Toy-swapping reaches Oz

[SilverDragon]

The insidious practice of toy swapping (http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Toy_swapping) has so far seemed to be limited to the US.

However, look at what I found in Target Macquarie Centre today.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y57/Dinoman42/Toy%20shots/P4140048.jpg

Granted, it's not as bad as some examples mentioned on the TFwiki pages (three tomatoes? seriously?), but you do have to wonder how this went un-noticed.

[christalcase]

do you think that someone actually brought the original bumblebee and soundwave, went home and then refunded it? or that the person changed it inside the store? I would think it's pretty weird that the person would be able to refund it AND that target placed it back out on sale when there is some terrible box wear already... and as you said, it is actually quite obvious, I mean, products and colours may vary, but I would think varying this much would be a bit too... far? but then again, changing it in store is pretty risky too, there's staff going all over the store these days

[Vector Prime]

I think this may have actually been done in store since from recollection, the Wheelie/Sideways box set was on special for a very cheap price at Target recently whereas Bumblebee/Soundwave was not.

I reckon some sneaky bastard's decided to swap the toys around so that when it came to checkout time, the price scanned up as the cheaper Wheelie/Sideways pack but they managed to score Bumblebee/Soundwave instead.

Okay, so who was it? Fess up!

(this obviously rules out the MISB and MIB collectors on the forum :D)

[optimus1]

:mad:

Macq Centre is one of the main places I look for Transformers, I'll be on the lookout for these. Hopefully these stupid people get caught out :mad:

[5FDP]

Maybe it's some kind of weird variant :p

[Sky Shadow]

Why would someone do something so amoral and risky for toys? More to the point, why would anyone do it for ROTF toys?

My faith in humanity diminishes daily.

[langzixinxin]

Maybe it's some kind of weird variant :p

+1

I hardly think someone can do this in a fast way. They gotta undo and redo bindings for 4 figures. And for 10 dollar saving?:eek:

[Vector Prime]

I hardly think someone can do this in a fast way. They gotta undo and redo bindings for 4 figures. And for 10 dollar saving?:eek:

What binding? The box is the same size... all they have to do (and it looks like it's what they did) is open the box on the side, slide the cardboard backing tray with the figures still attached and switch them around.

As for the saving amount, well some people get a thrill from doing stuff like this, so often it's not about the dollar value, more so to do with the adrenaline rush

[liegeprime]

Why would someone do something so amoral and risky for toys? More to the point, why would anyone do it for ROTF toys?

My faith in humanity diminishes daily.

Time to change species :p;)

[Deceptic_Optic]

Time to change species :p;)

who said i was human?....:confused:

[Sutton]

Yeah, the Kmart where I live will resell returned items a lot. It's pretty shit.

At the moment there's a deluxe Ratchet hanging around that's clearly been bought and played with - what possible excuse could you have for bringing it back besides if it's broken?

[griffin]

I think returns of opened product should only be for faulty items (which they are legally obliged to give a refund for), and if that is the reason for return, they shouldn't be re-shelving the item hoping to sell it to someone else.

[Sutton]

I think returns of opened product should only be for faulty items (which they are legally obliged to give a refund for), and if that is the reason for return, they shouldn't be re-shelving the item hoping to sell it to someone else.

Exactly. And if I was a kid and got that Ratchet as a birthday present, I'd be pretty upset knowing some other kid had already played with it before their deadbeat parents realised they'd run out of smokes and made them bring it back for a refund.

[SofaMan]

I think this may have actually been done in store since from recollection, the Wheelie/Sideways box set was on special for a very cheap price at Target recently whereas Bumblebee/Soundwave was not.

I reckon some sneaky bastard's decided to swap the toys around so that when it came to checkout time, the price scanned up as the cheaper Wheelie/Sideways pack but they managed to score Bumblebee/Soundwave instead.[/I]

+1

[SMHFConvoy]

but then again, changing it in store is pretty risky too, there's staff going all over the store these days

Yeah because staff are always so vigilant :rolleyes:

Sorry that was rude. To be honest with staffing cuts... Staff can't be everywhere. Stuff like this is going to happen, especially if the department you're in is manned by two people and they're both busy with customers.

[Handsprime]

I'm gonna bring this post back up since there has been a worse case of Toy Swapping in Australia, behold:

http://41.media.tumblr.com/d2137b7824fbe2a01b4454cae74dfd13/tumblr_npaml0GY8i1roirsjo1_1280.jpg

The fact it's a cheaper toy, badly beaten, and stuffed in badly beaten packaging makes me really mad :mad: imagine someone who wanted Stinger and saw this? I hope whoever did this ends up either Breaking or losing his Stinger.

[UltraMarginal]

that really ticks me off! I have no words to describe how angry that makes me. :mad:

[CBratron]

Is that even a whole Bumblebee?

[UltimateGalvatron]

Is that even a whole Bumblebee?

No its only the back car kibble. So infuriating...

[Handsprime]

Is that even a whole Bumblebee?

