Declining cash rewards for returning lost items

Almost every time a kind person returns a lost valuable item to someone, that person usually offers a cash reward in exchange for returning what's theirs. But the returner usually declines and says, "No thanks, keep your money." Is this just the polite thing to do? Is it rude to accept the cash reward without question?

Recently, I lost my journal at the park. Then the next day I got a call from a stranger saying he found my book. We met up at a coffee shop and when he gave me my journal, I thanked him and tried to give him $20 for his troubles and kindness. He declined. It didn't matter what I said, he wouldn't accept the cash.

Twenty years ago when I was a kid, my family was on a road trip in the mountains with 2 cars. We stopped the cars out in the forest for a while. When we departed, and each driver thought the other person had our dog. We left our dog at the last stop. Panicked we drove back and looked for a couple hours. We were freaking out. But a truck driver found my father walking by the highway and asked if he was looking for a lost dog. Sure enough the trucker had found our dog and gave her back. My dad offered to give the man some money; I can't remember how much he offered. But the truck driver wouldn't accept anything.

 

Nothing wrong with accepting a reward, but I wouldn't either. You're returning the item to be a decent person, and it seems like accepting the reward would slightly lessen the gesture.

 

I agree. I have a drawer in my bedroom where I have 5 envelopes (2 of them are big shipping envelopes) from people returning my drivers license and or wallet. Most people who know me would be amazed that I don't have more envelopes than that from having lost stuff returned to me. Actually I might have gotten more but could've lost them.

Anyway, I sent reward money back to all of them and included a letter stating how I knew they were not expecting rewards for finding and returning my stuff, but that I would appreciate them keeping what I sent because getting my stuff back was worth much more. Only 1 out of 5(or maybe more than 5) did not return the money. They all deserved to keep it, but the reward was not what motivated them. I'm sure a reward was not what motivated the person who kept it, they probably felt that I would feel better if they kept it.

 

When i was like 14 or 15 me and a buddy found a ladys entire purse in the street and it had her wallet filled with cash ans credit cards n shit but we returned it to her cuz we woulda felt way to guilty to take anything. Wouldnt be able to live with myself. ive had a wallet stolen before and it sucks.

she gave us something but i dont remember if we accepted it or not. i think we told her to keep it

 

I never accept a reward for finding and returning somthing. If you do you upset the Karma balance

 

Whenever anyone offers money when im not expecting it i alway decline twice. If they tell me to take it a third time i do.

I had a wallet returned in the mail i eoupd have sent a reward but there was no return address.

Guys i used to work with used to say they would find wallets quite a bit at work. They would always take the money saying it was for shipping and their trouble of mailing the wallet back.

 

i never turn down a gift, provided it is because it is what the giver wants to do and enjoys doing. that is the only worthy reason to give.
i would not regard anyone as being in my debt, provided they were considerate and didn't rob me of my thoughts.
though if the gift were something harmful or destructive, i pass it on to be disposed of, possibly deconstructing its harmful capacity had i the skill to do so safely. but in either event, as quickly as i could get it off my hands.
but that is the rare exception.
there is such a thing as a favor, and some things do more to make the world you have to live in yourself, a world you can enjoy, then all the symbolic resources at your own disposal.

you want to bribe me to do what i want to do anyway, i won't turn you down. but don't expect me to do anything else.
(other then to build the kind of world, for everyone, i beleive everyone would stand a better chance of living a gratified life in)

 

Today I saw a few acts of kindness on the street, which surprises me in a city like this.

I like to think that people are becoming somewhat aware of how much nicer your enviroment gets when people are nice to each other and help because it just feels good and the real reward you get is in the sense of gratification.