- 01Device boughtA phone, laptop, console or camera.
- 02Parts strippedValuable components like memory, drives, cameras or the screen are removed or swapped for broken ones.
- 03Returned as defectiveThe device is sent back as "won't turn on" or "faulty".
- 04Refund issuedThe return is approved as a warranty or defect case.
- 05Found at repairTechnicians find missing or swapped parts, and the unit can't be resold.
- !Defect returns on electronics shortly after delivery
- !Devices that won't power on, with signs of being opened
- !Internal parts or serial numbers that don't match the record
- !The same customer filing several "dead on arrival" returns
- !Heavier or lighter weight than the original unit
What is bricking?
Bricking is stripping the valuable parts out of an electronic device, or swapping them for broken ones, and returning it as defective. The name comes from the result: a device that’s now as useful as a brick.
The parts are often resold or used to repair the buyer’s own device, so the return funds the upgrade.
Who it hits
Consumer electronics: phones, laptops, gaming consoles, cameras, drones, and PC components like GPUs and RAM.
What it costs
The full refund, a unit that can’t be resold, plus diagnostic time. Because it looks like a genuine defect, it’s often processed under warranty with little scrutiny.
How to prevent it
Record serial numbers of key components at fulfilment, not just the device.
Use tamper-evident seals and check them on return.
Inspect high-value electronics returns before refunding.
Look at defect return history per person, across accounts.
FAQ
How is bricking different from a normal defect return?
A genuine defect is a fault in the original device. Bricking is a device that worked when it shipped and was deliberately stripped or damaged before coming back.
Can it be detected without opening every device?
Partly. Weight checks, broken seals, and a customer’s defect return history flag the ones worth opening.
How Pinch stops it
Return Abuse →
More terms
Fraud
Counterfeit returns
Keeping the genuine product and returning a convincing fake in its place.
Read the definition →
Fraud
Empty boxing
Returning an empty box, or one filled with worthless material, and claiming the refund.
Read the definition →
Fraud
Friendly fraud
Disputing a legitimate purchase with the card issuer to get money back while keeping the goods.
Read the definition →
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