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Yeah, seriously...

let me be clear: i don't think it's wrong if you tell them that the item you're exchanging was not purchased there and they still agree to process the exchange. that is something else entirely.

I have often thought about doing this, but chickened out. I mostly do my shopping at CH anyway so DVDs are normally only about 5 bucks a piece anyways.

Not to play the devil's advocate here but what if they don't ask if you bought it there?

I agree there is something unethical about lying and saying you got something at a place when you didn't but anytime I have ever exchanged anything, especially lately, the process is so fast an automated that I don't believe they honestly care nor have they ever asked.

As long as you are not misrepresenting the item you purchased and they do not specifically have a policy against it or ask you and receive a dishonest answer in return, I can't fathom anything being remotely wrong with this.

i would argue that by attempting to return an item to a store where it was not purchased, you are "misrepresenting the item." i just quickly did a search for return policies of major retailers and every one begins with something like the following: "You may return merchandise purchased at [insert store name] if it meets the following guidelines..."

What about buying a dvd with a slipcover, and you make sure the one you are buying has the price on both the dvd and the slipcover. Then keeping the slipcover and returning the movie. In essence, getting the slipcover for a movie you have without the slipcover. I don't see how the store is losing money, since it was their merchandise, and there were dvd's on the shelves with and without slipcovers. I often swap dvd's and slipcovers anyway to make sure I get a copy that is as mint as possible. I hate peeling those sealed stickers on the top of the dvd and ruining the artwork because it was sticking out from under the plastic.

The thread starter definitely needs to be banned. This is the stupidest thread I've ever seen. What are you, a 12 year old?

die thread! die!

Slipcovers are an incentive. More people will purchase a DVD if it has a slipcover. It's why they make them.

So "stealing" the slipcover is obviously wrong. It deprives the retailer of an increased opportunity to actually sell the product.

I disagree. Not only do I not think they are incentive for most people (us collectors being the exception but I dont have a single friend that cares about them) but I think they were first created as an extra theft deterrent. I remember a friend that worked retail explaining the process of how people steal by tearing of the wrapping and a whole process and surprisingly, these covers are just an extra step to make it harder.

It makes sense since most companies stop manufacturing the slipcases after they are no longer a "new release" and thus not as in demand.

Kind of what I was thinking.

This tag switching...Yeah, I gotta say the THOUGHT has occurred to me in the past...when I was younger, much younger, and ONLY as a joke idea. Nothing I ever would have seen through.

I guess I shouldn't be surprised that there are people who also got the same idea and pulled it off, but really...are any mature adults out there doing this? If you have money issues that severe that you have to cheat a store in to selling you a DVD that costs a few more dollars for less then you have serious issues that should be resolved before you consider buying DVDs at all.

Wal Mart was my first job experience, and that was when pterodactyls ruled the skies, so I can't really speak for their security measures today, but I know back when I worked for them they were on the cashier's asses to make sure that customers were doing the type of thing the OP suggested, among other tricks we were advised customers would pull to get merchandise out of the store unpaid for.

So I guess my point is I am sure they certainly have measures in place to prevent this from happening at the self check out. I am not sure what...and I am not going to be applying for a job there any time soon to find out...but it boggles my mind how much work and effort people will exert just to "save" a few dollars on something like a DVD or some other crappy merchandise. Maybe it's more of a psychological thing that they "got one over" on the store, a rush or something.

I disagree also...if I want a DVD, I don't stop to think could it have a slip cover at another store? I will just pick it up. It's not a big deal to me. But if I do get a DVD with a slip cover, I want it to be in good condition, and not damaged when I take the stickers off. But most of the time I actually find them annoying. They are nice when they are on the DVD and you can keep it in good condition, but it's not something that would make me pass a DVD up if it didn't have a slip cover.

I think most of the time it is psychological. Look at Winona Ryder. Does anybody think she was really trying to save a buck? She had the money. These chronic thieves have a sickness.

Obviously some people do it to try to save a buck...but the people that do it constantly have some sort of compulsive disorder.

With me, I get a rush from finding something on sale at a ridiculous price.

Wow, some of you guys are rude. I was definately not doing these crimes. I just made one to see WHO did these, although I'm sure nobody will come out admitting it. I was curious because the thought occured to me waaaay after people even did this and no, I'm obviously not an adult if you're wondering. I'm just a curious person who isn't as old as adults but aren't as young as children trying to find out what was bothering me. Rude people, really. And you guys call yourselves mature. Ignorant pricks.

The sad thing is, I remember somebody positing this exact same question a long time ago. He actually did it though and was looking for support for how clever he was. Numbnuts.


We weren't.

I don't think anybody can take you seriously when you asked if this was a legal thing to do.

<i>Mod note: As people have stated this basic premise of this thread is pushing the limit of what is allowed on the forum. Trading slip covers to get rip off a store is definitely illegal. Additionally the general demeanor of the thread is not what we like to encourage here on DVDtalk. Again feel free to disagree w/ each other but leave the personal comments out of it.</i>