How Dare You Give Me Back My Phone?!

[HawaiianShirts]

Dreamstalker's thread reminded me of an incident...

I once found a misplaced phone in a parking lot. It was just a few generations down from those massive brick phones (back in 1999) so there were no apps, and the contact list didn't have anything useful. Asked the grocery store if anyone was looking for a missing phone, but that was a no, so I hung on to it. After about half an hour, it rang, and I answered. Turned out the owner was calling her own phone.

Her: This phone you just answered is mine.
Me: Oh, good! I was hoping you'd call for it.
Her: Where are you?
Me: I'm at work at [Pizza Place]. I found the phone in our parking lot.
Her: I'm coming to get it.
Me: Great! I'll be here for the next four hours, so whenever--
Her: *click*

She came in about 15 minutes later, told me why she was there. When I handed her the phone, she snatched it away from me and glared at me as if I was a thief, then marched her way out the door angrily without another word.

So sorry to have given you back your precious phone! If I was going to steal it, why would I have been happy to receive your call? Why would I have told you where I work and how long I'd be there? I'm not sure whether I was more bothered about the ingratitude or about the unspoken accusation of thievery.

No good deed goes unpunished, eh?

[XCashier]

She came in about 15 minutes later, told me why she was there. When I handed her the phone, she snatched it away from me and glared at me as if I was a thief, then marched her way out the door angrily without another word.

"Why, you're welcome, ma'am, it's so good to know there are honest and decent people in the world, isn't it?" said loudly and directly to her face might get through that ungrateful brain.

What a bitch. Hopefully she's gotten what she deserved.

[Argabarga]

And to this day, she probably tells everyone she meets how the people at *pizza place* are all thieves because back in 99', they tried to steal her phone and almost didn't give it back!!!

[Food Lady]

And to this day, she probably tells everyone she meets how the people at *pizza place* are all thieves because back in 99', they tried to steal her phone and almost didn't give it back!!!

EXACTLY. It's people like this who completely confuse me. We get them too. I think some people are so consumed by bitterness that they've lost their sanity. I want to say "What happened to you?"

[Monterey Jack]

As someone who has lost a phone (one of those cheapie pay-as-you-go models, but still), if I had called the number, and gotten someone who agreed to meet me at such-and-such a place at a specific time to return it, I would not only thank said person profusely, but I'd also offer to pay for their lunch or something.

[Kittish]

I found a phone once, back in the early, early days of car phones, when they were these stupidly massive bricks. It was by the side of the road near the house, which was way the heck gone out in the middle of nowhere. Lucky for the guy that anyone found his phone, much less before it died. As I recall, we called pretty much the first number we could get the phone to show us and asked the person who answered to pass along a message to the phone's owner. The guy came out to pick it up, and was friendly and polite. Still not sure just how he managed to lose his phone, much less out in the middle of nowhere and not realize that he'd lost it until someone told him some folks had found his phone.

[eltf177]

It's ingratitude like this that prevents me from being more helpful - I just don't need the hassle...

[sstabeler]

If i had to guess? right from when you answered it, she was convinced you had tried to steal it. (the "the phone you just answered is mine" is a dead giveaway- if she didn't think you had stolen it, she'd be more likely to ask about where she could pick it up.)

[Luna Baby]

We found a phone once on the corner at a red light. Just happened to see it while we were waiting to make our turn. I called the first number I could find which turned out to be the mother to the young man who owned the phone. Once he got the message that we'd found his phone he called us back to make arrangements to get his phone back. Arrangements meant we had to drive across town to his place (read: Mommy's house). No thank you, no nothing upon the return of his phone. I never expect anything tangible in return for a good deed, but geez! A nice thank you goes a long way.

[eltf177]

All that trouble to return this fool's property and not even a thank you?

After going to this much trouble I'd demand gas money at least...

[HawaiianShirts]

...right from when you answered it, she was convinced you had tried to steal it. (the "the phone you just answered is mine" is a dead giveaway- if she didn't think you had stolen it, she'd be more likely to ask about where she could pick it up.)

I think you're exactly right.

And to this day, she probably tells everyone she meets how the people at *pizza place* are all thieves because back in 99', they tried to steal her phone and almost didn't give it back!!!

That would be pathetically sad. Probably true, but sad nevertheless.

[WishfulSpirit]

Interesting how people react. The exact same thing happened to us and we didn't get all huffy. Hubby was outside playing with our dog and his phone fell out of his pocket. We happen to be on the walking route for people going to the Handegg game, and someone picked it up. She called my number (I was in recent calls) and arranged to give us the phone back. We thanked her profusely and offered a fiver for her trouble but she wouldn't take it.

[Minflick]

You want me to drive to deliver it to you? Nope. How about you drive to pick it up?! Or, you know, if that doesn't work, I'll just go back to that street corner and put it right where I found it. How about that...?

[Dizazter]

We had a regular customer lose his phone one night. We had called it several times, thinking it fell out of his pocket somewhere in the car or building to no avail. Finally, he called it one more time and someone answered. As soon as they said Hello he greeted them with " I would sure appreciate it if you would bring me back my phone before I call the cops on you!". The voice on the other end says..."Dad....you left it laying on the kitchen table."

[wolfie]

Great pwnage by the kid.