How do I return a device to it's owner?

Kacie630 wrote:

Not much to ask I don't think. I'd want mine returned to me had I paid full retail. Any suggestions would be welcomed.

Actually, it is a great deal to ask of a commercial incorporated or limited liability company who is bound by federal and state privacy and consumer protection laws. In fact, it would require the company to act in a fashion that would violate many such laws and put the company in legal jeopardy.

People's personal information is shared with Apple under strict rules, as well as company policy of privacy and restricted use - accessing it to assist someone who wishes to contact a device owner, for any reason, is one of such violation of those laws and policy. Thus it is not going to happen.

Apple does not get involved with private party sales or exchanges of personal property, at all. No consumer company does. Private party sales, trades or exchanges of personal property are just that - private - between the seller and buyer exclusively. Nobody else is going to step into such a deal ever, other than law enforcement if one party feels that they were treated illegally in the exchange. So if you feel you were ripped off in some way, then the police (or the civil justice system, if you wish to sue the seller) are the only ones with any power or authority to help you in any way.

I think most people would prefer to do business with a company that respects their privacy, rather than one that willfully violates it on the wishes of others.

Kacie630 wrote:

To protect themselves, Apple could give you the option when setting up your Apple ID/ pairing devices to opt in or out for notifications if lost stolen property is found.

Again, another nightmare for the legal team at Apple. By denoting themselves as the notification service for lost or stolen property, they've then squarely placed themselves in potential jeopardy if they fail to notify someone, cannot reach them because they've not kept their AppleID contact information up to date, get scammed by someone or any other glitch in the notification system. And running such a system costs them money in the first place so just adds to the prices we all pay for their products.

They have deliberately provided a system 100% under the users control and discretion - lost mode via find my iphone. Apple itself is deaf dumb and blind to who uses, or does not use that feature. it's in the hands of device owners to use, or not, as they wish.

Kacie630 wrote:

To protect themselves, Apple could give you the option when setting up your Apple ID/ pairing devices to opt in or out for notifications if lost stolen property is found.

Apple already gives people the option of putting a device in lost mode.

Apple is highly unlikely to get into the lost and found business for all of the reasons already given.

I agree! I recently bought an Apple Watch second hand from someone who I have no contact information for and am unable to use it/ pair it with my phone. I didn't know to check for an activation lock. I've contacted Apple who is suggested I contact local police. I did. Provided them with serial number and description to ensure not reported stolen. Officer said he had no records or reports to match and could be because original owner was unable to provide serial number. I'm first of concerned that the person I purchased from could have stolen - second if not stolen I have no means of contacting her to ask to unlock. I would like to return to original owner if stolen or I would like to use it if it isn't. Not much to ask I don't think. I'd want mine returned to me had I paid full retail. Any suggestions would be welcomed.

I'm not asking for their social or their address. I'm not asking for any of their information. I'm just saying it would be nice if apple would be willing to send the original owner an email or some type of notification to let them know their property has been found and give them the opportunity to retrieve it.

Kacie630 wrote:

I'm not asking for their social or their address. I'm not asking for any of their information. I'm just saying it would be nice if apple would be willing to send the original owner an email or some type of notification to let them know their property has been found and give them the opportunity to retrieve it.

You are welcome to submit feedback to Apple here:

http://www.apple.com/feedback

Kacie630 wrote:

I'm not asking for their social or their address. I'm not asking for any of their information. I'm just saying it would be nice if apple would be willing to send the original owner an email or some type of notification to let them know their property has been found and give them the opportunity to retrieve it.

And that would be a violation of both Apple's own stated privacy policy as well as federal privacy laws. Apple has no right to use someone's private information to make unsolicited contact with them at the request of another private citizen.

It is a legal minefield for any company to attempt to act as stewards for lost or stolen personal property. I don't blame them for not getting involved. Apple does not get involved with lost or stolen personal property at all. By simply not stepping it at all, they avoid any legal problems associated with privacy and people's personal information.

If you read this entire thread you already know what your options are.

To protect themselves, Apple could give you the option when setting up your Apple ID/ pairing devices to opt in or out for notifications if lost stolen property is found.

You cannot unless they have used lost mode and put a contact message on it. Otherwise, turn it in to the police or the lost and found at the location you found it. As you already know, neither Apple nor any carrier is going to divulge client contact information to anyone else, at least not without a court order to do so.

Turn it in to the police.

kevinds-apple wrote:

Now I completely understand Apple and a cellular carrier not wanting to assist, so they can sell a new device.. Better for business right?

...

Wrong, privacy is very important.

But is there any useful way to send a message to an Activation locked owner? Asking if they did give it away or if it was lost/stolen how to get it back to them?

The whole activation locked process seems great for not allowing people to use a stolen device.. Lost device, don't have sympathy for.. But activation locked is for this purpose, how does one return a device to it's owner?

All I have found is talk to the last owner and have them remove the device from their account.

Well.. How does one actually do that?

When I find a device, I would be happy to return it to them. Any suggestions how to do such a thing?

No, No, No. See comment above.

Return for a refund or hand it over to the local police.

Police do attempt to match received property against reported stolen items, funnily enough, thats part of their job.

Companies have a responsibility to protect their clients personal information. I sure don't want Apple or any company I do business with divlulging my contact information with any inquiring private citizen, under any circumstances.