Discovery in my Brother In Laws Shed

Discussion in 'Transformers Toy Discussion' started by Bakushan, Oct 12, 2012.

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  1. Bakushan

    Bakushan Well-Known Member

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    This is a true story. I will add PICS as soon as I can to further add to the story.

    ***

    So my brother in law is a fellow geek/toy collector. So, it makes sense that many friends of his would also be geeks and toy collectors.

    My brother in law's best friend (formerly) was having some tough times, and needed some space to store some things sometime around 1998 or so. To do this, my BIL would need to INCREASE the size of the unit he was renting, and take on a larger monthly payment. So my BIL agreed to let him put his stuff in his new storage unit. The friend agreed verbally to pay a portion of the new storage fee's when he could to help with the storage. The amount of things he put into the unit was LARGE.

    Years passed, and the friend never gave a dime of help. My BIL still paid 100% of the storage fee, even though nearly 50% of the stuff inside was not his. It got to the point where friend owes over $3,500 to my BIL for back storage fees.

    14 years has now passed, and friend will not answer the phone, and is nowhere to be found. My BIL was tired of the high storage fees and having bought a new large home, got rid of the storage and moved all of the items to his house. The 8-10 LARGE plastic totes that belonged to the friend had not been opened since 1998. My BIL finally said "I wonder what is inside, and opened the boxes"....

    "Friend" had been a part-time employee at TRU and was a hardcore toy collector and hoarder. Inside the boxes is....

    -G1 TF MISB
    -G1 TF Loose
    -TF G2
    -TF Energon
    -TF Beast Wars MISB
    -He-Man MISB
    -1978-1984 Star Wars Carded MISB
    -1988-1991 TMNT MISB
    -Macross, Gundam, MISC Japanese Collectibles
    -More toys than I could ever describe

    Now, this stuff has not been appraised, but I would suspect that my BIL is sitting on top of at least $10,000+ in toys. Its insane. Wanna talk about "TREASURE" this stuff would make for a top rated episode of storage wars TRUST ME.

    Well, my BIL is still sympathetic to his friend, and says that despite the THOUSANDS in back rent he is owed, he feels that he should find him and return the toys. My sister (his wife) feel's as if they should simply hold the toys until my BIL is compensated for the storage fees. Others feel as if the friend will never come forward and the toys now all belong to my BIL...

    Now the boxes sit, shut, in a extra room on the 2nd floor at my sisters house.

    What should be done?
     
  2. Atomatron

    Atomatron Well-Known Member

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    i just pissed myself with laughter

    thank you so much! :) 

    must be the same guy that broke into my car and left a full TT MP collection in it
     
  3. joshua

    joshua Well-Known Member

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  4. Napalm

    Napalm Drinking About Robots TFW2005 Supporter

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    Ask the fellas in the Discovery In My New House(Jackpot!) thread.
     
  5. doomboy536

    doomboy536 Universe Onslaught fanboy

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    If years and years have passed, then I say sell off just enough stuff to pay off what he owes you, then hold onto the rest of it for a set period of time. If no further contact is made after that period, sell the rest or take it for yourself if your brother-in-law is feeling nice :p 
     
  6. Bakushan

    Bakushan Well-Known Member

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    I know you might think this is some kind of parody thread...

    Its not.

    What I just typed is 100% factual. Pics coming.
     
  7. Smashs

    Smashs Internet: Pure Truth Moderator

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    They belong to your brother-in-law.

    I wouldn't push contacting him further. With the f'ed up possession laws, and civil courts nowadays, you never know how it could turn out.
     
  8. Bakushan

    Bakushan Well-Known Member

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    Legally: I agree with you.
    Morally: ????
     
  9. Smashs

    Smashs Internet: Pure Truth Moderator

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    Well, that's tough.

    Morally I'd say do what you can to contact him, but I've been burned enough in the past to not care. If it's someone who doesn't stand by their word for something as minor as $21 a month storage fees, then I would assume they either wouldn't contact you if the tables were turned, or will do something to burn you in the end.
     
