The biggest misconceptions about losing things

someone tries to get his lost keys back

There is hardly anyone who has not lost an object at some point. But some misconceptions lead us to dismiss the loss of objects as a minor mishap. In this article you will find the top 4 misconceptions about losing objects, along with some facts and figures.

Misconception 1: "I never lose anything."

Really? I bet you too will get distracted or just have a bad day. It is estimated that over 100 million items are lost in Germany every year. This includes not only umbrellas, but also purses, bicycles, laptops, suitcases or bags.

Misconception 2: "I only lose worthless things."

It may be that the lost biros is not invaluable. But what about the house key, the ID card or the mobile phone? Lost items can be expensive and time-consuming to replace or recover. A new car key can quickly cost several hundred euros, modern mobile phones much more.

Misconception 3: "I can buy whatever I've lost again".

Yes, everything can be replaced with money. But what about the memories or the time spent on the lost item? A lost camera can destroy holiday memories forever and a lost work document can cause extremely unpleasant consequences, even guilt.

Or what happens when the house key or cuddly bunny are gone?

Misconception 4: "I find lost things at the lost & found office."

Not necessarily. Many items are never handed in or end up in private hands. The sources are not well documented, but probably only about 20-30% of lost items are handed in to the lost property office. Ironically, the items turned in then often do not find their way back to their owner, but end up in auctions.

Conclusion

Losing items is annoying and can have unpleasant consequences. Any item, no matter how valuable or worthless, can be lost. Taking good precautions, such as making spare keys or creating backups, can help limit the damage. Modern technologies such as GPS trackers or our smart QR codes can also help to quickly find lost items. It is always better to be well prepared than to regret the loss afterwards.

Lost it? Our best tips to get it back!

Lost baggage at the airport

Losing important items like your house keys, wallet, laptop or luggage is a nightmare. But never give up hope, because there is always a good chance of finding them again.

rucksack lost with extremely important data

lost rucksack

Here are our tips:

1. Think about where you last consciously saw the object. Try to remember where you usually keep it. I myself like to keep important things in places that seem perfectly logical to me but are unfathomable the next day. Also, ask anyone who was there the last time you saw the item, or who might have used it, mixed it up or put it away. This applies to your own home, workplace or in public. You can also ask in shops and the like. Search everywhere thoroughly, preferably twice, and even better, together with a friend.

2. If you haven't found the item yet, maybe a stranger found it and took it. Don't give up now, because most people are honest and very happy to help. Especially in hotels, pubs, museums or cinemas, people hand in such found objects at the reception desk. Transport companies such as taxis, public transport or airlines often even run their own lost property offices.

3. It is a little more complicated if you have lost something "outside". But then there is still a good chance that the item was handed in to the police. It is worth asking in any case, just like at the local lost property office.

4. Last but not least, posters can help. Create an A4 poster with a photo of the lost item and write "LOST" or "WANTED" clearly visible on it. Underneath, a few personal words about how important the item is to you always work well. Don't forget your contact details, e.g. email address or mobile phone number. If you want to remain anonymous, you can certainly create an extra email address with your mail provider for this purpose.

5. A word about the finder's fee: A finder's fee is both a duty (§971 of the German Civil Code) and an honour and is between 3% and 5%. It therefore makes sense to also offer a finder's reward when posting. For some finders, this may be the missing incentive to part with the found object with a light heart.

We hope you never lose anything, but if something does get lost, we'll keep our fingers crossed for the search!