This is a tough one and depends a lot on everyone’s financial situation. When I was in college, I would not have had the money to pay for a roommate’s laptop if I’d accidentally spilled soda on it, although I would have felt really bad. I may have been able to offer to pay some amount over time, from my work study job.

OTOH, I wouldn’t have been able to afford a new laptop if someone had spilled soda on mine, so I would have been really in a bad situation.

Can you afford to just replace your child’s laptop, so as not to put the roommate in an awkward situation?

The costs of salvage might not be proportional to the cost of the laptop - can your child at least recover the files?

It was an accident, OP. The soda-spiller needs to apologize, and pay for dinner a couple of times, or something equivalent. That's it. This adult's parents are NOT responsible.

And if there are regular incidents with this person, your child needs to do his best to change roommates!

Anonymous wrote:A college student is an adult, let them handle it.

Exactly.
Why are you still handling his affairs, mom?

And contact the other parents??
Good God, you want your kid to die of embarrassment?

Land the helicopter.

IT person here. It usually doesn't need to be replaced. You can just swap out some parts like the keyboard. Most colleges have an IT repair center that can help with things like this.

Anonymous wrote:A college student is an adult, let them handle it.

this.

A college student is an adult, let them handle it.

My college roommate spilled her soda all over my graphing calculator. I might have told my parents about it last year, 25 years after finishing college. Talk to your young adult. Ask him/her what seems appropriate.

Anonymous wrote:Renters or dorm insurance.

Electronic insurance sold by most retailers like Best Buy.

Renters or dorm insurance.

If I could easily afford a new one, I’d buy another one and never think twice about it. Having a roommate relationship that isn’t strained is priceless.

Out of curiosity, did your dc and roommate discuss it already?

No. Parents should not be contacting other parents about things like this in college. Next time get the insurance.

Buy a new one for your child and get insurance this time. Accidents happen. The cost of the laptop is not something to wreck your kids’ relationship with their roommate over.

,nnnnnnnnnoooo

No, that is not something people do.

Where was your child's laptop? Unless your child was working on their laptop and a roommate came by and actively dropped a soda on it, I can't see how you could blame them. Seems like your child likely didn't put the laptop up in a safe spot.

...yes, it was an accident...but now laptop is ruined and we need to buy a new one. Would you ask the roommate/roommate's parents to reimburse at least half of cost for new laptop?

Thoughts.... it's a roommate for next semester too...so might be awkward.