1st bigring update

[imalookin2]

Just to add something, I read a great book recently written my a well known South Florida treasure hunter. He said he stopped trying to find ring owners due to the way some people treated him and he has returned a lot in the past. I have had personal experience of this myself.

If someone posts a lost ring on the LOST website or any other media then it is off limits to me unless I am responding to the hunt and then I will return it. I will not go out of my way to look for the last owner of any rings found otherwise. There is a post on this forum about a ring lost at Amelia Island. I sent the poster my info, telephone number and asked them to simply contact the time share they stayed at to give me simple beach access so I could walk through their property to access where the ring was lost. They never contacted me ever again. Why?? My bet is they don't care because of insurance. Now I won't go there in any case. If it is there then fine. I am not a bottom feeder and I am not going to keep something posted as lost. Max, that ring was not posted and the owner could care less. ummmmm maybe $200 or something..Yea right.

 

[(Heavy)]

interesting...

the melt company won't ask questions or contact the owner as well? or do you intend on sending it in his name?

 

[scoundrel]

The $200 offer tells you how much he really cares about the ring. Not much.
And, if he really cared about it, he would have never worn it in the water in the first place. If he doesn't pay melt for it, keep it with a clear conscience.

 

[Slimpickuns]

Wow, that ring is huge! He should at least give you half of what its worth since he already has a replacement via insurance..Good karma to you no matter what you decide to do on this one..

 

[Surf Master]

Christmas Max

Howboughtit Max( Merry Christmas to Max),melt the ring,get a new machine and a new HD Head CamGotta say that's a nice ticket,southern territory looks good.keep up the nice work,and i am not talking about the fish job, Earl

 

[goodmore]

Once the decision to return the ring was made, and the man was contacted I think it should be followed through. Battery money and a thank you from the person is all I would expect. I find it very fascinating that this big lunker was there for 12 years and never detected before. It goes to show you that a beach changes from day to day and is never hunted out.

 

[Aquaman]

Something about this guy just doesn't sound right. Most people I've found a ring for were elated to the point of handing me their credit card and saying "have a great time". 200$ doesn't seem like much of a reward when it's worth almost 7x that. Decisions, decisions...it's your call Max.

 

[bigstemz]

hmmmm

Wouldnt it actually be illegal for that guy to get his old ring back. He reported it lost to insurance so wouldnt he have to re report that he found his original ring and then insurance would want there money back?

Do the man a favor max and dont let him rip off those poor insurance people!

Hell ill give you half the melt value so you wont have to make such a moraly conflicting decision

 

[CanSlaw]

The guy said it was only worth $200. to him when scrap is $1,500. I think he just gave you his answer...."keep it, it's not worth that much to me."

 

[Cfmct]

Alot of assumptions in this thread... who is to say he even used insurance to get a new one...


My opinion is the owner was contacted... it should go back... if one is to keep such a find no attempt should be made to find the owner...


I'm going to go out on a limb here but I believe Max will return the ring...


As to the reward its up to both of them...

 

[jtb2017]

I don't think so...

the melt company won't ask questions or contact the owner as well? or do you intend on sending it in his name?

 

[Porsche914]

Well, I have to say I side with the "return it" bunch. If you intended to keep and melt it then no contact with the owner should have been made. If he had asked for help or was offering a reward for finding the ring that is one thing.

If he can't afford to pay you spot, that is a good indication that he may need the money which would make returning the ring the right thing to do.

Afte reading some of the other suggestions of what to do....I'm not too sure how "friendly" the folks are on this site. Gold really does give you the "fever" and messes with your judgement.

I have found 4 rings for people, 1 over $3k, 1 at $1500 and two much lower value but sentimental. I was offered a reward each time and did not take it. Why, because they were not mine and I knew who the real owner was.

 

[cubfan64]

Just a quick follow up note - I've been reading Max's posts and watching his video's for a number of years now and have learned plenty and always enjoyed them.

I've seen and heard Max return quite a few pieces of jewelry and wouldn't think more or less of him no matter what happens in this case.

Yup - I agree that the owner seems like he may be a d*%k, but that really shouldn't enter into the equation. If you want to return a ring, return it with zero expectations - if you don't want to return it and it doesn't bug you, no harm no foul as far as I'm concerned.

