Wal-Mart I bought an iPod and got a rock. Internet

The posting title reminds me of "It's The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown" when the kids are all trick or teating.  After a couple of houses, they would all saying what they got: "I got a candy bar, I got a popcorn ball, etc.."  All Charlie Brown had to say was "I got a rock." 

How many songs can be stored on a rock?

I believe the OP 100%.  When I was in college, I took a job as an inventory counter.  We were taking inventory at a large retail establishment when one of us came across a box that was supposed to contain a large stereo receiver ( yes, they were quite large back then ).  When it was picked up, it rattled.  Stereos should not rattle.  The box was sealed, just as all of the others were, so we called the manager to come and inspect it. 

Upon opening the box we discovered that under the Styrofoam packing blocks sat a pile of large rocks and other assorted pieces of junk. At the sight of this, we commenced opening all of the stereo equipment boxes.  We found several that were just like the first one  -  filled with bricks, rocks, junk and other trash, even though all boxes appeared to be factory sealed. 

Then we discovered the same thing in the kitchen appliances section.  Boxes that should have contained can openers, mixers, etc. instead contained bricks. Secretly, we were laughing our butts off each time the manager found another brick, not really realizing what it was costing this company.

It seems that whom ever had stolen the merchandise had simply used a tape gun to reseal the boxes after he/she opened them. Since many of these items were over a year old, there was no way to identify who had perpetrated the theft. 

Unfortunately for the store owner, but fortunately for the consumers, he had always foolishly piled new inventory on top of old, so no one, at least that we know of, ever walked out with a box of bricks.  But he was out several thousand dollars of merchandise for his lax security and ignoring the FIFO rule ( First In, First Out ) of inventory control. 

So, yes, I firmly believe that crimes such as this are still being perpetrated upon retailers, and ultimately upon consumers.

Walter needs to shut up and blow away, period.

Isn't he the guy who complained that Wal-Mart wouldn't return the Xbox that he didn't even buy from Wal-Mart to begin with? Sounds like Wal-Mart should post a Rip-off Report about you.

complaining about numerous businesses.

McDonalds and now Walmart come to mind.

Is this your favorite hobby, patronizing businesses, trying to cheat them or annoy them and then claiming YOU were mis-treated?

I think you're probably just a cranky old goat that likes to give people a hard time and then think you're superior by putting them in their place.....how close did I come?

Oh yes.  I've bought some things from Wal-Mart that crapped out unexpectedly.  I had no receipt, and the return policy wouldn't let me bring them back.  So I've gone and bought a new one, either put the old item in the box or some junk and used the new receipt to return it.  I'm good at making the box look as if it has never been opened, and they just take the item back and give me my money.  This is their fault, and they owe you.  They shouldn't sell junk, and the manufacturer should stand behind their product, but they don't, so things happen.  I always wondered what happens with people that wind up buying my restocked returns.  Better thee, than me, goes the old saying.  Get with the game and play it yourself to start saving.  Wal-Mart needs to pay.

I'm going to assume you're on the level. So going with that as a given, file a police report.

Either someone at Apple or whatever Walmart facilities ever handled that box, stole the item and replaced it with a stone probably weighing about the same. For warehouse workers or packers, replacing shrink wrap is no big deal.

Unfortunately, short of opening such a package before leaving a store, nobody has much protection against this.

The box ought to have the serial number of the stolen item. Not all electronics do, but I'm assuming Ipods do. If so, Walmart certainly has a record, at least on a regional or corporate level, of the serial numbers it was sent from Apple.

I'm not sure if you should first give the store, or Walmart's regional offices, another chance to make you whole before going to the cops. Maybe others here can advise whether that would backfire.

If you've already handled the rock, put it back in the package, put the package in a bag, and don't touch anymore if you can. Insist it and the box, inside and out, be dusted for fingerprints other than yours.