Loaning out equment

[reynoldston]

My neighbor needed to till up his garden. So me being a good neighbor let him take my rototiller. I needed to do my own garden so I went to his house to bring it back home again. He told me it ran out of gas so he added gas but now it won't start anymore. So I brought it into my shop to get it running again. It wouldn't pick up fuel from the tank. The fuel pump was full water, the fuel pump pick up screen was full of dirt and the spark plug was black and wet. He said he had just filled his gas can and didn't understand where the water and dirt came from???

 

[mechanic mark]

Most folks today are not the same as yesteryear when you loaned equipment, vehicle, etc. you would not only get it back asap full of gas clean and running. I've encountered the same issue in times past and finally decided to say no. It's hard being a good Samaritin these days. If someone asks to borrow my tiller I either tell them I'll do it for you or where to go rent one. I believe it's only fair, fitting and proper, depending on your labor and parts, to bill the man for his abusing your equipment as well as his incompetence.

 

[reynoldston]

Most folks today are not the same as yesteryear when you loaned equipment, vehicle, etc. you would not only get it back asap full of gas clean and running. I've encountered the same issue in times past and finally decided to say no. It's hard being a good Samaritin these days. If someone asks to borrow my tiller I either tell them I'll do it for you or where to go rent one. I believe it's only fair, fitting and proper, depending on your labor and parts, to bill the man for his abusing your equipment as well as his incompetence.

My wife agrees with you 100%. She has told me in so many words that this would happen. I just have a problem with the word NO. Maybe he will fill his own mower with the same gas can.

 

[jmurray01]

It is very difficult to say "no", I agree, but these days it just isn't worth the risk.

If somebody lends me any equipment they will get it back in the same condition it was in originally and clean, but sadly many people can't seem to manage that.

 

[detdrbuzzard]

my dad said " everything isn't ment to be loaned out "

 

[Ric]

Did that once, will never loan out any of my equipment again. Not that it came back in bad condition, it just took me forever to get the guy to give it back.

 

[Rivets]

Moral of the story, no good deed goes unpunished!

 

[exotion]

I always return tools better than I recieved them. The exception is my neighbor because he cleans all his tools after each use. So I clean them before returning I just can't return them better lol

 

[chemingthroughtheleather]

Not sure where I got this credo: Before you lend ask yourself the question...can I get by without it,if you can't then don't lend.I have lent things out with this philosophy and have never lost any friends.

 

[serelaw]

Was taught to never borrow unless I can get it repaired or buy a new one if it breaks.

Has worked out well for me.