NK and I were talking about this. What if one fine day something we bought, we find a bundle of cash in it.
NK: What kind of amount are you talking
Me: How does that matter? Okay say its $200.
NK: I will return it.
Me : Me $200, I will keep it. What if its $20,000
NK: Then I wouldnt return it.
Me:What! I would immediately track the person down. The $200 wouldnt affect someone’s life that much hence my logic in not returning. The $20,000 can change someone’s life..why shouldnt we return it.
NK: Tum choti beimaan(you are a small dishonest person) and I am bigger dishonest person. For $200, its nor worth being beimaan. $20,000..though….(okay this is me paraphrasing NK. in case he is reading)
So, my dear readers, what do you say? If you find a stash of money in something you bought. Would you try to give it back? Or you feel that since you bought and paid for the thing, everything that is in it, is rightfully yours? Perakath, what does the law say?
Go over and read GM‘s post. We chatted about this and I remembered a story. One of my friends in LA bought a RV from an old lady whose spouse died. I think she paid about $1200 for older RV. When her husband got to ripping stuff out, they found about $10,000 stashed in the mattress. My friend called the lady and told her about the money. Can you guess what the old lady did? She split the money in half. Gave my friend 5k. Pretty neat huh?
PS:Look back in 2005, when I did Freecycling, I found $8 and I emailed the person back. I am talking about specificially buying something from a person and you find something of value in it.
Over Christmas, there was a story (link at the end of my comment) about a New York City taxi driver who found a purse in his cab at the end of his shift. It had $21,000 in it. He drove out to the address inside the purse to return it–and all the money–and refused a reward!
It’s nice to know there are still honest people like him left in this world. Would I do the same? I honestly cannot say. I think it would depend on all of the circumstances surrounding it happening.
http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2010/01/taxi_driver_saves_21k_purse_fo.html?imw=Y&f=most-viewed-24h10
Me: Ohh Angie, what if its in something you bought though was my question. if it was something I found in the bus, the train, in a park, I would hand it over, no dilemma there. But if its something thats inside a dress or a taped underneath a drawer in a dresser? What would you do then?
I was also going to share the story Angie did.
I think I would return it…$200 or $20,000 or whatever. I know times when $200 was all I had left for the month and losing it would have been terrible.
The law in Australia says that you have to return it within 24hrs or surrender it to the police so that they can return it (in case the person filed a report). If the money is unclaimed within a period of time – then it would be returned to the finder.
If a surveillance camera/witness catches the finder pocketing a money and they are tracked down – then they will be prosecuted.
Interesting stuff.
Me: Durga, see my reply to Angie below.
I would return the money, 20, 200 or 20,000! I am too scared of doing something that might land me in them prisons!
Me: Hmm so its the fear of prisons and not the goodwill of your heart. Kidding.!
I think I would definitely return it – I would have sleepless nights if I did not. So I am pretty sure that I would return it for sure – whatever the amount.
If I bought something at a big corporate store (Walmart etc) I would probably keep it if I found a small amount.
If it was a big amount at a Walmart, I would return it.
If it was any amount that I found when I buy something from a person (like on Craigslist or a flea market) I would return the amount – big or small.
Would I indeed? I would like to think I am all moral and I would, but then, if I really had 20grand in front of my eyes, I am not sure how I would go about it, really don’t know, though I would like to believe I would return it.
PS – You have send tons of traffic my way!
and
A Happy Valentine’s To you!
with u on this. Small amounts wouldn’t bother. bigger amounts is a different story.
Having said that, the husband found $3 on the street and we put the money in the temple….
I believe in Karma and I certainly would attempt to return it. I try to do a good deed everyday for someone. Perhaps you are just talking about money, but I think Karma could be distributed in all kinds of ways.
Happy Valentine’s Day..
I think that no matter the amount Id try to return it. if every reasonable route in doing so came up empty then Id keep it and count it as my good karma paying out
. I also agree that 200 dollars can be life changing, hell at times TWENTY dollars has been life changing for me. I know this isnt the same situation but when I was little we came over to America to visit my mothers family and somewhere in NYC my father dropped his wallet with all our cash, PASSPORTS and TICKETS BACK TO IRELAND. he didnt notice until we were going through a toll booth somewhere in upstate NY. a frantic drive back to the city to retrace our steps hoping against hope that we could find the wallet, and someone HAD found it and turned it in to the shopkeeper where my Dad had bought a map. nothing was missing. I remember my Dads astonishment that in a city that size and with the reputation NYC has, that we got it all back.
I would return the money no matter the amount. I will just not be able to sleep peacefully. Good conversation, nice to hear different perspectives. And the stories shared were great.
Wow. I’ll have to look that up. It would probably depend on the object being bought and the particulars of the transaction. I don’t think there’d be a criminal element to it in most cases, though.
I’ll take your mattress story as an example and get back to you.
You know what they said, babe, finders, keepers…
Having said that, if I know that it’ll make me feel bad about it for a while, I’ll return it for my own peace of mind.
Very thought provoking post!
Must think and revert but while we’re at it did any of your gals/guys in the Bay Area find a brand new Dolce and Gabbana sun glasses lying in the dressing rooms of one of the retail stores around here? (If one of you guys find it, dunno what you were doing in there but…) I’m in mourning right now.
Me: Okay you need to email me and tell me where are you? I thought you were not in the Bay area..:)
Okay, how does it matter if you found it in something you bought? Should’nt be a dilemma if you’re honest jane or joe right? Whether someone forgot their money in a cab or in a purse he/she sold to you same thing right?
Me: My thinking is that if you bought it, and then found something in it, does that belong to you then? What if you found something in something you bought months down the line.
main sabse bada baimaan hoon… i am so with NK on this!!!
return for sure….what ever the amount…