Serial Search: storing serial numbers to use if reporting stolen goods...

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freitasm

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Topic # 60801 3-May-2010 15:39

Hello folks... I am told fellow Geekzoner puggy has launched a new website called Serial Search. In short it's a service where you can store serial numbers, receipts and other information about your property, to make it easier for other people to search for it if report stolen and presented (at second hand stores, for insurance claims, etc).

I am posting here because I've seen some people talking about purchasing stolen handsets from Trade Me and other places in the last few months, so this could be an interesting service.

Have a spin and let us know your impressions.

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Reply # 326128 3-May-2010 17:20

Hey freitasm,

Thanks for promoting this for us. We would love to hear any feedback from users, as that is who it is for. We want to make a tool everyone can use.

puggy

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Reply # 326136 3-May-2010 18:02

This looks like a great service! For a while now I have taken scans of my receipts for everything over ~$100 in value and stored them on a backed up HDD as I know the hassle of dealing with insurance companies.

Generally I simply write the serial number of the unit - if applicable - onto the receipt directly before I scan it but I think a sexy searchable database is a great idea. :)

How does the search work when a serial number is matched as stolen? Does it let you know what type of good it is (e.g. iPod Tough 32GB)? I think that would be a cool feature.

Are you able to give us a test serial to search which is 'stolen'?

Regs

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Reply # 326142 3-May-2010 18:27

dont forget to add the keywords "warez" and "crack" somewhere, you'll be No.1 in google before you know it :)

Seriously though, I thought about building one myself - now I dont have to. I'll give it a go as soon as I get back from holiday. Good work!

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puggy

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Reply # 326151 3-May-2010 18:42

Hi 1080p,

Storing your details on the original/scanned receipts is great till someone steals the filing cabinet which happened in my case. We also talk to many people who have had their house burnt down and lost everything too. So hopefully this system fixes some of those issues. You just need to remember your email address.

As for test serials obviously we don't want to corrupt the data that is in there already with fake serials but I can tell you there is hundreds of stolen items already in the system, everything from Cameras to TV's and the majority of stolen items seem to be Apple items, big market for these.

I have gone and grabbed one of the items I have had stolen that you can use if you want to see the report a stolen item process.

The test serial is "SL3B7245" please be aware if you search more than a set amount known to us and the police in a certain time period we will record your IP address on the last search so the police can investigate. The results page, if returning the item as stolen will show a picture of the item if the user has uploaded one.

Stolen items will be linked to Twitter and Facebook shortly, we do this for love at the moment so things take time as we all have full time jobs.

Feel free to give this a go and give us any feed back on how we can improve things.

Ideally we would love to get some of these Apple products back since there is so many, someone must know where they all are.

puggy

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Reply # 326152 3-May-2010 18:47

Hey Regs

Good point about the SEO, watch this space...

puggy

freitasm

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Reply # 326160 3-May-2010 19:25

One thing guys, noted by someone on my Twitter stream - you should go over over the spelling in the entire site again ;-)

Just in case you missed a letter or mispelled "theif".

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1080p

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Reply # 326173 3-May-2010 19:58

"...please be aware if you search more than a set amount known to us and the police in a certain time period we will record your IP address on the last search so the police can investigate."

I've taken a look at that serial and only done a couple of searches for made up serials so i hope I'm safe ;)

Your site looks great and I'm definitely going to take a closer look and consider uploading my stuff.

The photo idea is a great one as well. I must add that to my collection of things to store.

puggy

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Reply # 326198 3-May-2010 21:39

Thanks eveyone, got lots of feedback about spelling, kids stay in school... now wish I had.

1080p the idea behind the multi search is to catch people out that search several items from say one burglary as this means they would know where all the goods are they have all the serial numbers. From research overseas this has been a very successful way of catching people. Where users search one offs or random serials, quite often this means someone like yourself is testing the system on one of their own items or a friends. If an item is found to be stolen you have the option of reporting it right away if it is one off.

puggy

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Reply # 328910 11-May-2010 13:28

The twitter feed of stolen items is now live http://twitter.com/SerialSearch