Reward or Not?

[Dirt Driven]

I don't really feel like a reward . I feel like reconnecting someone back to something they lost that may have great sentimental value to them is reward enough for me and I was happy I could do it. I will be hunting anyway so it's nice to be able to do something for someone else. I recently found my father in laws wedding ring he had lost almost 12 or 13 years ago. We found it in the yard in about 10 min of hunting. When we found it he was so happy he almost started to cry. That was reward enough for me.

 

[Marcucco]

If somebody wants to give me a reward for anything,
I ask them to make a donation to "Toys for Tots" or the food bank.
It's a win-win-win situation.
They feel better, people get desperately needed help,
and I get to feel good twice.

 

[Neptune]

Certainly, returning a family heirloom to its rightful owner is a fine reward in its own right. It takes very little effort sometimes to renew other peoples faith in humanity. Well done, nice to hear good stories like this...

 

[pescadore]

I answered an ad on our MD club website forum once about a lost platinum wedding band with diamonds. The guy was offering a guided hog hunt as a reward. I found his ring with my Troy Shadow X-3 in about 5 minutes. I told him that I was not a hunter but if I could hunt his property we would call it even. He gave me permission and even showed me where they previously had keg parties when he was a kid. I moved away shortly after that and never really got the opportunity to hunt but I was happy he got his ring back.

 

[DWtexas]

Odd Man Out

I guess I'm the odd man out on this one. I negotiate a reward up front and my fee is always the same. If I find the missing item, I want a picture of the item for my personal "returned album", a picture of the two of us with the find and permission to have the local paper publish the picture with a short article. That's it, nothing else. The money they might offer doesn't really mean much when you consider the big picture - so why take it? Positive press for our hobby...well, as the saying goes, it's priceless. It opens up more opportunities for all detectorists and can even help reopen areas we've lost. In the end, it's much more valuable to me, and the person I'm helping doesn't feel obligated to try to pay me beyond my request.

 

[Goldenexpress]

No, but maybe. . .

I would not accept a reward if I was offered one, unless perhaps it was a steak and a nice cold frosty drink.

HH Michael

 

[Ed in KC]

The responses to this thread are interesting, and seem to indicate that we make a large distinction between a monetary reward and a material reward (dinner, hunting rights, permission to publish), so I'm curious to understand why that is. Both require the giving of something, and I would think the monetary reward would actually be the least costly to the person.

 

[Goldenexpress]

When I wrote

The responses to this thread are interesting, and seem to indicate that we make a large distinction between a monetary reward and a material reward (dinner, hunting rights, permission to publish), so I'm curious to understand why that is. Both require the giving of something, and I would think the monetary reward would actually be the least costly to the person.

When I wrote my last post I hadn't eaten lunch yet. That is why I mentioned a stead and a drink. LOL!

HH Michael

 

[toehead]

I guess it would depend. If I was already there hunting or they didn't seem to have much money, then no way. If they insisted, I would ask them to "Pay it forward". Now if I had to make a special trip a considerable distance then I guess a reward wouldn't be out of the question, regardless if it was money or dinner.
I know I would like an opportunity to find something for someone though.

 

[Frank1960]

I would only refuse the first 2 times if they offer still then I would accept maybe half depending on the person and their age. I will work for "good" food though so the offer of supper would of worked for me LOL I for the most part don't accept rewards for things but prefer a good "Thank You" and maybe a hand shake or a hug from a lady but like I said if I refuse 2 times and they still offer then I will take something. Actually some people just feel guilty or hurt if you don't accept something. I have this elderly lady around 90 years old if I do any kind of work for her she actually feels sad if I don't accpet something and if I don't take enough she wants to offer more or last time stated "I wish you would take more" I took $5.00 for caulking her windows on her porch I think there were 6 windows then I fixed her bathroom sink which all it took was cleaning the screen on the faucet and the drain of hair. I actually went that day to detect he yard the house was built in 1880 but I never could refuse to help a elderly person.

 

[Treasurebone]

PErsonally I don't think a reward would be necessary, however like posted by another person already I think gas money should be covered if you had to drive more tahn oh 20 minutes or so. I think if they had a large amount of land too it might be nice if you were able to ask permission to hint their land in return for your services.

 

[Bonesquat]

Would get info and trade what I found with detecting spots.

If I found something for someone I'd definitely want a picture of the find, and permission to hunt on their property at some point or information on the local history and potential spots. Other than that I wouldn't refuse money but one time. I've been wanting to help someone find their old rings, etc. Sounds like fun!

 

[zimatosa]

While out detecting at the beach I was asked to help find a ring that had fallen into the sand on 3 separate occasions. Since i was already detecting, i didn't even give it a thought that a needed a reward( i am 3-3 on finding the rings now!). All 3 times, the ring was found within 5 minutes. On the other hand, if I make a special trip to find someones ring or valuables, I think it is only fair that I get some sort of compensation or reward. I would not expect a huge sum, just enough to cover gas and a bit of time...

Z

 

[Riznitch]

I have to update my sig to reflect my first ring i found. It was actually a friend of mine(who is now into metal detecting) sisters ring. She lost it at a local park last July. Took about 2 hours but i found it! it was one of the greatest feelings. I would not except anything but, i did ask her to take pics so i could post them on the forums. There blurry but ill have them up soon!

 

[Cfmct]

While out detecting at the beach I was asked to help find a ring that had fallen into the sand on 3 separate occasions. Since i was already detecting, i didn't even give it a thought that a needed a reward( i am 3-3 on finding the rings now!). All 3 times, the ring was found within 5 minutes. On the other hand, if I make a special trip to find someones ring or valuables, I think it is only fair that I get some sort of compensation or reward. I would not expect a huge sum, just enough to cover gas and a bit of time...

Z

Lots of people I know have a business card and charge an hourly rate but a fixed amount to at least start the search in case its found within an hours time...

 

[Jennings]

I think asking or expecting a reward is a little cheesy.

Either do a good deed or not.

Being in the business of finding lost objects is different. Some person calls you from 100 miles away, you should charge something. In that case it's pure business. But a stranger on the beach approaches you to find his car keys? Do it for nothing or don't do it at all.

Jennings

 

[E-Mag]

Congrats, there is nothing better then seeing those smiles. Last year a girl came up to me and wanted to know if she could hire me. Her husband was in waist deep water and was standing where he lost his platinum wedding band, after a 1/2 hour I found it a long ways from where he was standing LOL.

They wanted to pay me it was around Christmas and I just said Merry Christmas. I watched as she ran to shore to tell the people she was with. I heard someone holler and it was the life guard giving me a thumbs up and then I noticed the large crowd that gathered I guess as she told the story to look up again to a huge crowd clapping. Actually a little embarrassing but the couple left for New York very happy...

what did the platinum ring show on the detector as?

 

[wolf-n-wa]

First off great story Carol and good Karma your way. Second I did the same last year and all I asked was that they post a pic on here of the ring and the owner. Which they did. makeing someone happy is the best reward for sure. WOLF

 

[lucky_c]

Last year I answered an ad offering a reward for a diamond ring lost at a soccer field. I spent ten or twelve hours over four different days trying to find the thing, and I almost gave up. When I finally got the thing I didn't feel at all bad about accepting the reward.

Let me add one thing - the young woman who lost the ring seemed quite nervous about meeting a stranger to help find the ring. There was no way I was going to ask her to pose for pictures.

 

[S.S.Tupperware]

I wouldn't expect one, but we all have a lot of money tied up in our equipment... so I wouldn't turn one down either...