I saw a local story on television about a couple who bought a $500 PS3 for their son and when he opened it up for Christmas, all he found inside was a phone book. Now they're just hoping that the store would believe them and give them a new unit. I felt bad for the guy but just found it really funny considering I got a HDTV for Christmas. So how would you react if this happened to you?

Sound like retailer is re-packing the returned console without checking the content and then reselling it as new unit.

I think a mixture aus "oroooooo?" and "kusuoooooo!!" would describe my reaction the best.

That better be one kick ass phonebook.

for some reason, if it's supposed to be a wii, it'll become good publicity somehow.

but it's about the ps3, and somehow, it just doesn't sound good... since the ps3 is a pretty big lump of metal.

human perception work in funny ways.

Sounds really weird. From whom did he buy it?

Actually, here's some more detail: A mini-article

December 26th is really the time for memories of the day before (well, that and crazy crowds at the malls). Most of them are good, but sometimes there are memories just so strange and ridiculous that even the mainstream news covers them. In Camarillo, California, a 13-year old boy tore open a gift on Christmas morning to discover a brand new PS3. But instead of happily hooking up the machine and settling into a nice game of Skate, he opened the box to discover a phone book along with the usual cords and controller found inside. The boy was mostly amused, but the parents weren’t, since they’d paid about $400 for a box with a phone book. They apparently purchased it from an EB Games in a nearby mall, so they’ll be heading back there to return it as soon as they get the chance. Their best guess is an employee decided they wanted to swipe a PS3, though they’re going to have some trouble playing it without all the cords and such. You can watch the video report of the whole ordeal here.

That's what happens when some smartass steals a PS3 by returning a phone book inside the PS3 box he bought, gets his/her money back, and the store employees don't check if the box contains everything it should contain. The box then gets sold to another customer who is screwed unless he does the same thing (silently returning the phone book and getting the money back).

It's a pretty old trick, but it seems that stores still fall for it! Customers should always check the contents of the box when buying it. I mean inside the store, in front of the employee, it's the only way of being sure that you won't get screwed.

I think this was an inside job. I bet one of his friends did it. They knew what he was getting (maybe mom told the kid) and snuck in.....unwrapped (gingerly) the box, took the PS3 and guts, then replaced with his phone book to make it feel like a PS3. Most of us here probably have pretty decent skills at unwrapping gifts so no one is the wiser (we were all twelve once), so this probably wouldn't be that difficult. The tough part.....the kid that has to act surprised when he gets a phone book. Notice that he doesn't seem to concerned by it. Bad acting.