Buying Advice Lawnmower Has Not Model/Serial Number Tag

[trobin9496]

I recently traded my car for a lawnmower of equal value. I didn't look for a model/serial number on the lawnmower at the time of the trade, but a couple days later I decided to check the model number in order to download a manual for it. I found that the model/serial number tag that was riveted to the frame of the mower was missing. Now, I'm wondering if the lawnmower is stolen and I'm trying to decide what I should do, if anything. Only info I have from the seller is name, phone number and email address...not their actual address. At the time of the trade, they said the lawnmower had belonged to their dad, who passed away. If I called the police, would they even be able to tell if it's stolen, since I don't have the serial number? Not sure what to do. Should I just assume it's not stolen and forget about it?

 

[davesl708]

Often the serial number is in more than one place for just such emergencies. Look the frame over or do a search online for the brand an where the number is located. You may be able to do a search with the engine serial number and find what model it was used on.

Hope it was not stolen but the statute of limitations most likely ran out unless recently stolen.

Some have the serial number on a sticker and then stamped into metal somewhere else.

 

[Oldtink]

Myself, I think I would at least get on record that you called the police to cover your xxx for not intentionally buying stolen equipment. And get proof you reported it!
I know that sux but you could loose more than the mower if it is reported missing.

 

[Gary Fowler]

When buying used you should always get a Bill of Sale with the model and serial number listed on it along with selling price. If you didn't do that then there is no way to prove that you bought it vs stealing it (If it is a stolen mower).
Have you tried to get in touch with the person who sold it to you?
If it is an older mower, the tag could have been knocked off or the pins rusted out which is not uncommon but the number is normally steel stamped somewhere on the frame usually up around the steering column.

 

[trobin9496]

Thanks for the replies. I'm going to look other places to see if a serial number is stamped somewhere. I'm trying to get in touch with the person I traded with. They said they had some paperwork at home but didn't bring it when they brought the mower(and they live about 60 miles away). I do have a bill of sale for the trade with the car's VIN number on it, but I couldn't find the ID tag on the mower at the time so I didn't put it on there. I thought it was just covered with dirt somewhere. It was dark and I was late for something, so I just put the year(it did have a model year tag), make and size with the person's name and we both signed it.

Thanks to Facebook and Whitepages.com, I did manage to find and copy the person's home address, photos and other info. So, at least they did use their real names in case I have to take them to small claims to get reimbursed. I'll wait to see if they come up with documentation on it before I check with police. I think if it was stolen, it probably happened a while back because the place where the tag was supposed to be was covered with gunk and dirt like the rest of the mower. I had to pressure wash it before I saw the rivet holes.

 

[big bubba]

good work. posting on the forum and doing your homework was the smart thing to do. sounds like you got your bases covered. hope the mower is a good one for ya

 

[trobin9496]

Couldn't find the serial number anywhere else. It's an Exmark LazerZ and I think they only put the model/serial num below the seat on the riveted tag, which is missing. Can't find the serial number on the engine, either. The guy who traded it to me hasn't responded yet, so I'm facing more of an ethical dilemma now trying to decide what to do. I traded a $4000 car for a $4000 mower to a normal looking couple in their 30's, so it seemed legit at the time. But, I'm wondering if the serial numbers are missing because it's outright stolen or someone had it stolen to collect on the insurance for it.

If I believe their story that it was their late father's mower, I could just forget about it and keep it to mow with for many years to come. If it did happen to be stolen at some point in the past, there's virtually no chance that the mower would ever be identified anyway, since it doesn't have identification numbers on it.

If I don't believe their story, and decide to call the police, I would potentially lose the mower and the $4000 car that I traded to them because they may have sold it or stripped it by now. Then I would have to take the potential thieves to small claims to try to retrieve the money, which they would probably never pay if they're thieves, and they could even retaliate since they know where I live. But, there's a good chance that the police couldn't match the mower to a theft anyway, since there's no serial numbers. I wonder if I could just call them and ask what they could do without serial numbers. Maybe they would say to forget about it.

This sucks. I just wanted to sell a car and happened to need a larger mower since I just went from a half acre yard to three acres.

 

[flyerdan]

With civil forfeitures a larger and larger part of every police budget, they will use any excuse to mexican anything of value from people, whether they are accused of a crime or not, just a hint of wrongdoing at some point is a green light for them to clean you out. Since it doesn't appear that you intend to use this commercially, I'd just dummy up and use it.

 

[Gary Fowler]

With civil forfeitures a larger and larger part of every police budget, they will use any excuse to mexican anything of value from people, whether they are accused of a crime or not, just a hint of wrongdoing at some point is a green light for them to clean you out. Since it doesn't appear that you intend to use this commercially, I'd just dummy up and use it.

I think I can agree with this. You bought it in good faith so use it as you please. As you said, if no serial numbers on the machine anywhere, there is really no way to ID it anyway. The time for caution and observation has passed now so you cant do anything other than loose if you start to question the validity of the sale. It is now in the SSS (shoot, shovel, shutup) box.

 

[trobin9496]

With civil forfeitures a larger and larger part of every police budget, they will use any excuse to mexican anything of value from people, whether they are accused of a crime or not, just a hint of wrongdoing at some point is a green light for them to clean you out. Since it doesn't appear that you intend to use this commercially, I'd just dummy up and use it.

Yeah, I think that's what I'll do, especially since I don't really know if it's stolen, anyway. I think there's a good chance the police would take it and auction it even if they can't tie it to a crime, since I received it with the ID tag missing. Oh well...live and learn. But with lawnmowers, there's no title, so, even with the serial number, it's hard to tell if it's stolen before the purchase. At least with a car, you can do a VIN check online to see if it's been reported stolen before you buy it. But most people don't even do that.