A question of ethics?

[KevinP73]

I refinished a Carrera for a customer a while back. While doing the refinish the customer asked me to remove the stock tail and replace it with a standard deck lid as he didn't care for the wing. When he came to pick up his car he asked if I would hold on to the tail until he could return in his other vehicle to carry it in. I said sure no problem. We talked several times after that but the tail was never the main topic. He just wasn't in a hurry to pick it up. Although he would occasionally ask if I still had it.
About six months goes by and he calls me saying that he has sold his car and the new owner asked about the tail. He told the new owner that I had it and that it would be included in the deal.
Again no problem. The new owner called me one day to introduce himself and to say that he'd be buy to pick up the tail.
It's going on a year since I spoke to the new owner. I didn't get his contact information when we talked as I expected him to be by. The original owner has moved to France and his contact info is no longer good.
My question is: How long should I hold onto the part before considering it mine?

[Moneyguy1]

Just a thought:

Could be that the new owner has misplaced the contact info? Could you contact him? Maybe he belongs to the local PCA.

[svandamme]

30 days is a tad short
6 months is plenty of time...

no collection or communication in 6 months... tough luck..

obviously there is the point of you getting his business.
but if they don't talk or collect, i suspect crap when it's time to pay for service as well...not the type of customer one needs

[Joeaksa]

For me something inbetween 30 days and 6 months. Storage charges should have started at that time. Either get it out of there and out of your way, pay storage or its yours. This is not goodwill and you have a business to run.

[fastpat]

Originally posted by KevinP73
I refinished a Carrera for a customer a while back. While doing the refinish the customer asked me to remove the stock tail and replace it with a standard deck lid as he didn't care for the wing. When he came to pick up his car he asked if I would hold on to the tail until he could return in his other vehicle to carry it in. I said sure no problem. We talked several times after that but the tail was never the main topic. He just wasn't in a hurry to pick it up. Although he would occasionally ask if I still had it.
About six months goes by and he calls me saying that he has sold his car and the new owner asked about the tail. He told the new owner that I had it and that it would be included in the deal.
Again no problem. The new owner called me one day to introduce himself and to say that he'd be buy to pick up the tail.
It's going on a year since I spoke to the new owner. I didn't get his contact information when we talked as I expected him to be by. The original owner has moved to France and his contact info is no longer good.
My question is: How long should I hold onto the part before considering it mine?

You've waited long enough, it's yours to do with what you will. The storage charges alone would make that true.

But, I'd say 6 months for a customer, forever for a friend.

[Seahawk]

Originally posted by fastpat
You've waited long enough, it's yours to do with what you will. The storage charges alone would make that true.

But, I'd say 6 months for a customer, forever for a friend.

Perfect. Unless you want to contact the new owner and prompt the retrival of the wing, there is nothing more to be said.

[fastpat]

Originally posted by Seahawk
Perfect. Unless you want to contact the new owner and prompt the retrival of the wing, there is nothing more to be said.

SH, he stated that he's attempted that and the info is no longer valid.

[Seahawk]

Originally posted by fastpat
SH, he stated that he's attempted that and the info is no longer valid.

Then: Perfect without reservation.

[KevinP73]

The original owner (my customer) moved to France and his old e-mail is no longer valid. It was his office e-mail and the account closed when he left the company. I never had any information (even as much as the name) of the guy who bought the car from him. I've kept an eye open for the car in the hopes of seeing it around town and at gatherings but have never seen it since.

[fingpilot]

Kev. The tail is yours. How long since you have owned a piece of tail so completely?

[fintstone]

I used to work at a storage place and we used to run a classified ad before disposing of property. Since you agreed to hold the part and apparently never discussed storage fees or a time cut-off, I would place a inexpensive public notice in a local newspaper that you have the part, will charge storage beginning on the date of the article and will dispose of the item on a specific date to recover the storage costs.

[KevinP73]

It has been a very long time I'll admit. But then she was never very fond of being referred to as a "piece of tail"!

[fintstone]

Tail is good.

[Rot 911]

Kevin, if the tail isn't taking up room or money you need, I would just set it aside and cover it. Never know when the guy will show up. If it was me and I had the room I would just probably wait another year. Don't know why, it just seems like the right thing to do. After that I suspect you will never hear from him.

[wrecktech]

I agree with fintstone. I would consider it abandoned but the ad would cover your ass. Have you gotten any benefit from the BASF cd?

[KevinP73]

Originally posted by wrecktech
I agree with fintstone. I would consider it abandoned but the ad would cover your ass. Have you gotten any benefit from the BASF cd?

Yes I have !! Thank You. I also let my paint store know about it and he didn't even know they existed.

[livi]

Originally posted by Kurt V
Kevin, if the tail isn't taking up room or money you need, I would just set it aside and cover it. Never know when the guy will show up. If it was me and I had the room I would just probably wait another year. Don't know why, it just seems like the right thing to do. After that I suspect you will never hear from him.

So would I.

[onewhippedpuppy]

If I had the space to spare, I would sit it aside for a while longer. Good karma and all that. If it's taking up valuable space, I'd say it's already yours. You've waited longer than 99% of other business owners would have. Maybe Milt needs to read this thread, nice to see that somebody still cares.

[wrecktech]

Originally posted by KevinP73
Yes I have !! Thank You. I also let my paint store know about it and he didn't even know they existed.

No problem, happy to help you. Glad to hear you have been using it.