Is this stealing?

[WittiestUsernameEver]

Keeping this a little vague (because I need to know if I should follow this up)

If you handed your laptop
(but not charger) to a Repair Company to fix, and they sent it away for you under warranty to the manufacturer and the device was declared beyond economic repair. Manufacturer send out an equivalent laptop that is the same spec or higher, but different model. Repair Company sets up the new laptop for you and hands the new device to you without the charger. (Both devices use the same rated charger)

Would you expect Repair Company to give you the replacement charger that was in the box? Or is it okay for Repair Company to keep the new charger for their own as you still have your original charger that works perfectly with your new laptop?

YANBU = stealing/customer should be given the charger

YABU = Repair Company can keep charger guilt free.

Offer to swap the old charger for the new one.
If a new charger comes with the laptop I’d expect to be given the lot or I’d be complaining to the manufacturer.

If you didn't hand in the charger I would not expect to get the charger back.

The warranty replacement was for the defective part, they chose to replace more than that, they are under no obligation to replace even more.

To be clear it's the SHOP keeping the new charger that was sent with the replacement laptop (brand new in box)

So it's okay if the shop keeps the brand new charger that was sent with the brand new in package device? And you'd be ok with that if it was you?

The charger wasn’t faulty, so you are not entitled to a new one. The one in the box is likely being sent back to the manufacturer or sold to the repair company to use in repairs. The repair company isn’t keeping it gratis.

The new charger isn't being sent back to manufacturer.

The Repair Company Shop is taking it out of the complete package, and keeping it for themselves.

No it isn't. Yes they are.

I would ask the shop what is happening to the brand new charger.
If they’re going to sell it then that’s a bit off as they’ve merely been an intermediary.

I would have no problem with the repair company keeping the charger. You already have a suitable working charger which was never faulty, so was not replaced.

It could be sold to other customers or kept in their workshop to use with other laptops as they fix them etc.

If bought a new charger from them, you wouldn't have any way to know it was actually a replacement sent by a warranty repair or something they'd bought and sold on to you.

Yes they are sending it back or have paid/arranged to use it on other repairs with the manufacturer.

Also I'm wondering whether the repair company was paid for their work? Because they sent away the old laptop for you and set up the new one for you. They have invested time and effort for potentially no return.

Of course it's not stealing.
They provided you with a working replacement of what you brought in for repairs. Nothing more, nothing less.

I promise you that Repair Company are NOT sending the charger back to the manufacturer. They're keeping it for themselves to either use in workshop or sell to customers.

They have been paid for the service (which includes sending away for warranty repair) - yes.

Of course the charger is the customer’s! Get it back.

So what? That is a legal option. The service contract is between the manufacturer and them to repair or replace your faulty laptop. The warranty from the manufacturer to you merely means the manufacturer pays the bill of the repair company. Any/all bits and bobs are not yours, they have been provided by the manufacturer to the repair company and it is up to whatever arrangement they have. You are not entitled to the charger as your charger was not faulty.

Why did the laptop owner require the services of the repair shop 'middle-man'? All else being equal no charger was in the initial repair so no charger in the 'repaired' delivery but I'd still query it. In fact if you can get on to that lawyer who does a a legal hour phone in on Saturday evenings, you'd have a clearer legal perspective because I can see the views of both perspectives.

Nope- they see it as their perk, something to sell. If the company sent a new boxed lap-top for the customer, it is hers. Nothing to do with them.

But that's how they provide part of a service. As an intermediary and that is not free of charge.

OP could have bought her own laptop or returned the broken one to the manufacturer herself.

When I got a new laptop replacement through my insurance I didn’t get a replacement charger.

Why don't you just ask them for it?
If they refuse say no worries and contact the Manufacturers and ask for their opinion on the matter.

Ok, but had YOU sent it away for warranty repair (which you can do through their website for free, very easily) you would have received the charger.

Still ok for the shop to keep the charger?

Not trying to say I'm right, I really just need to understand if I should take this information further within the business.

I put YANBU as I assumed that you were the customer who should be getting the charger, didn't see that you had a second post reversing the vote. Obviously it's your charger and they should give it to you.