Post by: Francine Eisner on August 19, 2007, 10:42:57 PM
I found a "Zune," which somebody had mistakenly left on a subway train. I'd like to return it, but there doesn't seem to be anything on it to identify the owner, except that his name is "Luis." Can anyone suggest how I might find out who it belongs to?
In the meantime, I might as well use the thing. Not my style, really, to tell the truth. I've been wanting an iPod, of course, but I can't even spare the $ for a new copy of DW, which is much more of a necessity. I know this is a "Windoze" device, but I could connect it to my mother's computer and download music that way, I guess.
Is anyone here familiar with the "Zune?"
I understand that it's worth something in the neighborhood of $250-$300, so maybe my luck is changing...
Cheers,
Francine
(The Mac Gardener)
Post by: krissel on August 20, 2007, 12:37:28 AM
Seriously, you may want to check out the main site if you want to see if you can contact MS and find out if it was registered.
http://www.zune.net/en-US/
Post by: Gregg on August 20, 2007, 07:33:45 AM
Post by: Francine Eisner on August 20, 2007, 08:06:46 AM
QUOTE(Gregg @ Aug 20 2007, 08:33 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Does it have a "cereal" number on it?
Naaah...not a grain in sight.
Francine
Post by: bil207 on August 20, 2007, 08:32:20 AM
Post by: Francine Eisner on August 20, 2007, 08:40:55 AM
QUOTE(bil207 @ Aug 20 2007, 09:32 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
You can try calling the MTA's Lost and Found number and see if anyone named Luis has reported a lost Zune.
Yr right...! I forgot all about the Lost and Found. I've done so, & they're checking...
Cheers,
Francine
(The Mac Gardener)
Post by: Francine Eisner on August 20, 2007, 08:47:57 AM
QUOTE(krissel @ Aug 20 2007, 01:37 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
He may have left it on purpose, kind of like leaving a dog you don't want anymore.
Post by: Xairbusdriver on August 20, 2007, 09:07:54 AM
Reminds me of the old country song line, "If it weren't for bad luck I wouldn't have any luck at all!"
Just be careful connecting it to a PC, it might download a virus to it! 
Post by: Parker on August 20, 2007, 11:19:44 AM
a zune's pretty much worthless for you, unless you have a PC :-O
Post by: Paddy on August 20, 2007, 11:26:38 AM
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/926313
Post by: Parker on August 20, 2007, 11:34:06 AM
QUOTE(Paddy @ Aug 20 2007, 12:26 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Francine, here's the info on where to find the Zune's serial number:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/926313
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/926313
Just as microscopic, like the iPod's...
(if not more)
Post by: Gregg on August 20, 2007, 12:18:33 PM
QUOTE(Parker @ Aug 20 2007, 11:34 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE(Paddy @ Aug 20 2007, 12:26 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Francine, here's the info on where to find the Zune's serial number:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/926313
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/926313
Just as microscopic, like the iPod's...
(if not more)
Anybody have a Mobil SpeedPass? The serial number is etched into the black plastic at about 1pt. in size. Read it before you use it too much and it wears off!
Post by: Parker on August 20, 2007, 12:48:06 PM
QUOTE
Anybody have a Mobil SpeedPass? The serial number is etched into the black plastic at about 1pt. in size. Read it before you use it too much and it wears off!
What about before you eyes start to hurt from trying to find the bloody thing?
Post by: Gregg on August 21, 2007, 07:36:16 AM
That too.Not to mention the raised black lettering on the back of electronics equipment that often sits on an enclosed (on three sided) shelf with no light back there. Where does Magnavox get off using the slogan "Smart, Very Smart"? But another brand takes the cake: "Sharp". Say what?
Post by: Francine Eisner on August 21, 2007, 03:51:18 PM
Francine
(The Mac Gardener)
Post by: Gregg on August 22, 2007, 07:37:02 AM
Post by: Francine Eisner on August 22, 2007, 05:06:22 PM
QUOTE(Gregg @ Aug 22 2007, 08:37 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
You might want to send the Zune to Microsoft and let them return it, thus remaining anonymous to the owner, who probably lives near you. Just a thought...
Actually, Microsoft is being rather difficult about the whole thing. They are too concerned about their "privacy policy" to make good sense, which is to do what you suggested above, and what I have suggested as well.
It turns out that Microsoft has no protocol in place for the return of a lost Microsoft product. And they don't want to initiate one, either.
What they want is for me to take the Zune to an MTA lost-and-found. They believe that the MTA will call the owner of the Zune (?!) I told them that everything the MTA does is half-a$$-ed. Actually, the first thing I had done was to call the MTA, and they said they would call me if anyone had reported losing a Zune on one of their subway trains.
