Money Moral Dilemma: Should I ask a friend for my money back?

MSE_Sarah · 8 June 2017 at 5:26PM

This week's MoneySaver who wants advice asks...

I bought a sofa for a friend which cost £250. It turned out not to be suitable and they sold it a couple of weeks later for £100. Who should get the money?

Unfortunately the MSE team can't always answer money moral dilemma questions as contributions are often emailed in or suggested in person. They are intended to be enjoyed as a point of debate and discussed at face value.

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flyingflea · 13 June 2017 at 11:34PM

Seems a bit cheeky if you ask me. They should have let you return it or at the very least offered you the £100.

Marvel1 · 13 June 2017 at 11:44PM

Depends if it was a gift then you weren't expecting anything back, so no you are not entitled to it.

If it was a loan, then yes.

Dpp83 · 14 June 2017 at 6:21AM

No you shouldn't if it is a gift they should be able to do what ever they like with it pass it on , bin it or sell it and if this one wasn't suitable with the money from the sale they could buy new one which they like or something what they need which works out chief as an a exchange of the gift nothing wrong with that better have something useful and the fact that you've made them a gift still counts

pollypenny · 14 June 2017 at 8:06AM

Strange gift!

macca0507 · 14 June 2017 at 8:56AM

Absolutely not. If you bought something for someone and they decide to move it on then it your your gift to them that they sold. Now, depending on how they told you their intentions should be a way of questioning the friendship but the money should 100% be theirs.

gloriouslyhappy · 14 June 2017 at 8:58AM

Why did you buy an unsuitable sofa in the first place? More info needed - did you buy it because you liked it when they said they needed a sofa, or did they ask for that specific one? Did they use the £100 from the sale to buy a new sofa? Having said that, once a gift is made it's their property to do with as they please, but it would be a strange friendship if they didn't tell you their plans before selling the gift so quickly.

meknowalot-51 · 14 June 2017 at 8:59AM

:rotfl:You bought your friend a sofa,...........what they decide to do with it is none of your business.A friend would have told you they didnt like it,a friend would have told you they didnt want it,from what your saying im assuming you just turned up one day with the sofa thinking you could help them out.Next time you should ask and it's not all bad,at least they've got £100 to buy something of their choice.As for the money...... forget it.

pebs_boiley · 14 June 2017 at 9:06AM

This all depends on whether you bought the sofa for your friend as a gift, in which case it was theirs the moment you gave it them and therefor they can do whatever they want with it. But if you loaned them the money to buy it, then of course they should either give you back the full value of the money loaned, whatever they do with it.

Teacher2 · 14 June 2017 at 9:11AM

Technically I suppose if it was theirs it was theirs to sell. But what a way to treat you! To sell your gift and, not only that, to undersell it and tell you. Don't buy them anything else. They are ungrateful and bad mannered.

csreader · 14 June 2017 at 9:18AM

If your friend had kept the £250, the sofa belongs to you, and you should get the £100.
But if the friend had returned the £250 to you, you have no reason to claim any of the £100.

Money Moral Dilemma: Should I ask a friend for my money back?

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