Effort to return stolen BB

[ezrunner]

okay before I go on my rant a bit of background on the whole situation.

I was recently on craigslist looking for BB's get them cheap sometimes and I came across a BB8830 for Sprint for sale, so I contacted seller and asked for ESN/IMEI so I could research device. ( don't wanna buy stolen stuff). Contacted Sprint and so far okay even had a respected BBF member look into it and same result so I go ahead and purchase device. Then I post it on ebay for sale and BBF after checking with Sprint a 3rd time, all good.

Buyer uses buy it now option for a fair amount of money YAAAY. Buyer contacts me next day turns out the BB8830 has now been reported stolen!! Yikes so I immediately refund buyer their money.

RANT/

So I contact Sprint via customer care to try and get BB back to its rightful owner.

CC: how can I help you sir?
Me: Yes I am trying to return a BB device to its rightful owner, it is a Sprint BB8830
CC: what do you want me to do about it?

(kidding me right)

Me: I can give you the ESN to look up customer and give you my info to have its owner contact me so they can get their property back. (i give the ESN)
CC: Sir that BB has been reported stolen and the owner has a new device. No point in contacting them.
(kidding me right? I'm trying to do the proper thing right?)

So after I hit this dead end I figured I would try a store in my area.

ME: Yes I have a BB for Sprint and I would like to get it back to its owner.
CC: sure thing sir one moment
(I guess he thought I was on hold as I could hear the entire conversation.) "yo this guy wants to return a lost/stolen BB" ..."have him bring it in man we can sell it on ebay"

( GET THE F%^& OUT)

CC: Sir just bring it in we will take care of it!

ME: Not likely you might sell it on ebay!! ( I hung up)

All I am trying to do is get this BB back to its rightful owner, is it that hard?

I finally decide to go into a store and ask for a manager.....Rep asks why? I repeat my request to see a manager.

Manager comes out I explain the entire situation and my efforts to this point!

I give him the ESN he goes to computer comes back says he can help. I give my info to have owner call me. Manager asked if I could leave there and I told him of conversation I overheard so that wasn't an option despite his assurances.

Owner contacts me... he wasn't to friendly either.

We made arrangements to meet so I could give him his BB back. Not asking for anything (I paid 125 for it) i don't want anything back I just want to do whats right.

He never showed up! I called the next day no answer I left message. I have called each day since. made arrangements again I was to bring it to his work.....guess what not there!!

Really how long am I supposed to wait to get this device back!!!!

No wonder people don't return things it is hell to do!!!

Contacted him today and spoke with him

"you are probably the guy who stole it!"

Yeah I stole it and want to return it to you!! absurd!

" Look sir I just want to get your property back to you" I bought it off of craigslist for 125 I am not asking for any compensation I just want to get it back to you."

"I don't really see the point as I have replaced it already and it is useless to anyone else"

and he hung up!!

Wow just trying to do the right thing folks!!!

So what do I do now? any thoughts?

[juwaack68]

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8830/4.2.2 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/104)

It is sad you got all this run around trying to do the right thing! If the owner doesn't want it, and it's reported stolen and can't be used....My son can always use extra hockey pucks

[ezrunner]

It is very frustrating! I am half tempted to part it out or sell it for parts!!!

I am going to attempt a couple more times and then who knows

[jsconyers]

I dont have any suggestions for you on returning this. I commend you on your honesty and morals though! A lot of people would have just ignored the fact that it was stolen to begin with. Sprint's customer service makes me sick after reading this.

[JSanders]

You have done the right thing, like four times, I lost count.

At this point, yes, sell it for parts.

You deserve whatever reward the parts bring you.

[ezrunner]

Thanks JS

Call it moral upbringing honesty whichever but I still feel a bit guilty about selling it on the other hand I have attempted more than enough.....

hoping some other members chime in with their point of view!!

[audit]

IMHO, you tried enough. The owner is not willing to take it back so start parting it out and try to recoup some of your money back.

[JSanders]

The only other thing you could do it drop it off at a police station, tell them the story, and say "I tried". And kiss it goodbye. They will throw it in a the "found" property room, no one will retrieve it (as you know) and it will be sold at the next excess property auction.

If someone on here has an opposing point of view to your selling it for parts, it really really doesn't matter, because you have done the right thing.

