Finders Fees

[Robin Sayler]

What do you consider a fair finder's fee for our little helpers who search the globe finding those things all of us here are on the constant look out for?

[Warren Platt]

There is no set answer to this question. The answer lies within the relationship between the two parties. I could give lots of different situations, but the answer would still go back to the previous sentence.

[SWIM JIG]

cool-thumb jump jump Canadian USA Young Guy! one of the benifits of being a ORCA member is,1, we help each other, 2 you as a member most likly will be called upon to help in some way,if not to find a item however to find a answere to a question about a reel, Going to Shows, and when you join ORCA, I hope you have done so, list your (reel intrest be it one or several types) stay active on this board, ( I see you doing that) and be willing to help a member thats looking for something! Generaly a thanks or a hand shake when you see the member you helped or that help you is more than payment enough! As for helping others, the person is rewarded with the knowledge learned from seeing another reel etc. There isnt a week that goes by that I dont recive a request by email , phone calls, or letters about something and I do my best to fill a request NO charge except for postage to mail a ITEM! You can be certain I too have picked some BRAINS for answeres, and I have yet to be refused! Thats what ORCA IS ABOUT! A word of thought, one cannot buy freindship, it can only be earned! I trust this may answere your question , Your Ohio Conection On Lake Erie Col. Milton Lorens aka SWIM JIG

[guest]

The question of finder's fees often comes up in my conversations
with "pickers" that I know but don't trust. What is the usual cut on
a good find and "how much ya gonna give me?"
My standard fee is 10% on stuff less than $100 and 20% on stuff
$100 and up. These guys usually bust their butts finding the stuff and
should be compensated accordingly. That's not being critical of any of your opinions, but my opinion in this regard.


Tom DuRose

[el Lawrence]

If you are going to resell an item, or selling is your stock and trade a finders fee set on the value of the item make sense.

If you are paying to have someone seek out an item for your collection I consider that (yes I know this is splitting hairs) a bounty... or reward. Might base that on condition or value of the item found or set a bounty ahead of time... flat rate based on difficulty in finding it and what your own search time is worth to you.
Back when I started to be lead astray (first becoming a reel collector) I was bound and determined I had to have a Pflueger Nobby '65, a reel at that time some even said wasn't made (wasn't in Lawsons at the time)... but I had an empty box soooooooo... (this was in early days of the internet). I started posting on a tackle chat site (not this one which I don't think was up then) I offered a "Wanted dead or alive" offer for the Nobby... would pay $25. I think it was on top of the negotiated price of the reel. I eventually got results; bought and paid the bounty plus purchase price on two in the same week... The start of a long obsession... I withdrew the bounty once I had two in hand but the residual effect of having all kinds of ORCA members look for the reel is still going on YEARS later. Members have bought them at auctions with no before hand guarantee that I would buy the reel... I always have but they didn't know that.

Now as an ORCA member who is just out and about looking for reels or tackle that I or my friends may need I would never accept a finders fee for a reel or bit of tackle that I found for another member... I feel lucky if I can recall an item a friend needs or would like for their collection and find same out in the wild. Within reason I will just buy it... If it were an expensive piece I would make arrangements to hold the item until I could contact them... Some I just call by cell on the spot if I know the number.
The search (I feel) is like fishing... you don't really get choice of what gets on your hook... but lets not be hasty about throwing something back if a friend really needs it. Just feel lucky to have had a nibble or land anything. I like the act of fishing too much to ask someone to "pay" me for doing it... even if I give the fish away (not to say catch & release isn't a great practice with actual fish)... Same for finding tackle. Great to find something even if it isn't for me. Sometimes even better when you find something for someone else... Then we BOTH can enjoy the find, and you feel great saving that bit of tackle from oblivion. The other day I was in a decor shop and saw where a number of reels had been welded into lamp sconces... Thank goodness they were not rare reels, but I have seen it done to other rare antiques... holes drilled right through things.

OK my soapbox is getting a work out lately...sorry.

[drexelantiques]

If someone buys something to sell to me, and I buy it from them, I don't mind paying their price if it is fair. I certainly do not pay them a "finder's fee" for doing so. They are in the business of buying and selling just as I am. The pickers that want to deal with me know I will pay a fair price for items for my collection, and a fair dealer's price for items I buy to sell.

I do not pay friends, or other people in the same business I am in for pointing me towards tackle because I often will point them towards things they may be interested in.

I really do not understand this whole "finders fee" concept, or where it came from.

What I understand is that you treat others as you would like to be treated. If you make your relationships all about the money, then look for disappointment.

I would much rather base a relationship on mutual respect, and helping each other, rather than on paying so called 'finders fees" for items you probably would have found out about yourself.

I have yet to see a situation, in 19 years experience as a dealer, auctioneer, collector, appraiser, where finders fees did anything but create problems.

I know some collectors who pay finders fees, in most cases those I know who do so do it to "big deal" it over others, with little real gain.

In most cases I am aware of where a "finder's fee" has been paid, someone was cheated, whether it was the seller or the buyer.