper buy the toy instead of someone who has the intentions on committing fraud.

Re: Action Figure Fraud: Is this a problem at your local stores???
 

yeah that really grinds my gears! :mad:
http://gameinformer.com/cfs-filesyst...2D00_gears.jpg

Re: Action Figure Fraud: Is this a problem at your local stores???
 

I actually had this swapping occur on a regular basis at my Zellers for both SW and GI Joe. Solution: I turned in each and every swap to their customer service dept week after week until they got so sick of seeing me that they instituted new policies about handling toy returns (they would call down the person who handled the toy section to verify that the toy inside had not been swapped out before accepting the return... I told them "hey! Just look at the damn photo on the card and compare it to the toy inside!" but that's dept stores for you).

They eventually caught the perp but I was shocked to learn they just let him go (well banning him from the store but big deal... they should've filed charges).

Re: Action Figure Fraud: Is this a problem at your local stores???
 

Swapping is out of control at a Zellers near my house. I've alerted costumer service but they seem disinterested. I've actually seen swapped products I've brought to them back on the shelf a day or two later.

Some one is also using a Exacto blade to remove droid pieces from the build a droid lines.

It sucks.

Re: Action Figure Fraud: Is this a problem at your local stores???
 

Ask to speak to the manager... I eventually ran into the manager who worked at my Zellers and he actually was glad to be made aware of the situation. I explained to him that swapping in crap for good products that were stolen only means that smart collectors are not ever going to buy the product, which means it lingers FOREVER on the pegs and no new product ever gets put out... thus the store loses money and is forced to put it on clearance. And of course their computer inventory system can't tell the difference between the geuine article and swapped in crap.

Once you make a business case to the manager directly, they tell the customer service dept to ship up. I definitely wouldn't leave it in the hands of just the customer rep folks - in many cases, toys don't rank very high on their security/theft concerns.

Re: Action Figure Fraud: Is this a problem at your local stores???
 

Good point Napseeker.

Re: Action Figure Fraud: Is this a problem at your local stores???
 

I have seen this a few times before. Oddly enough only at Zellers. (so far) Once, I came across the Zellers exclusive Wedge with X-Wing and somone had replaced Wedge and his droid with a Saga Legends Luke X-wing pilot and Saga Legends R2-D2. Strange thing was a friend of mine actually bought that exact set for his son, he didn't have a clue until I told him the figures were the wrong ones.

Re: Action Figure Fraud: Is this a problem at your local stores???
 

I've heard tell the tales, but I don't think I've ever actually seen a repack in the wild.

Re: Action Figure Fraud: Is this a problem at your local stores???
 

It is starting to get ridiculous at my local WM. Today I found this in the Transformers section:

http://i839.photobucket.com/albums/z...u1/Mudflap.jpg

So basically someone replaced the new Transformers Generations deluxe Cybertronian Bumblebee with a ROTF deluxe Mudflap. Notice the Mudflap does not even fit in the bubble shell properly.

Re: Action Figure Fraud: Is this a problem at your local stores???
 

Re: Action Figure Fraud: Is this a problem at your local stores???
 

Man I hate people sometimes.

Re: Action Figure Fraud: Is this a problem at your local stores???
 

"They're the worst."

I can't believe that people actually pull this type of crap.

Re: Action Figure Fraud: Is this a problem at your local stores???
 

It's been years since I've seen this happen in stores, but it's been going on for years.

Re: Action Figure Fraud: Is this a problem at your local stores???
 

I've seen it, but in very limited numbers over the years. Maybe one or two times. It seems to be happening more in the GTA.

Re: Action Figure Fraud: Is this a problem at your local stores???
 

I think I've said this before... but report it, ask to speak to the manager if you see happen a second time, and they should have security camera footage of the person making the return. I know my local Zellers has a camera placed in their customer service section just for these kinds of "swaps". They can look at the footage and at least get an idea of what this person looks like for the next time and hopefully nail them for fraud.

Re: Action Figure Fraud: Is this a problem at your local stores???
 

A few months back there was the package, but no figure!! Someone opened it and took off the figure! How did they have time to do that?

