In trouble and need advice

jon f mn

Well-known Member
Someone stored some stuff in my garage for a while. Then almost a year ago they took their stuff out, but left some stuff they didn't want. A few days ago as I'm cleaning out the garage to move we came across the stuff. One box had some toys in it, Barbies and stuff. The guy that was helping me asked if he could have them to give to his 5 year old niece, I said sure. Now, several days later the original owner wants the toys back, says they were left by mistake. She says they are very valuable to her. I say no way am I asking a 5 year old to give up toys she has been given. I say it was a mistake to leave it behind and they are gone now. If I would have known they were not abandoned I would have given them back, or if I could have gotten them back before they went to the girl, but now it's too late. I am in DEEP DEEP doo doo over that. What do you guys think? Should I ask for them back or is it too late?
 
If any items were that important to me, I would not have failed to remember them for over a year. It seems to me they were taking advantage of you and not wanting to deal with their own storage problems until the items in question were no longer around in free storage.
They don't want the toys but also certainly don't want anyone else to have them either.
 
To keep the peace I would ask for them back and return to the owner. I would also buy the little girl another doll or dolls to replace them. Explanation (to the little girl is important) and there may be some tears but it can be a learning experience. Attention span at 5 years is not real long.
 
I think you better go ask for it back. "MOST" of us have FOUND something in our shop that we thought was long lost or totally forgotten about. It happens. You were nice enough to allow them to store it for whatever reason, don't ever quit being nice jmho gobble
 
As harsh as it may sound, I'd have to tell the guy that it's too late, and if he doesn't like it, he can lump it. If you take them back from the new owner, in my opinion, you do more harm than letting the original owner learn from his own mistakes. It's "over the line" ,in my view,for the original owner to ask for them back, especially after finding out you'd already given them to a 5 yr old girl.
 
Hi Jon,
This is my gut on this,,,,I would call like both John and Tom said and get the dolls back,and yea like they said, have someone buy some dollies for her,at your expense,yes you were trying to be a good guy and let them store this stuff and yea your going to have to buy her these things,,,but most important thing going here,,,is your name,you will never dirty your name this way,,,,and sometimes we must protect our good name.This is my take
Ande
 
Jon you are being taken advantaged of. If she had enough room to accomodate the other stuff picked a year ago the dolls should have been part of it if they are so valuable to her.

She has used your good will for more than a year and now she wants to guilt trip you into being the bad guy. I would tell her to get them back herself if it is that important to her.
 
I like your way of thinking John. Great suggestion.

The only think I would add is have the squatter pay for the new dolls....
 
(quoted from post at 15:10:45 11/17/12) I think you better go ask for it back. "MOST" of us have FOUND something in our shop that we thought was long lost or totally forgotten about. It happens. You were nice enough to allow them to store it for whatever reason, don't ever quit being nice jmho gobble

Tom, You must have a lot of courage to post here now, If I were you I'd be keeping a low profile till after Thanksgiving, LOL

Mel
 
I look at it like this, if you had thrown them in the trash would she expect you to go to the land fill to get them back? There gone it doesn't matter where they went. If she wants them back she can deal with making the little girl happy.
 
Tough call. It would depend on age and condition of the Barbie's. My wife has bid quite a bit for some on ebay. I would ask my wife what to do(been together almost 40 years). Women have their own perspective on dolls. If wife has no answer ask sister, sister in law, neighbor, etc.
 
