Lending out equipment to neighbors

[NewToy]

My neighbor came over and borrowed my new Stihl Farm Boss assuring me he knew how to use and maintain one. I looked out the window an hour or so later and he was down in the creek bottom chopping cat tails and various other aquatic vegetation. The saw was dripping wet and covered with mud/sand. When I informed him they were not made for this he replied "if they can chop wood they can cut this kind of stuff alot easier". The blade and bar were ruined and it took complete disassembly of the clutch to get all the sand out of it. Needless to say he is not on my lend out list anymore.

John

 

[YanmarFever]

Weeeeellll here we go again
I was asked by a good friend if he could borrow my tractor.
so I asked him if our friendship was worth $160. ?
Of course he said yes, so I politely told him to go & rent one.
Needless to say, we are no longer best buds /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
His loss not mine
Ernie

 

[Junkman]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Junk can I borrow your socket set? )</font>

You are welcome to borrow any of my tools that you need. The only hitch is that you have to show up in person to borrow them. While you are here, how about taking away that plow that I also gave to you and you never picked up. Can I interest you in a spare wife also????? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

PS...... the plow is going to the scrap yard next week... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[RoyJackson]

I've lent my lawn mower out...and it got busted. The neighbor (at that time) was a machinist and he did repair the mower...so, I was OK with lending it out to him again.

I don't get asked often, but I limit tool lending to those (tools) with no moving parts. Fortunitely, I've not been asked in several years.

"Later on, he asked me again and explained that he would be using the mower to cut grass on somebody else's lot for pay. He explained that it would be on a recurring basis until he could get one of his own"

As far as the statement above...if the guy can't swing $600 or so to get a King Kutter or Howse 48" cutter, maybe he shouldn't be doing the commercial work. I'd never lend my cutter out...I'd do the work (as I'm cutting about 3 acres a few times a year for a neighbor now...he just pays for the fuel and I get the seat time). As soon as the guy mentioned he was getting paid for the work, I'd of told him of my insurance limitations (no coverage for commercial work).
So, I think you made the correct decision.

 

[DannyD]

I dont lend tools. As someone mentioned it is not beyond me to do the work (seat time) for them. The one exception I would have made came yesterday when my new, single, cute, sweet, blonde, great looking neighbor told me she would be buying a lawn tractor so I would not need to come around to cut grass anymore. I told her to save her money, use this Kubota anytime.........that was before I knew she was buying yellow.

Nothing better than a cute gal on a Kubota.


Seriously, the answer is always either NO, or I can do that for you, no problem. In other words, I dont lend tools

 

[PhilNH5]

This is NOT about equipment at all! This guy has some big brass ones thats for sure. First he sets you up by asking to borrow your equipment. You agree and then he asks again and adds the details that it will be recurring so he can make money??!!

I think you did the right thing and that this guy was way over the line. I wouldn't ask my own family to do what he wants a mere acquintance to do.

Phil

 

[Cowboyjg]

It boggles the mind how it could be considered ok to go there. Even under extreme exceptions of friendship it's hazardous territory. I'd say he's more like "one french fry short of a happy meal" than having brass ones.

 

[RedRocker]

Any of you guys got a tractor trailer I could borrow, I wanna start a trucking business and don't have any money. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[hobbyfarm]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( he asked me again and explained that he would be using the mower to cut grass on somebody else's lot for pay. He explained that it would be on a recurring basis until he could get one of his own. )</font>

Funny, how this neighbor sells a service for which he (on his own) has no way himself of being able to follow through on.
(Does that make sense?)
I'd probably tell him from the start, that I can't loan him the equipment.
It is one thing to be able to see the equipment, sort of "line of sight", than to have the neighbor leave to Timbuktu with it.
Him earning money with it is a whole other matter.

<font color="blue">You are wise to climb Mt. Fuji, but a fool to do it twice. </font>
<font color="brown">Japanese Proverb</font>

 

[hobbyfarm]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( ...can I borrow your wife.. it would be on a recurring basis.. you know.. until I can get one on my own. )</font>

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( This guy has some big brass ones thats for sure.)</font>

These two subjects remind me of a thing I saw on the news about a year ago... Somebody was in the middle of a bitter divorce and went and borrowed a good-sized wheel loader from somewhere and tore the he|| /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif out of the house /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif. Completely leveled it. Apparently, the house was the object of the bitterness. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif