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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:
Ilovecharliecat · 03/02/2021 09:47

@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
she knows she's been rumbled, silly cow
user1471538283 · 03/02/2021 09:50

I would ask for it back!

Thiscantreallybehappening · 03/02/2021 09:50

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

You should definitely do this.

burnoutbabe · 03/02/2021 09:55

I would be more considered about my response. this is a friend and could be a misunderstanding (assuming she has not sold it)

do not accuse her of selling it. And i'd give her some notice I was going to collect it 24/48 hours. If we believe she is using it for storage, then she needs time to transfer stuff back.

She may well have sold it BUT she may just be using as storage as she says. And going in and snatching it back, accusing her of selling it will just end the friendship there and then, when she has done nothing wrong.

as we don't know if she is lying or not, best to err on side of caution, and not go in all guns blazing.

truthisalie · 03/02/2021 09:57

I hope she doesn't damage it. If she drops it on purpose that will be it.

grapewine · 03/02/2021 09:58

She has probably sold it. You were kind to a fault giving it to her. Lesson learnt. She is not a friend though.

IthinkIm · 03/02/2021 09:58

Tell her you've spoken to Apple and they said fixing the camera is an easy job, and when can you go over to collect it?

Desmondo2016 · 03/02/2021 09:58

I definitely wouldn't be letting this drop.

CleverCatty · 03/02/2021 10:04

@Desmondo2016

I definitely wouldn't be letting this drop.
Me neither.
tenlittlecygnets · 03/02/2021 10:10

What a cheeky cow. She has so sold it.

Give her a day then come right out with it: 'You're not using my laptop. I only gave it to you as I thought you really needed it for work, and I thought that giving it to you was being kind and helping a friend.

But I think you've sold it, and that's why you're being cagey. If you have, be brave enough to admit it.'

She has behaved really badly.

Original poster
PenAndPaperback · 03/02/2021 10:11

Sent about 3 messages this morning asking how's it going (one of which included me saying my mum REALLY needed it unfortunately) before she sent one back saying that she had sent it in for repairs last week (apparently the PC store near her does drops offs where you leave it at the door and they'll video call you) and they said they'd need to replace several parts that would almost amount to the cost of a new computer so she collected it back and then sent it to Apple for bloody recycling.

She then said that the reason she didn't tell me that was because she didn't want me to feel bad for driving all the way to her place to drop off a faulty laptop! There is nothing wrong with the laptop ffs and I am 100% sure the thing isn't fucking broken. I know this because after wiping it I tested everything multiple times and have never so much as seen a single glitch or 'green lines' on the screen and all of a sudden it's with her for a month and it breaks down???

OP posts:
ErickBroch · 03/02/2021 10:13

She sold it. I'd be livid.

Godimabitch · 03/02/2021 10:15

She sold it! Shit that's so bad. She wouldn't have cared if she only got 80 quid for it, it was free to her.

Dasher789 · 03/02/2021 10:17

Maybe say you are astounded that it broke within a month of working fine. Can you have the email for the IT guy?!

I think she has sold it too. Very poor of her to give you the sob story about having no cash and struggling for work to get the laptop for cheap in the first place but never mind accepting it for free. You don't do that to a friend.

AwaAnBileYerHeid · 03/02/2021 10:18

Tell her you know she is a liar and that she has sold it. Don't hold back, why should you, she clearly has no consideration for you. What a horrible cow.

ChocShot90 · 03/02/2021 10:19

Unbelievable. She definitely needs to give you that payment or at least part of it! She's a CF

AwaAnBileYerHeid · 03/02/2021 10:19

Oh and I'd be asking for the details of the IT guy, say you want to discuss it with him because you know for a fact it wasn't broken and you know you've been ripped off so want to confront him about it.

LouiseBelchersBunnyEars · 03/02/2021 10:20

So, she didn’t have £80 to pay you right away for it, and wanted to split it over 2 years.
But now she’s got the money to take it to be repaired?
Bullshit

quarentini · 03/02/2021 10:20

Wonder if she got an Apple gift card with the Mac being in good nick ?

Jeremyironseverything · 03/02/2021 10:21

Well the friendship is lost. So you might as well call her out on it.

grapewine · 03/02/2021 10:23

She sold it, OP. And she's lying to you about it. What a deceitful, using bitch to take advantage of your kindness like this. I'd be absolutely done with her.

TitusPullo · 03/02/2021 10:23

I think at this point I would just say, you can untangle yourself from this web you are weaving, I know you have sold it, I am really disappointed you did this and then lied about it. I couldn’t continue to be friends with someone who lied to get the laptop in the first place and then sold it and lied about it. She may as well have just taken money out your purse.

SophieB100 · 03/02/2021 10:26

@PenAndPaperback

Sent about 3 messages this morning asking how's it going (one of which included me saying my mum REALLY needed it unfortunately) before she sent one back saying that she had sent it in for repairs last week (apparently the PC store near her does drops offs where you leave it at the door and they'll video call you) and they said they'd need to replace several parts that would almost amount to the cost of a new computer so she collected it back and then sent it to Apple for bloody recycling.

She then said that the reason she didn't tell me that was because she didn't want me to feel bad for driving all the way to her place to drop off a faulty laptop! There is nothing wrong with the laptop ffs and I am 100% sure the thing isn't fucking broken. I know this because after wiping it I tested everything multiple times and have never so much as seen a single glitch or 'green lines' on the screen and all of a sudden it's with her for a month and it breaks down???

Oh OP, I'd be really hurt if I was you. She's obviously sold it, spent all night concocting this nonsense about it being faulty. You've got two choices, you ask for the details of the IT guy as suggested. Or you just let it go and learn from it. Whatever you do, this friendship is over. She knows the truth, you know the truth, she'll have to live with herself. I'd let it go, and ignore her from now on. She's caused this, let her live with it.
Love51 · 03/02/2021 10:26

I'd just text 'how much did you get for it?'
That's the price she puts on your friendship.

Cloudmonkey · 03/02/2021 10:26

Astounding cheeky fuckery.