Silver, glassware … and honesty

Originally appeared on spirituality.com

In 2007, I decided to sell my home on the East Coast and move to a smaller place on the West Coast near where I grew up. In preparing for the move, I set aside about $2,000 worth of items – silver, fine glassware, and more that I wouldn’t have room for in my new home. It came to me to give these items to an antique dealer to sell for me on consignment. I was familiar with this very nice antique store, which was near my home, and was comfortable with the idea.

The woman who owned the store soon came to my home and picked up these items, leaving me with a detailed list. Shortly after this, I moved and several months later, when I went back east for a short trip, I visited the store and met with the owner, who said nothing had yet been sold.

A few weeks later, I learned from a friend that the store had closed down, and there was nothing left there. I hadn’t been notified of this closing, nor was I informed about the status of my items. When I tried calling the owner, I found the store’s phone had been disconnected. From that time on, and for over a year, I could get no answers or return calls from the owner’s personal cell- phone nor e-mail address.

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