EB Demands Payment From Victim of Theft

blincoln writes "ABC Action News is reporting that a Florida Electronics Boutique bought stolen games and gaming hardware, and made a profit on selling them back to their rightful owner, refusing to return the merchandise unless she paid them. From the article: 'EB Games still insists it will not refund Michelle's money. If she wants her money back, the company said, she can go through the legal system and get restitution from the thief.' In addition, EB appears to be violating the law by re-selling used merchandise without holding it for the required number of days. I was under the impression that purchasers of stolen merchandise could expect it to be seized by the police (who would return it to the owner) and not recover any of the money they spent buying it unless they took action against the thief. Is that not the case in Florida?"

Well,

[LittleLebowskiUrbanA]

time to go hock my neighbor's jewelry at EB!

I have only one thing to say...

[ChaosMog]

In Soviet Russia, stolen goods sell YOU!

Me too!

[Anonymous Coward]

My mountain bike was stolen out of my garage, and it didn't turn up after we filed a police report... so I spent $500 on a new bike. Then, it turned out that "Pawn X Change" had my original bike for sale. They are required to report all serial numbers to Seattle Police Dept, but when they reported the number on my bike, the "accidentally" misread it to the police.

A police investigator doing a random pawn shop round recognized the bike based on the description on the police report. We went to the Pawn X Change and got it back, and told then how disgusted we were that they would intentinally transpose the serial number. About 6 months later, my friends and I made good use of a "5-dozen value pak" of eggs.... Oh, the feeling of satisfaction was superb!

Where else?

[boola-boola]

It's Florida... Remember the 2000 election? "Home of the chads!" What more can I say? ...only in Florida ;)

I for one will be boycotting EB Games until she gets her money back. Their games are overpriced anyways, and usually a lot cheaper at Best Buy, where they don't make a profit on consumer media (they are a staple product used to lure the customers in to buy things like computers and washing machines)

Re:issue?

[dubiousmike]

"I was under the impression that purchasers of stolen merchandise could expect it to be seized by the police (who would return it to the owner) and not recover any of the money they spent buying it unless they took action against the thief. Is that not the case in Florida?"

They voted on it and are in the middle of their third recount...

Re:EB isn't exempt from state laws...

[NormalVisual]

Yeah, most sole-props have an "Investor Relations" link on their website. Dumbass.

EB is NOT making a profit!

[Anonymous Coward]

They're simply charging their customary 15% re-robbing fee.

Re:issue?

[WhiteWolf666]

I feel your pain.

To be honest, I feel like the 'us poor scmucks' need to start investing in our own security ;-)

Less insurance payments, more car alarms+electrostatic armor plating *evil grin*

Police won't catch the crooks? My ShockMaster 2000 will fry them dead :)

Re:This story is OLD!

[Anonymous Coward]

I thought that this forum was for topical subjects?

You must be new here. Welcome to Slashdot!

Re:Me too!

[InfiniteWisdom]

About 6 months later, my friends and I made good use of a "5-dozen value pak" of eggs...
I hope they were eggs that you bought fresh right after the incident and made good use of after they've been sitting in a warm and humid place for 6 months!

I wish I was an EB customer...

[Suicide Clown]

just so I could tell them I was taking my business elsewhere.

Receiving stolen goods criminal offense

[Anonymous Coward]

at least in my home state of Pennsylvania. The store manager, were he doing business here, might very well have needed to raise bail to get out of pound ass hotel.

Re:I won't be shopping at EB, will you?

[Anonymous Coward]

I prefer to get my stolen goods from a guy I know that sells them from the back of his pickup. Cheaper prices.

Re:issue?

[Guppy06]

"But when the one of the "let's cut taxes!" brand of conservative suddenly finds not enough cops to track down the guy who burgled his house"

Typically, conservatives are more likely to shoot the guy who tried burgling his house.

Re:issue?

[TroyFoley]

Seems like a good time to be a crook or an insurance company.

"In the dictionary, under redundant, it says 'See redundant.'" - Robin Williams

Re:Gee, what a surprise.

[shadowcabbit]

When Diablo 2 was hot, EB near where I live had plenty of used copies in just the jewel case, shrink wrapped, with the product key showing. Nice way to jot down and get a legit code for playing a bootleg copy online. I couldn't believe EB was so stupid.

When I worked there, I caught on to that pretty quick and started double-shrinking stuff with "conveniently" placed price tags. My manager complained until I told him why I did it. He still wasn't happy about it until, on my recommendation, he bought a used game (Starcraft) that had been sitting there exposed for about a week and found he couldn't play online because the code was in use. He liked it after that. I did this primarily on the games I liked; some which I thought deserved to be stolen I just left. Who the hell is still buying those damned Deer Hunter games, anyway?

Yes, BATHroom

[shadowcabbit]

Depending on the size of the store, yeah, it can be. During the 'Cube/XBox launch, we had stacks of all three machines in the bathroom piled to the ceiling. This is because our store was about the size of your average hotel room, backroom included.

Re:I won't be shopping at EB, will you?

[Anonymous Coward]

Of course I will keep shopping at EB. Now I know where I can unload all of my stolen video games.

Seriously, I think what EB did is bad not only because one consumer got cheated, but because everyone is cheated when theft is uncheck. This causes higher prices (for the consumer), lower profit (for the honest retailer)and a lower quality of video games (because no one wants to make a product that is easy to steal and resell).

Re:issue?

[CritterNYC]

Problem: if you have a gun and the thief is unarmed you are the one they send to pound me in the ass prison. Even if they are armed you have to be SURE they are going to physically hurt you or your family or you are required to just watch them walk off with your shit. Touch them and you get charged with assault. Set traps and that is a another whole world of shit altogether. And lets not forget YOU are held liable if the thieves steal your gun and then use it in a crime.
IANAL, and laws do vary from state to state and country to country, but, in general, you can be sure you are in the clear by yelling the following immediately prior to shooting: IT'S COMING RIGHT FOR US!!

Re:Boycott

[geminidomino]

I suggested that I would stop spending the $200.00+ that I spend with EB every year if they don't rectify the problem.

Crap, I gotta get a life... I pay that much almost every MONTH between EB/Gamestop.