What would you do with a buddy that does this?

[waterinthefuel]

I have a friend of mine, nice fellah, but when he borrows stuff, he doesn't give it back unless you specifically ask for it back. I can't tell you the number of times I've let him borrow something, usually a computer game or piece of hardware, and months later I can't find it and I remember I let him borrow it and I have to ask him, "Hey do you have my such and such?" to which the reply is always, "Yea I do."

I let him borrow a very expensive game because one of his install disks was scratched. (he has his own game code so I'm not pirating a game) Well, I reformatted my hard drive yesterday and finally had a chance to sit down and play this game and I couldn't find it. I needed the disks to install it. Well, low and behold, guess who has it? Well, he's at work until 10pm and then he won't bring it by after work (we live less than a mile apart) and hasn't brought it yet this morning. He goes to work at 2pm. My parents suggest just not letting him borrow anything anymore, because he has no problems making time to borrow stuff, but sure seems to have an issue finding time to bring it back.

I honestly don't remember anything that he has borrowed that I haven't had to specifically ask for it back. It's getting annoying. What do you guys suggest I do in the future?

 

[SeanT]

Re: What would you do with a buddy that does this?

Cut him off. That's crap.

 

[LadyFish]

Re: What would you do with a buddy that does this?

Best way to handle it is honesty. Next time he asks you if you have this or that, or if he can borrow something let give it to him straight. "NO, you never return anything and if and when you do, its broken or ruined, sorry just not gonna happen again."

Its YOUR property, you are really the only one that will take care of it the way you want.

 

[waterinthefuel]

Re: What would you do with a buddy that does this?

Oh no, he doesn't return stuff broken, although he does have a few disks of mine that got scratched up while in his possession and he blamed the fact that I only put it in a paper sleeve, not a hard case, as to why. I gave it to him in perfect condition.

So actually, yea you are right.

 

[JB]

Re: What would you do with a buddy that does this?

Yeah. Just cutting him off is probably the best thing, but there is another option.

Ask for a security deposit equal to the value of the whatever. Refundable only on return in perfect condition.

I had an acquaintance who would borrow stuff and then lose or break it. . .until he had to leave a deposit big enough to replace it. Then he miraculously returned them in good condition, and often the next day.

 

[SeanT]

Re: What would you do with a buddy that does this?

Seems like all of your examples involve disks. Many games with online tied to the key don't have any copy protection on the disks, or you can download them. Just burn him a copy.

 

[waterinthefuel]

Re: What would you do with a buddy that does this?

Well, he has a computer and disks, he can burn his own.

If I borrow something from someone, I always make a point to return it in equal, if not better, condition than when I got it. I guess not everyone was raised that way.

I finally got in touch with him and he's at school, I forgot school was back in session. His wife will bring it when she gets off of work.

 

[avenger79]

Re: What would you do with a buddy that does this?

easy solution, don't borrow him things or if you do lend him something give him a specific day when you need it back.

 

[Micahhaase]

Re: What would you do with a buddy that does this?

Next time he needs to borrow a disk..instead of giving the disk he is asking for give him one you made yourself showing the proper way to borrow and brink back items that you promise to bring back..

 

[badkins50]

Re: What would you do with a buddy that does this?

Yeah. Just cutting him off is probably the best thing, but there is another option.

Ask for a security deposit equal to the value of the whatever. Refundable only on return in perfect condition.

I had an acquaintance who would borrow stuff and then lose or break it. . .until he had to leave a deposit big enough to replace it. Then he miraculously returned them in good condition, and often the next day.

+1, couldn't have said it any better!

 

[heyttown]

Re: What would you do with a buddy that does this?

Lots of good responses here, but only thing I can add is fools me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me... Dont let it happen, either by laying it out there and saying no and here is the reason why, or charge a deposit if you still want to be the good friend and let him borrow things.. Im all for letting my friends borrow what they need, half the time they never have to ask( for my close friends anyways) help yourself and bring it back..Until ya burn me.. then the rules change.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: What would you do with a buddy that does this?

I would have quit lending stuff to him a long time ago.



???

 

[marlboro180]

Re: What would you do with a buddy that does this?

Being a contractor with many tools that get loaned out to friends , I keep a running log of who has what, and for how long they kept it. I adopted this idea years ago from a friend of mine, and it works great. I know who has my stuff, how long they have it , and if they keep it for longer than they said they would, they get a call and I usually get the tool back very promptly.

The ones that are not good at bringing stuff back, well, they are on the do not lend to them list.



Once, a guy lent one of my tools to his neighbor, who subsequently broke it. I do not know who paid, but I ended up with a brand new chopsaw sitting on my shelf. These are the kind of friends I loan tools to, the kind you have lent the game to does not seem reliable enough to me.

Cut him off. Sucks, but at least you know your stuff will not come back damaged, because it never left your possession.

 

[Thad]

Re: What would you do with a buddy that does this?

I know everyone says cut him off or charge him the deposit...but, what kind of friend is he really? The kind that if you were to call at any hour of the day or night for something serious and he would drop everything and be right over? The kind that would give up time with his family to help you with something meaningless to him? Or is he "just a friend"? If he is the first, live with it and keep loaning him stuff. If you have to keep a list of what he has and go and get it back, so be it. You said it is not very far away. If he is the other, CUT HIM OFF!

Just my opinion. I have one of those "drop everything in a heartbeat but take forever to come around and have a drink and drop something off" friends.

If I have to go and get it, then I have not been in too much of a hurry to go and see him either. Sometimes, he admits to holding on to something just to get me to come over.:redface:

 

[fishrdan]

Re: What would you do with a buddy that does this?

The ones that are not good at bringing stuff back, well, they are on the do not lend to them list.

Yup...

 

[mercury713]

Re: What would you do with a buddy that does this?

One of my friends son is like that... lend him computer software and I have to retrieve it ,and sometimes he could not find it.

he did this twice losing my stuff... last time was a OS xp CD.

Agravating when you need it and they can`t find it... so when he asks now I just say do you remember last time.

 

[i386]

Re: What would you do with a buddy that does this?

I know everyone says cut him off or charge him the deposit...but, what kind of friend is he really? The kind that if you were to call at any hour of the day or night for something serious and he would drop everything and be right over? The kind that would give up time with his family to help you with something meaningless to him? Or is he "just a friend"? If he is the first, live with it and keep loaning him stuff. If you have to keep a list of what he has and go and get it back, so be it. You said it is not very far away. If he is the other, CUT HIM OFF!

Just my opinion. I have one of those "drop everything in a heartbeat but take forever to come around and have a drink and drop something off" friends.

If I have to go and get it, then I have not been in too much of a hurry to go and see him either. Sometimes, he admits to holding on to something just to get me to come over.:redface:

This.

 

[Summer Fun]

Re: What would you do with a buddy that does this?

I'm still waiting for my friend Rick to give me back the 100 bucks I lent him 28 Fridays ago.
Its always .. I'll catch you this payday with your money.

The Summer Fun Bank is closed to him now !!!.