If she forgot them she may have taken her that long to get the stuff put away and realize that they weren't there , I know I am slow putting stuff away as we know we all get busy , sorry for rambling, stumper
 
Jon, 1st it was very nice of you to handout free storage and it was really nice that you give the little girl the "left behind dolls". Now its a question is whats the right thing to do???
I have read many good answers here,but what I see here is "feelings, yours the 5 yr. old and doll owner. You want everyone happy in the end. This what I would do: Ask the doll owner to consider giving up one of them (for storage fee) heres the hard part!!! explaining to a cute 5yr.old girl that the owner wants the dolls back. Things like this happen to good hearted people. Good luck just my 11 cents worth. God Bless
 
Mel, I'll keep my head low, won't stretch out my neck for the next few days. Got a good laugh from you comment in the midst of some serious advice. gobble
 
Tell "her" (whoever that is) who's got them NOW and tell her if she want's the toys, she gets to go after them. You did your part. You did MORE than your part. Don't feel bad about it and don't let "her" make you feel guilty. Some people are just travel agents for guilt trips. If she made a mistake by not getting her junk when she had the chance, it's her mistake to deal with.
 
Jon, I think abandoned property has to be picked up in something like 90 days or it goes to the owner of the storage space... check your state laws but something like that. Knowing where you stand is a good idea if someone gets huffy about it...
In this case it's up to you but if it were me, it wouldn't bother me a lot to tell someone they left the toys outside and the boogie man (garbage truck, orphanage, GoodWill, etc) got them. From what you're saying, they're making their problem into yours... and I don't see how that's fair.
We have to teach the young ones what's fair and right. You've given a gift that was (legally, I would guess) yours and you can't take it back or you set a precedent that the little girl will remember...

Just my $0.02. Let your conscience be your guide.

Ken in AZ
 
jon I asked the wife about it and she said absolutely NOT, they left them for almost a year after they picked up the rest, sorry but in that time they should have seen they were gone and asked for them. just the way it is cnt
 
First - if the person cleared the storage area and "left them by mistake" - that is the answer - it was their mistake - not yours.

Second if the stuff was there for nearly a year and no one expressed interest, I would have probably contacted the person if they were close and asked them to clear their junk out or I would dispose of it. But if I had not heard from them for a while, I would not hesitate to dispose of the stuff left behind for a year.

Third, as to new owner - it would be up to them as to whether they would entertain an offer from original owner - depending on the situation and how attached 5 year old has become to dolls.

But I would not give original owner their name - as I think it could get into a pressure situation that would be unfair to new owner.

If the dolls are particularly valuable, either sentimentally or antique value, I would think original owner might make a cash offer to buy back, or offer to buy replacement dolls chosen by the 5 year old and exchange. After all it was Original owner"s mistake that caused the problem and adults should be responsible for consequences of their mistakes. But I would explain to new owner and mediate the offer to protect the child.

As to your part, they could just as easily be in a landfill if the helper had not asked for his little girl, so I think both you and Helper should be above any guilt in this unfortunate situation. But above all, the 5 year old should not be hurt by this - she made no "mistake". And further, neither you nor the helper should be expected to contribute financially to the solution.

Thats my 2 cents worth.
 
OK, lets see if I understand this. You, being a good guy, let someone store for free some stuff. They did in fact returned and picked up the items they wanted LEAVING YOU TO GET RID OF THE JUNK THEY DID NOT WANT. The solid waste transfer point near me is supposed to charge 2 bucks a bag for trash. So somehow you were supposed to pay to get rid of the stuff they did not want. You need to find new Friends.

I would make sure everyone you know is informed that they took advantage of you and would never again offer to help them unless they are willing to pay you for your time and trouble, they go and talk to the girl and take her shopping to buy replacement stuff for the items they now want back.....and buy her an ice cream while they are out.

Rick
 
Half the people aren't reading your post correctly. You said they left the box because they DIDN'T WANT IT, not because they FORGOT IT. If it would have been me, I would have thrown it in the trash two minutes after they left. Just tell them you are sorry, but the stuff is gone. No guilt there.
 
Jon,

I think the answer is in the statement, "They are very valuable to me." A close friend of mine's mom had a vast Barbie museum for many years before her untimely death in a car accident. Some of those Barbie dolls were worth over $5000. Is it possible your "friend" found out how much they could actually be worth? By the way, you must be a good guy to agonize over this situation. I hope it turns out well for you. Don
 

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