Taking care of borrowed items

[pomsbz]

Also, it should be noted, that I think I will start using 'birch' as an insult now.

I'm going to borrow that, break it and then give it back in pieces.

Actually I'm seriously going to borrow that, I don't curse but enjoy inventive ways to express my feelings otherwise. This is a good addition to the collection!

[Vidar]

I've been know to lend out a tool at rare occasions. Sometimes someone need something weird that I just happen to have.

These days though I don't care anymore how they treat the borrowed stuff. They never returned it, and as I haven't seen them in years I assume they have either moved away, are dead or both. (Moving deads?  )

You only do that some 8-10 times before you wise up and stop lending away stuff. You know the saying, you might fool me, eh, eightsh? Ok, I give up, my English is not up to the task of highlighting my slow learning. 

[pfrsantos]

Years ago, I was moving a piece of furnature with my then-brother-in-law.

"Let me borrow your knife" Sez he.
Lynn, kind, trusting, helpful as always, hands over fairly expensive Spyderco Delica.
Then-brother-in-law proceeds to use it as a smurfing prybar, snaps off the tip, gives a shrug, hands it back.
Lynn thinking... 'Never again'.

Years later, visiting new mother-in-law in hospital. Doctor comes in to look at her, reaches for her pen light to check pupils, can't find her light. Lynn offers her Preon P1, watches that doctor like a mothersmurfing HAWK. Doctor looks all weird, says something about being paranoid.

Lynn thinking... 'Birch, YOU are the medical professional without the proper tools, and that is a $40 flashlight.'

Also, it should be noted, that I think I will start using 'birch' as an insult now.

Bet you scared the smurf out of that birch!

 

[Alan K.]

You break it you buy it is a good policy, but does nothing for you if the broken item had sentimental value.  I tend to take better care of something borrowed than I do of my own things, and I take excellent care of my own things.  Returning something in that state is so unacceptable to me I can't even imagine it.

[ironraven]

The people who can borrow my tools are a very, very short list. Somewhat shorter than the list of people who I'll loan my toothbrush to.

I tell folks that and they just back away.

[Blackbeard]

I lent my refrigerant gauges to some clown I worked with 10 years ago, he gave them back to me with one of the lenses smashed and also shrugged it off like it was my fault. lesson learned, I never loan tools to anyone anymore.

[gerleatherberman]

When I am at work or at home, it never fails people come to me to borrow tools/knives/lights. After a few times receiving my good items back scratched or damaged, I made a vow I would always keep loaning items to people in need. No matter what. BUT, not in the way you might think.  I went to the Dollar Tree and bought knives, pliers, hammers, lights, etc. I made four bags equipped with Dollar Tree tools. One for my mobile work cart at work. One for my woodshop at work. One for my car. And one for my house.
When people ask to borrow something and I can smell them oggling my shiny MT, knife, or flashlight. I dig into my DT bag and hand them what they asked for. Disappointment usually is cast over their faces as they walk away to use the crappy tool/light/knife I loaned them.
My only rule is: Person doesn't return the crappy item I loaned them, they don't ever get to borrow anything ever again.

Hope this system can help inspire new ways to be generous without losing their nice stuff.

The thread started, because of a damaged Sharpie. I suggest keeping a box of Dollar store permanent markers nearby to loan out instead.

When feeding the hungry, you need not serve caviar.

[Alan K.]

Great solution to an all too common problem.  Being able to help and being generous makes me feel good so why should I have to change my behavior?  This won't work if you have to actually carry this junk though.  At that point I like Ironraven's answer.