Replacement vs. Repair Cost

My question involves criminal law for the state of: Arizona. While employed I was provided 3 laptop computers for my use in my job. Two are MacBooks which are 10 years old or older. One is still working, one is not. I took it to Apple and they said the logic board is incapacitated. The board costs approximately $300. The third laptop is missing. It is a new MacBook, valued at $1300. I was told to return the 2 that I had in my possession, which I did. And that I would be charged "replacement" cost for the third laptop. Now I get a message that I am being charged $1300 "replacement" cost of the 10 year old laptop and there will be a "theft" charge filed if I don't return the third laptop. My question is, can I be charged replacement cost if they have the computer and just need to repair it? I am willing to have the $1300 taken out of my last check for the missing computer, but can they charge me full price for an ancient piece of equipment?:eek:

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I am willing to have the $1300 taken out of my last check for the missing computer, but can they charge me full price for an ancient piece of equipment?

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Possibly.

When the machines were assigned to you, was there a contract you had to sign? Or a statement of responsibility for the machines?

If so, what did it say?

I signed an "Equipment Inventory" sheet with the items listed. It says nothing about the condition of the equipment. I am trying to be responsible and am willing to pay repair cost for the broken one too, or replace with a "comparable" machine... 10 years old, but it seems very unfair to attempt to charge me for the cost of a brand new machine to replace one that is 10 years old.

What happened to the third laptop?

I have some question about how the "replacement" cost was reached. For example, is the $1,300 reflective of the replacement value of a 10-year-old computer plus the value of the software on the computer that now also has to be replaced? Should we be assuming that the computer could not be fixed with the replacement of the logic board? What happened that caused the computer to stop functioning?

And of course, as cyjeff asked, what happened to the third computer?

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Quoting aaron

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I have some question about how the "replacement" cost was reached. For example, is the $1,300 reflective of the replacement value of a 10-year-old computer plus the value of the software on the computer that now also has to be replaced? Should we be assuming that the computer could not be fixed with the replacement of the logic board? What happened that caused the computer to stop functioning?

And of course, as cyjeff asked, what happened to the third computer?

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And, possibly, the data on the computer and the cost to reconstruct it.

The third computer was lost at a conference I was at. I was responsible for it and am willing to pay for it. I have contacted the hotel I was at to see if they had located it, but the chances of recovery are slim to none.

The cost of replacing the 10 yr. old computer is approximately 200.00, the only software on the computer is Office. There is no additional software or business related data that would need to be replaced.

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Quoting mitme101

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The third computer was lost at a conference I was at. I was responsible for it and am willing to pay for it. I have contacted the hotel I was at to see if they had located it, but the chances of recovery are slim to none.

The cost of replacing the 10 yr. old computer is approximately 200.00, the only software on the computer is Office. There is no additional software or business related data that would need to be replaced.

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Here is what I would do.

Report the third computer as stolen and file a police report. Take a copy of the police report to your employer.

Return the other two computers and don't pay anything. I would let them take you to small claims court for the rest.

They cannot withhold pay or the like for this matter.

I thought about that, but was concerned that it would appear "suspicious". I don't know if it was stolen, I just know that I don't have it. I may have forgotten it in the hotel. Would filing a stolen report, not be charges for filing a false report? If not, should I report it in the town where it was lost? or where I live? This is all very confusing to me.

If you lost it, and you have homeowner's insurance that might cover it, consider making a claim. Many homeowner's policies, though, don't cover laptops unless you get a rider. You can also suggest that the company make an insurance claim. You can make a police report indicating that it was either taken and you didn't notice, or taken after it was inadvertently left at the hotel. With a new Mac, it's possible that somebody might be able to track it down if it's been hooked up to the Internet. (For instance.) (That type of tracing is often possible with other computers as well.)

As you're intent on not telling us what happened to the other computer, there's only so much we can do for you.