"hot" laptop situation being figured out - thanks :)

[olouie]

Hey guys,

I got a gift from a friend over Christmas. It was a pretty sweet laptop computer, however my display was having problems and I called the manufacturer for warranty and was infromed it did not qualify cause it was STOLEN :|

WTF! I am pretty mad as I cannot believe that my friend would be giving me a stolen computer. Is there any way to verify that in fact it is stolen or perhaps just a mistake?

I guess its not that big of a loss since I did not buy it, but still I would like to continue using the computer once I get it fixed, if possible.

Thanks

Edit: Thanks to all the replies... friend is coming over tomorrow with receipt to figure what is going on. For now I believe him, must be one of those strange mistakes somewhere... :frown:

 

[dabuddha]

if it's stolen, you should turn it in
you'd like it if someone returned your laptop to you. But do make sure it really is stolen first

 

[olouie]

Oh yeah it was still in the retail sealed box when I got it. I dunno if that helps.

 

[MichaelD]

n/m

He just gave you a laptop? For like, nothign? Nice friend!!! You didn't get suspicious?

Ah...I get it...he owed you money!!!!!!!! He gave you the laptop in lieu of the $500 or so he owed you, right?

 

[The Stigenator]

If it was a retail box.. did it fall off the back of a truck.

I suggest double checking.. call the company back up and say you got it as a present for christmas.. what am I to do now?

 

[codeyf]

Bastard! Give it back to me!!

 

[SlowSS]

Originally posted by: olouie
Oh yeah it was still in the retail sealed box when I got it. I dunno if that helps.

Being in retail box doesn't matter, someone could have stolen it from the store or delivery truck or other means.

I don't know man, you are taking a chance with stolen goods. Do what you think it's right.

 

[olouie]

Well I gave him a large loan in the past year for his SB and I thought it was his way of saying thank you. But yeah I guess I am going to call the company again to figure things out.

 

[BatmanNate]

How would they know it was stolen unless an individual reported it? If that is the case, you should promptly return it.

 

[MazerRackham]

Originally posted by: olouie
Well I gave him a large loan in the past year for his SB and I thought it was his way of saying thank you. But yeah I guess I am going to call the company again to figure things out.

What's a "SB"?

 

[olouie]

Originally posted by: MazerRackham

Originally posted by: olouie
Well I gave him a large loan in the past year for his SB and I thought it was his way of saying thank you. But yeah I guess I am going to call the company again to figure things out.

What's a "SB"?

Small Business

 

[Geekbabe]

I would first call my friend and tell him what happened when you attempted to get warranty support.

 

[MrBond]

You could call the company again and explain it was a gift, but I'm not sure if that will change things. I don't think a laptop could accidently get flagged as stolen unless it actually was, because companies usually call in and report them that way (and keep a serial number/machine ID seperate from the laptop so they can do so).

 

[bolido2000]

Originally posted by: Geekbabe
I would first call my friend and tell him what happened when you attempted to get warranty support.

 

[olouie]

Originally posted by: Geekbabe
I would first call my friend and tell him what happened when you attempted to get warranty support.

Ok just did that, he is coming over tomorrow with the Microwarehouse / Microcenter receipt (not sure which one he said cause of crap cell phone static)... but yeah I think that will help alot.

thanks for the suggestions

 

[spp]

Originally posted by: olouie

Originally posted by: Geekbabe
I would first call my friend and tell him what happened when you attempted to get warranty support.

Ok just did that, he is coming over tomorrow with the Microwarehouse / Microcenter receipt (not sure which one he said cause of crap cell phone static)... but yeah I think that will help alot.

thanks for the suggestions

good to hear that he didn't steal it afterall

 

[Toasthead]

receiving stolen merchandise is a crime...whether or not you were aware it was stolen.

 

[coolVariable]

Seems like he is in the (Small) Buiness of selling stolen goods

 

[TallBill]

Yeah.. i think sortin this one out with your friend first. Its always possible that product #'s got swapped or something. Who knows. Good luck tho.

 

[TallBill]

Btw, you all have minds in the gutter.. even if it is stolen, it doesn't mean that his friend stole it. Perhaps he had bought it from somewhere such as anandtech fs/ft for a good deal from someone who did in fact steal it.

 

[olouie]

Originally posted by: Toasthead
receiving stolen merchandise is a crime...whether or not you were aware it was stolen.

I know that, but I doubt he would steal anything. I mean he has his own business and is pretty successful.... and now that he says he has receipt I think it was legally purchased.