Dumpster diver finds more than $20K in book - Video on NBCNews.com
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I didn't read the article but I don't think I would have told anyone what I found
F**k no!
You know, I subscribe to the theory that when someone throws something out they are responsible for knowing what they are disposing of. Just because someone throws away a vacuum cleaner in the trash does not mean they are entitled to a share or (shudder) ALL of the profits when I make money on it. This is just a matter of degree.
Customers tell me all the time to "take it all.". Does that mean I should sift through junk for any valuables to return to them? If I get to the dump and find something of value do I need to return it to them? They disposed of it, right? I'm sorry, what I find is mine. Does that make me a crook? Am I going to get banned from the forum?
I remember the old saying "finders keepers losers weepers" or something like that.......Some items I have asked a customer more than once if they wanted to get rid of an item because I knew it had some value
No on both counts. While I have gone to great extents to return valuables that were lost to people (wedding rings and class rings that I found with my metal detector), The chance of this stash having an owner that can rightfully claim it is virtually nil in my opinion.Quote:
Originally Posted by BurlyGuys
I do applaud the gentleman that found it for trying to find a rightful owner, but in this situation it will never happen and the press and greediness of his fellow man will be a giant pain in the butt for him.
The person that stashed that money there did not throw it away. My guess is that it was a family member who tossed it all after a loved one died. This family member and rightful heir to this stash will obviously have no clue as to the details of this stash which need to be offerred up in order to claim it. More than likely, if someone does claim it, it will be a friend of a worker at the dump that may be able to fill in some details such as the day it was dumped there, etc.
I'll say it again, many times I will try to find the rightful owner, but in this situation I would have kept my mouth shut.
Nice find. Not to long ago, I went to the ATM and found $100 left in it. The next day I went to the bank, and asked them if anyone was looking for money they had left. The teller asked how much, and I told her that the person looking for it will know how much was there. I left her my name and number so she could contact me if someone was looking for it. I believe I did the right thing. If I didn't go back and tell someone, that would be stealing and would be on my conscience. The same goes for that $20K.
My wife's uncle stashed a lot of cash in his library as his dementia took over. After he passed his kids were packing stuff up and a $20 bill fell out of a music book. Thumbing through it further they found several hundred dollars. It dawned on them that they had to go through every book and magazine in his collection before they could dispose of any of it. Several thousand dollars were found after many hours of searching.
FWIW I cannot see a relationship between a broken appliance thrown away and money misplaced. This falls squarely in the "do unto others as you would have them do unto you" realm. Do the right thing. It's the right thing to do.
Bill
I have to admit that I would have an extremely hard time returning $20,000 found in this way. According to some, it might be the "right" thing to do -- and if there was a name in the book or something of that nature, maybe so. But if not? It's mine.
--Geoff
my friend once found 3k in an evolope in front of the bank. gave 1k to the kid hanging out with him that day and for the next 2 weeks, he was buying hella crap and handing out hundred dollar bills to like anyone he ran into (small town/eryone knows each other)