General Chat

I watch Real Deal on tv and there are often people on there who have found stuff in the loft/attic etc when they have moved house and they go on that programme and sell the item for a decent profit.

I therefore assume they are entitled to sell the item as it is now their property, however it is a shame they won't let you have it especially if you can prove it was your grandfather's.

At the same time people also go on this programme with something they bought at a car boot/village fayre or such at only 20p and they get a lot of money off the dealers for it and are so mean they won't accept the first offer. They stick out for hundreds of pounds when it cost them pence in the first place!!!!!

Fi, perhaps as people have said, they want proof that you're who you say you are. Without being personal against you lol, I can understand that. To be honest, I'd be the same. But then, if you (or whoever) showed me proof, I'd probably simply ask to be reimbursed for the total cost of sending it.
Good luck.
x

Hi Fi,

I'd suggest the same like other's to find out more about whether it was included in the sale of the house and their rights etc. I do hope you'll get it eventually.

T

Hi Fi

I don't get why you or anyone else thinks the vendor should reduce the price. Times are hard and they might be selling it reluctantly themselves but either way, if it's theirs legally, they've no obligation, morally or otherwise, to sell it cheap because a relation of the original owner wants it.

If you want it, buy it because chances like this don't come up very often - and make sure you cherish it more than your family did ;)

Aunty Sherlock and Yetty, my thoughts exactly. trouble is, if Fi kicks up a fuss and they remove the article she will lose trace of it, also with ebay time is of the essence so it is difficult for her to start looking at legalities.

What I can not understand and you are going to have to explain one small word at a time is how the item now happens to belong to the person who is selling it.

If it was "found" in the back of the old fire place in an old house is there not a "treasure trove" ruling about that.

If you purchase a house and happen to find something in it which was not included in the list of goods sold as contents of the house are not those items still the property of the seller of the house.

I would be checking out the legality of their right to sell the item in the first place.

where and when does the ' Theft by finding ' rule apply these days ? just a thought .

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 :)

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.

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 LOST THE CHANCE OF MYGGRANDADS
GOLF CLUBS
I REALLY REGRET IT

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

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 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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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.