Moral Quandary

[slidekellyslide]

I have been contacted by someone who evidently googled something and found that I own something in my collection that is of interest to a family member. Now this something is not something that is easy to come by, and in fact I may never find anything like this again.

What would you do?

[oriolesbb6]

How did you acquire the item? Were they an under-bidder at an auction or the like>?

[perezfan]

I would say that more specifics are necessary to answer the question effectively. If the item is something that makes more sense to be in their possession than yours (for example a one-of-a-kind item with deep emotional ties to the family), I would consider forfeiting it.

That is, assuming they compensate you fairly- at market value or better. If you are willing/able to part with it, I would tell them the price you need to get for it, and give them the option. I guess there's no traditional market value on Ty Cobb's Dentures (remember that one?) but you know what you originally paid (and what the item is worth). Of course, if the item carries a low monitary value (or you acquired it cheap), it might be nice just to give it to them as a gift.

It would really help to know more specifics, and what the item in question actually is. This is just my personal opinion, and there's probably no "right or wrong" here. It depends on your values and judgement of the specific situation.

[rhettyeakley]

Dan, through my website I have been contacted by many people who are direct decendants of players found on cards (usually Zeenuts) or other items. Generally the stuff in my personal collection is not for sale (I am pretty upfront about this right off the bat), however, I always make an attempt to find another example for them (when possible) and will also offer to take high quality scans which they are free to take to a photographer or printing place and make something that would be displayable for them.

In several instances I have kept an eye open for another example that I have sold them (at cost), it's one of the more rewarding things I have encountered through my website.
-Rhett

[slidekellyslide]

The item in question is a Louisville Slugger gamer of a minor leaguer who played for Lincoln pre WW2...I doubt another bat for this player is extant, and it is also the only prewar bat I know of that can be tied to a Lincoln player. I obtained it from a direct sale and not an auction.

[oriolesbb6]

This happens regularly during estate auction. In this case, I would be honest one way or the other-If your item is not for sale kindly state that fact and move one being comfortable in your decision. If you can part with state a fair price and again do not regret your sale.

[Robbie]

I am new to net54, so you probably do not recognize my postings yet. But I have been collecting for 30+ years. This may be a crazy idea, but is there any way to "rent" the item to them for a fixed duration of time...say 2 years and then the item comes back to you. They could give you a substantial deposit for security. That way thaey get to enjoy it for a while and you know it will come back to your collection.

Robbie >>

[Wite3]

Does Louisville Slugger still do custom jobs...let the family have pics of the bat and let them do a reproduction of your original. Maybe take some very nice pics for them and have them framed for them. Just some ideas...

Joshua

[drc]

I don't think it's a moral question.

[Leon]

As you know I have some inside scoop on this situation. That being said I don't think you are morally obligated to do anything at all. It's is yours and only you can decide if you want it more than they are willing to pay for it. I don't think they will go long and deep on value but I don't know for sure. Heck, I have no idea, at all, of the value of the bat.

For me...and this is only me. If I am not attached to something I usually try to work something out in order to get the item to someone that it would be so dear to. At some point it comes down to what you do in life and what kind of person you are. Please don't take this the wrong way. Even if you keep it I wouldn't think any less of you one tiny bit. At the same time I would very much respect and applaud you if you do make it available, IF IT'S not so dear to you. If it is so dear to you then by all means I would keep it. I also like the idea of loaning/renting it as that might be an option. I know you are a good guy so have full trust you will make the right decision for yourself. I think we would all be interested in what you do when you make that decision. Let me restate one thing....if it is really dear and important to you then I see no reason not to keep it in your collection. There are certain cards I would probably keep regardless of the situation. take care

[canjond]

Dan - one other suggestion... Not sure of your own family situation, but upon your passing, you could bequeath the bat back to the family. Assuming the value isn't such that it is a cornerstone of your collection, you could enjoy the bat now, and the family can also know that someday they will have the bat.

[sayhey24]

I'm going to disagree with most of the posters so far (although I just read that Leon is doing the same).
Whenever faced with a tough decision, I ask myself what would I teach my young children to do in a similar situation. In this case, the decision suddenly becomes easy. The bat has meaning, perhaps even deep meaning, to the collector, but has an even more powerful emotional tie to the family. The collector will in the long run be far richer (and I don't mean financially) by seeing to it that the bat gets to the family.
Here's one more criteria you can use -- something I picked up from one of my favorite authors years ago and has served me well over the years. Whenever faced with a tough decision, invariably the tougher choice is the right choice.
In this case the easiest thing to do would be to keep the bat and forget about it -- the tougher choice for the collector is giving up the bat, but it's the right choice.

Greg