Frame shop closed, still has my art

[Jfah1933]

New York

In January 2023, I had a flight in my baseball and some art and vintage posters that were very expensive got wet. I took them to a local framer and he accepted them and said he would dry them out and hold onto them until we were ready to frame them. In the meantime, we were also in the process of moving and I didn’t have much time or the funds to go back and get them framed. Recently, I noticed that he had retired and closed the shop. I was given no notice no phone call no nothing and I was told that there was at least one other customer or customer was attempting to also their art. Since located him via his mobile number and tried to communicate with him and he has read the text messages and images of the art pieces and the receipt that I sent him, but he has so far not responded in anyway. Also, when I dropped the Vintage posters Off he did not want any payment. He simply said we will discuss when it comes time to mount and frame the posters. What recourse do I possibly have?

 

[quincy]

New York

In January 2023, I had a flight in my baseball and some art and vintage posters that were very expensive got wet. I took them to a local framer and he accepted them and said he would dry them out and hold onto them until we were ready to frame them. In the meantime, we were also in the process of moving and I didn’t have much time or the funds to go back and get them framed. Recently, I noticed that he had retired and closed the shop. I was given no notice no phone call no nothing and I was told that there was at least one other customer or customer was attempting to also their art. Since located him via his mobile number and tried to communicate with him and he has read the text messages and images of the art pieces and the receipt that I sent him, but he has so far not responded in anyway. Also, when I dropped the Vintage posters Off he did not want any payment. He simply said we will discuss when it comes time to mount and frame the posters. What recourse do I possibly have?

You left the works at the frame shop for close to two years without contacting the shop owner? Did the shop owner have your new contact information?

 

[adjusterjack]

What recourse do I possibly have?

Find out where he lives and go there.

If that can't happen then you will likely have to resign yourself to the reality that your items have disappeared forever.

 

[Jfah1933]

You left the works at the frame shop for close to two years without contacting the shop owner? Did the shop owner have your new contact information?

Yes he did

 

[Jfah1933]

I want to reiterate that he offered to hold onto them and keep them safe and dry until we were ready to proceed with mounting and framing. There is at least one other customer who is seeking their art back from him as well.

 

[LdiJ]

I want to reiterate that he offered to hold onto them and keep them safe and dry until we were ready to proceed with mounting and framing. There is at least one other customer who is seeking their art back from him as well.

Even then, two years is a ridiculous amount of time to expect a store to hold your art, for free no less. One year would even be pushing the envelope.

 

[Foamback]

I want to reiterate that he offered to hold onto them and keep them safe and dry until we were ready to proceed or until hell freezes over

Fify

You gave the impression you abandoned the pieces

 

[quincy]

I want to reiterate that he offered to hold onto them and keep them safe and dry until we were ready to proceed with mounting and framing. There is at least one other customer who is seeking their art back from him as well.

Are you sure the shop owner is still alive?

 

[zddoodah]

I had a flight in my baseball

Huh?

Recently, I noticed that he had retired and closed the shop.

So...you basically left your stuff at this shop from January 2023 until whenever "recently" is without any communication with the shop owner (I assume that's who "he" is) or any employee of the shop?

At the time you left your stuff, was any sort of written contract signed? Did the store have any written policies about items not picked up after a certain amount of time?

I was told that there was at least one other customer or customer was attempting to also their art.

Told by whom?

What recourse do I possibly have?

You can sue the person/entity who has your stuff for return of the stuff or the fair market value of the stuff. Did you not know that? If you answer the questions I asked, I or someone else might be able to opine intelligently about your chances of success.

 

[quincy]

Questions not asked yet of Jfah1933:

Were these art items ever appraised ? When the art items got wet, did you file a claim with your insurance and, if so, did you collect on the claim?