No matter what, it's a heck of a ring and I go along with what a couple others of you said that it's inspiring as a detectorist to find out that a 60+ gram gold ring can be found 12 years after it was lost on a beach that's hunted on a VERY regular basis!! That's the best evidence I've ever seen that no beach site is ever "hunted out" and that being in the right place at the right time to get your coil over it is the key!

 

[AceGVSU11]

The only way to settle this is to give it to a third party... Cough cough me... And let them decide what to do with it! Haha!

 

[PI JOE]

Well, I have to say I side with the "return it" bunch. If you intended to keep and melt it then no contact with the owner should have been made. If he had asked for help or was offering a reward for finding the ring that is one thing.

If he can't afford to pay you spot, that is a good indication that he may need the money which would make returning the ring the right thing to do.

Afte reading some of the other suggestions of what to do....I'm not too sure how "friendly" the folks are on this site. Gold really does give you the "fever" and messes with your judgement.

I have found 4 rings for people, 1 over $3k, 1 at $1500 and two much lower value but sentimental. I was offered a reward each time and did not take it. Why, because they were not mine and I knew who the real owner was.

Don't come on here an tell us just because we would have kept it we aren't friendly!! Our members here are good folks. I returned 20+ rings over the years, But that ring is once of a lifetime find! F'er/K'er

 

[bigstemz]

Don't come on here an tell us just because we would have kept it we aren't friendly!! Our members here are good folks. I returned 20+ rings over the years, But that ring is once of a lifetime find! F/K'er

 

[Cfmct]

Well, I have to say I side with the "return it" bunch. If you intended to keep and melt it then no contact with the owner should have been made. If he had asked for help or was offering a reward for finding the ring that is one thing.

If he can't afford to pay you spot, that is a good indication that he may need the money which would make returning the ring the right thing to do.

Afte reading some of the other suggestions of what to do....I'm not too sure how "friendly" the folks are on this site. Gold really does give you the "fever" and messes with your judgement.

I have found 4 rings for people, 1 over $3k, 1 at $1500 and two much lower value but sentimental. I was offered a reward each time and did not take it. Why, because they were not mine and I knew who the real owner was.

First off this site is very friendly...


The reason behind my (return it) post is the owner was contacted...



Recently I was contacted to search for a ring and my friend found them... they asked us what we wanted and I told them gas money to return home... they gave us $400 and we didn't refuse why should we? plus they wanted to take us out to dinner...


My personal opinion if I find it its mine... I didn't get into waterhunting to find coins or karma.. I am in it for the gold

 

[Bonesquat]

The guy doesn't need 2 class rings. If he want's the original and he can't afford to pay you melt value, he should at least trade you for the replacement.

Agreed!!! Best thing he can do is trade. Otherwise he's being a greedy jerk. Max don't give this guy free money for nothing. He already has a new ring. The trade idea sounds most fair and logical to me. And really if they're identical it makes no sense to do so. Might as well just keep it.

I know I wouldn't give it to him after he told me he had it replaced for free. And $200 is a joke. Cease contact and enjoy your prize. He's not missing anything!

First off this site is very friendly...

My personal opinion if I find it its mine... I didn't get into waterhunting to find coins or karma.. I am in it for the gold

Gotta agree with this statement! I figure if you're dumb enough to wear several thousand in jewelry to the beach, then you deserve to lose it period.

 

[bigstemz]

?

First off this site is very friendly...


The reason behind my (return it) post is the owner was contacted...



Recently I was contacted to search for a ring and my friend found them... they asked us what we wanted and I told them gas money to return home... they gave us $400 and we didn't refuse why should we? plus they wanted to take us out to dinner...


My personal opinion if I find it its mine... I didn't get into waterhunting to find coins or karma.. I am in it for the gold

can max actually get into trouble legally if he keeps it. I thought i remember reading somwhere that if the owner is contacted and then the item not returned that the finder can get into legal trouble?

If thats the case and he can then he should return it, just to not get into trouble, that is i believe if the call can be linked to him

my gut feeling says this guy wouldnt do anything about it not being returned, as it seems he didnt miss it much, IMO


All I will say is some of my better finds have never been posted on the internet...

 

[janothebear]

I agree - if it's only worth 200 to him he must not miss it that much.

I think trading him for the replacement he got is fair.