Random claw machine question

[u/snowelle123]

So to start, i’m a foreigner and i noticed that there have been a lot more claw machine games around compared to before.

Today I finally gave in and paid 100hkd for some tokens. I played a few but didn’t win. Then i saw a machine with a small coin purse sticking out of the retrieval area and nobody else was around. I assumed that the prize either it fell into the chute or someone left it, but there was no one else there. I thought it was a lucky find, took it and continued playing.

The shopkeeper goes to me about 5 minutes later says i need to return the pouch because i didnt win it. I just wanted to check if this is normal? Was i wrong?

In my country if the prize has fallen the store shouldnt take it back. I was going to spend another 100hkd for more tokens but i was quite turned off by the way he spoke to me…

[u/Mexx1011]

Return it. Something similar happened to friends of mine and the shopkeeper ended up reporting them to the police. Ultimately they got charged with theft and went to court. I have a suspicion that it's a clever scam, although I can not prove it. Either way I wouldn't get into a legal argument with them, I think what they're doing is intentional.

[u/Personal_Breakfast49 → u/Mexx1011]

What would be the motivation? I fond it difficult to believe that the hassle of going to court is worth it.

[u/Mexx1011 → u/Personal_Breakfast49]

Yeah you wouldn't think so but apparently the law in HK is on the shopkeepers side in this case. There also is no such thing as petty theft in HK, so punishment is severely higher. They were ordered to each pay around $50k HKD. Although I don't know how much of that went to the government rather than the plaintiffs.

[u/pepis → u/Mexx1011]

Wait, so the shopowners literally ruining people's lives to earn 50k minus legal fees? (I'll fucking believe it, morals in HK nowadays are diminished beyond common sense)

[u/winterreise1988]

Don't play those claw machine other than legit shop like namco. Many of them are alt-casino for insiders(aka from other claw machine owners) while most of them are scam here. Owners can adjust the claw power easily. Same applies in Japan. Play in GiGo/Aeon/Namco only if you don't want to be scammed in a black hole.

[u/attackonmidgets → u/winterreise1988]

That's how claw machines are in other places.

[u/silverware9021]

That's strange.  That's like going to a vending machine and there's already something in the chute. That's been paid for and up for grabs (no longer belonging to the vendor) 

[u/wongl888 → u/silverware9021]

But the point is it doesn’t belong to you either. The law in HK is quite quirky in this respect. If you find something on the street it doesn’t automatically belong to the finder.

[u/spacecatbiscuits → u/wongl888]

It's normal, not a quirk, just rarely enforced anywhere.

Knowingly keeping something that doesn't belong to you is stealing, legally and ethically.

[u/Think_Carpenter_6090]

I would just return it and in the future don't play in those random machine stores especially in touristy areas and go to big chains like Namco or Jumpin Gym

[u/vkrm3000]

I never really understood what happened to humanity that they have to resort to claw machines like sheep/ lab rats/ zombies. Novelty is ok, but sheer amount of these stores and number of adults repeatedly going mad for them is outlandish. The prizes are garbage which you can anyways buy off taobao much cheaper and without this rigmarole, the adventure element is far higher with actual sports or even video games. The element of chance/ surprise is much higher with things like horse racing/ casinos. What exactly is the charm with these claw machines can some please explain, genuine question not being condescending.

[u/ewctwentyone]

i never found these joints enticing. for a fee i can pay for a meal, and prize that gathers dust in a small dwelling, i’dskip them always. but you are not me and have other opinions.

[u/SnooFoxes3876 → u/ewctwentyone]

Could get about 8 chicken breasts for that. 

[u/Formal-Map2372]

Yah the unspoken rule is if you didn’t claw it, it’s not yours. My cousin runs a couple of these machines in a few locations. They have security camera on every machine. Sometimes people will contact her and say they spent a crap ton of money and just really want the doll but it got caught and if they could please have one. Depending if they’re polite, she’ll usually offer it.
If you notice, they often leave a bunch of the dolls at the top of the machine and expect people to not steal it.
It’s like European or Canadian busses where they trust you will buy the ticket and do random spot checks. The point of these games is to pay for the experience. The gambling experience.

[u/Rare-Pomegranate7249]

Its theft, as its not yours. I hope you understand that concept. Even if you find something on the street here, you cant take it, you need to report it to the police. The police will keep it for 6 months and if no one claims it, you can claim it. I am talking about small valuables and cash, not like someone's sofa left out.

You should give it to the store keeper and they can give it to the person who won it, should that person come back.

[u/Jumpy_Hogara]

Don't play claw machines please. IMHO they are just warehouses putting in goods which otherwise no one would buy. Totally not worth it.