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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think my friend has taken me for a mug?

601 replies

PenAndPaperback · 02/02/2021 19:02

Back in December, I made an online listing for my 2018 MacBook on Facebook marketplace and received a ton of 'lowball' offers or people asking me to drive an hour plus to deliver it to their place. A friend of mine messaged me, telling me that her current laptop had broken down and that she's having trouble finding work because of that (she's a freelancer).

She asked if I could 'sell' it to her first and that she'd pay it back in instalments after paying off her kids' stuff etc, before telling me that she would get back to me because she had to calculate everything. She eventually came up with a payment plan that lasted almost 2 years and I told her that I'd just give it to her as I didn't need the money and that if I were to bring it in for 'trade-in' I was told that I'd get basically nothing for it anyway.

So I dropped it off in her mailbox, and I thought that that was that. Fast forward to last week, she was sending me screenshots on her computer, and it was on a Windows laptop! I asked her in a semi-joking way, oh, did the MacBook spoil and she said that no, she's just using her old laptop and that she's using the one I sent her for 'storage'. If I had known she didn't really need it I definitely wouldn't have given it to her!

I'm not going to ask for it back, of course. But AIBU to be a bit miffed off by all this?

OP posts:
An0n0n0n · 03/02/2021 07:50

I'd ask for it back. Say another friends has broken and she needs it now and that's better than other friend having it in storage.

£80 Is better than bring mugged off

AhNowTed · 03/02/2021 07:53

I wouldn't make up an excuse.

Just tell her you're collecting it.

End of.

An0n0n0n · 03/02/2021 07:54

Reading the updates, just go round there and say you were passing and want it for your mum. Dont gove her the option not to be there or make something up. She can't actually say no and will have to say she sold it.

VinterKvinna · 03/02/2021 07:54

@PenAndPaperback

She's finally replied, saying that the camera and the screen is wonky (it bloody isn't) so my mum might not be able to use it for FaceTime. I asked her to take a picture because I might be able to suggest a fix but she said it's late and that she'll 'get back to me'. Hmm
"OK, pop it back to me, and I'll check it out "
Twistered · 03/02/2021 08:05

On the one hand I'd be inclined to message her saying I was picking it up from her today to have the camera fixed so mum can have it.

On the other hand I might just let the whole thing and her go. She is a CF. No bones about it.

Mooey89 · 03/02/2021 08:10

😱😱😱😱 she’s sold it.
Ask her for the money and ditch her. CF!

ButtWormHole · 03/02/2021 08:12

I am so invested in this, please keep us updated.

MacBooks have awful storage space. She is not using it for storage.

thecapitalsunited · 03/02/2021 08:15

Next time you upgrade try the Apple Trade In programme. It’s relatively hassle free (they send you a box, you wipe the laptop and now that the Royal Mail collect you just get them to come pick it up) and while you maybe don’t get the best price it’s still a good price. They gave me £100 for a 2012 MacBook Pro. And because I was buying a new laptop, they just refunded the amount straight to my payment card once they’d received the laptop and checked it was in the condition I said it was in. Didn’t even quibble with what they’d quoted me.

BosleyCharliesAngel · 03/02/2021 08:19

Reply with exactly what @VinterKvinna suggested:
"Ok then, pop it back to me and I'll check it out"

Jaysus woman. She saw you a fucking mile off. You've been had. And quite spectacularly to be honest. Also, please stop pussyfooting around the issue. Stop making up false or semi false reasons why you want your device back. Get angry at her. She has taken advantage of your kindness and you don't deserve that.

When she hands it back (if she hands it back), make sure you have it first before saying the following:
"I thought when you asked me for the MacBook that you were in dire straits, didn't have a working laptop and couldn't afford a new one which is the ONLY reason why I was being so generous with my items. To see that kindness thrown back in my face is really hurtful and just shows me what a grabby and greedy person you really are. You've shown me your true colours and I don't like them.
If you were looking for storage, you could have ordered an external hard drive on line and paid for it like any normal person would.
Now please leave"

Sparklfairy · 03/02/2021 08:25

I'm just waiting for the CF to make her own thread without realising about this one.