  10. Rewind

    Rewind Swoosh!

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    Not doubting the story, but if they hadn't been opened since 1998 how did TF Energon toys get inside?
     
  11. Bakushan

    Bakushan Well-Known Member

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    Because I am a TF Noob and have surley misquoted whatever labels I saw on the box.
     
  12. Kup-is-Dion

    Kup-is-Dion Lord Cthulhu

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    You ever think the guy might be dead? If that's the case, keep them.
     
  13. Bakushan

    Bakushan Well-Known Member

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    I guess it's possible.

    I think the discussion at the house was "he does not have the money, he never will have the money. He has not asked for them back, but we think its the right thing to do anyways"...

    Its a SORE SUBJECT at my BIL's house... he still cares for his friend and hope he gets on his feet. My sister thinks its STUPID that they have all this equity in toys that belong to a debtor of them, and will not cash in for at least what is owed...

    I guess my BIL understands the time and effort that went into the collection, and thinks the benefit of keeping the toys outweighs the debt.
     
  14. Cracka J

    Cracka J judas in my mind TFW2005 Supporter

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    soooo....pictures....about that...
    what a coincidence 2 almost identical threads pop up the exact same day!

    bs aside, if this is legit hope your bro can sell it and make back what he's "invested" into the storage unit. if he's not hurting for the money, and the dude is still a friend, he can always just sit on it since it's in his house now. he might be able to come up with the funds eventually if you're bro doesn't mind it taking up space.
     
  15. Rewind

    Rewind Swoosh!

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    Sorry, no offense meant. To me the 'right' thing to do would be to return them to their owner, but obviously your BIL can't get ahold of him to do that. Maybe just keep trying, and leave him a message that he needs to claim his stuff or it will be auctioned off to pay for the storage fees.
     
  16. Matty

    Matty @StayingInTheBox Veteran

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    Why are people finding shit in houses and storage units? What the hell?
     
  17. supervir2

    supervir2 Feels like the kid in Big everyday.

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    I don't know how the verbal agreement from years ago would stand in a legal sense. I respect your BIL for wanting to be straight with his friend.

    At some point, if you can't get a hold of him, you aren't going to store his good indefinitely. When the point comes, I don't know, especially now that it isn't costing extra to do so.

    Personally, I'd have a hard time selling that stuff off/keeping it for myself unless my friend told me to take it as compensation. It doesn't sound like your BIL is particularly strapped for cash at the moment.
     
  18. Astronut

    Astronut Well-Known Member

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    He never paid what he promised to pay, costing your BIL some serious money. On top of that, he doesn't answer the phone and has disappeared. Basically, your BIL have paid to hold on someone else's toys without a word from said someone.
    I'd say F that guy, keep/sell the toys :D 
     
  19. Rewind

    Rewind Swoosh!

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    I forgot to add: If he decides to sell it I call dibs on the Macross/Robotech stuff. :p 
     
  20. RKillian

    RKillian http://www.rktoyandhobby.com

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    Why would somebody stiff your brother-in-law with valuable property at stake? I can see if it was old clothes or cheap furniture, but stuff that's clearly collectible? That seems incredibly stupid on the part of this friend. Although, my cousin once split a storage room with a coworker who disappeared and left behind brand new living room furniture so who knows what some people think.

    Unfortunately, I think this friend might've died so be prepared for that. If it were me, I'd hang onto the stuff for a few months while trying to get ahold of him. Failing that, I'd sell just enough of the crappiest stuff to satisfy the debt and keep the rest in the basement or a closet for a few more years before making a final decision.

    I will never understand the space-nazi attitude that some women get. What is such a crime about having stuff in a closet or the garage? Isn't that why you bought a house? A place to keep your stuff? My favorite is when they say it makes the house look "lived in," as if the fact that people are indeed living in it is irrelevant. Seriously, why go to all the trouble of getting a nice house if what you really want is the bare metal walls of a shipping container?
     
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