General Chat

I am in a dilemma about something and wondered if I could seek your advise as fellow family historians.

A couple of days ago I found listed on ebay an item that was given to my great grandfather by his employees in recognition of his work.

The owners of it (not related) are selling it on ebay and want £500.00 for it. I have told them I am related to the items original owner and have offered a lower amount but they say £500.00 is all they will sell it for.

What would you do? I could buy it and hand it down the family when the time came.

Thanks

Fi

Have you asked the owners how they came into possession of the item?
Liz

If I owned it, Fi, I would give it to you.

Liz, it was found in a box at the back of a fireplace of an old house (presumably gtgrandfathers) and is inscribed with various details which is why i know it is his.

Thanks Joy!

how mean are they its of no value to them but it is to you if you want it and they aint gonna budge then do you want to pay the amount they are asking for it i would its only money you cant take it with you but you could leave something that has been in your family for generations and hopefully be passed down through the years

Thats awful - can't believe they would be so insensitive!! I would be gutted if I missed out on it :(
Hope you resolve this

J xx

I think I would pay the money to get it back into the family. I think the seller is being very selfish in not returning it to you. When does the bidding finish - is it likely to go higher?
Liz

I am glad to see comments about buying it to keep in the family.

To say I have been upset about them not lowering the price is an understatement. I was beginning to regret finding it.

However it just goes to show that you just might find something owned by your ancestor.

It still has a few days to go before it ends.

Have you put a bid in? If people really want an item, they sometimes do not bid until the last few minutes, so make sure you are about when the bidding is about to finish. Would the "owners" be willing to take it off ebay and sell it to you? There really are some insensitive people about!
Liz

Hi, I can understand your feelings.

You do not mention what the item is, which is your perogative. Is it a valueble item , say like jewellery or historical value? Obviously not sentimental if the seller is not connected to you ancestors.

Lets hope that no one is interested and the seller will lower its price.

Fingers crossed for a good outcome.

Jenny

they should be ashamed seeing it going to a family member should be reward or what money you can afford hope you get it will keep fingers crossed and to them well what goes around comes around greed is a sin

Just a thought - do you know what else they found in the box?
Liz

If I wanted it I would buy it , whatever my feelings about the fairness of the sale.

However I would continue to lean on them from the family point of view, but if they have no reason to give in (and if they don't know you then to them it's just business) then why should they? Sorry but I can see both sides here.

My mum died 30 years ago and I am scratching around for her stuff - but I would sell my soul to buy the smallest item if I had to.

I would stick to the bid and say that's all you can afford and hope for the best. However, if you feel you would be disappointed by not getting it, maybe you should consider paying the full price - but only as a last resort if you feel that by holding out, you would lose it.
I guess, in the long run, it is up to you to decide if it's worth paying the price or not.

They found the item!!! I guess by rights it's theirs but they aren't losing any money cos they didn't spend it to start with. What a mercenary attitude. I would have happily passed it onto you, Fi and enjoyed the look on your face. Hope you get it even though it'll cost you.

Sue x

I'd be trying to find the money to buy it in order to get it back to the family. I wonder if they think you may not be related, just trying to get a better deal.?

We had a similar issue, when my ex-husband sold his family's summer cottage, which he had inherited and which was intended to be further passed down to our son. I tried to buy it, but a higher offer came in at the last minute. I got no reply when I asked for the name sign (The surname was 'Sword' and the sign read 'The Scabbard') which had hung on the entry, so at least my son could have something. I know the request was received but I never had the courtesy of a reply. i still feel badly that I couldn't find a way to reclaim at least a part of it. I'd try harder were I in a similar position again.
Best wishes,
Mary

I LOST THE CHANCE OF MYGGRANDADS
GOLF CLUBS
I REALLY REGRET IT

Do you have any other family members who could go in it with you and therefore reduce your overall cost? You could then maybe pass it down from the eldest of each generation or something.

I feel for you. You would think they could have a sentimental bone in their body, instead of grabbing for the all-mighty dollar/pound. One way to look at is, is at least you have a chance of getting a family heirloom back. I imagine, like Dizzi, there are lots of people who have stuff missing.

Good luck.
Alison

I think if I were the people who found it, I would want to meet you, and find out if you were the genuine family member. There is another side to this story, maybe they think you are just wanting to get the article at a knock down price. There are many shifty antique dealers out in the wide world.

If you meet and they found you were genuine, i.e. you had documents to prove your identity, I would then give you the article.

Of course you have to make up your own mind about purchasing at the price they are asking., but then again if you did, would future generations be interested, or would they put it up for sale again, when you are no longer here.

Thats just my feeling.

Is it fixed at a minimum of £500?

If not my nephew has a neat knack of counting down the mins & getting the last bid in-I could ask him to tell me exactly how he does it for you if you like.(he's not missed anything yet!)

Oh yeah my opinion-get it whilst you have the chance,if it sells for that much it must be special in its own right so its an "investment" as well :)