Money Moral Dilemma: Should I get my brother a cheaper cupboard and use the money saved for fuel?

DontBringBertie

CapeTown said:

Driving the 50 miles to his house and back is going to cost more than the 40 pounds delivery charge if you take into account depreciation, fuel cost, insurance etc. 

If it was me I would tell him about the cheaper online cupboard.... we all like a bargain in these tough times and then wait till you both meet up to give it to him. His original idea is cheapskate mixed with stupidity. Yours is downright deceptive

I know petrol is expensive but nowhere near £40 for 100 miles expensive.

Groom

Certainly not. Tell him you've seen it at a cheaper price and if he's willing to pay for your petrol you will collect it and deliver. You may have problems if you deceive him -  what if there is something wrong with it and he wants to return it, he'd soon discover what you'd done. 

arko66

...just explain that you are more prepared and willing to do him this favour.....but, not at your cost!......
.....it doesn't matter whether you are siblings or not..... the price of fuel these days is extortionate!..... ask him how much it would cost him to collect the item!..... I'm pretty sure he would think twice about asking you to foot the cost!..... or maybe that is what he is initially trying to do?!......either way, siblings or mot, try not to let him take advantage of you!. Hope you come to some amiable arrangement.

666666

Absolutely not. I don’t drive so I’m not familiar with petrol prices but it seems like it would cost around £10 of petrol and less than 1 hour to drive 50 miles. Tell him honestly if you feel the cost is too much but don’t go behind his back, it’s just sneaky. I don’t know what your relationship is like with your brother but for the above inconvenience and cost if I have a very good relationship with him let alone sibling I would do that for a good friend as long as I know they’re the type who’d also do the same for me if the situation were to be reversed. 

It can be very tiring to treat all relationship in life like a business deal. As long as you’re not being taken for a ride consistently by the people who ask for the favour (in which case I would probably re-evaluate the relationship instead of the favour) I would just do it for them happily. Also I would be able to see them and hang out when I deliver the goods.

CapeTown

DontBringBertie said:

CapeTown said:

Driving the 50 miles to his house and back is going to cost more than the 40 pounds delivery charge if you take into account depreciation, fuel cost, insurance etc. 

If it was me I would tell him about the cheaper online cupboard.... we all like a bargain in these tough times and then wait till you both meet up to give it to him. His original idea is cheapskate mixed with stupidity. Yours is downright deceptive

I know petrol is expensive but nowhere near £40 for 100 miles expensive.

Look it up. It actually costs 47p per mile. It isn't just petrol. It is  MOT, servicing,  insurance,  tyres, depreciation , tax,breakdown cover. 

CapeTown

DontBringBertie said:

CapeTown said:

Driving the 50 miles to his house and back is going to cost more than the 40 pounds delivery charge if you take into account depreciation, fuel cost, insurance etc. 

If it was me I would tell him about the cheaper online cupboard.... we all like a bargain in these tough times and then wait till you both meet up to give it to him. His original idea is cheapskate mixed with stupidity. Yours is downright deceptive

I know petrol is expensive but nowhere near £40 for 100 miles expensive.

Look it up. It actually costs 47p per mile. It isn't just petrol. It is  MOT, servicing,  insurance,  tyres, depreciation , tax,breakdown cover. 

Clowance

666666 said:

 less than 1 hour to drive 50 miles. 

Depends where you are, where I live roads are terrible and would take 2 hours!

Minnie_Mad

Why don’t you let your brother buy the wardrobe, at full price or half, that’s up to him. You can collect it and take it over to him as and when it suits you rather than a special trip. You shouldn’t have to pay for it up front. 

Bonnypitlad

Isn’t there a story about brothers making an exchange for a mess of pottage?
perhaps the hypothetical cupboard won’t fit in your hypothetical car

CarrieVS

No. That's basically stealing from him. You could tell him you found the same cupboard cheaper if you want to, and let him make the decision, but not deceive him and keep the money.

However he also shouldn't be asking you to pay to make a 100 mile round trip to save him money.

Good options:

• Say no, you don't have the time.
• Agree to do it if he pays for your petrol there and back (probably still cheaper than £40, but maybe not by much.)
• Offer to buy the cupboard and he can drive to your place and pick it up.
• Offer to buy the cupboard and keep it until you're next coming to visit him anyway.