Not returning things to ex-employer=dick move?

[slackerinabox]

I was laid off about a month and a half ago (my whole team was) and got a voice mail today from my old work's HR - they want me to return the dinky HP keyboard and mouse IT gave me to dock my laptop at home (laptop returned, of course). I don't feel like driving 20 miles each way to return them nor do I want to spend $10 to ship back what probably's worth less....

Screw them or could they somehow jeopardize my unemployment benefit if I don't send the stuff back?

 

[purbeast0]

tell them to come pick it up.

 

[mvbighead]

tell them to come pick it up.

This.

 

[KLin]

tell them to come pick it up.

This.

 

[meltdown75]

that ^, or tell them you'll drop it off if you're ever in the area.

 

[chusteczka]

Those docks often cost around $160-$200.

 

[Engineer]

tell them to come pick it up.

Yep.

 

[M0oG0oGaiPan]

Sell it on ebay.

 

[Matthiasa]

Well you could be charged with theft...

 

[KLin]

Those docks often cost around $160-$200.

How much do a mouse and keyboard cost?

 

[waffleironhead]

Tell them you will box it up and wait for a call tag.

 

[slackerinabox]

Those docks often cost around $160-$200.

It's an HP USB keyboard and your run of the mill optical mouse... $20 new, max...

 

[slackerinabox]

tell them to come pick it up.

Sounds like a plan - why didn't I think of that? Oh, I know why - I'm freedomsbeat and always think about the most complicated solution to a problem

 

[SpatiallyAware]

Did you piss off someone in IT?

 

[mb]

Yeah tell them to either pick it up or give you a shipping label for it.

No way I'd drive 40 miles to return a crappy KB & M.

 

[chusteczka]

It's an HP USB keyboard and your run of the mill optical mouse... $20 new, max...

It seems I misread. I would not condone intentionally keeping the keyboard and mouse but would not go out of my way to return easily replaceable items of such low value.

 

[Gillbot]

Tell them you will box it up and wait for a call tag.

this

 

[slackerinabox]

Did you piss off someone in IT?

Nope, I got along great with IT. It was probably my own manager who prepared the list of shit to return, since all equipment requests go through her.

 

[slackerinabox]

It seems I misread. I would not condone intentionally keeping the keyboard and mouse but would not go out of my way to return easily replaceable items of such low value.

Yeah, I don't want to steal them - I have too many keyboard/mouse combos as is... I'd honestly rather throw them in the trash than take that drive, walk past co-workers, have those awkward conversations.. Bah..

 

[Perknose]

Tell them you will box it up and wait for a call tag.

this

That.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

Nope, I got along great with IT. It was probably my own manager who prepared the list of shit to return, since all equipment requests go through her.

Then it's just miscommunication. Call her or IT and let them know it's a $20 kb/m, they probably think it was a dock or something.

 

[RearAdmiral]

Mail it to Abu Dhabi.

 

[Gunbuster]

make sure they are filled with food particles and nail clippings before returning them.

 

[mmntech]

Tell them you will box it up and wait for a call tag.

This. When we had our family business, we used to do that all the time. When people (usually the government or some consulting firm they hired) wanted stupid stuff from us, we used to tell them to charge it to their own FedEx account and we'll send it out.

 

[lurk3r]

Tell them you'll be happy to return it, $.55 a mile plus your old wage.