$100 Dilemma

[Relique du Madde]

This morning a lady comes into the family's restaurant and has a drink. While she's at the restaurant she listens to her ipod, pays, leaves a tip then abruptly leaves in a hurry. I'm standing near the door fixing menus as she leaves and then less then a minute later she walks back inside and begins searching through her pocket. She hands me a 100 (mid 90s green back with the enlarged Franklin), I say "Let me see if I can break this for you," then by the time I get to the bar she leaves.

In 30 days, that 100 dollars is mine IF she doesn't claim it. Sounds easy, right? Well, she came in several more times today and bought drinks as well as dinner. The waitresses got that weird "somethings not right with her" from her and even though I helped her when she came in for dinner she never mentioned the $100.

Right now I'm not sure if I should even mention it the next time she comes in (considering that I'd most likely automatically lose the money), or if I should continue to do the wait an see approach (since Murphy's law would insure that if I took the money before 30 days then she will realize she's missing the cash the minute I spend it).

 

[Nyaricus]

I think you should tell her. I mean, let's assume for a second it would be feasible for her to take you to court for that 100 bucks - the judge would likely just look at you and say "why didn't you mention that during any of the other times she was in there?" Also, she could simply take it to the newspapers and make your restaurant lose money/customers and you could lose a job.

Worse case scenarios? Oh, probably. But just my thoughts, and I firmly believe in karma and the whole "what goes around comes around."

cheers,
--N

 

[Sigdel]

Just ask her about it. It's not yours (yet). And you lose nothing if she reclaims it. Who knows you might earn a decent time ( maybe not a C note, but still ) From here for just being a stand up guy.

 

[jaerdaph]

In 30 days, that 100 dollars is mine IF she doesn't claim it. Sounds easy, right? Well, she came in several more times today and bought drinks as well as dinner. The waitresses got that weird "somethings not right with her" from her and even though I helped her when she came in for dinner she never mentioned the $100.

I really hate to say this, but the fact that you didn't mention it to her the next time you saw her, especially since you took the bill from her and offered to break it, doesn't reflect well on your character. And I think you are better than that, Relique - much better. Obviously it's bothering you too or you wouldn't have brought it up here.

Ask her what her intentions were the next time you see her.

I also think that the 30 day thing you are quoting above might be one of those "finders keepers losers weepers" playground rules sort of things and not actual law, so you might want to look into that.

It's only a hundred bucks. If that's all your integrity and self respect is worth to you, then you go pretty cheap.

So do the right thing - it will come back to you three-fold.

 

[megamania]

You won't lose anything you had already. mention it.















As for karma....... if that is the case I was a baaaaaaaad person in a prior life.

 

[Relique du Madde]

Thanks for everyone's opinion. The whole issue was bugging me. My mom said I should wait and see if she ever mentions it, but when I told her that the lady came in last night and didn't mention the $100 my mom found herself questing the situation. Like it or not, as much as people like to say $100 is not significant, it is. When I told the waitresses about it they were even surprised that I reported the $100 after the lady left. Last night after the lady left the weren't even bothered by the fact that she didn't mention the money.


About the 30 day thing I mentioned, its basically one of those finder's keeper's rules which a of places have that only applies to loose cash which was found laying out in the open (ie in a booth's seat, under a table, in the bathroom, or in the parking lot, but not on the table itself since thats assumed to be a tip). Lost wallets, checks-books and credit cards are a totally different story and fortunately they tend to be claimed by the people who lost them within a week.


But anyways, this afternoon I ended up seeing the lady. She was standing in the parking lot of the hotel that's next door with a suitcase and dressed in the same clothes she wore yesterday. I handed her the 100, she said that was sweet, and that was it. 20 minutes later her taxi arrived and she was gone.

 

[Aurora]

Good for you. From her actions, I would say there might be something wrong with her. Like Alzheimer's or something. You did the right thing. Feel good about it.

 

[jaerdaph]

You're a good egg, Relique.

 

[Relique du Madde]

You're a good egg, Relique.

Woot! That means I don't have to worry about that trap door in Willy WOnka's Chocolate factory. lol

 

[RangerWickett]

Also, make sure to wear floaties when swimming in the chocolate river.