Return and burn: Fake 'PS2' systems retailers took for real

I think you guys are missing the point of the scam. It isn't a person returning a big block of wood and saying it's a PS2; it's a person putting that block of wood into a PS2 box and returning that box. It only needs to be good enough to get the weight correct and to fool someone looking through the hole in the box for the bar code. Entirely plausible.

I hope this story has a happy ending, and Sony didn't pay the dumb stores a penny.

i can see people putting these through as returns, considering more than just gamestop sells ps2's. people at target/wal-mart/circuit city/best buy/etc process returns of all kinds of merch. and since they probably get paid the least in the whole store, they just do it quick. check the window in the box if there's a ps2 (or something that passes for one) and a serial number sticker. then, open the top real quick to see if there's a controller or wires (if they take that step), hand out a refund and next customer please without really checking the system itself. that's the beauty/downfall of no hassle returns. that's how i replaced my DRE ps2.
it takes a gamer themselves on the other side of the counter to want to check the system (since that's probably the only thing they're interested in that the store carries). i denied a return for a ps2 after checking the grill and seeing all the dust and filth collected in the system and scratches on the top to say it wasn't the console that was purchased only a week ago.

Acctually.... one of those isn't a fake PS2.

It's one that had a Flip Top mod installed (The door on the top of it) that defeats the door eject region/copy protection check. By using a swap disk, you can play backed up/imported video games.

I installed one a long time ago on a PS2 I had. Of cource it's dead due to the laser burning out twice (replaced it once myself and it worked for like 3 months before it died again)

Wal Mart.

You can return anything to Wal Mart for cash. Half-eaten food even.

Doesn't beat a N64 box with a brick in it.





No, I'm not joking.

I was thinking of buying a new 60 gig 360 and then putting my old 20 gig model in the box and returning it, but I thought that they store would be too smart for that. maybe not.

I wouldn't do that though because it's wrong.

The Sony warehouse keeps track of the serial# of the systems (PS2/PS3) that ship to whichever vendor. So if you buy a PS3 at Wal-Mart and return it to Target ... Sony knows and can deny the credit to the store - saying that we never sent you PS3 #1234567. People will often try and 'doctor' the barcode serial# tags by pulling off the barcode off of one system and putting it on another. These tricks may get past the store - but Sony goes over returns with a fine-toothed comb and these tricks are very easy to catch.

I won't lie...I so wanted to do this as a kid...

And today Sony announces further cutbacks,,,

This is an old trick. I worked at an electronics store in the late 80's and people tried it with VCR's and camcorders back then. They would even go so far as to tape it back up and try to pass it off as unopened. It was awesome to see the look on their faces when you would go to open the box.

I am sure most of these are returned places that don't check the boxes. the wood one obviously worked to make it to Sony they pulled or copied the serial number info so it would show through the little window on the box. This happened a little while back with a 360 and a telephone book.

I think the one with the Z on top is just a flip top lid mod a real system but one that the warrenty would most certainly be void on.

someone has a lot of time on their hands.

I hadn't realized how little it takes to return something at Wal-mart until I had to return a Lepster game that I bought fully sealed, but found it had no game cartridge inside. I thought they might not take it back, considering how hard it is to prove that there was nothing inside. But they accepted it, even though I had forgot to bring my receipt. The only caveat was that I had to get the refund on a Wal-mart gift card, instead of cash.
After that, I realized why the Wal-marts in lower economic neighborhoods always have a huge line of people at returns!

i already started my wooden 360.

This gives me a good idea.


*sends a xbox360 shell case to wal-mart"

Register guy: Why this so lite.
Me: I dunno
Register guy: oh well give back there and get you another one.
Me: Thanks!

Heh, I work at Best Buy in Houston, Texas. I personally have seen 2 of these tried to be returned with in our district, one was returned and one was not. Bizarre how someone could go to this extent and actually get away with it.

i think just by looking at the picture i can see it is made of wood. i can see the ridge details. I guess if your going to buy a PS2 be carefull.