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wuzup101 · Dec 16, 2004, 04:35 PM

Alright I have a stupid question for all of you. My parents ordered my little brother an iPod for christmas a week or so ago, and they got a delivery today with some things they had ordered for me from the apple store (iTrip, and some other accessories) along with an iPod. My dad opened up the iPod package and noticed that the iPod was engraved to someone else (actually the one for my brother was not supposed to be engraved). Anyway he contacted apple and they told him that my brother's iPod would be free if he could go to UPS and send the one we got to the rightful owner so that they would get it in time for the holidays. When he asked where my brother's iPod was, they told him that it was delivered the day before from UPS. So, my dad (who is a police officer in our town) filed a police report for the missing iPod today, assuming that it was stolen while in front of our door. We have a pretty good idea that it might have been the paperboy, as we know all of our neighbors very well and they are all too well off anyway to need to steel a random package. What I was wondering is: does apple have records of the iPod's serial numbers that they send out. I knnow each iPod is marked on the back with a serial number; however, since my parents never saw the package this isn't of much use. Would we be able to get a serial from apple? I know when I worked at toys r us we recorded the serial numbers for each xbox, ps2, etc... that we sold. I was thinking that perhaps apple did the same thing. It was ordered from their online store BTW...

spiky_dog · Dec 16, 2004, 04:40 PM

why are you asking macnn forums instead of apple?

new newton · Dec 16, 2004, 04:47 PM

Originally posted by wuzup101:
Anyway he contacted apple and they told him that my brother's iPod would be free if he could go to UPS and send the one we got to the rightful owner so that they would get it in time for the holidays.

Something is rotten in Denmark. This reeks of BS.

Kid, are you wanting to steal someone's iPod and wondering if you can get caught based on the serial number?

Mithras · Dec 16, 2004, 04:50 PM

So not only was your brother's iPod stolen, but also you received an erroneous iPod in the mail? Rhe mistakenly engraved one is NOT for you I assume, since your sig lists you as already having a 20Gb 4G. Weird.

Mrjinglesusa · Dec 16, 2004, 06:30 PM

I agree. This sounds like BS.

1) Apple would not offer your parents a FREE iPod just for going to UPS and shipping the other one to the right person

2) I doubt Apple would send an engraved iPod to the wrong person, especially with other stuff in the shipment and also since your parents allegedly were already shipped the correct iPod which was "stolen"

3) What time does the paper boy come? 5:00 am? 6:00 am? Since when does UPS deliver that early?

new newton · Dec 16, 2004, 06:48 PM

I just can't imagine a company asking someone to repackage an open item and send it to someone else. That's not how things are done--and they sure wouldn't give you a free iPod for your troubles.

wuzup101 · Dec 21, 2004, 10:48 PM

Sorry guys, when I talked to my dad on the phone I simply assumed he purchased the stuff from apple. When I got home from school a few days ago he told me the whole story. The iPod was purchase for my brother from buy.com or something like that (some store I've never bought anything from). They did in fact credit his card for the purchase price of the iPod that was taken. He did in fact send the other person's iPod to New York via UPS as per the companies expense.

BTW, please read the damn post before you make all kinds of outlandish remarks. The iPod was delivered the day before... my parents don't enter the house through the front door and they hadn't checked for a package. The paperboy comes in the morning around 5:30ish. So common sense says that if something's delivered the day before... it just might be there the next morning... don't ya think?

Again, I already have an iPod, I've had it for months. My parents make far too much money for me to ever have even the slightest inclination to steal an iPod. Please don't accuse me of stuff when I'm trying to ask an honest question.

Sorry if I sound a little harsh... I just get pissed off when people don't read the post... or make stupid assumptions about your intentions.

new newton · Dec 22, 2004, 04:55 AM

You can only get engraved iPods from Apple. You said they came from buy.com...

Wiskedjak · Dec 22, 2004, 08:06 AM

Originally posted by new newton:
You can only get engraved iPods from Apple. You said they came from buy.com...

It doesn't appear that the iPod he purchased was engraved, but rather the iPod they received was

Randman · Dec 22, 2004, 08:09 AM

It still wouldn't be mixed up then.

bgotori · Dec 22, 2004, 08:18 AM

Hey new newton

You can get an Engraved iPod from any Apple Dealer... Fry's, Mac Mall, Best Buys, etc... But if its Done by Apple, who knows... I bet Apple doesn't waste their time with doing it at all, and just send them out to be done.

Boy some of you guys are sure Negative on the Holiday's... SAD...

Have Great Holiday's!!!

Brad

Mrjinglesusa · Dec 22, 2004, 08:42 AM

Originally posted by wuzup101:
Sorry guys, when I talked to my dad on the phone I simply assumed he purchased the stuff from apple. When I got home from school a few days ago he told me the whole story. The iPod was purchase for my brother from buy.com or something like that (some store I've never bought anything from). They did in fact credit his card for the purchase price of the iPod that was taken. He did in fact send the other person's iPod to New York via UPS as per the companies expense.

BTW, please read the damn post before you make all kinds of outlandish remarks. The iPod was delivered the day before... my parents don't enter the house through the front door and they hadn't checked for a package. The paperboy comes in the morning around 5:30ish. So common sense says that if something's delivered the day before... it just might be there the next morning... don't ya think?

Again, I already have an iPod, I've had it for months. My parents make far too much money for me to ever have even the slightest inclination to steal an iPod. Please don't accuse me of stuff when I'm trying to ask an honest question.

