PIL has sent be a bill for a broken wine glass

[pugreverywhere]

Yes, had to namechange.

Went to PIL' home last weekend, had a glass of wine and I accidentally dropped it. No big deal, they shrugged it off. I get on well with both FIL and MIL, have been with DH for 4 years now and we are having our first child in 4 months.

They're well off.. as in, VERY well off.. DP and I on the other hand live in a rented 3 bed semi-dettached property so definitely not as well off.

I didn't know at the time, but said wine glass apparently happens to be pretty high end. FIL has this morning sent me an e-mail saying that I can just transfer the £156 to him or buy the glass online. He even attached a link and included their address, should I not know it by now(!).

At first I thought it was a joke only to realise that these people have no sense of humor, so they obviously must be expect me to pay them ASAP. Haven't told DH yet. Really shocked at this as they are not known for being stingy.

AIBU not to pay this? I am tempted to buy a £20 glass off Amazon!

I would never in a million years ask someone to pay for something they've broken by accident as a guest in my home. That's just rude and bad mannered. Mind you even if I had the money for such expensive glasses (the most expensive stuff I've got is Denby) I'd never use them because I'm a clumsy oaf when it comes to all things glass and plate related.

Are you sure he's not missed a decimal point and it's actually £1.56 or £15.60?

The Waterford crystal link has taught me there are different glasses for Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay.

As NoCanoe and others have said, it was their choice to use such expensive glassware, and therefore their risk.
My mum gets nervous using our Riedel wine glasses because she thinks they're expensive (nowhere near that ridiculous price though!) and I have told her many times not to worry as they're easily replaced; might feel a little different if they were hard to get hold of, but then that would be my choice whether or not to use them.
What's the point of having such possessions if you're too worried to use them?

I don't know, that's a bit rude isn't it, "oh by the way this glass cost £X, so please be careful!"?

It is but if you expect them to be replaced if accidentally broken then I think it's only fair you warn the person how much they cost first. I would say "oh give me a cheap glass instead then please!" :p

Einsteins - in a weird way i'd be more offended if i was asked for £1.56 than £156. That would seem beyond petty.

It doesn't matter if you believe something is too expensive, you pay for your own damage.

Yes, but you could do that by supplying a glass, it doesn't have to be the same type.

If you choose to use incredibly expensive wine glasses, you have to accept the risk that replacing them will be expensive because, guess what, accidents happen. If OP's FIL had given her an informed choice, she could have said that she would prefer a different glass because she didn't want to be worried about the consequences of an accident with the expensive one.

No fucking way I would pay that.

They chose to buy and let you use ridiculously expensive glasses.

Tell them that you would not have used the glass if:
a) you'd known how expensive it was
b) you'd known you'd be billed for a breakage.

Ergo you will not be paying.

I’d sent a letter back saying ‘I’m sorry, but today is not April 1st’

You weren't in a position to make an informe decision.

I hope it's a joke or else these are awful people. Imagine tapping your son for £156 when he has a baby on its way because you bought stupidly expensive wine glasses and one of them got broken (as happens from time to time when glasses are, you know, used). I guess that old saying about how money can't buy class is very accurate.

156 quid to get these dreadful people out of your's and your baby's lives?

Bargain.

I would NEVER expect a guest to pay for a glass they broke. I have broken some beautiful wine glasses of my own in the past. I have momentary pang of regret then i remember it is just a glass and i move on. To ask your DIL to pay for a broken wine glass is just mean spirited.

OP - you need to tell your DH and see how he reacts.

Send them the money with a note with an apology, remembering all the while that their money will come to you when they die

Ha ha ha.

£156 - 156 months of not seeing the grandchild?

I'm really keen to hear what Mr Pug has to say about this!

No class!

That's what their insurance is for.... If they're not insured and they can't afford to lose the value... They need to not use them...

Do I reply to FIL now or do I tell DH first?

Agree MrsKoala, he'd still be CF, just an extremely cheap CF. It seems ridiculous to use such expensive glasses unless it's a special occasion.

Tell dh.

Definitely speak to your DH first.

And tell us what his reaction is.

Surely they have insurance for this sort of thing.

If you can't afford to replace 156 pounds worth of wine glass then you shouldn't serve people drinks in 156 pounds worth of wine glasses!

Send a check to Cheeky Fucker, date it in the Middle Ages, and sign it Minnie Mouse.
Black out your bank details.