Child's MP3 Gift Preloaded With Porn

KCTV5 ^ | December 27, 2007

[Tai_Chung]

The family of a 10-year-old girl who received an MP3 video player for Christmas was shocked when it found the player was loaded with explicit songs and pornographic movie clips.

Cookeville resident Daryl Hill said his daughter was thrilled to find that Santa had left an MP3 player under the tree -- until she turned it on.

"Within 10 minutes, my daughter was crying," Hill told Nashville, Tenn., TV station WSMV.

There were video clips of XXX-rated sex scenes and the pornography on the player.

"I wish I could take the thoughts and images out of her head," said Hill.

The Hills had bought three MP3 players for their children that came from a Wal-Mart store in Sparta, Tenn. It turns out one of the MP3 players had been returned to the store from a previous owner who loaded sex clips, graphic war scenes and lyrics about using drugs.

The Hills want to know why Wal-Mart would sell used merchandise as new in the first place, which is in violation of its own policies.

"If they want to be a major retailer, they need to act like it," said Hill.

The manager at the Sparta Wal-Mart declined comment on the matter and referred WSMV to Wal-Mart's corporate office.

A Wal-Mart representative e-mailed WSMV confirming that stores are not supposed to return opened packages to the sales floor. They said they are working to get to the bottom of the problem.

The Hills said they have declined Wal-Mart's offer to replace the MP3 player. They've already bought their daughter a new one and are hanging onto the controversial one until they talk to a lawyer.

[Albion Wilde]

I'd like to point out that the sanitized article above is too politically correct. The images shown to the 12-year-old girl were of 5 men in a raunchy group session, according to the item at the link provided by IronKros at post 24.

This goes far beyond simple nudie shots of women. Shocking images are impossible to erase from human memory, and I don't blame the parents one bit for being upset. The child should have counseling, and the store policy should be upgraded. It usually takes a smartin' amount of damages to make that happen.

[MrB]

It turns out one of the MP3 players had been returned to the store from a previous owner who loaded sex clips, graphic war scenes and lyrics about using drugs.

Just your average MoonBat.orger, or DU or KOS poster...

[Caipirabob]

Uhm, when I bought my children $20 media players, I personally charged, tested, cleaned and loaded each one to ensure they had a functional gift. They were able to open their gift bag and play their favorite videos immediately. There was previous content from the MFGR but only non-offensive demo material.

I just think there's a certain amount of common sense applicable when giving a gift that could potentially fail.

Also, don't they have to charge those players for quite some time? This story "smells" funny...

My kids loved the media players. 1" video screen and a 10 video capacity keeps them very entertained.

[theDentist]

Agreed, and I expected there was a bit more to the “images” than stated.

[IronKros]

The zune comes with music, videos and images pre-loaded.
Though there was nothing I liked on there.

[OCCASparky]

I doubt that they’d repack anything- they have enough clout that they can make the vendors take the items back for full credit. Why pay your own people to do it if you can stick it to your supplier?

Because even that costs time and money.

[Dr.Zoidberg]

I don’t know how lawyers even interview these people without pointing their finger at them and bursting into loud laughter

Because many, if not most, shysters don't see people or right and wrong. They see $$$$$ and in the end that's all that matters.

[ßuddaßudd]

Refurbished is the new term I believe.

[IronKros]

Just to clarify. The link I posted was from a very similar story which happened last christmas.

[Wolfie]

Hey, at least it was cheap.

[brooklin]

Wal-Mart does sell opened, or pre-sold merchandise. They tried to hit me with a home theater system that had been either opened bfere, or packaged by a group of monkeys.
The box was taped together, should have been a dead give away.

[org.whodat]

It turns out one of the MP3 players had been returned to the store from a previous owner who loaded sex clips, graphic war scenes and lyrics about using drugs.

Either the writer has proof are he made this part up?

[logic]

I doubt that they’d repack anything- they have enough clout that they can make the vendors take the items back for full credit. Why pay your own people to do it if you can stick it to your supplier?

My wife works at Walmart so she can elaborate, but my understanding is that at the return desk they are supposed to sort between broken and just not wanted, broken gets returned to the mfr for credit, not wanted (or doesn't fit etc.) goes back to the shelves. They are supposed to verify nothing is missing etc. but like pointed out before, for $7.00/hr how careful do you think they really are?

[discostu]

Yes and no. Part of the delivery of retail good process means empty trucks, you can easily ship stuff back up the delivery food chain in the empty trucks. Small electronics packaging is specifically designed to make it obvious if it was ever opened, if they put such an item on the shelf the purchaser had to notice, especially since he bought multiples of the same item.

[driftdiver]

“HONESTY......and RESPONSIBILITY!”

That would be nice. I’m sure the $7/hr person did exactly what they were told and probably pretty well. Evidently they couldn’t tell the item had been returned.

Things like this happen because the management makes it happen. Walmart may have a public version of the policy but I’m guessing they have a internal version as well. Just like they did for non-paid overtime and locking employees in.

[Wolfie]

Look on the bright side. We’ve found a situation where FReepers will bag on Wal-Mart AND cheer on the trial attorneys. It’s a Festivus Miracle!

[logic]

Mom responds: "It's kinda like your father's...only much bigger."

Ohhhhh, that's bad!!

[Slings and Arrows]

[Slapshot68]

“Wal-Mart does sell opened, or pre-sold merchandise. They tried to hit me with a home theater system that had been either opened bfere, or packaged by a group of monkeys.
The box was taped together, should have been a dead give away.”

And obviously there is no problem if it’s labeled as such. My local Circuit City, for example, has a table right when you walk into the store that sells returned, opened or displayed merchandise for a discount.

[mkjessup]

How much should the coming lawsuit cost Walmart?

How much *should* it cost, or how much WILL it cost?

Let's see here, purely technical issues, selling used or returned merchandise as "new", misrepresentation, ok - that's one side of the issue.

Distribution of, and exposing a minor (or minors) to, pornographic images (violation of state and federal laws), corruption of said minor(s), lost innocence and violation of trust, trauma, emotional scarring, ohhhhh you can bet it's going to cost Wal-Mart a whole bunch of $$$ and I predict there will be more than a few firings at some level before it's all over.

The lawyer who ends up representing the Hills is likely to be catapulted to instant fame and fortune, just like his clients.