Can't I close this thread and let you go get the listing ready? lol

[kdog1176]

Wow!! I think you have gone well and beyond. Keep it. At this point, the owner already thinks you were the one who stole it, and is probably out right now getting a restraining order to stop you from stalking him...lol

[jsconyers]

Here is my suggestion, I call the owner and tell him that I stole his device and sold it on craigslist. Then he will be forced to apologize to you and you look like the hero that you are.

[ezrunner]

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8700/4.2.1 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/100)

Hahahhahahhaha
Very funny jsconyers

[jsconyers]

Hey I will take one for the team. Wouldn't it be ironic if the owner is a member of this forum and read this? I wonder how he would feel.

[grandad]

Well done for trying, sadly it might be understandable why the guy doesn't want to meet you - on the one hand he's not at a loss because his phone has been replaced and on the other he doesn't know you, what your motives really are and that he wouldn't be in danger by meeting you; sad reflections of the times in which we live.

[ezrunner]

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8700/4.2.1 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/100)

Well our first meet was to be at barnes and nobles a very public place.

Maybe he is in shock that someone actually is honest enough to try and return his property

[blane64]

I, too, admire your attempts to return his device. Makes me wonder why he doesn't want it back....did he lose it someplace he wasn't supposed to be? (Bar, cathouse, crack house, etc J/K!)

I think you have gone above and beyond the call of duty. In effect, he "gave" it to you when he refused to accept it back. I guess I understand your reluctance to have stolen property in your possesion. I am not sure what I would do, either.

[Malkier]

I agree with other the other posts, you have done more than most people would have done. Your level of honesty and dedication to return the item to its owner is applaudable.
Strip the BB and sell for spare parts and try to reclaim some of the money you have lost through this.

[Kidberry]

thanks for trying! not too many would try so hard if at all. keep it for parts! this is the right place to sell parts...

[BallHawk3]

Best thing for you to do is contact the insurance company, Ausurion. I'm pretty sure they'll take care of it.

They are the ones that report ESNs lost/stolen/damage (or negative file) and I'm sure they would want that phone back.

[ezrunner]

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8700/4.2.1 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/100)

Hey thanks that's a good idea! Ill try that tomorrow!
That's assuming he had insurance but ill give it a try

[003402]

could this be something he claims against his homeowners policy (maybe other stuff was stolen too?)

I applaud your efforts. I have had this happen to me on some other things and it really makes you wonder how this world operates these days. I say police station or insurance company. Can you imagine some fraud investigator coming to you at some point if you parted it? I would assume you have no documentation that you tried to return this (why would you?).

[Malkier]

Originally Posted by ezrunner

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8700/4.2.1 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/100)

Hey thanks that's a good idea! Ill try that tomorrow!
That's assuming he had insurance but ill give it a try

Let us know how you go with the insurance company, surely all your work to return it has to payoff sometime. (success not reward payoff*)

*Mind you, you do deserve a reward in my mind.

[ezrunner]

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8700/4.2.1 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/100)

Originally Posted by 003402

could this be something he claims against his homeowners policy (maybe other stuff was stolen too?)

I applaud your efforts. I have had this happen to me on some other things and it really makes you wonder how this world operates these days. I say police station or insurance company. Can you imagine some fraud investigator coming to you at some point if you parted it? I would assume you have no documentation that you tried to return this (why would you?).

Only phone call records!

[djm2]

You have obviously done more than anyone could have expected you to, but I would exercise some caution in using it for parts -- unless you have some good documentation that can back you up in case the original owner ever reneges and comes back after you. That doofus sounds like the sort of person who might.

Why am I so paranoid and concerned? He has already accused you of being the thief, and it strikes me as conceivable that he might make the accusation again.

Personally, I'd recommend that you give it to the police with the owners name, and that you get a receipt of that action from the police. Not too fair to you, but probably the lowest risk for you.

[Dawg]

I think you have done more than enough sell it and be done with it. I would report the Sprint store to their corporate offices though.

[BallHawk3]

Originally Posted by ezrunner

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8700/4.2.1 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/100)

Hey thanks that's a good idea! Ill try that tomorrow!
That's assuming he had insurance but ill give it a try

I used to have an authorized service center for sprint so I know these things.

I give you kudos for your good deed. Had a few people once in a while try to return a phone they saw. They would just drop it off at the store and I would look and see who the customer is and contact them. Many times they were shocked that someone actually returned it.

But remember, sprint itself does not report the phone stolen (putting in on the negative file). If you call in to them and tell them your phone is lost or stolen all they do is suspend your service so no one can use it. Having the phone on the negative file (where no one can ever activate the ESN again) means it had to go through Ausurion, which means the owner had to make a claim and they mark the ESN. Insurance will take back the phone cause they are the only ones that can do anything with it at this point.