Sorry if I sound a little harsh... I just get pissed off when people don't read the post... or make stupid assumptions about your intentions.

Before you berate people for making "outlandish remarks" why don't you read your original post again. Based on that, all comments were valid. YOU said it came from Apple. YOU said that APPLE told your Dad the iPod would be free if he sent it to New York. I think YOU need to get the full story BEFORE you go posting it on a Mac forum.

macaddict0001 · Dec 22, 2004, 09:15 AM

Ups doesn't leave packages on doorsteps, especially ones that are worth 400 dollars. They ty to ship them and if your not there they take them back to the central distribution centre and try again the next day . After three try's they wait for you to come pick them up.

tpicco · Dec 22, 2004, 11:53 PM

I would disagree with you about UPS... when I lived in suburbia in a private house, unless it REQUIRED a signature, they left it at the door...

Here in NYC, sometimes they don't even ring my bell... they just leave a pick-up notice 'cause they don't wanna walk up the 5 flights... (no doorman, no elevator)

macaddict0001 · Dec 23, 2004, 01:39 AM

in my experience all my packages have required you to be at the door.

wuzup101 · 04:50 AM

Originally posted by Mrjinglesusa:
Before you berate people for making "outlandish remarks" why don't you read your original post again. Based on that, all comments were valid. YOU said it came from Apple. YOU said that APPLE told your Dad the iPod would be free if he sent it to New York. I think YOU need to get the full story BEFORE you go posting it on a Mac forum.

The outlandish remarks were in response to your saying that the paperboy comes early (before UPS delivers). I clearly said in the origional post that it was delivered the day before... I was not addressing the apple vs buy.com or whatever issue as I had already said I was wrong about this. I do have the full story thanks...

And when you live the burbs UPS drops whatever at your door unless it says signature required. That includes $1000 paintball guns and iPods apparently. I know mine didn't require a signature and was just dropped... But I know they do have different practices in some areas. It seems that fedex seems to always require a signature around here.

TheMosco · Dec 23, 2004, 07:46 AM

Originally posted by wuzup101:
And when you live the burbs UPS drops whatever at your door unless it says signature required. That includes $1000 paintball guns and iPods apparently. I know mine didn't require a signature and was just dropped... But I know they do have different practices in some areas. It seems that fedex seems to always require a signature around here.

Most of the time I think it is the shippers option on whether it is required. It might also depend on whether they require a signature depending on where they ship it. I am not sure Fedex/UPS have much say.

Scifience · Dec 25, 2004, 10:43 AM

Originally posted by macaddict0001:
Ups doesn't leave packages on doorsteps, especially ones that are worth 400 dollars. They ty to ship them and if your not there they take them back to the central distribution centre and try again the next day . After three try's they wait for you to come pick them up.

FedEx left my new iPod Photo on the porch. No signature required.

ccsccs7 · Dec 26, 2004, 11:15 PM

You can file your authorization (and signature) with both FedEx and UPS (I believe), so that they leave your packages without you being home or getting a signature.

Spheric Harlot · Dec 27, 2004, 04:21 AM

Originally posted by Scifience:
FedEx left my new iPod Photo on the porch. No signature required.

I find this practice really odd.

I never signed anything, but DHL often drops off packages at the bar across the road. Weird feeling picking up a $2,500 amplifier for you neighbor from the bar next door, on a hi and a smile.

DigitalEl · Dec 27, 2004, 05:53 AM

UPS and FedEx both always leave stuff on our doorstep with no signature required. Both have a SOP of ringing the doorbell... Then the drivers are back in their trucks and pulling away by the time you make it to the door... With your package on the sidewalk.

The wife and I have no signatures or authorizations of any kind on file. I always thought it was just something they did in suburbia. I doubt they'd do that in a more urban area or at a business location.

Truth be told, where I live, I'd much rather chance things this way than have to go through the hassle of scheduling another driver to come by or -- worse yet -- going to them to sign for an item after several missed delivery attempts.

ChrisF · Dec 27, 2004, 06:24 AM

Originally posted by new newton:
You can only get engraved iPods from Apple. You said they came from buy.com...

That's not true. I work for an Apple reseller and I can order custom iPods as well as build-to-order Macs for customers.

new newton · Dec 27, 2004, 07:28 AM

But for our purposes here, it's true. Buy.com doesn't offer the option.

ixus_123 · Dec 29, 2004, 08:37 PM

haha @ DigitalEl - they seem to do the quiet door knock thing over here too. I'll wait in all day for a delivery & then find a calling card in the letter box. They must be taught the silent know as part of the job.

Over here things like iPods need a signature, & anything that can't fit through the letter box is usally taken back to the local deliver office where you can collect or they will make 2 more delivery attempts. The only package that ever gets left outside my door are my Open University books

wuzup101 · Jan 3, 2005, 08:44 AM

Originally posted by new newton:
But for our purposes here, it's true. Buy.com doesn't offer the option.

Notice I said "or something like that." I don't really know what went on w/ that store, nore what it was. All I know is we didn't end up paying for anything from them, and that whoever they were, they did in fact sell engraved iPods. My dad ordered an iPod for my brother straight from apple after the whole thing. He ordered an engraved 20gb 4G on the 21st of December and was very impressed as it arrived on the 24th just in time for the holiday. I believe he wanted to write them an email thanking them for getting the order out so fast... he was very impressed.