We've heard plenty in recent days about iPhones getting turned into bricks, but how about iPods being turned to rocks?

A woman in Texas had a bit of a tiff with retail chain Target when she purchased not, two iPods that both turned out to be nothing more than a box full of rocks.

08 Oct 2007

The mother had purchased what she believed to be a video iPod for her daughter's birthday. When they young lady opened the box, however, she found herself with nothing more than a nice geological sample.

It seems as if some enterprising crook had taken out the iPod, replaced it with rocks of a comparable weight, and re-wrapped the package in cellophane.

The disgruntled mom went back to the store with her daughter, only to find that the store was out of the desired model.

In a fit of beurocratic glory that can only be obtained by a multi-billion dollar retail chain (or the DMV), Target concluded that because the woman had paid with a credit card, she could not receive a refund for her $350 rock.

The woman then drove 30 minutes or so to nearby Grand Prairie, which had the iPod in stock. This time, the woman opened the box in front of the clerks, just to be sure. Upon opening the box, the woman found...you guessed it, another rock. The birthday girl had to settle instead for $350 worth of store credit.

Rumor has it that while she was trying to return the rock, a guy offered to trade his Zune for it.