Thinkpads without S/N stickers?

[mgb]

On occasion, I've come across TPs for sale on Craigslist without s/n stickers. I realize the s/n and machine type are visible in the bios, but I've avoided a machine without a s/n sticker due to concerns that it might have been stolen.

Am I paranoid here? Are there legit reasons why the s/n sticker might be missing? I could possibly understand it being so worn as to be illegible, but the sticker on any TP I've owned would take some doing to remove.

[rkawakami]

Not paranoid, but perhaps just a little cautious. The S/N could have been "removed" if the system had the bottom case replaced. There's at least one eBay seller that appears to routinely remove the sticker to "void any remaining warranty" (????) .

ref: http://cgi.ebay.com/260724246060

[rek]

I've seen a few (actually quite a few) batches of corporate ex-lease equipment that have had the serial number stickers removed.

Why? The refurbishers get instructions to remove all asset tags. To those workers not familiar with IBM equipment, the type/serial sticker looks similar to an asset tag...

[mgb]

I suppose if buying from a firm that typically resells off-lease items, I'd be OK. But still seems a bit risky if buying from an individual unless they have a bill of sale for it.

[ajkula66]

Bill of sale without a serial number is not worth much of anything...not in any court anyway...