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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Who is right Dh or me regarding paying?

95 replies

Lipz · 02/05/2020 13:14

A couple of weeks before lock down we hired 2 gym equipment pieces for 4 weeks.

When the date came round for collection the company contacted me asking if I would hold onto the items till things settled as they were not allowed to travel to collect them, not allowed to enter house, non essential company. I told them I wouldn't be able to afford to keep them indefinitely, they said there would be no charge.

I think I should give something towards having them here, as I'm still using them, however I wouldn't be able to pay the full amount, but was thinking half of what it would have cost to hire.

Dh thinks pay nothing, he said they said no payment, if they wanted payment they should have arranged something, he said I'm only using them because they are here, I wouldn't have hired them for this long. He said the items would be sitting in their shop because they can't hire out anything.

Am I being unreasonable to want to pay something?

OP posts:
Dyrne · 02/05/2020 13:58

Likethebattle ah interesting! I guess it’s just being mindful because you don’t want to end up paying so much more for rental that you may as well have ended up buying the thing!

TooTrueToBeGood · 02/05/2020 14:01

I wouldn't pay. Consider your usage as payment in lieu of charging them storage.

Beautiful3 · 02/05/2020 14:04

I wouldn't pay. They wouldnt have hired it out again during this pandemic, so it was convenient for them to keep it at your house.

HollowTalk · 02/05/2020 14:07

He said I could continue to use it.

FFS, OP - don't be daft. He asked you if you could store it for them and told you you could use it.

spinyffud · 02/05/2020 14:11

I personally would probably give them about half the rate as its a small company and will likely face hardship.

Standrewsschool · 02/05/2020 14:13

If he said you could use it, then I wouldn’t pay, but perhaps give them a gift when you return them.

Ellie56 · 02/05/2020 14:15

No I wouldn't pay if they said you could carry on using them. Presumably you're not charging them for storage?

FanSaBhaile · 02/05/2020 14:19

You're a nicer person than me OP, and than a lot of people here it seems! If they are a small, family run co. and you can afford to pay something I think that is a very kind thing to do.

ErickBroch · 02/05/2020 14:22

Don't pay but giving them great reviews online would help them a lot in other ways. Fb, google reviews, etc .

MoaningMinniee · 02/05/2020 14:22

What @Carolduckingbaskin said up thread!!! Genuine positive reviews and recommendations on local social media are the most wonderful advertising us small businesses can possibly have!

OneMomentInHistory · 02/05/2020 14:22

There's absolutely no need for you to pay. But if it were me - if I was using the equipment (rather than it just being in the way), and it was a small business, and I could afford it, I'd offer a small payment (~20%).

edwinbear · 02/05/2020 14:22

I wouldn’t pay, but I’d spend some time writing glowing reviews of them on social media.

SnakesandKnives · 02/05/2020 14:24

I know (and don’t like!) several people who would be trying to charge the company a storage fee in this instance.

Your husband is right in there really being no need to pay here......but if you can afford it easily then it’s a very nice gesture. I would pay something personally...i also tip absolutely everybody.....but there really isn’t a need to. I don’t think this is a ‘right or wrong’ issue as much as personal choice and affordability.

mindutopia · 02/05/2020 14:29

As others have said, I would not pay. There is no reason they couldn't have come to collect from outside your house. You could have done it no contact, as lots of deliveries are at the moment.

You don't have to be an 'essential' business to be out operating and driving around. It just needs to be 'essential' for you to be driving in order to do your job (you can't make collections without driving, so it would be essential). Dh runs a business that is not 'essential' (luxury items). People are still ordering them and we are still shipping them. I order a case of wine every week and the wine shop in town drives it out to me and leave it in the drive. It's not 'essential'. Well, depends on your definition of essential, I suppose. Wink But they can do it because there's no other way to run their business.

I imagine they don't have any further rentals at this point, so can't be bothered to come get it, clean it and store it, so it's easier to leave it at yours.

KatherineJaneway · 02/05/2020 14:32

I'd pay something towards it.

Iamamoleinahole · 02/05/2020 14:35

I do what I think is right.

diddl · 02/05/2020 14:36

I would have thought that they could have collected them tbh.

See your using them as payment for storing them!

pilates · 02/05/2020 14:37

No I wouldn’t pay

brassbrass · 02/05/2020 14:38

They specifically said no charge. Your DH's reasoning is sound.

Wynston · 02/05/2020 14:41

I think you are kind op.

NiceTwin · 02/05/2020 14:49

I would pay.
Many companies are going to go to the wall, it is good to help them out.

One of my customers transferred me £250, her reasoning being that she wants me to be there when this is all over and if it goes part way to realising that, then she is happy.
Not ashamed to say, I had a tear in my eye at her generosity.

Boringnamechanging · 02/05/2020 15:08

I wouldn't pay but I might consider hiring them again for another period once they had started up again to support the company back on its feet.

And I would try and be as accommodating as possible about the pick up when the time comes.

AnneOfCloves · 02/05/2020 15:13

I'd write glowing reviews and use them in future. I'd also offer a donation in their name to the foodbank or similar if you feel you should pay something for your good fortune.

lyralalala · 02/05/2020 15:17

I wouldn't pay either. If they wanted them back then they could have collected - they are allowed out and about if it's essential to their business

I'd bet the don't actually have the space to have all of their equipment stored at once and actually need people to keep a hold of the stuff. It's not like they'll be getting many new orders at the moment (and they probably don't want to have to clean everything at once)

FamilyOfAliens · 02/05/2020 15:20

DH Has been told to keep the courtesy car from the garage that was repairing his car until they open again.

It’s brand new and is worth three times as much as his. Same make though Grin