What is the biggest monetary reward you received from finding an object that somebody lost at the beach whether it was a ring, keys or anything else?

[OBXmetalDet]

I helped a guy find a part to his watch and he kept insisting that I take $20, which I eventually did, then I left that as a top for the hotel housekeeping staff.

Another time, some woman detectorist I came across at Ocean City, MD, told me an interesting story about a guy who was wearing a $30,000 gold chain around his neck who went into the water and lost it. She said it was passed down in the family so it also had a lot of sentimental value to the owner.

The owner offered $5,000 to anybody who found it. And somebody found it. That guy got his chain back and another guy became $5,000 richer.

Does anybody else have any similar stories?

 

[TORRERO]

Not a beach story but I was hunting the median in Charlotte NC years ago and a guy on a bicycle stopped to talk to me, he said he lost his wedding band in his backyard and would give me $50 to find it, because today was his anniversary and it would make his wife super happy..
I followed him home, (close by) and found the ring on the first or second swing, (postage stamp size yard) I got the $50 he then told me that a year earlier him and his wife had gotten in a fight and out of anger he had thrown the ring out the back door, when they cooled off they couldn't find it.... 🤣

 

[cudamark]

I helped a guy find a part to his watch and he kept insisting that I take $20, which I eventually did, then I left that as a top for the hotel housekeeping staff.

Another time, some woman detectorist I came across at Ocean City, MD, told me an interesting story about a guy who was wearing a $30,000 gold chain around his neck who went into the water and lost it. She said it was passed down in the family so it also had a lot of sentimental value to the owner.

The owner offered $5,000 to anybody who found it. And somebody found it. That guy got his chain back and another guy became $5,000 richer.

Does anybody else have any similar stories?

Yup.

 

[russau]

To me , the best gift from the real owner would be to see the smile on his/her face and a handshake & thankyou! NOTHING beats a feeling you did someone else a good deed !

 

[Mackaydon]

I got a hug from a lady after finding her gold earring. Made my day.
Don in SoCal

 

[no2pencil]

I helped a friend find roofing nails after she had her roof re-shingled. She got a dollar each nail refunded, because they were supposed to clean up. While I didn't get paid, it was an interesting use of the equipment.

 

[Crunchyhippo]

I heard of a detectorist who actually found a Super Bowl ring in the water at the beach (who would be dumb enough to wear that in the water?) Anyway, he decided to give it back and easily tracked down the owner, arranging to meet him in a particular parking lot. The described car finally showed up, and it was an expensive job with heavily tinted windows. It drove up to him, but no one got out. Instead, the back window lowered and the guy inside greeted the detectorist, who gave him his ring. The response was a brief "thanks," after which the car drove off. That's the appreciation the owner showed for getting his $30,000 ring back. I guess it's a risk you take when you give stuff back. Still....

 

[TORRERO]

I heard of a detectorist who actually found a Super Bowl ring in the water at the beach (who would be dumb enough to wear that in the water?) Anyway, he decided to give it back and easily tracked down the owner, arranging to meet him in a particular parking lot. The described car finally showed up, and it was an expensive job with heavily tinted windows. It drove up to him, but no one got out. Instead, the back window lowered and the guy inside greeted the detectorist, who gave him his ring. The response was a brief "thanks," after which the car drove off. That's the appreciation the owner showed for getting his $30,000 ring back. I guess it's a risk you take when you give stuff back. Still....

I think I would have asked for a reward, something people seem to be missing here is the fact that I have invested $1000s in my time and equipment, not that you can't be nice to someone and give back something for free, but on the flip side I would not feel bad accepting a reward for finding / returning something.
They would not have it except for you, and a little bit of appreciation goes a long way.
Also people HIRE people to find lost stuff, my reward is the $50 an hour they pay me for my expertise to help them recover a $10,000 item.
(or you could get greedy and say.. $50 per hour and 10% finders fee on the relevant value of the item found)

 

[pepperj]

I was detecting at a permission and the owner lost the spacers, washers, nut iffy the end of his disc unit.
He found the disc, but not the rest of the unit.
I'm looking at a 20 acre field, thinking "Ya Right"
I asked where the disc was found, and he showed me approximately where it was recovered.
I started in the direction they had disc'd from 100ft got everything in one pile under the soil.
He said it had to be special ordered from Europe, and the replacement was $2000.00.
Crazy I thought at the time.

