Could my radio be taken from me?

[deweyusa]

Hi

I was at a hamfest last week and bought a really nice Motorola handheld. I got it to a friend with a legal copy of their CPS who said he was sure he had the right cable, but couldn't seem to get his PC to recognize it.

Stupidly, I took it to a local Motorola dealer and asked them to look at it and see if it was damaged (it boots and TX/RX work fine, it just isn't responding to his programming attempts). Only thing...on the face it says "Property of Motorola Solutions". The guy who sold it to me was a dealer from another state. He said it was scrap that he was authorized to sell. I am now questioning how a radio with that face plate got on the open market, and worse, if the dealer will decide to not give it back to me, saying it belongs to the mothership.

Is it possible I could lose a radio I paid a fair amount for, or is this radio likely legitimate?

 

[hitechRadio]

My guess it was stolen from Motorola, from either someone that went to training or from staging maybe. I am assuming it is an APX being you say you payed a fair amount, is that correct?!?
Also since it says "SOLUTIONS" at the end, it must be a newer radio.

It was probably programmed using special key, and the radio is locked from programming. If that's the case (sounds like it), it is a paper weight radio.
The CPS should have come up with an error stating incorrect key, possibly (cannot remember the exact verbage).

I don't think the dealer would have the right to take the radio from you, although he probably has the serial now and he can get the information to the proper people. I would get my money back from the dealer, or at least have make sure you have the receipt for purchase!

 

[N4KVE]

Only thing...on the face it says "Property of Motorola Solutions". The guy who sold it to me was a dealer from another state. He said it was scrap that he was authorized to sell.

How could you be so [and I'm being polite here] gullible to fall for that out, & out lie? Bet you don't have a bill of sale, or seller's contact info either. Does it have a serial number decal? How could you bring a radio to a Motorola dealer that says Property of Motorola? You may get it back, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

 

[com501]

Probably one of the ones stolen from the trade show. Welcome to felony land.

 

[hitechRadio]

Hi
I was at a hamfest last week and bought a really nice Motorola handheld. The guy who sold it to me was a dealer from another state. He said it was scrap that he was authorized to sell.

I missed the hamfest part! UH,OH!!!! REDFLAGS!

The dealer, is not Motorola Solutions. However when I worked for a dealer, if this radio would have came into our shop. We would not have taken the radio (unless it was a leased or rental of ours), but we would have gotten the serial and any info from you, and contacted the owner and/or authorities.

if the dealer will decide to not give it back to me

But it seems from what your saying, the dealer you took it too for programing still has it in there possession currently, correct?



I am not a lawyer, so no clue on any of that stuff.

At this point I have no reason to believe your not telling the truth!
Because, not only did you take it to a Motorola dealer, but then you posted about it on here!

I see you joined yesterday, and this is your first post!

Goodluck!

 

[ten13]

If you have a bill of sale, but the radio was stolen (which also includes not returning it to MOT after, say, a training session), they will probably offer you an alternative: surrender the radio (and you're out the money), or be charged with Criminal Possession of Stolen Property (or whatever it's called in your state).

If you don't have a bill of sale and it turns out that it was stolen, they will probably...and eventually...allow you to say that it was "found" and you returned it to a Motorola dealership (still out the money). Of course, if you want to cry the blues about your money....see paragraph above.

I don't know if I would buy a radio...or anything else...with something like "Property of....." anyone or anything stamped on it.

Let's recall a situation in New York last year or so: NYC sold a barrel full of old, out-dated NYPD radios, some in working conditions, most not. Someone legitimately purchased the lot of them (a radio guy), fixed up a few of them, and sold them. Somehow, the NYPD got wind of this guy selling them (eBay perhaps? I forget) and, despite his record keeping of the sale (actually, it was a NYC auction), he was arrested by the (add sarcasm here) crack Internal Affairs Division of the New York City Police Department for possession of stolen property. In court, the charges were (rightfully) dismissed, and the radio guy sued the city for false arrest and won.

 

[Spec]

If it was stolen and reported as stolen it remains stolen no matter how many times it changes hands in between the original owner and the recovering party. In short YES you could loose it.

 

[Voyager]

If that is the case you can also 'roll over' on the hamfest dealer.

At this point I would contact the hamfest dealer and get a copy of his "authorization to sell". If he can't produce that, let him know that another dealer has the unit and if it's stolen you will let them know where you purchased it from.

A last resort is that you should be able to pursue legal remedies to get your money back from the first dealer.

And at this point, document EVERYTHING! Even write down everything you can remember from the hamfest dealer - location in the hamfest, names, physical description, anything you can remember before you forget it. (disclaimer: This is not legal advice - just common sense)

 

[N4KVE]

If that is the case you can also 'roll over' on the hamfest dealer.

Bet he has no idea who he is.

 

[pinballwiz86]

Did the radio fall off the back of a truck?

 

[Danny37]

You should run serial numbers through that trace website before you buy anything these days and always always get a bill of sale. Cover your a$$! I know people like using Craigslist and cash but I honestly like having a middle man in case **** hits the fan and you can refer back. Usually eBay, Amazon, PayPal leaves a paper trail and that's good and safe.

 

[ipfd320]

Now that You Scared the S--T out of The New Poster With the Answers That were Left--

My guess it was stolen from Motorola, from either someone that went to training or from staging maybe.

