MetaChat - I need to buy a computer anonymously...

MetaChat is an informal place for MeFites to touch base and post, discuss and chatter about topics that may not belong on MetaFilter. Questions? Check the FAQ. Please note: This is important.

04 September 2007

I need to buy a computer anonymously... ...and I step up timidly to query the hive mind. A teacher friend of mine had a break-in and lost a computer that she was counting in (it's not the only one her class has, but lesson plans have been built around it). →[More:]I would like to replace it anonymously. Nothing big, just something that can Windows XP, Word, and connect to the net. Are there places for teachers that will do this for you? Am I better off just going and buying a low-end system and shipping it? The problem with shipping it is that it may give away my identity, and I do want her to puzzle over it, at least for a while, though she will likely immediately guess the big galoot who did it. Thoughts?

post by: it must be bunnies at: 20:30 | 4 comments

You could buy one in-person and leave it at her office door (if she has one) with a red bow on it. Or inside the classroom before her class begins, if it's open.

posted by LoriFLA 04 September | 21:17

It'll be easier to order something, have it shipped to you, possibly even make sure it's set up just so, and then make arrangements for it to show up in her classroom.

(Or just go buy one from a store. Normally I have better luck with the cheapness ordering from newegg.com, though.)

You might try calling newegg.com to see if they will help you. They've always been super helpful to me - though I've never wanted to send something anonymously.

posted by fluffy battle kitten 04 September | 21:25

Could you ship it from one of those UPS/FedEx stores without giving your name on the shipping ticket? That way you could make sure that the box doesn't have any paperwork that could link it to you. I'd ship it to the school to make sure someone is there to sign for it, and insure the package.

posted by youngergirl44 04 September | 21:26

Earlier this summer I ordered a macbook pro for sister from my apple account and put her name as the recipient. Mine didn't show up anywhere. So I'm thinking if you order one from, say, Dell and put her name as all the contact info, set it as gift and make the billing address your info then she need never know who did it? I agree with whoever said to call. I'm sure they can accommodate you.

posted by LunaticFringe 05 September | 07:22

← Happy Birthday to jessamyn!!!! || No way! →

HOME || REGISTER || LOGIN