Okay, so today’s post is something totally different. We’re going to play, “What would you do?”
Clarke came home early for the holiday weekend. As he walked in the door the phone was ringing. I answered it and it was the local taxi company. The man on the phone said he had Clarke’s wallet and told me where we could pick it up. Clarke went back to the train station and retrieved his wallet. Later tonight I asked if he’d tipped the man when he picked it up… in essence giving him a finder’s reward. Clarke said the man hadn’t actually found the wallet; a third person had turned it in. Had the man been the one to find the wallet, he would have given him a reward, he says.
“But the taxi man still could have kept it and not called you,” I said. I thought he deserved a reward, or at least the offer of one. Taxi man could have refused if he felt that doing the right thing was its own reward.
I think that it’s nice to acknowledge that not only did the man did a nice and honest thing, but he also saved Clarke time and money by rescuing his wallet, credit cards, and cash.
What do you think? Would you have actually offered a reward when you picked up the wallet? Remember, the man Clarke picked the wallet up from was NOT the man who actually found it and turned it in, just the one who made the call.
Link to Twitter
In the ideal world, where all are mannerly, orderly and good, the reward for turning something in is the internal satisfaction of doing the right thing. That’s the ruls of civil behavior. No, he has no obligation because the person did what should be done.
But in the real world, where the cost of losing a wallet can range from the annoying (replacing credit cards) to enormous (a lot of credit cards, a lot of cash)? I think a tip is very much in order. That tip says, thank you. That tip says, it matters to me that you did the right thing. And if the person refuses the tip the next question is: where can I make a donation on your behalf?
It’s that simple. Real life makes for great copy. Thank you:)
jms
yes. tip. two reasons: one, the man makes his living on cab fares – and, if he’s a driver, tips. Two, it was a generous act and if you have the pocket change, it’s a lovely way to say thank you – esp during tough times. As a former waitress, I can tell you every dollar makes a difference. That’s my two cents.
Amy, just to reiterate (not sure if matters or not, but I think it did to Clarke): the taxi man did not find the wallet. The “finder” handed it to him to call Clarke.
Okay… here goes —
I would have tripped over myself thanking the person who gave me back my wallet whether they actually found it or not, but no, I wouldn’t have offered a cash reward.
It’s nice to acknowledge the good deed but I think placing value on the good deed then negates part if the goodness. And I’m an excellent tipper!
So… Do you still love me?
Of course I still love you! I am so glad you weighed in. I really DO want to see how many people agree with him. I’m not trying to show I’m right, I’m honestly trying to see what the consensus is since I actually (sort of) can see the other side. I do think doing the right thing should be its own reward. But that doesn’t mean I won’t offer every time.
That said, I would never accept a reward. Go figure.
(love the idea of donating the reward or promising to pay it forward, Jody).
My husband had someone call him to tell him that something he brought to be fixed had a considerable amount of money in it (It belonged to a recently deceased relative and my husband was the sole heir). My husband gave them a very generous tip for their honesty. My husband’s comment was that people should be rewarded for their honesty.
Chris is siding with Clarke’s reasoning and I’m leaning that way as well. Had I been there, I might have chosen differently. I think it really depends on the situation.
so far I have six “tip him” votes via Twitter…
I think I’d feel a little weird tipping some random guy for just making a phone call.
Should definitely have left a tip. At least $20 maybe more depending on how much cash was left untouched in the wallet. The person may have declined it anyway.
These are lousy, lousy economic times. Pay it forward. If the individual won’t take the reward $25 to a food bank helps serve meals.
jms
via Twitter: another yes, another no, and one maybe.
This is funny: I just remembered that I left my purse in a cart at Stew Leonard’s a few years ago. The security officer had it. I thanked him profusely but did not tip him because I figured that is part of his specific job, not just a citizen doing a nice thing. I think that is different. Do you?
That’s wonderful…many people lose things and never see them again.
Despite it being ‘part of the job’, Security officials are generally paid poorly given the risk(s) of the profession – the same applies to taxi drivers. The right thing to do is to always tip the person. Just the fact that they’ve saved the cancellation of debit/credit cards, possibly personal photos, checks (with a bank account and routing #) and a license with your home address on it…it’s wise to tip. I vote tip!
I lost my wallet twice. Each time I tipped. I don’t think it’s required. I think most people would not expect to be tipped. And I don’t think the person recovering the wallet should feel bad that they didn’t. My two cents.
I’m with Becky….profuse gratitude, but no tip. The driver did the right thing, but Clarke’s thanks was all that was necessary.
Say he left his cell phone or briefcase in the taxi. Would that have warranted a tip? Are you only suggesting a tip because he returned money?
