DC’s friend broke something expensive - WWYD

[Anonymous]

You take the hundreds and move on. I'm an AirBNB host and you can't expect the replacement cost for an item that isn't new and could be fixed vs replaced. If you choose to replace, ok, but that's not on your friends.

[Anonymous]

I think I would be clear that "it's actually specialized equipment, and it will cost X amount to repair by our quote. Thank you for anything you are able to contribute," and then get really clear really fast on how to make sure it doesn't happen again.

[Anonymous]

I think you replace the item yourself. Then don't leave the item out for kids to be able to play with. I don't know what the item is, but put a cover on it, close the door to the room, don't have kids over. Something similar happened to us, and the family offered to pay to replace, but we didn't even consider accepting. Stuff happens.

[Anonymous]

I am sorry this happened!
I would accept money and going forward pay my insurance to insure valuables for exactly such situations

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm on the fence. On the one hand, I would be tempted to go with Lesson Learned.
On the other, I think kid shouldn't get away with playing with it, though did he know he shouldn't.

If i could afford it I would either take what is offered or not have said anything.

I did ask. While this is awkward, I’m not unhappy I did that - I was gracious and I care about my husband. I really don’t see how this one is lesson learned, I guess because DH has been pretty clear that the force taken to create the damage done was purposeful, and the kids aren’t super little anymore, and the parent was present.

Did you tell them you expected reimbursement? You must do that otherwise you leave a grey area. If your husband believes it was done maliciously then demand payment. If they refuse, and you’re as rich as you say, sue them.

Yes. We discussed repair and replacement and that’s when she went to her husband who gave her the lower estimate. I’m not accusing anyone of malice and we’d obviously never sue, but I just wanted to get some feedback because I feel awkward. We’d tabled this over the holidays and DH told me the ultimate replacement cost today.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think I would be clear that "it's actually specialized equipment, and it will cost X amount to repair by our quote. Thank you for anything you are able to contribute," and then get really clear really fast on how to make sure it doesn't happen again.

I like this PP's suggestion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think I would be clear that "it's actually specialized equipment, and it will cost X amount to repair by our quote. Thank you for anything you are able to contribute," and then get really clear really fast on how to make sure it doesn't happen again.

Thanks, I agree and this is what I’ll do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm on the fence. On the one hand, I would be tempted to go with Lesson Learned.
On the other, I think kid shouldn't get away with playing with it, though did he know he shouldn't.

If i could afford it I would either take what is offered or not have said anything.

I did ask. While this is awkward, I’m not unhappy I did that - I was gracious and I care about my husband. I really don’t see how this one is lesson learned, I guess because DH has been pretty clear that the force taken to create the damage done was purposeful, and the kids aren’t super little anymore, and the parent was present.

Did you tell them you expected reimbursement? You must do that otherwise you leave a grey area. If your husband believes it was done maliciously then demand payment. If they refuse, and you’re as rich as you say, sue them.

Yes. We discussed repair and replacement and that’s when she went to her husband who gave her the lower estimate. I’m not accusing anyone of malice and we’d obviously never sue, but I just wanted to get some feedback because I feel awkward. We’d tabled this over the holidays and DH told me the ultimate replacement cost today.

I would just write back and say that sorry, the actual cost to repair is x since it is specialized equipment. Make it clear that this is the cost. Sorry, if they don’t make you whole, the friendship sounds like it’s over.

[Anonymous]

Ugh. I’m sorry, OP. I hate these types of situations. It’s so awkward for everyone. I agree that you should be reimbursed but I understand your hesitancy and wanting opinions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think you replace the item yourself. Then don't leave the item out for kids to be able to play with. I don't know what the item is, but put a cover on it, close the door to the room, don't have kids over. Something similar happened to us, and the family offered to pay to replace, but we didn't even consider accepting. Stuff happens.

There was a cover on it. That’s great that even taking what was offered was so unthinkable to you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm on the fence. On the one hand, I would be tempted to go with Lesson Learned.
On the other, I think kid shouldn't get away with playing with it, though did he know he shouldn't.

If i could afford it I would either take what is offered or not have said anything.

I did ask. While this is awkward, I’m not unhappy I did that - I was gracious and I care about my husband. I really don’t see how this one is lesson learned, I guess because DH has been pretty clear that the force taken to create the damage done was purposeful, and the kids aren’t super little anymore, and the parent was present.

