System helps find a way back for lost items

February 27, 2011 at 12:00a.m.

Most of us have lost something valuable. When it happened to me, my first reaction was to call the nearest lost-and-found department in hopes that some good Samaritan had done the right thing and turned it in. Was I being naive?

Not according to StuffBak’s president, who as an experiment for an insurance company intentionally lost 51 cell phones at airports, rest rooms, hotels, restaurants and other public locations.

In less than three weeks, more than 50 percent of the phones using his StuffBak system were returned and more were coming in.

Given the results of StuffBak’s experiment, perhaps the reason so many things don’t get returned is because their finders don’t know to whom the lost items belong.

StuffBak is convinced that most people want to do the right thing. And the StuffBak system is helping them do it. StuffBak’s Lost & Found consists of a high-tech labeling system integrated to an Internet database that can be accessed by anyone online.

The all-aluminum Road Warrior label pack ($20.95), for example, contains five extremely durable labels shaped to fit cell phones, PDAs, computers and car keys.

Each waterproof label, which uses the same glue used to bond ceramic tiles to the space shuttle, displays a unique identification number along with StuffBak’s website and toll-free number.

StuffBak makes a variety of label sizes and packages available, so it’s best to check out their website for the different label packages and prices.

To set it all up, you enter each label’s code, its matching item description and your contact information on StuffBak’s website. You can even add an additional monetary reward.

Finders of lost devices can either call the toll-free number or go to the website to enter the ID number. The site displays only the item’s description, your added reward and further instructions on how to return the item via a variety of services.

The finder receives an additional reward from StuffBak as well. You always remain anonymous, and if an area code changes or you move, you can easily update the Web data at any time.

For more information, go to www.stuffbak.com.

Craig Crossman is a national newspaper columnist writing about computers and technology. He also hosts the No. 1 daily national computer radio talk show, “Computer America,” heard on Business TalkRadio Monday through Friday. For more information, visit his website at www.computeramerica.com.

2011, McClatchy-Tribune Information Services