Swing4TheRing
Forum Supporter
Wait a minute... you can find rings with a metal detector?!
Wait a minute... you can find rings with a metal detector?!
Years ago I got a call from someone upstate... a woman lost a very valuable ring set on a private beach... I called a friend and we went up there... we were watched the entire time we hunted.. we found her rings in about 10 minutes... they wanted to take us out to lunch... We said no thank you...they then asked what we would like so I said a little gas money... they gave us each an envelope which we did not open until we left but we were well compensated... the ring set was worth around 35k... I'm not going to disclose what we were given... the woman who lost them was very grateful sending us both very nice letters after the fact... I will never turn down a reward.. my time, my gas...
That's an awesome way to handle it. You went out of your way to try and find them, and you should be compensated. You humbly let them decide the amount of compensation...and probably got more than you would have asked for.
That's why I do the reward basis. They pick the reward and only what they can afford. The good ones make up for the bad ones. Over the years time it all works out.
.... After I got home with the order, I get a call from them saying I left my wallet there. I rushed back and they handed it to me......
11 years and with almost 9,000 documented returns worldwide, TheRingFinders must be doing something right. If you think we make a profit at the cost of someone's unfortunate situation ... go read the stories behind the returns on TheRingFinders.com......
100' out from the shoreline , 1.5' deep in wet sand , a working iPhone. Get ahold of the owner and he is ready to call the cops for me stealing it. He gets his phone with barely a thanks.
A man , his mother , are using garden rakes to look for the daughters phone. He frantically runs up to me asking for help. Takes 5 minutes to find. He has no cash. Scratches through Mom's purse for $25 , she is complaining NO the entire time. She says it " only took him 5 minutes , don't give him anything ". I'm standing 10' from them watching this. I get the 25.
4 young adults ask me to look for a silver ring in a 20x20 area on a crowded beach. Not in that area. They say maybe "over here". 2 minutes in , I glance over and they are all laughing at me. The joke was on me. Total waste of time.
Many of you have heard some of these stories. You do this long enough , you may realize it's not worth it anymore. I have had some great returns & rewards. But far too many thankless ungrateful ones. I'm not a RFdr. But if you can turn a hobby into $ , I'm all for it. Growing up , everyone said do what you love and hopefully you can make a living at it. Then , its not like work. This includes hobbies.
Now , if anyone asks me , I say " what's it worth to you for me to find it ?" Always get the price up front. This way I know they are serious. If not found , I return the $. My time , experience , expenses are precious and for my enjoyment. Not their's , because they were careless enough to bring valuables on the beach. If I find a phone or wallet , I will make an effort to return because I know how I would feel. But only with a little effort now. I recently cut up 3 I'ds and a bunch of CC's sitting around for a year. This was AFTER contacting them through social media with NO response.
My buddy is a RFdr and usually does pretty good on returns and rewards during the summer. He enjoys it. To each there own.
.... and he is ready to call the cops for me stealing it. .....
Yup. Put it back where you found it. Of course tell them where it is.... Within a mile or two. [emoji1787][emoji1787]First story... you should have reburied it [emoji38]
That's why I do the reward basis. They pick the reward and only what they can afford. The good ones make up for the bad ones. Over the years time it all works out.
I've looked for a couple items for folks and I wouldn't think of asking for a fee but if they offer something a reasonable amount wouldn't be rejected. I'm glad to help when I can.
Cliff
100%If you join Ring Keepers that Felix started there are no fees for finding rings
he said he would at least like a 20 dollar reward. They get home and I'm told the story, the family was upset they had to give him 20.00... I'm still shaking my head on that one..almost ashamed to share it.