Returning a Lost Item to a Parent

[Anonymous]

My son plays travel baseball. The kids live all over. Some near Lorton, some near Ft. Washington.

The last game of the season was Sunday and a kid left his bat ($250) in the dugout. We grabbed it and sent a group text to let everyone know we had it.

Well, Ft. Washington family responds with "Thanks, that's ours, please mail it/deliver it to 123 Oak street Ft. Washington Md."

We live in Stafford. For those unfamiliar with DC that's about an hour apart.

My husband sees the exchange and posts "No, it's on our porch at 123 Oak St Stafford Va. You''re free to come get it"

Now one of the moms texted me on the side to say that was snotty. My husband says we were nice to grab it and we aren't a delivery service.

Do I mail the damn bat or let it sit on the porch until they come get it?

[Anonymous]

Take it to the team party or next get together. Or wait till they come get it. If you happen to drive out their way for some other reason dropping it off would be a kindness.

[Anonymous]

Can you send it PPOD? Is that still a thing?

[Anonymous]

Ridiculous that they asked you to send it to them. They can come and get it

[Anonymous]

The initial "that's ours, mail it here" was snotty and presumptuous.

[Anonymous]

Yeah, they should asked if you would be willing to mail it to them and that they will send you a Paypal or Venmo to cover the cost. Otherwise, they need to go pick it up.

[Anonymous]

No good deed goes unpunished. Mail it and have them pay you (electronically) for the cost. The request and the response were weirdly stated..

[Anonymous]

Well, how did they respond after you told them to get it?

[Anonymous]

While I agree with your dh on principle, I think the same sentiment could have been communicated in a more tactful way, especially since the conversation was public. The other family was rude, no need to meet them at their level.

But what’s done is done. I agree with pp, see if there’s an event coming up where you could get it to them.

[Anonymous]

Your dh is right. Their reply was snotty, and he responded in kind. Eff them. You need to grow a spine, your dh has one.

[Anonymous]

Your husband is right.

[Anonymous]

Surely they'll see each other again? And I'm sure they have more than one bat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:While I agree with your dh on principle, I think the same sentiment could have been communicated in a more tactful way, especially since the conversation was public. The other family was rude, no need to meet them at their level.

But what’s done is done. I agree with pp, see if there’s an event coming up where you could get it to them.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your husband is right.

But could have worded it better and not sent this reply on a group text.

[Anonymous]

Just say the shipping costs are $XX. Glad to ship it for you after I receive you Venmo for the shipping otherwise I'll just hold on to it till next year.