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> In the absence of theft, it's difficult to imagine why the owner would be refusing to unlock the device, It's generally not the owner refusing to unlock. It'
by nicoburns 4y ago
> In the absence of theft, it's difficult to imagine why the owner would be refusing to unlock the device,
It's generally not the owner refusing to unlock. It's the owner not being able to work out how to do it. Forgetting or not knowing they needed to do it. And/or not being contactable.
- michaelt 4y agoSo these recyclers have records so thorough they're completely sure these laptops aren't stolen, and yet so incomplete they can't contact the owners at all? Even when hundreds of dollars is at stake, which could surely pay for a few hours of phone calls walking people through the unlock procedure? If you believe that, I've got a bridge to sell you.
- nicoburns 4y agoWhat if neither side of the sale has the technical competence to do this?
- bzzzt 4y agoThen they have no reason to be in the used computer business.
- nicoburns 4y agoWho said anything about businesses? Hugh swathes of the used tech market are peer to peer sales on craigslist, facebook market, the literal village noticeboard, etc.
- chongli 4y agoThe original story is about large scale recyclers complaining about bulk bricked machines. If you buy a used MacBook on Craigslist then it’s on you to make sure the seller properly transfers ownership to you. Same as buying a house or a car. Buyer beware!
- nicoburns 4y agoThe difference here is that if this doesn't happen properly for some reason then the device is permanently bricked and must be scrapped. That doesn't happen with houses or cars, and it's incredibly wasteful.
- kube-system 4y agoTech recyclers absolutely do. It's pretty much their entire business model to turn disposed devices into something they can resell.
- dTal 4y agoWhy is the burden of proof on the resellers to show that the devices have not been stolen? Imagine if any other product worked this way. Trying to sell a classic guitar? Can't show a paper trail proving continuous legal ownership back to the manufacturer? The cops show up and throw it on a bonfire. Now imagine that it's not even the cops, but private security hired by the manufacturer, following nothing more than the manufacturer's own policy. Oh, and the manufacturer naturally has all the paperwork of all the past owners - they made sure of that with this policy - but they won't bother to check it. Nope. Straight on the bonfire.
- mannerheim 4y ago> Imagine if any other product worked this way. What, like cars?
- nicoburns 4y agoCars aren’t scrapped if ownership can’t be proven.
- mannerheim 4y agoMore regarding proving ownership. You can't get registration for a car you don't have the title to. Anyway, doesn't Apple refurbish devices? Will they not accept these devices back?
- nicoburns 4y agoThey accept them, but the “refurbishment” consists of dismantling them for parts/scrap material. They won’t unlock them.