Nope, I looked at it and it was missing a few parts.

[CBratron]

I suspected it was just a shell but I've never owned any of the movie toys so I couldn't know for sure.

[Bladestorm]

what on earth!

How do people get away with doing that?
Guess I've been out of the country too long... I never knew people stooped so low.

[Lint]

How do people get away with doing that?


The fact that that monstrosity was repegged just baffles me. I don't know who I dislike more, the toy swappers or the merchant that declares that "some fool will totally buy this" by putting back spoiled merchandise on the shelf and selling it at full price.

[Firestorm]

Had a run in with toy swapping at the Big W in the Melbourne CBD, where I found this unfortunate repackaging. Good luck building a giant robot http://i61.tinypic.com/2ms0mxs.jpg

[Megatran]

Had a run in with toy swapping at the Big W in the Melbourne CBD, where I found this unfortunate repackaging. Good luck building a giant robot
Anyone trying to build Menasor will come to a Dead End. :p

[ChlorHex]

This has got to stop... That's just wrong.

[philby]

This has got to stop... That's just wrong.

I know, that was a horrible pun, really bombed out.

[Bidoofdude]

They didn't take the comic or the card. Weird. The reason this stuff gets through is probably because there'd really be less of a fuss if they just accepted this. I'd say they don't care enough with such a pay to make a drama out of it.

[Megatran]

I know, that was a horrible pun, really bombed out.
Hehehehehehehe. ;)

[Krayt]

Had a run in with toy swapping at the Big W in the Melbourne CBD, where I found this unfortunate repackaging. Good luck building a giant robot http://i61.tinypic.com/2ms0mxs.jpg

this was still on the shelf today

[ampoldj]

Well what I saw overseas was worst than this where a TRU MP Thundercracker was swapped with a Rat Trap (crap i already deleted that pic ages ago)

not sure what Rat Trap it was since i am no Beast Wars guy though :confused:

[Raider]

this was still on the shelf today

I see this and all I think is "Why can't be Big W stock anything decent ever..." :p

[Bladestorm]

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3692/20093010060_2e0b68dd2d_z.jpg
Saw this in target in parramatta yesterday... Horrifying. Even more so when my son said in front of a staff member it was wrong and he didn't even care!

[DELTAprime]

When I go into work tomorrow I'm going to let my supervisor know that this is happening in increasing volume. Last thing I want is seeing this happening in my store.

[BruiseLee]

Terrible. By the way the one that Firestorm found in post 24 was still sitting on the peg as of a couple of weeks back. Couldn't find a sales rep nearby.

[Bidoofdude]

Had a run in with toy swapping at the Big W in the Melbourne CBD, where I found this unfortunate repackaging. Good luck building a giant robot

Was gonna post that. Has it moved? Was considering telling staff but they probably wouldn't care.

[CHILENO20]

Had a run in with toy swapping at the Big W in the Melbourne CBD, where I found this unfortunate repackaging. Good luck building a giant robot http://i61.tinypic.com/2ms0mxs.jpg

Golden Phoenix, Demonac, Paulbot & myself can confirm that was still there at the last meet :D

[5FDP]

How stupid are the stores though for accepting these as returns. Most are clearly obvious going by the packaging artwork and the way they're stuffed inside.

[Jinto]

It does seem a bit bizarre that people would take that risk. I returned an item to Toys-R-Us just last week (I promise it was the real item!) and had to show my drivers license and sign a return docket.

Must be some sloppy returns practices at these stores.

[Firestorm]

Golden Phoenix, Demonac, Paulbot & myself can confirm that was still there at the last meet :D

Was still there yesterday too

[Lint]

Was still there yesterday too

There's probably a lurker out there who's getting their kicks out of our reactions

[sideswipes brother]

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3692/20093010060_2e0b68dd2d_z.jpg
Saw this in target in parramatta yesterday... Horrifying. Even more so when my son said in front of a staff member it was wrong and he didn't even care!

How can you be in Parramatta when your location is Hong Kong??:p

[GoktimusPrime]

How can you be in Parramatta when your location is Hong Kong??:p
Cos there's more to her than meets the eye. :p

[BruiseLee]

Cos there's more to her than meets the eye. :p

I sure hope you didn't try that as a pick up line in your younger days :p

[Zommael]

I hope I never see an example of this, but if I do I will be reporting it to the store and not leaving until it's been dealt with. No kid should have to go through the upset of getting a toy they really want only to find it's not what they wanted at all.

[Bladestorm]

How can you be in Parramatta when your location is Hong Kong??:p

Gok: you crack me up! Love it!

Simple answer: i'm over visiting the in-laws while my sprogs are on holidays. Don't worry ... I'll be back in the "city that never sleeps even in this summer heat" by the end of next week.

If anyone is meeting up at the gathering in parramatta tomorrow we can go see if that monstrosity is still on the shelves. I'd never seen anything like that... Toy swapping doesn't happen in Hong Kong that I have seen.