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That seems like the mostly likely way, at least for the new items stolen from retail. Trying to sell on craiglist/FB marketplace doesn't seem like it would scal

That seems like the mostly likely way, at least for the new items stolen from retail. Trying to sell on craiglist/FB marketplace doesn't seem like it would scale. An unscrupulous hardware store owner could mix the stolen goods in with their stock to pad their margins. The tools could also be used as stock for 3rd party seller on Amazon.

dylan604 2y ago
The Amazon marketplace seller is what I thought would be the most used route. Selling overseas would require hardware changes with the plugs I would think which would probably not be something they're willing to do. Unless it's common to use adapters or have people make that mode themselves as part of the "but it was cheap"??? Amazon marketplace is one of the best fences of all time.
- MisterTea 2y ago
  > Selling overseas would require hardware changes with the plugs Canada, Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Colombia, Venezuela, and a few other Central/South American countries can plug these tools right into the wall.
  - dylan604 2y ago
    For whatever reasons, my mind equates overseas with Europe and even Eastern Europe more specifically when it comes to trading in illicit wares. In my mind, any where in the Americas just isn't overseas. But you are absolutely right in that a lot of stolen items do end up in that part of the world.
  - closewith 2y ago
    None of those countries are overseas from the US. Maybe there's a case to be made for Venuzeuela and Colombia because of the Darien Gap, but that's pushing it.
    - deleted 2y ago
      [deleted]
    - lupire 2y ago
      You seem to be ignoring concavity.
  - seanmcdirmid 2y ago
    China exports lots of stuff to the USA and those containers go back empty. They can easily be filled up with stolen iPhones and catalytic converters for recycling, so that they aren’t all empty. Power tools probably not though.
    - dylan604 2y ago
      I thought the empties carried all of the stolen cars to their new homes.
      - seanmcdirmid 2y ago
        That’s way too much trouble, and Chinese customs is really serious about their 100% tariff for DIY car imports. Stolen iPhones and cats are much easier to smuggle in, and have little value outside of Chinese recyclers.
        dylan604 2y ago
        You seem to think that a ship can't pull into a different port in a different country on the way back to China.
  - ChoGGi 2y ago
    Also a lot of power tools are battery operated, chop saws, skill saws, sds drills, etc. All you'd need for overseas is a charger.
    - MisterTea 2y ago
      I bet most of those chargers operate on 90-250 VAC 50-60Hz since they're switching supplies. You'd just need an adapter.
ornornor 2y ago
Amazon comingled inventory would be the perfect vehicle for the perfect crime. They can’t even tell who shipped what, it’s basically like a cryptocurrency tumbler but for real world goods!
- NegativeLatency 2y ago
  In fact it already is, lots of stuff is stolen and sold this way.

dylan604 2y ago

The Amazon marketplace seller is what I thought would be the most used route. Selling overseas would require hardware changes with the plugs I would think which would probably not be something they're willing to do. Unless it's common to use adapters or have people make that mode themselves as part of the "but it was cheap"??? Amazon marketplace is one of the best fences of all time.

MisterTea 2y ago
> Selling overseas would require hardware changes with the plugs Canada, Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Colombia, Venezuela, and a few other Central/South American countries can plug these tools right into the wall.
- dylan604 2y ago
  For whatever reasons, my mind equates overseas with Europe and even Eastern Europe more specifically when it comes to trading in illicit wares. In my mind, any where in the Americas just isn't overseas. But you are absolutely right in that a lot of stolen items do end up in that part of the world.
- closewith 2y ago
  None of those countries are overseas from the US. Maybe there's a case to be made for Venuzeuela and Colombia because of the Darien Gap, but that's pushing it.
  - deleted 2y ago
    [deleted]
  - lupire 2y ago
    You seem to be ignoring concavity.
- seanmcdirmid 2y ago
  China exports lots of stuff to the USA and those containers go back empty. They can easily be filled up with stolen iPhones and catalytic converters for recycling, so that they aren’t all empty. Power tools probably not though.
  - dylan604 2y ago
    I thought the empties carried all of the stolen cars to their new homes.
    - seanmcdirmid 2y ago
      That’s way too much trouble, and Chinese customs is really serious about their 100% tariff for DIY car imports. Stolen iPhones and cats are much easier to smuggle in, and have little value outside of Chinese recyclers.
      - dylan604 2y ago
        You seem to think that a ship can't pull into a different port in a different country on the way back to China.
- ChoGGi 2y ago
  Also a lot of power tools are battery operated, chop saws, skill saws, sds drills, etc. All you'd need for overseas is a charger.
  - MisterTea 2y ago
    I bet most of those chargers operate on 90-250 VAC 50-60Hz since they're switching supplies. You'd just need an adapter.

ornornor 2y ago

Amazon comingled inventory would be the perfect vehicle for the perfect crime. They can’t even tell who shipped what, it’s basically like a cryptocurrency tumbler but for real world goods!

NegativeLatency 2y ago
In fact it already is, lots of stuff is stolen and sold this way.