[ezrunner]

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8700/4.2.1 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/100)

Well I tried contacting asurion!

Kept getting put on hold for long time and I was at work so I never got thru.

I then went to polive dept. Explained the situation. I turned over the BB to them. Provided the craigslist add that I bought it from. Gave them the sellers cell number and a copy of all correspondence between me and the seller! They are going to investigate. They are also going to try and contact the owner.

This thing just got bigger the original seller from craigslist could be in some deep pooo!

Cop said I did all I could and they would keep me informed of what is happening. Glad I am not that guy.

Ill try to keep everyone updated.

The BB is now evidence in a criminal investigation owner may not get it back for a bit if at all.
Thanks for the replies!

Officer said it was a good move not to sell it! Glad I didn't.

I got hosed for 125 but I feel great about doing all I could.

[003402]

No worries. Karma will take care of you. You definitely got some good mojo going for your efforts.

[ezrunner]

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8700/4.2.1 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/100)

I'm a firm believer in what goes around comes around

[Demon]

I just read this and I have to compliment you on your honesty and integrity, many people in your position would not have gone to those lengths. I manage a VZW agent store and it would shock you how many people come in with stolen phones trying to activate them (our system will not activate a stolen phone). When I question where they got it from it is always "I found it" or "a friend". On two occasions I was able to contact the original owners and get their equipment back to them (as simple as calling home in the contacts), but its amazing how many people just plain don't care that someone elses "life" is in that phone.

[ezrunner]

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8700/4.2.1 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/100)

I have been selling wireless for a long time myself! I too have seen it a lot! Amazes me how people have so little ethical or moral standards

[LunkHead]

Sell it on the black market in China for BIG bucks!!!!!! Oh, wait, thats small children that bring in the big bucks... Sorry..... Blame my avatar...

Kris

[vothweirdon]

The reason the owner didn't want it back was he sold it to some guy on Craigs List for $125 bucks then reported it stolen and got a new phone...


What I think probably happened. Seen that before as well.

[BBHorrigan]

wow thats just a bad deal, I applaud your morals though

[ezrunner]

bump

maybe some of these "I bought it from a friend who found it in a bar"

will get a conscious and at last make a valid attempt to return a BB to its rightful owner

[TeritaM]

Originally Posted by ezrunner

bump

maybe some of these "I bought it from a friend who found it in a bar"

will get a conscious and at last make a valid attempt to return a BB to its rightful owner

you would hope so but they won't. I had a friend call me a few weeks ago asking if I was still looking for a red curve. why? he found one and "it has a t-mobile chip in it". I asked him if there was a phone number in the phone. "yeah I can wipe it". so I said to him, why not call the owner and let them know you found their phone. you would have thought I was speaking some alien language. sickening.

[ritz@98925]

Hi I am from India and planning to ask my sister in NYC to buy a BB Curve 8310 off craigslist. After reading ezrunners woes, I am a bit worried about buying from there, since if it is stolen property , she wouldnot understand a bit.

If the phone is Blacklisted, what exactly happens? Does it not work at all or is the PIN B/listed for use in US or something else,since I would anyways be using the same in India.

Or do I pay 100-150 more and buy from shop like Mobilecityonline, which are reliable?

[Rolo1971]

It's nice to know there are some good people out in this world who try to do the right thing. I commend you EZRUNNER.

Rolo

[ezrunner]

Originally Posted by ritz@98925

Hi I am from India and planning to ask my sister in NYC to buy a BB Curve 8310 off craigslist. After reading ezrunners woes, I am a bit worried about buying from there, since if it is stolen property , she wouldnot understand a bit.

If the phone is Blacklisted, what exactly happens? Does it not work at all or is the PIN B/listed for use in US or something else,since I would anyways be using the same in India.

Or do I pay 100-150 more and buy from shop like Mobilecityonline, which are reliable?

I have purchased several from craigslist, I have friends that work at several carriers so i can check them. not bad just have your sister ask to see original receipt

[paulbblc]

I purchased a 8800 on craigslist 2 weeks ago for $155 - sold last week for $395. I was pretty happy.

With the low price on the 8800 though initially I contacted AT&T twice to verify that it wasn't a stolen device. Still worries me a bit though.

[blakeatl]

Kinda late, but I wouldda asked you for it. Heck....the original owner didn't want it.