On this I must respectfully disagree. While I did not end up with the Lion-O toy in question, I have a 5 year old son and 75 year old mother who likes to shop for him. What's to say he doesn't end up with a Corp figure in a Skystriker jet sometime? Then that would leave me having to either explain to him that he was ripped off and possible face tears, or go along with it and pretend it's the right toy. I would probably do the latter.
Here's the thing: would he know the difference? Sure, you know it because you are savvy and aware about toys, but would child receiving the item truly care, or would they just be happy they got a figure to play with the vehicle? They do take their cues from the parent.
There's a third option if there's an upset--you can return the item and get the genuine article. Therein you still have control.
A possible fourth option is to not buy toys at a large retailer, because boutique retailers ( such as local comic shops and collectible stores) tend to be much more aware about their stock and what its supposed to be.
Most people, like 75 yr old grandmas, are not toy savvy--like most kids--so really......as the retailers see it, as long as the toy appears to be "intact", its considered sellable. Again, caveat emptor applies here, as it does in EVERY purchase transaction. That is why the toy was put back on the shelves in the first place, and will LIKELY go back on the shelves again even though you may point out that its been swapped.
It irks you and me, but that is the practical truth of it. I don't like swaps any more than the next collector, but there's really not much that can be done about it.
When I see swaps, I just make note of it in my head that there's a swapper working in the area. There's no point in my taking the items to customer service, because its often a $20 ( or less) item.....and in their daily take that is miniscule--and the response to it by the staff is nonchalant ( more often than not). Usually, a swapper works quite timidly doing only a couple of items at most under the risk of getting caught.
The real idiots get brazen and start to commit other crimes, which end up being their downfalls. Of course, the worst thing is a retailer hit by more than one swapper at a time which I have seen down in the States numerous times.
Also, I hope everyone reading this and other toys forums realizes that these swappers are fellow forum members/fellow collectors. They use toy forums as intel, finding out stores that have stock, get hit by swapping, and have toy collectors working at them. Toy forums offer such rich intel on what is out there and where, that ignoring the info would be a right hazard if one were to take on this crime.
You and I might even be rubbing elbows with swappers and not know it.
If you want to do stuff to thwart swappers, here's a list of things:
--Don't do area reports. Telling others what is out there and where it is, is tipping off not only swappers but scalpers too. Sharing the info can be useful to fellow collectors, but its uncontrolled info--you cannot qualify WHO will see it.
--Deliberately mislead with your info. Say that a completely different store, all the way across town "has the stuff", instead of the store you bought it from. This is a ethical choice one can make--as its somewhat dirty pool. The reasoning behind this is if it makes it frustrating for a swapper chasing false leads, then maybe they'll abandon the hobby because they hit too many dry wells.
--Additionally tell people that you, or "someone you know" is know working at a given retailer and that they are toy savvy, even if this is not truly the case. Its a lie that can work against swappers.
Again, a swapper doesn't want to risk getting caught or denied a return and they will likely not risk that. Swappers tend to only target large retail chains because of the ambivalence and the relative ease in making returns.
I'm not saying these are great or even desirable actions to take--because they CAN impact fellow (innocent) collectors, as well as swappers.
I have chosen to no longer share area reports myself--which grates against my instinct to share the hobby I keenly love.
I cannot think of anything else to do that would work any better.