[rumham6969]

I recently bought a laptop from walmart online and decided to SE via the disposed of faulty item method as it has worked for me in the past.

When I was purchasing the laptop I didn't notice that the laptop was being sold/supplied by a third party, even though I bought it on walmart's website. This is making things tricky.

I staged an acid leak and have pictures, when I contacted Walmart they told me only the third party could provide me a refund/replacement. I told the third party and Walmart that I contacted the manufacturer and that the manufacturer told me to dispose of the item. I also told walmart I had to get rid of it as it was covered in acid and my newborn son was endangered by it.

Now the third party seller who I have to deal with has just sent me an email that they "reviewed the photos and filed a case with local police for investigation." they told me to confirm my address so "the police can send an investigator" This sounds like BS to me, and makes no sense as I didn't claim the box was missing or anything that would warrant criminal activity/investigation. There's no way they can just file a report themselves and have police come to my house, right?

I'm wondering what my next steps here are. I can always return the item directly to a walmart store, but I'm still trying to SE it. The third party seller is making things difficult

[mothered]

they told me to confirm my address so "the police can send an investigator"

^ Do not comply with their request.

It's not a crime-related Incident, so there's no reason for the police to get Involved with your claim.

[rumham6969]

they told me to confirm my address so "the police can send an investigator"

^ Do not comply with their request.

It's not a crime-related Incident, so there's no reason for the police to get Involved with your claim.

Understood, I won't comply but this doesn't really leave me with many options. They don't seem to want to do anything unless they get police involved. Their latest email told me to "take the laptop to the nearest manufacturer store to verify my claim."

[mothered]

They don't seem to want to do anything unless they get police involved.

Is the third party seller a company, and not an Individual?

when I contacted Walmart they told me only the third party could provide me a refund/replacement.

That's fine, but It doesn't mean you need to deal directly with the seller.

You've purchased and opened a claim with Walmart, hence they're handling It. As such, ask them to clearly justify why the seller Is getting the police Involved.

Their latest email told me to "take the laptop to the nearest manufacturer store to verify my claim."

Nonsense.

You're not dealing with the manufacturer, so It's not their responsibility to verify the claim.

[fasho1212]

Walmart CS is horrible, I have a thread solely based on the battery leak method with Walmart and they would not budge. If things don't go your way best advice to you is sealed box it and do an IN-STORE return as they do not check whatever investigation that occurred in the first place.

[mothered]

@rumham6969, any progress with your claim?

[PYA]

It looks like the seller suspects fraud, two the "Police" won't send an investigator over some stupid shit like this, the most they could do is file a police report, look into something called "Jurisdictional regions", a police officer has no authority a town over, a sheriff has no authority a county over, so on and so fourth.

Plus using that as a medium of communication to say law enforcement is involved is utter nonsense. Law enforcement communicates directly, via official channels, and would not be shy.

IMO, charge back via the bank/credit card company and ignore all attempts at contact, you might burn the account doing this, but its an easier way to save yourself.

Or as long as you don't have a "pattern" of behavior like this on the accounts history you could get by with it claiming the seller was to blame, it could be seen as an isolated incident.

[rumham6969]

@rumham6969, any progress with your claim?

No progress has been made. I spoke with walmart and the third party seller again today, they are remaining adamant that they would need to send someone to investigate in order to refund. The third party is claiming they have never seen a battery leak in a laptop like this, and they want to contact the manufacturer, who will likely also know the potential for this battery leak is BS. I told the third party that the manufacturer advised me to dispose of the laptop, but the third party wants to contact the manufacturer directly to confirm these details.

I've done this successfully with a laptop before with Bestbuy which was much easier, this is looking like a bust. I'm not sure what else to do. I might just return it in a store and try again another time.

I am considering possibly doing a charge back, as PYA suggested above, but don't know the implications of this. The absolute last thing I want is for investigators or police to become involved if they suspect chargeback of this large amount of money is due to fraud. I'm sure if I charge back, a large investigation will start. Any advice?

[mothered]

The third party is claiming they have never seen a battery leak in a laptop like this

So what?

His/her personal experience, Is by no means a representation of actual events with battery leaks.

and they want to contact the manufacturer, who will likely also know the potential for this battery leak is BS. I told the third party that the manufacturer advised me to dispose of the laptop, but the third party wants to contact the manufacturer directly to confirm these details.

I'm not sure what else to do. I might just return it in a store and try again another time.

You've got nothing to lose by waiting for their reply, so do that and we'll take It from there.

I am considering possibly doing a charge back, as PYA suggested above, but don't know the implications of this. The absolute last thing I want is for investigators or police to become involved if they suspect chargeback of this large amount of money is due to fraud. I'm sure if I charge back, a large investigation will start. Any advice?

As said, wait for the outcome of their Investigation.

The details In their reply, will give a good Indication on the next course of action.