I returned to hunting and I got approached by him again saying his good friend lost her wedding ring.
So I followed her to her home, she said it was somewhere in front of the porch.
It took 5 minutes to find this honking huge custom band.
Just at that moment her wife (yes you read right)
She git out of the car "WHAT'S GOING ON HERE!"
Jim found this 💍
Hugs tears of absolute joy-just the double returns from that day-no $$$ can buy that.

Sad part I know guys that come on here with their chests puffed out regarding a return.
Yet they charged for their time by the hour.
But they forget to mention that part.

 

[robertk]

just the double returns from that day-no $$$ can buy that.

No doubt. And that is how you have several thousand acres of permissions.

 

[no2pencil]

I heard of a detectorist who actually found a Super Bowl ring in the water at the beach

Was it John Schmitt from the NY Jets?

 

[TORRERO]

I was detecting at a permission and the owner lost the spacers, washers, nut iffy the end of his disc unit.
He found the disc, but not the rest of the unit.
I'm looking at a 20 acre field, thinking "Ya Right"
I asked where the disc was found, and he showed me approximately where it was recovered.
I started in the direction they had disc'd from 100ft got everything in one pile under the soil.
He said it had to be special ordered from Europe, and the replacement was $2000.00.
Crazy I thought at the time.

I returned to hunting and I got approached by him again saying his good friend lost her wedding ring.
So I followed her to her home, she said it was somewhere in front of the porch.
It took 5 minutes to find this honking huge custom band.
Just at that moment her wife (yes you read right)
She git out of the car "WHAT'S GOING ON HERE!"
Jim found this 💍
Hugs tears of absolute joy-just the double returns from that day-no $$$ can buy that.

Sad part I know guys that come on here with their chests puffed out regarding a return.
Yet they charged for their time by the hour.
But they forget to mention that part.

Just to be clear I DON’T Charge anything… but I have heard of insurance companies hiring people with metal detectors to try and find lost items.. I’m sure an insurance company would not ask you to do that for free 🤷🏼‍♂️😂

 

[pepperj]

Just to be clear I DON’T Charge anything… but I have heard of insurance companies hiring people with metal detectors to try and find lost items.. I’m sure an insurance company would not ask you to do that for free 🤷🏼‍♂️😂

Feeling guilty?
So why did actually quote my post?

 

[TORRERO]

Feeling guilty?
So why did actually quote my post?

No not feeling guilty, and I didn't quote your post, I posted that I wouldn't feel bad taking a reward for what I do, but wanted to clarify that I don't ask for money if a momentary situation arrises. But I also pointed out that this hobby and equipment is not cheap, and you are recovering something of value that the person would almost certainly never get back if it wasn't for you.
So no I would not feel guilty for taking a reward if one was offered.
Does that clarify better ?

 

[pepperj]

No not feeling guilty, and I didn't quote your post,
Does that clarify better ?

Ok I really think you need to understand how a forum works.
Here's a screen shot.
You had to push the quote/reply button to do what you did.
So Don't play me for stupid.

 

[djackson7348]

Nope, never got anything. Afterall, you might be with the IRS.

 

[cudamark]

I leave it up to them to give a reward (guess we should call it a tip now since those aren't taxed....right? ) or not. It's nice to be appreciated though, and none of us get gas and equipment for free, especially if you have to make a special trip to do the search.

 

[OBXmetalDet]

To me , the best gift from the real owner would be to see the smile on his/her face and a handshake & thankyou! NOTHING beats a feeling you did someone else a good deed !

Yes, I agree.

 

[OBXmetalDet]

I got a hug from a lady after finding her gold earring. Made my day.
Don in SoCal

Was she hot?

Ok somebody had to say it.

 

[Terry Soloman]

A young woman came running up to me at Jones Beach, on Long Island, saying she just lost her wedding ring while wading. I agreed to try and help her. So, I'm in up to my waist swinging away, and two Fifty-dollar bills and one Twenty comes floating by! Made $120.00 for being a nice guy. Never did find the ring!