Question 1

Staying safe when you meet (If you lost something)

Accepted Answer

Somewhere public, in daylight, and tell someone where you're going. Never share your home address — the handover doesn't need it. Retrievly connects people; it doesn't vet them.

Question 2

What Retrievly can't help with (If you lost something)

Accepted Answer

Searchers cover ground outdoors with a metal detector — a beach, a park, a field, a path, shallow water. So Retrievly is no help if something went missing indoors, if you think it was taken, or if you have no idea where you were when you lost it. Without a rough outdoor area to search, there is nothing for a detectorist to do.

Question 3

Who can see where I lost it? (If you lost something)

Accepted Answer

Only a rough region, until you pick someone. Searchers see a circle, never your pin, and the exact coordinates are withheld server-side rather than merely hidden in the app. The one person you pick gets them, and nobody else ever does.

Question 4

How much should I offer as a thank-you? (If you lost something)

Accepted Answer

Around 10% of what the item is worth to you is the usual guide, and leaving it at nothing is a real option. Retrievly never handles the money — you agree it in the chat and settle it directly when you meet.

Question 5

Nobody has offered — what now? (If you lost something)

Accepted Answer

Three things move the needle: photos of the spot (the biggest one), a thank-you if you haven't mentioned any, and checking the pin and how big the area is. A tight area gets taken much faster than a vague one, because searchers can see the scope of the job.

Question 6

The searcher stepped away (If you lost something)

Accepted Answer

The request goes back to open, the exact location locks again, and everyone who offered help earlier becomes available to pick from — you don't start over.

Question 7

Getting it back and closing the request (If you lost something)

Accepted Answer

Finding it doesn't close anything. The chat stays open so you can arrange the handover, and either of you can resolve the request once the item is actually back in your hands. A rating closes it out.

Question 8

Staying safe when you meet (If you search)

Accepted Answer

The same rules apply to you: somewhere public, in daylight, and tell someone where you're going. If someone pushes for money up front, that isn't how this works — report it.

Question 9

Searching on private property (If you search)

Accepted Answer

You are responsible for getting the landowner's permission yourself. Retrievly flags a request as private land so you know before you offer, but it does not record, store or verify anyone's consent.

Question 10

When do I get the exact location? (If you search)

Accepted Answer

The moment an owner picks you, and not before. Until then you see the same rough region as everyone else.

Question 11

I found it — what do I do? (If you search)

Accepted Answer

Photograph it as it lies, tell the owner, and hold on to it until you meet. They confirm whether it's theirs, then you two arrange the handover in the chat that's already open.

Question 12

I searched and found nothing (If you search)

Accepted Answer

Say so — it happens to good searchers too, and it still counts. A short, honest note is worth far more to the owner than silence, and owners are asked to rate an unsuccessful search fairly.

Question 13

I can't go after all (If you search)

Accepted Answer

Step away from the search and say why. Nothing is held against you for that; going quiet is the one thing that is, because it leaves someone waiting.

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