posted on March 7, 2011 07:37:33 AM new
I bought a sports jersey 3 weeks ago at a Value Village Thrift Store in Burien, WA. Burien is located about 20 miles outside of Seattle. I live in Portland, a good 150+ miles away.
The jersey is a bit unique because it is a game worn jersey for a former Dallas Cowboy who only played for them one season. So, there aren't very many of them out there.
I listed it on eBay this week and received the following message:
"Dear Sir:
I'm actually shocked (yet not surprised) to find this particular jersey on ebay. It was stolen from me in Seattle along with other Dallas Cowboys game used memorabilia including Andre Gurode's college jersey from the University of Colorado.
I'm not asking for it to be returned, nor am I accusing you of theft. Rather, I'm interested in how you obtained it. I've been searching for the items since late 2009. I sincerely appreciate your consideration.
Best regards"
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I immediately contacted eBay. I have never received an email like this. eBay was little help, so I emailed him back and asked if he had a police report detailing the items stolen. He said he does have a police report, but no details of specific items. He asked if I would keep an eye out for his other items, some significantly more sentimental than this item. I haven't responded, but it really bugs me that this is likely his and there is very little to do about it.
He has no proof it was stolen other than a police report that gives no details about what was stolen. The only detail that makes me believe this could be his is that it was stolen in Seattle and I purchased it just outside of Seattle 2 years later.
posted on March 7, 2011 08:44:49 AM new
A few years ago I had a similar experience. The person apparently had an automatic eBay watch (search) on for the stolen, unique, vintage sports trophy for quite some time and when I talked to him I was convinced he was on the up and up. And he seemed convinced that I wasn't involved in the theft.
For its return, he was willing to pay me for shipping/insurance and reimburse my original cost for the item, which all amounted to less than $20. So it worked out all right, I supplied him with whatever I knew about the circumstances of acquiring it. He had a culprit in mind but I don't know how that turned out. He was just glad to get it back because he really didn't own it, but it was in his care when it vanished.
All kind of disconcerting at the time and I was glad when I got rid of it.
posted on March 7, 2011 08:59:32 AM new
It's a small world.
Several years ago I bought a Naval Acadamy yearbook at a retirement village thrift store.
After listing it on eBay, I received an email from a graduate of the acadamy telling me that those were never sold, and asking me how I got my hands on it. I ignored him.
Several days later, I received an email from the original owner stating that it was his book, and should be returned. He lives one state away, and when I questioned how he knew it was his, he gave his name, where I purchased it and how I received it. Turns out his mother had the book, had passed away and it ended up in the thrift store.
posted on March 7, 2011 09:15:54 AM new
Wow, I'm glad to know that I'm not the only one that has had this experience.
It is a very difficult situation, largely because even though he may have a police report, the item I have is not specifically listed as stolen. I would feel obligated to send it to him with some proof it is his... but he has none.
He claims his roommate at the time stole it b/c he had a drug problem. Did he have insurance? Did he get a claim out of it? Was his roommate arrested and had to pay restitution? Is this even the same item that was stolen?
2 years is quite a long time, especially for something that turns up at a thrift store. This particular thrift store is known for shipping in a large portion of their clothing from New York, Minneapolis, and other major cities.
posted on March 7, 2011 11:42:15 AM new
If it were worth below $20.00 then I would cancel the listing and send him the shirt because........that is just me!
He said he is not asking you to send it to him he just wanted to track down where you found it so I would be inclined to give him that information so he can continue his quest to find his other items.
Then I would just put the incident out of my mind or at least on my memory shelf of odd things that happen on EBay!
posted on March 7, 2011 12:11:37 PM new
I just emailed him with the info.
Very strange.
We once had a customer who was very odd. He always wanted to put stuff on layaway, mostly cheap stuff ($10-30). He came in one time and saw we had several vintage board games, Monopoly, Yahtzee, Scrabble. Right away he started that those were his and were stolen from the trunk of his Hyundai. He was so convinced that these were his that it really started to annoy me.
Do you know how often we come across old board games that have seen little use? Check the closets at Estate sales and you'll find them regularly.
We bought them a year earlier at an Estate Sale and kept them for ourselves to use. Finally, after the same fate of collecting dust in the closet, we decided to sell them. They were in our display case for at least a month before he saw them and weeks before his car was broken into.
I think he embarrassed himself enough that we haven't seen him since.
[ edited by shagmidmod on Mar 7, 2011 12:14 PM ]
posted on March 7, 2011 01:30:57 PM new
I once sold a beautiful burl wood bowl that was artist signed & dated.
I sold it to a guy who had a website full of fallen wood items (most items where on sale).
A few weeks later I got a email from the daughter of the artist wanting to know if I still had the bowl. I wrote the guy who got it and ask if he would mind if I passed on his information to her. He was OK with that so I did.
I never found out but I hope she was able to purchase it from him.
I'm not sure what I would have done if she found it before I sold it as I sold it for a nice profit.
posted on March 7, 2011 02:18:26 PM new
Even though a player played only one season, there could be plenty of used jerseys. Why does he think this specific one was stolen from him, why wasn't in listed on the police report, and how did he acquire it in the first place?
