Returning lost discs

[jugglerbri]

So, as I'm fairly new to this sport, I have a question for ya'll on the ethics of finding discs with names and phone numbers on them.

I've had discs returned to me three different ways so far, one person simply returned the disc to me (I met him at the course and he gave me back my disc). Another called and said to get my disc back, it would be $2. And another I found for sale at Jax (Jax gave me $1 off as it was my own disc).

I guess my question is, what's the expected thing to do when finding someone else's disc? I found one today at Edora, I called the number, and I plan on returning it to him (seemed like a nice guy on the phone). Is there typically a finders fee that goes along with getting a disc back? If so, what is typical?

Thanks for any insight here.

Brian

[666cruiser]

Well Brain, I've had discs given back to me. I've had people call me from a pay phone and say "nice disc, thanks". The way I look at it if they give it back and don't ask for anything its good karma. I don't do nice things expecting anything in return.. I buy from the swamp kids if they have one of mine. I'll give them a coupe bucks. Peace, Love, and Disc Golf..

[-_Skywalker_-]

Personally, I always offer someone 2-3 dollars if they take the time to call me up and return my disc. (They don't always accept the money. And some of my discs say "$$ reward" etc on them.)

However, if someone calls me up and wants money before they will even return it, I usually don't go for it unless it is a very important disc.

So I would say, if you find a disc with a # on it, call once or twice to see if they want it back, but don't ask for money. (If they don't answer or don't want the disc back, it's yours.)

PS. The "swamp kids" as Bruce refers to them never call anyone's number on discs they find, so when I see them with a disc of mine, I don't feel bad about asking for it back for free (and if the kid is nice about it, I usually give him a few bucks.)

PPS. WHERE is the used disc bin at JAX? I have heard of this mythical beast, but never laid eyes on it despite several minutes of searching...

[666cruiser]

The local Jax doesn't have a used bin currently. I spoke with them about getting one. The Jax in Loveland however, does. The Jax here might have one late this summer..

[jugglerbri]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I think it makes sense to offer a couple bucks in return for a disc.

As far as the used disc bin goes, I was referring to the Jax in Loveland. I haven't been to the one in Fort Collins since I've started playing. The used discs there run around $5 a pop.

[perphectnumber]

Another thing to consider regarding 'lost' discs is where they were lost/found... If I throw a disc in a deep/wide water hazard, I generally consider it gone... If somebody later goes to the trouble of getting it out, as far as I'm concerned, he/she is welcome to it. On the other hand, if I absent-mindedly leave a disc on a fairway, I want it back (for free... it's my property and keeping things you find that clearly belong to others is theft). I also hold myself to higher standards than I hold others... If I find somebody else's disc in a deep/wide water hazard and it has a name/number, I'll call and offer it to them for nothing more than the trouble of meeting me somewhere. I have even tried to return discs WITHOUT names/numbers before (by asking each group I come across the rest of my round if they lost a disc and if so, asking them to identify the brand/model... so far, never successfully returned a disc that way).
-Phil

[666cruiser]

OK. So I got some great news today. If you throw a disc on the top of Epic it's not lost. The Epic staff goes up and gets discs off the roof on Wednesdays and Saturdays. If you go in and describe your disc and they have it you get it back!!! This is handy for fat old men who like to throw anhyzers over the building. ;D