Lending Stuff to People

[Glassman]

As much as I want to help, and be that guy, I just do not like lending my stuff out to people. I've done it, and still want to, but people just take the piss.

Do you lend out your tools/stuff etc?

Recently lent some football equipment (for what was supposed to be a weekend) to a fellow coach, and now he keeps putting off the return date. 'I'll bring them to you at the end of May' has now turned into 'the end of June'.

I've done it with tools, records, bikes, equipment and on occasion, money. It never ends well. Most bizarre example: wife's friend asked to borrow my power washer to help her (new) boyfriend earn a few quid washing patios.

FRO.

[shtu]

Glassman said:

Do you lend out your tools/stuff etc?

There's about 2-3 people I would trust, and they're the sort of people that wouldn't dream of asking.

"Borrowed" stuff is free to the borrower, so they attach no value to looking after it, returning promptly, etc.

[Jazoli]

I don't lend anything to anyone these days, too much stuff comes back broken or I constantly have to badger people to return my property that I have bought and paid for, its a flat no from me almost every time now.

[x5tuu]

It’s a no from me. Too much stuff damaged or lost/never returned.

[Gigamoons]

If you can afford it, just buy it. If it's too expensive for you to buy, you definitely can't afford to borrow it.

The only time I lend stuff out is when I definitely don't need or want it back.

[B'stard Child]

I'm in a group of friends (all car enthusiasts)

We have a good rule on lending tools - no problem to do a borrow but it comes back clean and if you break it you replace with new

Never had an issue in the group the rules are well established and clear

Anyone else even family - sorry I don't have the thing you are asking about even if I do I can't find it right now

[Mr Penguin]

I don't unless I stay with it the whole time. It doesn't come back, or comes back broken, or comes back with a different brand name.

[s p a c e m a n]

Had a neighbour hinting about needing a welder yesterday, saying that they used to borrow another neighbours but they've moved. I'm fairly certain that they've at least heard me grinding and cutting stuff if not seen the the arc lights, stared them straight in the face and told them they should buy their own

[Motorman74]

There are a very small number of friends I'd trust to borrow some of my tools.

I usually find they want me to do the work required as well, so I rarely need to worry about letting the tool out of my sight.

I have a good friend who wants to borrow my pressure washer. That is either going to end up with a broken pressure washer or a flooded house so it's kinder to ignore the request.

[thenetwork]

Nope ...

[Red9zero]

Timely topic. My wife offered to loan our carpet shampoo / wet vac to a friend of hers. Just had a message to say it stopped working. We rarely use it, but it wasn't cheap and I doubt her friend has the funds to replace it.

[Sheepshanks]

Red9zero said:

Timely topic. My wife offered to loan our carpet shampoo / wet vac to a friend of hers. Just had a message to say it stopped working. We rarely use it, but it wasn't cheap and I doubt her friend has the funds to replace it.

The message probably means they want you to replace it so they can finish the job.

[soad]

x5tuu said:

It’s a no from me. Too much stuff damaged or lost/never returned.

Can only agree.

[GilletteFan]

It's good to have an assortment of belongings. A fine tool to get the job done or a crudely made one to beat up and lend out. Nothing wrong with lending out something you can afford to lose if it can help someone out.

[Red9zero]

Sheepshanks said:

Red9zero said:

Timely topic. My wife offered to loan our carpet shampoo / wet vac to a friend of hers. Just had a message to say it stopped working. We rarely use it, but it wasn't cheap and I doubt her friend has the funds to replace it.

The message probably means they want you to replace it so they can finish the job.

It's a fairly simple machine, so I assume a trip switch or a fuse has gone, but it would mean a trip across town to have a look. So much for a good deed.

[TRIUMPHBULLET]

One person, my best friend of 40 years, there are also a few tools he has and I am the only one he lends to.
Almost everything he has borrowed has come back as intact and clean as it was when lent out, I return the favour.
The exception was a cheap brake pipe flaring tool that broke when he tried to do steel brake pipes 30 odd years ago, he replaced it with a proper SP hydraulic one he got second hand, we still share use of it today.
It might sound harsh but not having your own tools to hand when you need them because someone can't be bothered to bring things back straight after using them really pisses me off.

[GilletteFan]

s p a c e m a n said:

Had a neighbour hinting about needing a welder yesterday, saying that they used to borrow another neighbours but they've moved. I'm fairly certain that they've at least heard me grinding and cutting stuff if not seen the the arc lights, stared them straight in the face and told them they should buy their own

Would pay to see this scene!

[cobra kid]

My neighbour and I have a great relationship for stuff like that. Our stuff goes backwards and forwards and is always returned in the condition. Usually with a bottle of beer as thanks. If there's some damage, it gets replaced/repaired.

[Sheepshanks]

I wonder if any of the above posters have a BTL - imagine lending someone a whole house.

[Andy 308GTB]

I've always found that people who want to borrow something can get to your house that same day.
When it comes to returning it, they never seem to have the time.

I no longer lend stuff out because it shows a side up of people that I'd rather not see.