Re: Action Figure Fraud: Is this a problem at your local stores???
 

I see this more then figure swaps.

Mostly on Marvel figires, but one time I found a empty Leader megs

Re: Action Figure Fraud: Is this a problem at your local stores???
 

Another big problem I find in stores is the BAF piece missing or stolen. It totally turns the collector away from buying it as we are also paying for the figure and the BAF piece.

I have seen a variant Booster Gold from the DCUC line with the package ripped opened without the BAF. I would have bought it if it was complete.

Re: Action Figure Fraud: Is this a problem at your local stores???
 

I see this all the time but strangely only with IM2 figures. And for some reason even after restocks they keep them on the shelves.

Re: Action Figure Fraud: Is this a problem at your local stores???
 

im assuming you see that at walmart. Walmart employees don't really care what happen, as long as they get their pay cheques in the end

Re: Action Figure Fraud: Is this a problem at your local stores???
 

You know, if you're gonna steal something, at least have the balls to steal something decent. Like an MP Grimlock or something. I really wish I could catch one of these repackers.

Re: Action Figure Fraud: Is this a problem at your local stores???
 

I literally tried to stake out the zellers near me in attempt to do just that. Problem is I think the person doing it was actually one of the employees. It was happening to much.

Re: Action Figure Fraud: Is this a problem at your local stores???
 

The catch with the out and out thrft is that stores budget for theft. If a build a whatever peice gets stolen they should mark the figure down and sell it none the less.

Too often they just leave it on the peg trying to sell it for regular price.

Re: Action Figure Fraud: Is this a problem at your local stores???
 

It happens in Ottawa all the time.

Re: Action Figure Fraud: Is this a problem at your local stores???
 

^ i see it all the time. Action Figures get stolen a lot. I also see open card packs around stores all the time

Re: Action Figure Fraud: Is this a problem at your local stores???
 

I have probably seen empty packages more then an actual figure swapped out.

Re: Action Figure Fraud: Is this a problem at your local stores???
 

Today I found these in the action figure section at my local WM:

http://i839.photobucket.com/albums/z...ofu1/GIJoe.jpg

http://i839.photobucket.com/albums/z...tofu1/Omac.jpg

http://i839.photobucket.com/albums/z...ofu1/Beast.jpg

Re: Action Figure Fraud: Is this a problem at your local stores???
 

Wow. Just wow. A $4 Cover Girl figure in place of a $10 Iron Man figure; a lot of work to save $6... now that is a cheapskate.

Re: Action Figure Fraud: Is this a problem at your local stores???
 

I just don't get this. I haven't seen it around here in person, but it just seems like a horrible thing for a person to do.

I can almost imagine parents or grandparents, ignorant of toys, finding the one with the right name on it, buying it for their child, only to have them terribly disappointed when they open it, breaking the parent/grandparent's heart.

Yes, I have an active and sad imagination.

Re: Action Figure Fraud: Is this a problem at your local stores???
 

I've seen some DCUC Batman figures replaced with either a Deadpool figure, or some other inferior toy.

Re: Action Figure Fraud: Is this a problem at your local stores???
 

i just don't get why customer service people can't see the package, and look to make sure the toy matches the character. All they have to do is flip over the package and look at the back.

Re: Action Figure Fraud: Is this a problem at your local stores???
 

I actually saw that one, and told a WalMart staffer about it.

Re: Action Figure Fraud: Is this a problem at your local stores???
 

Was this Deadpool figure the one from the ML 6 series?

What did the staff say about it or did with the figure?

Re: Action Figure Fraud: Is this a problem at your local stores???
 

They took it off the shelves.

Re: Action Figure Fraud: Is this a problem at your local stores???
 

I think it does increase the level of the security while returning/exchanging the item. Now the store requires to see some ID to be able to exchange. Before we can just do a straight exchange for the same kind, such as marvel universe ms. marvel to marvel universe hulk without a receipt.

Re: Action Figure Fraud: Is this a problem at your local stores???
 

A couple weeks back I found a Bludgeon in a Banzai-tron box at TRU. It was an obvious product switch as the Bludgeon one was open(tape was cut).

I alerted the proper authorities.