my best friend and i were at a yard sale, looking for old audio reel-to-reel tapes. we found one that had the name of some obscure, now disbanded garage band. we gave a quarter for it. when we got back to my friends house, we were quite shocked to hear what sounded like elvis presley, singing and joking with the recording crew. we had it checked and rechecked, and it's authentic. an unedited, uncut, unreleased original recording of the king. our dillema is this. do we return it to the person who sold it to us, explaining what's on it, or sell it and live in the lap of luxury for the rest of our days?
2007-01-03 16:18:34 · 8 answers · asked by wrldzgr8stdad 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
Well, if the seller had decided to sell it, it would mean that he doesn't want anything to do with it anymore.
Moreover, its your possession now. You can decide to sell it or keep it. It's all up to you.
You call the shoots.
2007-01-03 16:37:05 · answer #1 · answered by vach1970 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
In no way can I see that the right thing to do is return or share the profits from the sale of this tape.
How would that be? "Buyer Beware" is the case here. You took a chance on a reel that may well have been blank, or worse had some nameless voice reciting vacation memories from 1964.
You had your eyes and ears open and found something great. That is good and that is what makes yard sales and flea markets fun.
One man's trash is your treasure. If you had not bought it what would the fate of this unreleased material be? In reality, you in fact have saved it and perhaps that will lead to a great deal of enjoyment for many other people.
You in no way were out seeking a free ticket to a life of riches. If that happens, fine. I admire your questioning but remember goood things happen to people, sometimes. It had already happened to the hosts of the yard sale, but they didn't know it.
Enjoy the outcome, and appreciate yourself for being humble, but let's face it, music is to be shared and enjoyed. You likely saved a piece of history. If that makes you a few bucks then so be it.
Good find! On top of that, you got to have some fun with a friend, and that is priceless.
2007-01-04 00:36:35 · answer #2 · answered by JLanswers 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I doubt the authenticity of this question, but will answer nonetheless. First and foremost, if you stand to make the kind of money you hint at, don't skimp on covering your bases before the sale. Consult a lawyer, not an online forum, about your rights and responsibilities!
As for your moral dilemma -- you were offered goods and paid a fair price for them. The fact that the goods were worth more than you paid was unknown to either of you at the time of the transaction. I don't believe you're morally obligated to share anything with the original owner or to notify them of the true value.
That said, do you really want the story of how you came into your fortune -- the story you'll be telling your kids and grandkids for the rest of your life -- to be about how you unintentionally snuck one by a clueless garage sale owner? Sharing your good fortune makes you a better person, provides you with a better tale to tell, and gives you that warm-and-fuzzy feeling that you only get by really rocking someone else's world. I'm not sure there's a sum of money out there that's worth all that.
2007-01-04 00:48:37 · answer #3 · answered by happyfunpaul 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Sell it and live in the lap of luxury, it's your tape now.
2007-01-04 02:20:04 · answer #4 · answered by Angelz 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, I don't really believe this happened, but I think I would sell it and offer to split the proceeds with the person I bought it from.
2007-01-04 01:14:07 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Tough call. I think we all know the "right" thing to do would be to take it back to the garage sale people. But, I wonder how many of us truly would do that? I like to think I might but I know my husband wouldn't and his would be the deciding call.
2007-01-04 00:22:21 · answer #6 · answered by sixcannonballs 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
sell it,but split the profits with the person you sold it too.
2007-01-04 00:21:50 · answer #7 · answered by lily_shaine 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
do the right thing follow your heart,,,my self ,you could do both. spit it
2007-01-05 11:51:12 · answer #8 · answered by yome 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