Small time ethics question

vanguard

vanguard

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 19, 2005
Location
Apex, NC
I've seen a few of these ethics threads lately and thought the forum was really helpful. My question is far more "small time" but I thought I'd ask anyway.

A friend of mine loaned me jack stands about a year ago and I'd guess their replacement value is about $60. I didn't have anything that tall so they came in handy. He said that since a bunch of guys in my club tend to do their wrenching at my house (including him) and since I keep them indoors as opposed to his outdoors they would be better off in my garage.

I'd guess they are about 7-10 years old and, prior to being kept in my garage, they were kept outside in the weather. After he lent them to me a pin rusted so one is broken and the other is at the end of its safe usage lifetime.

They died in my care. Do I owe him a replacement set of jack stands?
 
are you friends? what is 60 bucks among friends? yes, i would buy new jack stands, they are at your house anyway.
 
the questions is why were you using sketchy jack stands to begin with. No you do not owe him a new set of jack stands. They rusted away before you had them and there was nothing you could do to prevent or fix it. Now, if you backed over them with your truck now that is a different story. The reason they didn't last was from his neglect not yours.
 
if you can't fix them then if I were you I would just buy some new ones as you stated you have had them & friends are hard to come buy
 
pheery said:
are you friends? what is 60 bucks among friends? yes, i would buy new jack stands, they are at your house anyway.
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Yep, I have killed my tools working on others rigs and and let people use stuff that has taken a dump and only ask that they help if it is used, but as said you loose a tool or drive over something it needs to be replaced.
And to add to it I would ask your friend what he thinks.
Maybe he is going to tell you that he used 50% of the life of them and gives you 30$ and you use 30$ to get a new set and still keep them at your house.
 
New jacks stands aren't $60. the 6-ton "tall ones" (24" or so)that I use under my frame are like $30, and the 12-tons (28")are on sale for $45.

If I need more height, a few blocks of 4x4 wood always come in handy :D

If you've been using them, I'd say just drop the cash and buy new ones. Do tell him that they died and you're gonna pick up a new set, let him offer some assistance.

If they've just been sitting in a corner, then it's all on him.
 
If its just a pin thats rusted...replace the pin. But maybe I dont' understand and it's not that simple.
 
jeepinmatt said:
If its just a pin thats rusted...replace the pin. But maybe I dont' understand and it's not that simple.
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Yeah, I left something out. I had intended to replace the pin but somewhere along the way somebody in my shop lost a part of the stand. I don't know who, it wasn't me but I'm responsible anyway. So now a part is missing and it's really time to replace them anyway.

Rich: I came up with $60 because I just paid that yesterday at harbor freight for 12 ton jack stands. I forgot to print a darn 20% off coupon. :(
 
Is $60 worth your friendship? Since they stay at your house anyways, drop the cash, buy new ones and tell him. He might just say keep them.

Good friend of mine bought me some brand new ones just for letting him use my garage and tools.
 
vanguard said:
Rich: I came up with $60 because I just paid that yesterday at harbor freight for 12 ton jack stands. I forgot to print a darn 20% off coupon. :(
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Wow.. Do you work near the HF store? Northern is right up the street from you, and is a LOT nicer store.
 
Offer to go half and half with the guy. Tell him if he pays half of the price of a new set you will pick up the rest of the cast. Since he had them outside for a while you should not have to take full responsibility for replacing them. Most of the time just making an offer like that among friends is enough to keep the friendship alive. Just make him feel like you mean well and you are trying to shaft him. If he says no you owe me a new set then evaluate the friendship and decide how good of a friend he is. If he is a good friend buy them, if he is not tell him to go screw himself and be done with it.
 
I'd call the dude and tell him that one of his stands broke and your truck fell off of it almost killing you and you expect a new set to be delivered within 24 hrs.























On second thought, I'd just buy a new set.
 
depends on how good a friend i guess...i mean i have some friends i would do it for and some i wouldnt..you have those friends that you hang out with a few times a month then you (atleast i do) have those friends that are as close as brothers and i got four bros and a sister but still got friends like that...so if its one of those brother type friends id do it just because hed probably do it for you but whether he would or wouldnt shouldnt matter just do it lol...if it was a friend you see every once in a while then just dont mention it and see what happens if he needs them then get a new set otherwise i wouldnt worry about it...
 
I'd buy a new set and just keep em at your place. I loan tools and my memorey is so shot I can't remember who I loaned them to. I've got a pretty expensive tie rod reamer floating around out there somewhere....anyone remember who borrowed it?
 
If they were mine at your house and they were that old, I wouldn't worry about it. I'd just try to fix the pin, and if it didn't work, oh well.
 
Id buy a new set and keep them at the house.

Sounds like smething that gets use anyway.

He may neveer ask for them back if so all is well, if he does then you could either give them or have the conversation then.

:beer:
 
You should buy some new ones and give him back his. I don't see where you are liable for his breaking. And if he needs to use a set of jacks you should let him borrow yours. Or work on it at your house.
 
Update: So I had pretty much decided to offer him the replacement jack stands I bought the other day. Then I found the missing piece from the jack stand and replaced the pin with a new one. There it is, it's in better shape than I received it in so I can return them with a clear conscious.
 
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