But of course I never heard from anyone.
The situation right now: Microsoft has told me that they contacted the owner of the Zune, but the owner is not allowed to contact me (even though I don't care about my privacy) and I am not allowed to contact him (If I knew his contact info, I would violate this in a second, of course). And they won't let me send the Zune to them.
I've told Microsoft several times that I have no intention of bringing the Zune to an MTA lost-and-found office, and that they should change their policy.
Unless the owner of the Zune makes a big stink about the whole thing, I don't think that they ever will...!
Why am I not surprised???
Cheers,
Francine
(The Mac Gardener)
Post by: Paddy on August 22, 2007, 10:41:47 PM
Post a lost and found notice on Craigslist. It's free, your real email remains hidden, and you can ask any respondents to identify either/all of the following:
Serial number (if he/she has this, then you're pretty much guaranteed that you've found the real owner)
Date, approximate time and train it was found on.
Be explicit in the ad - tell people that you're NOT interested in hearing from them unless they have either of those bits of info. Of course, you can also use the music to identify it by (assuming that it still has power and a screen to show the playlist!)
http://newyork.craigslist.org/laf/
Right now there is nobody looking for a Zune - I checked.
Post by: Francine Eisner on August 22, 2007, 10:49:52 PM
QUOTE(Paddy @ Aug 22 2007, 11:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Hey, I have an idea, Francine.
Post a lost and found notice on Craigslist. It's free, your real email remains hidden, and you can ask any respondents to identify either/all of the following:
Serial number (if he/she has this, then you're pretty much guaranteed that you've found the real owner)
Date, approximate time and train it was found on.
Be explicit in the ad - tell people that you're NOT interested in hearing from them unless they have either of those bits of info.
http://newyork.craigslist.org/laf/
Right now there is nobody looking for a Zune - I checked.
Post a lost and found notice on Craigslist. It's free, your real email remains hidden, and you can ask any respondents to identify either/all of the following:
Serial number (if he/she has this, then you're pretty much guaranteed that you've found the real owner)
Date, approximate time and train it was found on.
Be explicit in the ad - tell people that you're NOT interested in hearing from them unless they have either of those bits of info.
http://newyork.craigslist.org/laf/
Right now there is nobody looking for a Zune - I checked.
Wow!!! That's a wonderful, wonderful idea...!!!
assuming that the guy is a CrL devotee. Maybe I should tell Microsoft, just to make sure. If they're willing to tell him, then surely they will see how ridiculous their policy is.
It may also be the only way to get the Zune back to its rightful owner.
I'll post on CrL tomorrow and see what happens. Will keep you all "posted" as well,
...Cheers,
Francine
(The Mac Gardener)
Post by: Gregg on August 23, 2007, 07:38:57 AM
The next day, I went to the campus bookstore and asked if anyone had ordered a manual for an HP41c yesterday. They actually looked, and said yes, an order had been placed. I then went to the campus police and reported this. They immediately sent an officer to the bookstore to get a name and address. I followed him over.
To make a long story shorter, the transit company allowed me to post a notice on the bus shelters where the "lucky" person probably got on. The calculator was returned to me a few days later. I still have it.
Post by: Francine Eisner on August 23, 2007, 08:43:41 AM
QUOTE(Gregg @ Aug 23 2007, 08:38 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
This just jogged my memory this morning about losing my "hand-held computer" (HP41c calculator) on a city bus while in college. I didn't think I had put it in my backpack that morning when I looked for it and didn't see it. It wasn't until that evening, back in my apartment that I looked again, and it wasn't there. I concluded it had fallen out the top of the backpack on the bus when I laid it down.
The next day, I went to the campus bookstore and asked if anyone had ordered a manual for an HP41c yesterday. They actually looked, and said yes, an order had been placed. I then went to the campus police and reported this. They immediately sent an officer to the bookstore to get a name and address. I followed him over.
To make a long story shorter, the transit company allowed me to post a notice on the bus shelters where the "lucky" person probably got on. The calculator was returned to be a few days later. I still have it.
The next day, I went to the campus bookstore and asked if anyone had ordered a manual for an HP41c yesterday. They actually looked, and said yes, an order had been placed. I then went to the campus police and reported this. They immediately sent an officer to the bookstore to get a name and address. I followed him over.
To make a long story shorter, the transit company allowed me to post a notice on the bus shelters where the "lucky" person probably got on. The calculator was returned to be a few days later. I still have it.
Hehe...Gregg, you should be a detective! Brilliant!
Cheers,
Francine
(The Mac Gardener)