I think, considering all the things that people carry in their wallets these days, I probably would have tipped. Just think of all the worry, phone calls to credit card companies, etc., etc. the guy saved you. He might have refused, but in these times, I’m thinking many people who used to spend money on cabs aren’t spending that money now, so his income may be down. Yep… I’d have offered a “tip” or a reward as a thanks and to reward honesty.
It’s not a tip, it’s a reward. And I’d give him a small reward.
I’m with you, Lisa. You’ve got to tip that guy. When in doubt, always tip.
I probably would have offered a tip. I believe in rewarding honestly.
Absolutely. 100%. Without a doubt. I would have tipped. And, I would have asked if the finder paid with a credit card so I could try to thank them, too.
I’ve left my purse at a restaurant and, out of fear of identity theft, cancelled all of my CC and issued a fraud alert – even though I got my purse back intact.
Given the cost of identity theft, a tip would be in order, if it were me.
So grateful for you and Clarke that he got it all back!
Interesting question!
Because I have been concentrating on my inner life these last years in a Lemony Snicket, Unfortunate Events kind of way, I have two experiences in this area in the last 6 months. (I know, I know.)
In January, I went to Nick’s Cove in Marshall, California for my birthday. The trip was a ritual to help me plan a year of significant change. The weather was magical, I was happy and relaxed. The first gorgeous morning I set my wallet—containing $300 cash—and my journal, down on a low wall to take a picture, and then walked dreamily away. By the time I noticed and returned—I had to drive back from Bodega Bay—the wallet and journal were gone. I was devastated and spent the afternoon and evening filing a police report and canceling my debit card etc. Marshall has no mobile phone signal, so the next day I drove to Point Reyes Station to further negotiate the facts of the loss, and found that a man had gone to great trouble to track me down to return my wallet and journal—finally, via my AAA card. We connected. He mailed my wallet and journal back to me in SF. My journal has a lot of essay notes related to my dad and my family memoir, and is priceless to me. He could have thrown away the journal and kept the cash. The Sheriff with whom I had filed the police report told me that would probably be the outcome. I had the finder keep $100 for himself. He was out of work and accepted.
Last Saturday I left my wallet at the de Young museum. I’d been rattled when I first got there by a car repair call that was for more money than I had anticipated, plus awed, transported, moved by Picasso’s work, as per usual. I discovered my wallet was gone the next morning, and called the de Young. The wallet was there. It contained $250 that was untouched; a patron had turned it in, but left no name. There was a crisp new $50 in my wallet I’d have given in gratitude. Homeless men sleep near my house in SF. I see one sad, neat-as-possible guy regularly. I decided giving him $50 might be too much, but I pressed $20 into his hand to thank the universe for the kindness of strangers. He got tears in his eyes and held my hand for a moment. I was grateful. For me, it completed a circle. (And, as you noted, I realize I would not take a tip, but would certainly appreciate the offer.)
Absolutely, tip him! It doesn’t matter whether the taxi driver found the wallet or not. He didn’t have to call Clarke. In today’s world, I think we should send the message that doing the right thing brings more reward (praise, thanks, money, pat on the back) than doing nothing, or simply keeping the wallet or throwing it away.
About four years ago, I left my wallet in the grocery cart and didn’t realize it until I got home to the ranch. Chemo brain in action! Someone found it and turned it into the store. The manager called me as I was on my way back to the store. The real clincher was I’d just received a check for the sale of our home in San Antonio, and it was in my wallet. I’ve often wondered if I’d left it at a store in San Antonio, if I’d every have seen it again. Our ranch, however, is outside of a small town where Opi and Sheriff Andy live. I lucked out! Unfortunately, the grocery store manager didn’t get the name of the person who turned in my wallet, and when I tried to inquire who, at the store had received it, so I could give them a reward, the manager wouldn’t let me. He said, “No problem. You would have done the same.”
Brenda
Yes, I would have given the finder a reward. Losing a wallet, or purse can be a nightmare.
A nobrainer! Yes, I would have given him a tip (reward) whatever you want to call it.
Such a very generous gesture deserves to be acknowledged.
Yes, I would have given a reward. But, like you I would not accept a reward under similar circumstances. I would simply ask them to look for an opportunity to pay it forward to someone else. Good karma begets good karma. I figure it will eventually come around again to me at a point when I really need it.
Yes, definitely offer a tip/reward. Like others, I would never have accepted one, but would certainly have offered one with the hopes that someone else would take it. Pay it forward.
I always err on the side of tipping as a thank you..The taxi guy didn’t have to call Clarke and the endless calls to change credit cards etc was worth a tip or donation.. Clarke is a GREAT guy so I am sure he didn’t even think of it and was just happy to be home early for the weekend with his family! Next time