Did you tell them you expected reimbursement? You must do that otherwise you leave a grey area. If your husband believes it was done maliciously then demand payment. If they refuse, and you’re as rich as you say, sue them.

Yes. We discussed repair and replacement and that’s when she went to her husband who gave her the lower estimate. I’m not accusing anyone of malice and we’d obviously never sue, but I just wanted to get some feedback because I feel awkward. We’d tabled this over the holidays and DH told me the ultimate replacement cost today.

Sorry OP, I think you're way out of line. If your DH has valuable equipment, it should not be accessible to visitors, especially kid visitors. Never in a million years would I expect guests to pay for something like this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm on the fence. On the one hand, I would be tempted to go with Lesson Learned.
On the other, I think kid shouldn't get away with playing with it, though did he know he shouldn't.

If i could afford it I would either take what is offered or not have said anything.

I did ask. While this is awkward, I’m not unhappy I did that - I was gracious and I care about my husband. I really don’t see how this one is lesson learned, I guess because DH has been pretty clear that the force taken to create the damage done was purposeful, and the kids aren’t super little anymore, and the parent was present.

Did you tell them you expected reimbursement? You must do that otherwise you leave a grey area. If your husband believes it was done maliciously then demand payment. If they refuse, and you’re as rich as you say, sue them.

Yes. We discussed repair and replacement and that’s when she went to her husband who gave her the lower estimate. I’m not accusing anyone of malice and we’d obviously never sue, but I just wanted to get some feedback because I feel awkward. We’d tabled this over the holidays and DH told me the ultimate replacement cost today.

Sorry OP, I think you're way out of line. If your DH has valuable equipment, it should not be accessible to visitors, especially kid visitors. Never in a million years would I expect guests to pay for something like this.

I am in no way out of line - we all live in smallish apartments, not in DC - I used to live in DC. There is no practical way to make this equipment inaccessible based on the layout of our home. They’ve been over before when the kids were years and years younger. The equipment was under a cover. My friend was in the room, and I was getting stuff to eat for people. No matter what some will tell me, I didn’t do anything wrong here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm on the fence. On the one hand, I would be tempted to go with Lesson Learned.
On the other, I think kid shouldn't get away with playing with it, though did he know he shouldn't.

If i could afford it I would either take what is offered or not have said anything.

I did ask. While this is awkward, I’m not unhappy I did that - I was gracious and I care about my husband. I really don’t see how this one is lesson learned, I guess because DH has been pretty clear that the force taken to create the damage done was purposeful, and the kids aren’t super little anymore, and the parent was present.

Did you tell them you expected reimbursement? You must do that otherwise you leave a grey area. If your husband believes it was done maliciously then demand payment. If they refuse, and you’re as rich as you say, sue them.

Yes. We discussed repair and replacement and that’s when she went to her husband who gave her the lower estimate. I’m not accusing anyone of malice and we’d obviously never sue, but I just wanted to get some feedback because I feel awkward. We’d tabled this over the holidays and DH told me the ultimate replacement cost today.

Sorry OP, I think you're way out of line. If your DH has valuable equipment, it should not be accessible to visitors, especially kid visitors. Never in a million years would I expect guests to pay for something like this.

I am in no way out of line - we all live in smallish apartments, not in DC - I used to live in DC. There is no practical way to make this equipment inaccessible based on the layout of our home. They’ve been over before when the kids were years and years younger. The equipment was under a cover. My friend was in the room, and I was getting stuff to eat for people. No matter what some will tell me, I didn’t do anything wrong here.

You're fine, OP. Taking the cover off a turntable and tampering with it is egregious for a 10 year old. The parents are trying it on with the lowball estimate and the semi-denial.

[Anonymous]

You didn’t do anything wrong but stuff happens with 10 year olds. I’d fix it yourself. If it was worth millions, you wouldn’t expect them to sell their house to fix it. File an insurance claim if it’s that expensive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You didn’t do anything wrong but stuff happens with 10 year olds. I’d fix it yourself. If it was worth millions, you wouldn’t expect them to sell their house to fix it. File an insurance claim if it’s that expensive.

Right, it wasn’t worth millions, so no house sale required, yay. It’s worth what it’s worth, it wasn’t something done in a true accidental manner, and as PP above noted, lifting the cover off something and ruining it is not what I reasonably expected with a kid I knew from far younger ages with their parent present.