This common trick could leave you empty-handed when buying new electronics

Brian Wysocki was left empty-handed after a big-ticket purchase: His wife gave him brand-new Apple AirPods as a gift. But the big shock came when he opened the box.

“To my surprise, all I received were instructions and a charger cord,” Wysocki said.

The manager on duty at the Walmart where Wysocki’s wife bought them told the couple they were out of luck.

“He said, ‘There’s nothing we can do for you, sir. The box has been opened. We don’t know if you took them. We no idea what happened. I can’t give you a refund or a replacement,'” Wysocki said.

A producer went to that same Walmart undercover and was told by an employee this type of activity is common.

The store even posted a sign on the register informing customers that all Apple devices will be opened prior to the sale.

Wysocki said the sign wasn’t there when his wife made her purchase and the box was never opened.

Read Hayes, with the Research Lab for Loss Prevention, wasn’t surprised to hear Wysocki’s story.

“You’re going to see the most desirable merchandise where it’s happening, and so now, you’re out of stock, which means the store has to eat the cost of that product and any future lost sales,” Hayes said. “That loss gets added to the cost of your next purchase or hits the stockholders, and they can’t pass that cost on to the manufacturer.”

According to a 2019 retail survey, theft and fraud cost the industry billions last year.

As for the $170 the Wysockis paid for their empty box, Walmart gave them a refund the day after our sister station got involved.

Walmart said in a statement:

"We take this issue seriously and have measures designed to help safeguard against these types of crimes. We address each case individually and encourage customers to reach out to the store at which they’ve purchased items to properly look into the situation and help make it right.”

The Wysockis’ tip to shoppers?

At any brick-and-mortar retailer, make sure you have what you bought before you leave, even if it means having the box opened in front of you.

Cox Media Group