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AIBU?

Free Bike?

66 replies

SpringtimeSummertime · 05/04/2021 15:43

My neighbour came over yesterday - He had been sorting out their garage and said:

‘X (his DS) has got a new bike and we wondered if Y (my DS who is younger) would like his old one?’

Those EXACT words.

I said ‘That’s kind of you to think of him, Thank you, I’ll ask him!’

Nothing more was said.

DS said yes and I suggested he went over, collected it and said thank you himself.

DS went over and came back telling me that as the man handed the bike over he said ‘How does £50 sound?’
DS was shocked and said he didn’t have £50. The neighbour said: ‘Don’t worry, your Mum can drop it off later.’

Thankfully, DH was smart enough to leave the bike there even though they kept saying ‘no take it’. He said that I’d call over later.

I haven’t been over.

AIBU to think WTF? What is wrong with people? Am I going mad? When did ‘We wondered if Y would like his old one?’ become ‘We wondered if Y would like to buy his old one for £50’?

I now have to go over there at some point and tell him to (fuck off) that we have ‘changed our minds’.

WWYD?

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londonrach · 05/04/2021 16:12

Bikes sell well on facebook as everyone after second hand children bikes but £50 is top heavy. Most go for £10-20 ish. Very active market here. Saying that ive just been gifted one for dd who loves it.
Neighbour should have said at the time he was selling it. Just say what blackberry said above...thought you offering it free to take it off your hands etc. Neighbour a cf and your ds is great and saying no and your dh. He can pop it on facebook if he wants the money.

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Bettysnow · 05/04/2021 16:24

Or else if he does land over redden his face for him by asking " why did you pretend to me you were giving it away then ask my son for 50 pounds?" This worm deserves to squirm!

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ChronicallyCurious · 05/04/2021 16:24

If he asks you about it I’d just say that DS saw the bike and decided he didn’t like it/would rather wait for a new one

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toocold54 · 05/04/2021 16:26

I wouldn’t have assumed it was free! If it was free he would have said. The best thing you could have done even if you thought it might be free would be to say how much do you want for it?

I would say it’s the wrong size or you’ve just found out he’s getting one for his bday from someone to save embarrassment.

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toocold54 · 05/04/2021 16:28

why did you pretend to me you were giving it away then ask my son for 50 pounds?

Have I missed where he said he could have it for free?

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FusionChefGeoff · 05/04/2021 16:33

Don't let him get away with it!

Go over and say "hiya - just in case you're wondering why I've not been over, you didn't mention money or selling it earlier so now we know it's £50 we're not going to take it. I'm really glad DS didn't take it as he knows not to spend my money! Thanks anyway'

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AaronPurr · 05/04/2021 16:33

@toocold54

I wouldn’t have assumed it was free! If it was free he would have said. The best thing you could have done even if you thought it might be free would be to say how much do you want for it?

I would say it’s the wrong size or you’ve just found out he’s getting one for his bday from someone to save embarrassment.

I think the way he worded it was very misleading. If he was selling it why not mention the price before the son went round?

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S111n20 · 05/04/2021 16:36

That’s so cheeky of him. He should of made it clear he wanted to sell it. Some people 🤨

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weewitch · 05/04/2021 16:37

From the sounds of it, he was deliberately misleading in the hope of backing you into a corner. Glad your DS didn't take the bike. I wouldn't bother going over to explain anything and if he asks you about why you haven't been over, just tell him you're not interested for £50 and if he'd told you that in the first instance, you'd have told him no at that time.

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Soubriquet · 05/04/2021 16:38

It’s both of your fault really

“Ds is getting rid of his old bike. Would your ds like it for £50?”

Or

“Ds is getting rid of his old bike. Would your ds like it?”

“Oh that sounds good. How much would you like for it?”

“Oh £50 sound alright!”

“No, bit much sorry”

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TooYoungToNotice · 05/04/2021 16:39

I think he knew perfectly well what he was doing, that's why he tried to extract the money from your son and not you.

Well done to your son for sensibly saying no!

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toocold54 · 05/04/2021 16:42

How old is your son OP?

Not many teens have £50 lying around so I’m struggling to see that he was trying to trick your son into handing the money over like some posters are suggesting.

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SpringtimeSummertime · 05/04/2021 16:43

@Soubriquet

It’s both of your fault really

“Ds is getting rid of his old bike. Would your ds like it for £50?”

Or

“Ds is getting rid of his old bike. Would your ds like it?”

“Oh that sounds good. How much would you like for it?”

“Oh £50 sound alright!”

