I may have found a new low today. I opened a new tube of WS just plug LEDs. Noticed something odd and it took me a few moments to figure it out. Somebody cut the LEDs off the cables, put the cables back in the tube and either put the package back or more likely returned it for a refund. Theft, plain and simple. I was out only a couple of dollars as they were on clearance.
This is a hobby. No matter how passionate or serious we are about it, most of us find it relaxing, enjoyable and get satisfaction from it. Get right down to it, it could be considered play. Sadly the person who did this, did not steal for food, to pay the electric bill, to buy medicine for little Billy, or even for a drug habit. No, basically he stole a toy.
And the rub of it is…he probably had a great day, too.
'Bout all we can feel good about when we look at the circumstances is that you’re not of that person’s ilk and know better. He/she may not know better, but my bet is they are very much aware he/she is a thief…and a fraud.
I would still report it to Walthers. It’s the ethical thing to do because it is a civic duty to ensure your fellow citizens are aware of potential hazards, including becoming victims themselves. I would call, tell them of my experience, and urge them to amend their policies if they don’t reflect that returns should ALL be inspected, and signed to that effect by the person carrying out the inspection. This way, Walthers gets to either counsel the offending employee or fire that person, and it reduces the risk that someone else, or you, will experience this ‘shrinkage’ in the future.
He should return the merchandise to wherever he got it, asking for a replacement. With luck, it was a small shop and the owner might remember the return.
This has happened to me, but not with MR products. I purchased some specialty LED household bulbs at one of the big box hardware/lumber stores. It turned out someone had swapped the LEDs (expensive back then) for similar looking incandescent bulbs. I got my money back, and the clerk said they see this kind of thing regularly. These bulbs were packed in an easy-open box; for once it made me appreciate those impossible-to-open-without-destroying-it plastic packages, which I normally do not like.
Over the years I 've told by hobby shop owners that their biggest theft problems was KD coupers,detail parts,decals and the parts bag from Athearn BB cars and locomotives.
In short nothing new to see here since its been a on going problem for years.
There is a You-Tube video where they have a guy ride a bike up to a store or McDonalds and leave the bike unlocked while they go inside. They wait for someone to take it and then confront the person. It is unbelievable that some people think that because the bike isn’t locked it is free for the taking.
There is no such thing as being a little bit pregnant and there is no such thing as being a little bit honest.
I have seenone where there is a sleeping guy or passed out guy on a park bench with his iphone on teh bench beside him. People would sneak up and steal the phone which has a remote control shock mechnism like a taser in it. They let go of the phone quick.
People used to take DVD players out of the box, stick a brick in it and seal it back up a return it to Walmart.
There are all kinds out there. but to cut a few cents worth of LED off is strange.
Local hobby shop had a problem with Herpa and other highway trucks disappearing. They took measures and eventually caught the guy, who was a regular customer but who didn’t feel he needed to pay for trucks, I guess. They banned him from the store and held the video for police in case another truck ever turned up missing. Then they talked to the two other shops in the area … kind of ended the guy’s hobby for him.
Yes, it’s a hobby. Why some commit crimes to enjoy it is sad. The cost LHS face is proably a contributing reason some close. We have seen others steal questionable things and wonder what’s wrong with humanity.