Gamestop does something similar. When you trade in a PSP memory stick, they pop on a price label of $9,999 to it.
It can't be sold until it goes to their "headquarters" to be erased. Because the company does not trust any of its employees to do it.
A store will wait weeks for it to be shipped back, while it could've been done in store in a few seconds and sold right away.
Stupid is as stupid does.