Verizon doesn't want it, I don't want it -- what now?

August 25, 2008 9:40 AM

Three years ago Verizon sent my roommate a modem; she not only never used it, she never opened the box. Three months ago my roommate moved to Australia and left lots of stuff behind. Three days ago I found that box, opened it, and found what was in it. Three minutes ago Verizon finally told me they don't want it back. Ethically and practically -- what should I do with it?

It's a Gateway versalink ADSL Wireless Westell modem. My roommate actually somehow got a second one, and we tried using my computer with it -- we discovered the hard way that Dell computers (mine) and Westell modems (hers) don't work well together. So I would not personally be able to use this unit.

Verizon says to just "throw it out," but that hardly seems wise. I have a couple people I could give it to for backup, but before I do, I was wondering what the ethics would be for selling it on Craigslist or something. (I've been taking every opportunity I can to sell things, because I was left with a METRIC ASSLOAD of my old roommate's stuff to go through after she moved, and I'll be DAMNED if I don't recoup something after expending the effort to sort through it all.)

The SHIPPING box was never opened until three days ago, and the box with the modem has never been opened. The packing slip does say it was "repackaged." If this tells anyone anything, there you go.

Would it be ethical to sell this? Practical to do so? Any thoughts?

posted by EmpressCallipygos to computers & internet (11 comments total)

As a tech nerd, go ahead and just re-sell it if you can't get any use out of it, just make sure to tell the buyer that it might not work for them, because it might be linked to service...

if they want to buy it/take it for free as a backup after that, go ahead and declutter that item from your life IMHO
posted by guptaxpn at 9:48 AM on August 25, 2008

Clarifying that my old roommate's service has already been cancelled, so it being connected to existing service doesn't seem like it would be a problem. It's just a rogue three-year-old modem.

I'll try Craigslist and see what happens; thanks. I more wanted to make sure that this wouldn't bite me in the butt down the road insofar as "this used to belong to Verizon" goes.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:50 AM on August 25, 2008

I would make sure they note it on the account, perhaps even talking to a supervisor. Or write a letter indicating your intent to get rid of it asking for confirmation. Cancelled or not, it sounds like JUST the type of thing that a bad cs rep would say and come back to haunt them.
posted by [insert clever name here] at 10:01 AM on August 25, 2008

What's the wholesale unit cost of an old modem... $5? I'm not sure if there are any ethical issues here, other than you should be sure to recycle it properly rather than tossing what is for all intents and purposes a piece of junk into a landfill.
posted by KokuRyu at 10:14 AM on August 25, 2008

eBay it. MISB means "mint inside box," I think these are comparable, but I could be mistaken.
posted by paisley henosis at 10:15 AM on August 25, 2008

Oooh, ebay would work, I forgot about that. Thanks!
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 10:30 AM on August 25, 2008

these are almost worthless. i doubt you'll be able to get $ for it. i had trouble giving a couple away for free a few years ago.
posted by misanthropicsarah at 11:23 AM on August 25, 2008

Hmm, a three-year-old modem - about 30 in human years... My cable modem died at 2 years old, and Insight was nice enough to send someone out, check the box to confirm it's death, and hookup a new one at no charge.

Ethically / morally: do what you want with it. The original owner(s) have no claims over it, leaving it to you.

Financially: eBay is full is cheap stuff - the faster / easier you make something out of it the better. I, personally, would take it and any other technological stuff I'd been meaning to dispose of, borrow a sledgehammer, and charge a dollar or two for whomever to take a swing. Use broom and dustpan to clean up whatever remains =)
posted by chrisinseoul at 11:26 AM on August 25, 2008

Well I am using the exact modem with my Verizon DSL here in the boonies and it is more than three years old. Someone will want it.
posted by bjgeiger at 12:45 PM on August 25, 2008

Sell it on Craigslist. Next time you want to make a charitable donation, give them half the proceeds. Everybody wins!
posted by theora55 at 2:31 PM on August 25, 2008

The owner abandoned it, and the service provider gave it to you. Where is the ethical quandary?

I would not hesitate for an instant to sell it for whatever the market will bear. But if misanthropicsarah is right and it's not worth much, then I would freecycle it.
posted by ottereroticist at 6:52 PM on August 25, 2008