Real life MMD: Should I pay for a broken teapot?

EccentricRavenJewellery

I think 'you break it, you pay for it' is harsh.
As someone said, the teapot was basically bought using a loan from the OP.
The lesson here is for the friend- he should have carried it to the car himself. Since you'd provided, on a temporary basis, the money, he should provide the labour.

Remind him that it is not business, because if it were, you would have been charging him 4ish per cent interest on the loan.

Then upgrade your friend.

jon_from_norfolk

A hard lesson....but...

If you're a student and your friend is earning a good wage, then why have you paid for the teapot? Had he forgotten his wallet? But by carrying it, you did (sort of) agree to look after it!

Your friend and your should agree to go halves!

Next time, he asks you to pay for someone, politely decline!

PS £95 is a silly price for a teapot!

nomadgirl

qetu1357 wrote: »

If both of you had manners:-

You should offer to pay for it.

Your friend should refuse to accept.

You are a true philosopher. I hope both parties read your comment!

Judith_W

Something others aren't thinking about is the hassle saved by getting the friend to buy and deliver - this is something that would have cost if asking for a business to arrange and deliver therefore you would expect some good will. I would perhaps suggest going halves on the cost, and next time OP should politely decline.

kwmlondon

If I were in the situation I'd accept that at the end of the day it was my responsibility to buy and look after the teapot and as I'd broken it then I'm left with the loss. However, I'd like to think that if one of my friends and I got into this situation they'd at least split the loss out of friendship, and do something to share the problem and help me out. If they didn't do this I'd probably think they were a bit of a sod and I don't generally tend to be friends with people who would pass up an opportunity to help another friend out when they can.

harpmj

Yes, maybe you shouldn't have dropped it, and once bitten twice shy, you will never do anyone a favour again (Why didn't your friend buy it themselves? Why didn't they give you the money upfront to buy it?), but I would kick that so-called friend into touch for their tightwadded reaction - you were doing them a favour and with that favour comes a certain amount of give and take. I would have suggested 'It's not your fault, these things happen, thanks for trying to help' and offer you some money as well knowing that you are only a poor student.

islandlife_3

Perhaps the kindest way is for you both to compromise and pay half each. Your friend asked you to get it in the first place and you broke it. Maybe this way you can remain friends.

grannygill

If you are a 'potless' student where did the money come from in the first place?
If your 'friend' wanted you to purchase the over priced teapot for him, he should have given you the money up front anyway! - If he had given you the money up front I expect he would now be asking you for 50%
In my opinion, he asked you to get the item & should at least offer to go 50/50.
Let this be a lesson - do no favours with your own money!
As has been mentioned before - try claiming on either your or his house insurance.
p.s.
(If you were my child & a student I would expect you tell me & I would help you out - not 100%, as you have to learn the value of money and the lesson in this tale, but maybe £50 - I'm a right softie when it comes to my family!)

tootywhy

What a horrible situation.

Personally, I think that if your friend had any decency they would pay you for the teapot; after all, it sounds like you did them a favour by buying it for them in the first place ... I can't imagine you'd have forked out £95 on it for yourself - seems to me you never even wanted it!

The fact that you're a student and they're earning just makes it even more insulting.

If you'd thrown it to the ground and broken it deliberately then that would be one thing, but all you did was try to do a good deed for your friend and now you're bing made to pay dearly for it. Outrageous! Don't think they can call themselves a true friend to you. Really hope they do the right thing by you.

schlogoat

Sounds like an annoying and awkward situation. I'm interested to know what the outcome was.