Frequently Asked Questions

I lost my ring, now what do I do?

After you realize that you have lost or misplaced an item it is imperative to call right away, this is especially important if the item was lost on a public beach. DO NOT POST to social media, especially with specific location details! Try to mark the area referencing stationary objects like bulkhead poles, jetty rocks, or even buildings. Take some photographs with your phone. Dropping a pin from your smart phones “maps” can also be especially helpful. Noting time and tide position is also important. If lost in the water, note how deep you were, calf deep, waist deep, etc. Take note of the bottom with your feet, smooth, shelly & rocky, ripples, mushy sand, steep slant / slope, etc. A beaches appearance can change drastically when the tide moves in or out. Remember that life guard stands move, so they’re not always a great reference point! If you believe you dropped your ring in the sand try to avoid disturbing the area excessively, this can cause the ring to moved deeper into the sand. The more details the better chance of successful recovery!

How much do you charge?

This is a question everyone should ask ANYONE when seeking help. “I” do not charge for my services / assistance. There are several reasons for this. First and foremost I am a strong believer in “Doing right by your fellow man”. I don’t believe in “charging” someone for something in their time of need. Loosing a ring that has been in your or your families possession for many years is stressful enough, I don’t want someone “not to call” because they are afraid of the cost of getting it back.

I work solely on tips. People often ask “how much do I tip?” To this I reply “Whatever you feel the recovery effort / assistance is worth to you”. We are all human, things happen, everyone’s financial position is different. I don’t believe in holding your items hostage for a fee.

DO you rent metal detectors?

I do not rent my equipment out. Many of my detectors cost thousands of dollars to purchase. When repairs are needed that too can be a costly and time consuming process. Could you buy a detector and find you item, if circumstances are perfect, possibly. But there are a few things to consider. As with any type of tool or equipment it takes time to learn how to use it. Detectors are particularly prone to this. Higher end detectors do specific things. For example, NJ beaches are salt water, my machines are made to operate in this type of environment. Salt and black sand beaches can cause detectors to behave erratically and cause repetitive false signals or “nulling”, when this occurs you may pass right over your target and not even know it. A detector you may purchase from a box store or sporting goods store is better equipped to search a stable environment such as a back yard or field. Using any detector in the ocean presents a whole new set of issues to contend with, these are just a few examples to consider. The biggest thing you are getting with my assistance is a highly experienced and skilled search for your item using some of the best technology available.

how often do you find what your looking for?

Obviously I shoot for 100% success. In reality, this is not always possible for a variety of reasons. Factors like free lance detectorists, long lengths of elapsed time of notification, posting lost item specific location details to social media, or poor situation & location details can greatly contribute to being unable to locate an item. Generally speaking, on average, I tend to recover 94-95% of the items I am searching for, provided that I am given correct and detailed information in a timely matter.

I have already headed back home can you ship my ring?

Yes, absolutely! Once recovered I will gladly ship your item back to you, provided you pay for any shipping and insurance. I have shipped many recovered items back to their owners!

WHAT AEREAS DO YOU COVER?

I primarily work in Cape May County. I cover all areas of Cape May County including Cape May, West Cape May, Cape May Point, Wildwood Crest, Wildwood, North Wildwood, West Wildwood, Sunset beach, Delaware Bay, Stone Harbor, Avalon, Sea Isle City, Ocean City, and all inland areas as well. Arrangements can be made to travel into neighboring Counties if necessary.

What if your not available?

We cant all be everywhere all the time. I am a career Firefighter / EMT by trade. In the off chance I am not available, I also work with a group of other like minded detectorists that would be happy to assist you if I personally am not available. These gentlemen cover all areas of the NJ coast line, more information of the others I work with can be seen at “The Ring Finders New Jersey.com”.