“No, bit much sorry”

None of the above.

'X has got a new bike and we wondered if Y would like his old one?'

As I said in my OP.

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SpringtimeSummertime · 05/04/2021 16:45

@toocold54

How old is your son OP?

Not many teens have £50 lying around so I’m struggling to see that he was trying to trick your son into handing the money over like some posters are suggesting.

16.

DS was shocked and said he didn’t have £50. The neighbour said: ‘Don’t worry, your Mum can drop it off later.’

As in my OP.

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Soubriquet · 05/04/2021 16:45

Yes I was giving examples on how you it could have been better worded

Sorry it wasn’t clear in my post

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Same4Walls · 05/04/2021 16:47

I'm baffled anyone thinks you did anything wrong or any part of this misunderstanding it's your fault OP. This man actively sought you out asking if your son wanted the bike. The implication absolutely was that the bike was being given for free, if he wanted cash for it he should have just shoved it on fb marketplace like a normal person.

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SpringtimeSummertime · 05/04/2021 16:48

@weewitch

From the sounds of it, he was deliberately misleading in the hope of backing you into a corner. Glad your DS didn't take the bike. I wouldn't bother going over to explain anything and if he asks you about why you haven't been over, just tell him you're not interested for £50 and if he'd told you that in the first instance, you'd have told him no at that time.

If he had said ''X has got a new bike and we wondered if Y would like TO BUY his old one FOR £50?' I would have said no.
I agree, I feel like he was deliberately misleading me into thinking he was offering it for free.

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Notimeforaname · 05/04/2021 16:48

Good on your son op.
Yeah really dont go over. Leave them to it.
As others said... if he does ask you about it you simply say
''You never mentioned money to me.
We're fine thank you''

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SpringtimeSummertime · 05/04/2021 16:50

@Same4Walls

I'm baffled anyone thinks you did anything wrong or any part of this misunderstanding it's your fault OP. This man actively sought you out asking if your son wanted the bike. The implication absolutely was that the bike was being given for free, if he wanted cash for it he should have just shoved it on fb marketplace like a normal person.

Thank you Same ! Every time I look over towards their drive I am irritated today! :D

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rookiemere · 05/04/2021 16:58

Some people have no shame. Our neighbours genuinely gave us some old bikes when clearing out their garage- in return I gave them a bottle of wine and bunch of flowers- that's how it generally works with neighbours.

I remember flat sharing when much younger and the other tenant asked if I'd like her old duvet set, I thought it would be handy to have a spare so said yes please, then when she handed it over she asked for £8. This was around 25 years ago so a new set would have cost that. As we lived together I was too embarrassed to say no, but now I'm very wary and double check there is no cost to accepting "free" things.

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toocold54 · 05/04/2021 16:58

I agree, I feel like he was deliberately misleading me into thinking he was offering it for free.

Why would anyone do that?
So he was misleading you by implying it was free and then what? He can’t trick you into handing over £50.
If your son was very young then he might think if he falls in love with it you’d have to buy it for him but a with a 16 year old you’d just say I don’t have the money. I think you’re more cheeky for assuming it was free.

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AaronPurr · 05/04/2021 17:02

@toocold54

I agree, I feel like he was deliberately misleading me into thinking he was offering it for free.

Why would anyone do that?
So he was misleading you by implying it was free and then what? He can’t trick you into handing over £50.
If your son was very young then he might think if he falls in love with it you’d have to buy it for him but a with a 16 year old you’d just say I don’t have the money. I think you’re more cheeky for assuming it was free.

From what the Op was saying about him being pushy, I assume he wouldn't have accepted the bike back once the son had taken it, probably citing some damage as the reason etc. So the OP would be forced into paying.

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PurBal · 05/04/2021 17:05

I've learnt from past experience to always ask if the person wants anything for their hand-me-downs. So whilst I agree they should have mentioned it, I would have asked.

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toocold54 · 05/04/2021 17:08

From what the Op was saying about him being pushy, I assume he wouldn't have accepted the bike back once the son had taken it, probably citing some damage as the reason etc. So the OP would be forced into paying.

Ok that would make more sense thanks.
I always ask how much things are before assuming they’re free but not everyone else does that it seems.

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littlepattilou · 05/04/2021 17:09

Cheeky fucking fucker! What an absolute nobhead!

Yeah he never said it was FREE, but he clearly strongly implied it was. As pps have said, he was hoping that you (or your son) would be too embarrassed to challenge it.

Cheeky bastard!

@SpringtimeSummertime YANBU.

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