Can I legally keep a package shipped wrongfully?

Question

After a terrible experience with a computer company we'll call "Apple", I never received my laptop. After about a week, they finally decided to just ship me a replacement. Shortly after, the missing laptop arrived.
After further investigation, I saw that Apple didn't even ship the "missing" laptop until after I had received the replacement. I contacted Apple and they sent me a new shipping label.

I started thinking about the problems I had had with them and called Apple back and asked if they would just give me the laptop as a gesture of remorse for the problems I had with them.
I was informed (quietly) that state law states that if they ship me something in error, I am under no obligation to return it.
He also stated that they have already charged me for the first one and they couldn't charge me again.
Their website does show they are expecting me to return it.

For an accurate answer, I live in Oklahoma.

My question is: Can I legally keep this laptop without consequences?

Answer 1

No. I understand where the confusion is from but you have to return it. In the late 70s there was a series of public service commercials put out by the US Postal Service. The most famous showed an eskimo receiving a fan that he never ordered. The commercial stated that if you did not order an item and it is sent to you, then you can keep it.

This law was put into effect because of a scam that some shady businesses were using. They would ship you an item you didn't order and then have you either return it, at your own expense, or pay for the item. This is the scam that the law is protecting you from. If you get an item by mistake, like the case listed above, you are required to send it back.

By the way, postal laws are the same throughout the country...it doesn't matter which state you are in. Apple will catch up with this and if you opened the laptop and used it you will be required to pay for it. They will sue you and will win.

Answer 2

The laptop is not yours. You have an obligation to return it to the rightful owner. The company should make the arrangements for you to have it shipped back or picked up by a shipping company or representative of the computer company. If you deny the company their property, you can be sued and criminally charged with theft, so give the laptop back, OK?

Answer 3

No, you cannot keep it. There is an implicit contract between the shipper and receiver that obligates either party to reasonably remedy any errors. The right thing and legal thing to do is to contact Apple customer service to report the problem. Save copies of any correspondence. Apple should paid return postage. Apple will soon discover the error and any failure to return their property may lead to legal action.

Answer 4

Legally speaking...as they said...If you didn't specifically order something, and you get it in the mail...its yours to keep.
Use to be companies could send free products to disgruntle consumers if there was cause just to keep future business, but in the day and age of scams, it doesn't happen as much as it use to.
Enjoy the free laptop I say, although it might not be seen as the "nice" thing to do, I"m sure Apple is trucking along in profits enough to not worry about the few times they might mis-ship something.

Answer 5

No it is not felony or ethical to maintain the field. no remember what the field includes, or whom it truly is from, you're able to the two take it back to the placed up workplace, or in case you be attentive to the guy's handle by using accident, deliver it to them your self.

Answer 6

i heard you have have to ship it to a third part ie me

Answer 7

So long as you don't open it, you may keep itas long as you wish, legally.
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