I can see it now. "But she gave it to me. I have every right to sell it when my old laptop miraculously repaired itself. Now the old cow is sniffing around asking for it back and probably wants to split the proceeds. AIBU to tell the CF to do one? I put all the work into selling it after all and she couldn't be bothered so why should I?"*

I know a few professional "twisters of facts" Wink

FatCatThinCat · 03/02/2021 08:29

Another vote for she's sold it.

JohnMiddleNameRedactedSwanson · 03/02/2021 08:50

@PenAndPaperback

She couldn't have sold it off that quickly though, could she? I dropped it off around New Year's, and mid Jan she was still asking me about some error with the Big Sur update. So that leaves her with about 2 weeks from that and the screenshot thing? I had mine up on Facebook Marketplace for a week and a half and didn't receive one good offer!
Considering that she got it for free, literally any price would be pure profit!
CisMyArse · 03/02/2021 09:00

This would annoy me.

Doing a good deed for a friend who then takes the utter piss.

Be blunt OP - "I'm going to try selling it again. I didn't realise you wanted it just for storage."

MrKlaw · 03/02/2021 09:04

@PenAndPaperback

She's finally replied, saying that the camera and the screen is wonky (it bloody isn't) so my mum might not be able to use it for FaceTime. I asked her to take a picture because I might be able to suggest a fix but she said it's late and that she'll 'get back to me'. Hmm
"thats ok, I've got an old webcam she can use"

see how far she keeps digging

AwaAnBileYerHeid · 03/02/2021 09:06

I don’t agree with her selling it, if she did sell it, BUT ultimately the friend did offer to pay and the OP declined payment and gave her computer away for free, so really it was the new owners prerogative to do as she pleased with it. The OP was definitely a mug for giving away a 450 pound computer for free, but it was her mistake.

I think the thing you're forgetting about though here @BlackCatShadow is common decency.

supportivemyarse · 03/02/2021 09:07

she's fronting you out. hmmm. just tell her if its 'wonky' that's fine you'll sort it out before your mum uses it. any other problems you'll deal with it. move the convo along by telling her a day & time you're collecting it from her.

AwaAnBileYerHeid · 03/02/2021 09:07

@Sparklfairy

I'm just waiting for the CF to make her own thread without realising about this one.

I can see it now. "But she gave it to me. I have every right to sell it when my old laptop miraculously repaired itself. Now the old cow is sniffing around asking for it back and probably wants to split the proceeds. AIBU to tell the CF to do one? I put all the work into selling it after all and she couldn't be bothered so why should I?"*

I know a few professional "twisters of facts" Wink

I wonder if something like that has happened here on MN, I bet it has.
tttigress · 03/02/2021 09:17

Surely £450 in itself is quite cheap for a Macbook (depending on spec)

misskatamari · 03/02/2021 09:19

I know it's uncomfortable but I'd have to be honest with her about this.

"I gave you the laptop as you didn't have one, and would rather help a friend out than sell for a silly amount. Now I see you aren't actually using the MacBook and do have a working laptop, I feel quite taken advantage of, and I would like the MacBook back" type thing. She has behaved badly and I cant believe she lacks the awareness to see how much she's taking the piss!

I certainly wouldn't be "borrowing" it back!

Marley20 · 03/02/2021 09:20

Tell her you're without a laptop now (insert any reason) so as she's not using yours can you have it back. She's probably sold it though. Not much you can do, I'd dump this 'friend'.

Marley20 · 03/02/2021 09:22

Just saw your update, what a CF!

islockdownoveryet · 03/02/2021 09:25

@CisMyArse

This would annoy me.

Doing a good deed for a friend who then takes the utter piss.

Be blunt OP - "I'm going to try selling it again. I didn't realise you wanted it just for storage."

Yes just say this which is true . You didn’t give it to her for her to sell on . You gave it to her because she claimed to have no working laptop that she needed for work . And like you say it must only have been in the last couple of weeks . I’m not sure how a laptop started working so she lied from the beginning , her laptop was working perfectly fine but lied to you so she could sell it . That’s some cf if was true but if it’s not she’s sold it very quickly.
BertramLacey · 03/02/2021 09:26

Just ask her how much she got for it. Then frankly I'd start blocking her. My friends shouldn't be taking me for a mug - that's what people who don't like me or care about me do.

bluerad · 03/02/2021 09:38

I agree with others, just tell her you'll collect it from her today.

Yoshinori · 03/02/2021 09:41

I'm angry for you omg

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