General Etiquette > Life...in general

Replacing a borrowed helmet

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CakeBeret:
Hi Ehellions,

I'm in a bit of a quandry.

My DH's friend bought a motorcycle and has not yet bought a helmet, and so has been borrowing mine. I reminded him a few times to get a helmet of his own, but he has not yet. A few days ago he had a minor crash, and the helmet needs to be replaced. After the crash he asked me how much I paid for the helmet, and I answered him truthfully, $80.

I bought the helmet on super-clearance about a year ago. I would like to replace the helmet with one of the same make and model, but a replacement one is $160 new. I can get one on clearance for about $110, but they're kind of ugly. :( I LOVED my old helmet, and I don't really want to replace it with a cheaper or ugly model.

DH thinks since I already told him the helmet was $80, I should accept $80 for it. If I do that, I'm going to have to either pay another $80 out of pocket, buy the ugly one and still pay $30 out of pocket, or buy a lower quality helmet. At the same time, I don't think it's entirely fair for the friend to have to pay significantly more than I paid to replace the helmet.

I haven't talked to DH's friend yet about it. I can't decide what's fair to ask for--the price I paid, the price it will cost to replace, or somewhere in between?

shygirl:
He should pay the cost to replace, even if that's more than what you paid. 

siamesecat2965:
I think so as well.  Doesn't matter that you got it on clearance; you can't get it at that price anymore, so friend needs to pay for what it would cost to get one of a simlar style, features, etc.

Think of it like insurance; rental insurance covers your possessions, and in my case, the replacement value.  So it matters not that my one tv is 20+ years old and probalby worth next to nothing.  If something happens, ins would pay what it costs to buy a new one, of comparable size, since they don't even make one like i have anymore.

Outdoor Girl:
It should be replaced with the same helmet.  If the same one isn't available, it should be replaced with one of like quality.

And he should be able to swing a deal, since he's going to be buying TWO helmets.   ;)

Free Range Hippy Chick:
Replacement like-for-like, even if that's more than you paid. It doesn't matter if you don't want the other sort because it's ugly or because it's not such a good fit or you find it uncomfortable to wear. I wouldn't even mention the possibility of having it.

Can you avoid the discussion completely by obviously expecting him to do the work of finding a replacement? Just by saying 'it's made by So-and-so, it's a size medium and it's the green one with the dragon, I'll need it by the weekend' or whatever? Then if he can find one at $80, bully for him, and if he has to pay $120, tough.

And I don't suppose you need to be told, but curiously, it won't be convenient for him to borrow it any more...

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