Today we’d like to introduce you to Chris Turner.
Hi Chris, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
TheRingFinders Directory began in 2009, when a gentleman from the United States—whom I have yet to meet in person—contacted me after seeing my metal detecting service in Vancouver, Canada, called “Finders.”
He introduced himself by email and explained that he had followed my website/youtube channel for years. He shared how meaningful it was to see me use my metal detector to help people recover lost jewelry, and how much happiness those recoveries brought to others.
He asked whether I had ever considered creating a global directory so I could share my ideas with other metal detectorists and help even more people.
I replied, “Yes, but a new website is not in my budget at this time.” His response was, “You create it and I’ll pay for it.” And he did.
We incorporated TheRingFinders Directory in late October 2009. With very little advertising, it has steadily grown over the past 17 years.
TheRingFinders is a global directory of metal detecting specialists who help people around the world recover their lost and most precious sentimental items, including diamond engagement rings and gold and platinum wedding bands lost at beaches, parks, lakes, yards.
Collectively, TheRingFinders members have found and returned more than 19,000 lost sentimental items to date, with a combined value exceeding $30 million.
Expanding this service worldwide has given many people the opportunity to have their lost jewelry found and returned—an opportunity that did not exist at this level before our directory was created.
The combined effect has also brought an extremely positive image to our great hobby. Many television, newspaper, and radio stories have been produced about TheRingFinders members, the remarkable recoveries they have made, the fascinating stories they tell, and the smiles they help restore.
I have always said that every ring has an amazing story attached to it, and that story ends when the ring is lost.
TheRingFinders members have helped continue thousands of those stories by using their dedication, skill, and knowledge to find and return lost rings, along with cell phones, keys, buried and hidden treasures.
I personally work on a reward basis, and 95 percent of our members also work on a reward basis, with a call-out fee to cover gas costs.
While the most common request is to locate lost wedding rings, members also receive calls from insurance agencies seeking high-value lost items, from construction sites needing broken machinery parts or other metallic items located, and from clients requesting house and property searches for hidden gold, silver, and/or cash.
Over the years, I have personally found and returned more than 550 lost rings to their very happy owners. I love seeing their smiles when I place that ring in their hand.
My goal is to make TheRingFinders Directory a household name, I do not plan to stop until I find a way to achieve that. I am currently looking to produce a docu-series that will share the heartfelt stories of this wonderful directory and its incredible members.
I believe people deserve a second chance to recover their most valuable possessions, and it feels great to help my fellow detectorists expand their hobby while giving them a little more of the unexpected.
This is truly one of the greatest hobbies because you never know what you are going to find, and you never know who will call or what they have lost. It is always a treasure hunt.
My dream is to see over one Million Smiles on TheRingFinders’ Book of Smiles.
Thank you for your interest.
Kind regards,
Chris TurnerCEO, TheRingFinders1-778-848-3463
My YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/c/TurnersTreasureTeam/videos
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The biggest struggle would have to be getting the word out to the public about TheRingFinders, to make them aware that there is such a beautiful service out there that can give people a second chance to find what they thought was lost forever.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I played professional soccer for seven years in the North American soccer league(NASL) back in the late 70s and early 80s. My first acting gig was with Johnny Depp on 21 Jump Street. The best thing I’ve ever done in my life is what I’m doing now… helping people find their most sentimental and priceless items such as diamond engagement rings, gold & platinum wedding bands, the stories I get to help continue by finding these items have affected my peoples lives in such a beautiful & positive way. Makes me very happy to do what I do!! I Love My Job!!!
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
One of the risks that I have taken would be that I took out my retirement fund to buy a Mercedes van that I drove across North America to meet some of my members to try to put together a doc-u series on this amazing directory and the members that are helping people find their most sentimental & cherished lost items.
I’m still trying to put this together to show the world this one of a kind website that is helping give people hope. Did you know that many members on my directory work on a reward basis only asking that people pay what they can afford and what its worth to them to get their items back. The only thing we ask, is that people understand that they have to cover our fuel expense as you all know that’s not cheap anymore.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.TheRingFinders.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theringfinders/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheRingFinders
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheRingFinders/videos
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v28Z7KjvvtE