Lets Maybe Start Off as This Particular Radio was Bought from a Govt Surplus Auction and Changed Many Hands--Right Away This was Said--Yes he Went to a Junk Fest as He Said---How Many Of You Go to The Fests and Buy Stuff--Right Away People Jump Down this Persons Throat Because he Didnt Get a Recipt--Most of the Sellers at a Junk Fest Dont Give Recipts---

as for the Label on the Radio---Did Anyone Ever Think that the Radios are Out of Contract and the Districs / county / states owned Them Now and Went to the Auction Block

{QUOTE}-{n4kve}
How could you be so [and I'm being polite here] gullible to fall for that out, & out lie? Bet you don't have a bill of sale, or seller's contact info either. Does it have a serial number decal? How could you bring a radio to a Motorola dealer that says Property of Motorola? You may get it back, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

Why Tear Into Him Like That--Maybe He Thought He was Doing the Right Thing Since his Friend Couldnt get the Radio Programmed--Remember this was his 1st Post --its Persons like you to give a bad Taste in his mouth about this Site with these kind of answers

as for the Radio Itself--Yes it Might be a Brick and Decommissioned by the Dept / State or Whoever had it Last before the Sale into Public Hands

by the Way here is a Link to the Govt Auctions Site

https://www.govdeals.com/index.cfm

GO to this Section---->>>>
(IN the Letter C Listing)--Communication/Electronic Equipment - 165 items
(IN the Letter F Listing)--Fire and Police Equipment - 199 items

 

[Voyager]

Did you miss this part?

on the face it says "Property of Motorola Solutions"

It's clear who it came from. Hopefully it was legit. He should be prepared if it's not.

 

[RodStrong]

Lol drama queens. Probably a demo or special event radio that was later sold. I've seen tons of them.......yes, with stickers on them after the sale, as well as chargers and such.

 

[Voyager]

Not drama - prudence. Being prepared for any outcome to minimize the potential drama.

 

[N4KVE]

If it was an MTS2000, there's nothing to worry about. If it's an APX, that's another story. So to the OP, what model radio are we talking about?

 

[deweyusa]

Gentlemen, we officially have a soap opera! Tune in tomorrow when the new forum user gets his door kicked in by the local police, escorted by Motorola legal. ipfd320, thank you for standing up for someone who didn't fully grasp the circumstances at first.

In general, I have always been amazed at the amount of voluntary protectionism expressed around Motorola and it's software by third parties. You'd think everyone who talks about them had a Motorola agent in a black trenchcoat with a pistol to their heads as they type. Seriously, I know most of you were trying to warn me of the worst, and I appreciate that. If anything, it shows how vigilant they are about protecting their IP.

Well, I hate to disappoint you all, but it's an XPR 7550. What is "expensive" to me is probably chump change to most of y'all. There's no way I'm forking over $2K even for a brutally ALT-program abused APX without serious documentation and knowledge that it works 100%.

That said, I did a quick spot check on eBay while I was there and determined that I was paying what I thought seemed a decent price, but you are all correct, being a hamfest, I didn't get a bill of sale, as is very common at these events. No need to remind me again of what so many of you already have in this area. I am more disappointed that I don't seem to have a programmable radio that I paid (in my estimation) was good money for. I do happen to have his accurate eBay user id, where I see he still actively sells many a Motorola radio.

That said, I realized as soon as I walked out of the dealer that it was stupid to have taken such a radio there, and returned right when they opened this morning and got it back. They hadn't had time to ship it to their tech department yet. Yes, they do have the serial number (which is still on the radio - perhaps the only good sign), and my name, so I could still be in for some explaining, but like someone suggested, I can also contact the hamfest organizers and explain what happened and potentially track him down that way. I have seen him there for multiple years. In hindsight, it was dumb to purchase it in the first place, but he had a good story that he was authorized to sell it despite the face plate, and my case of black radio disease withdrawals kicked in for a new piece of gear that I thought was a good price, overriding my common sense. Damn hamfests.

In the mean time, perhaps someone can suggest why an XPR 7550 isn't being recognized as a Network Device by Win 10, even when using the correct PMKN4012B cable? (We tried CPS 13,14,and 15).
Also, I wasn't aware there was a place to check serial numbers. Is that for property of all kinds, or just radios?

Thanks for the help

 

[fourthhorseman]

...Waiting for Bill Handle to chime in....

 

[ecps92]

Generally Not even worth the bandwidth to run it thru TRACE
a. Did the LE/CJ Agency even enter it into NCIC
b. Did someone report it via the PD to Trace [Boston no longer participates]
c. Most people don't know a Serial # from a Model # - hell 90% of stolen phones are reported with a Serial number of AREACODE-Prefix-number
d. NCIC article records - with the exception of Law Enforcement, Critical Infrastructure and Homeland Security Items will be only avail for the rest of the current year Plus 1 Year - then they get purged.

You should run serial numbers through that trace website before you buy anything these days and always always get a bill of sale. Cover your a$$! I know people like using Craigslist and cash but I honestly like having a middle man in case **** hits the fan and you can refer back. Usually eBay, Amazon, PayPal leaves a paper trail and that's good and safe.

 

[mmckenna]

In general, I have always been amazed at the amount of voluntary protectionism expressed around Motorola and it's software by third parties. You'd think everyone who talks about them had a Motorola agent in a black trenchcoat with a pistol to their heads as they type. Seriously, I know most of you were trying to warn me of the worst, and I appreciate that. If anything, it shows how vigilant they are about protecting their IP.

If you'd ever signed one of their software licensing agreements "back in the day", then you'd not be too far off.