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AIBU?

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Original poster

Please help solve this argument! Pulling my hair out.

94 replies

100daysandBeyond · 09/01/2022 19:12

I will try and keep this as succinct as possible.

DC's have a very committed scooter hobby. Thanks he parts cost a bastard fortune, but they save and they are committed. A full scooter (stunt scooter, not small motor bike) is about £400-£600.

DS1 had his stolen by a bunch of 17 year old arseholes who took it off him, threatened him and then eventually sold the parts.
I borrowed money from a something else I was saving for for the house and bought him a new scooter. My thinking was, it was an outdoor activity that kept him fit and out of trouble (generally!) and he had committed many years to it and trains for competitions and so on.

DS2 is following in his footsteps and has been for about 2 years.
One kid asked to swap wheels to he could have a go, and fucked of with my sons (much better) wheels.
DS2 was gutted.

He came home and my son realise they are his wheels from his stolen scooter.

Here's this issue.

DS1 wants his wheels back. Despite me buying him a brand new scooter.
His argument is - they are his wheels. He wants them back.

DS2 says they aren't his wheels, his were stolen and without them he has none.

To stop the arguments, I bought DS2 some new wheels and DS1 got his old ones back.

Now the argument has started again, they both claim the old wheels are theirs.

Who is correct?!

I can't just chuck the wheels because wheels wear out quickly and they will be needed when the new pair wear out.

OP posts:
Damia · 09/01/2022 21:41

Sounds to me like arguing for the sake of it. Whoever needs new wheels next gets the spare, and the one after that gets really nice new ones much better than the spares, so give incentive for both to not want spares as long as possible!

Just curious, can you get insurance for these things if there is a lot of this kind of thing happening? Or is it not worth it?

SalmonEile · 09/01/2022 21:41

Well that brings me back to why did DS1 think it was ok to leave DS2 with absolutely no way of scooting at all before you bought more wheels? Can you really not see how unfair of DS1 that was?

Both boys were victims of horrible thefts here, both were bought more wheels/scooter,
The only solution is as I suggest sell them (or make which ever boy needs them first pay a contribution as they would normally save and pay) and help out the next boy with his next set a bit and then draw a line under it.

Original poster
100daysandBeyond · 09/01/2022 21:44

@SalmonEile

Well that brings me back to why did DS1 think it was ok to leave DS2 with absolutely no way of scooting at all before you bought more wheels? Can you really not see how unfair of DS1 that was?

Both boys were victims of horrible thefts here, both were bought more wheels/scooter,
The only solution is as I suggest sell them (or make which ever boy needs them first pay a contribution as they would normally save and pay) and help out the next boy with his next set a bit and then draw a line under it.

I agree with your first line entirely! That's exactly what I had said in fact.

I unfortunately, hadn't thought about telling DS1 to give DS2 his new wheels, I wish it had occurred to me.
But my solution was to buy DS2 new wheels.
And that fixed things for a while. Until now.

And I like your suggestion of a contribution to the wheels!

OP posts:
Original poster
100daysandBeyond · 09/01/2022 21:46

@Damia

Sounds to me like arguing for the sake of it. Whoever needs new wheels next gets the spare, and the one after that gets really nice new ones much better than the spares, so give incentive for both to not want spares as long as possible!

Just curious, can you get insurance for these things if there is a lot of this kind of thing happening? Or is it not worth it?

I looked into insurance for bloody weeks, and every time I typed "scooter" into the search engine it came up with a motorbike scooter.

Then I called an insurance company who said "well, it's not quite that simple unfortunately..."
And went on a waffle about how it was actually impossible.
I didn't call another insurance company after that.

OP posts:
SalmonEile · 09/01/2022 21:48

I’m sorry for what happened to them both by way, there some real jerks out there , I hope the continue to scoot for many years to come

Original poster
100daysandBeyond · 09/01/2022 21:51

@SalmonEile

I’m sorry for what happened to them both by way, there some real jerks out there , I hope the continue to scoot for many years to come
Me too! Thank you.
OP posts:
oviraptor21 · 09/01/2022 21:52

So let me get this straight - the old wheels are currently not on either scooter because DS1 has a complete new scooter and DS2 has a new set of wheels.
So is the issue that DS2 thinks that when his wheels wear out he will have to buy a new set whereas DS1 won't because he has the old ones spare? If that's the case then surely the solution is to buy DS2 (yet another) spare set of wheels.
And then go back to them funding it themselves or however it was funded in the past.

parietal · 09/01/2022 21:56

can you get them an GoPro (or similar cheaper version) to film their tricks which will also have the advantage of catching any thieves on camera?

Agapornis · 09/01/2022 21:57

Can it be covered under your contents insurance? See it as mugging, rather than insuring a vehicle - think your insurance would call it property stolen outside the home. I paid a little extra to cover my bicycle.

TragoCardboardCopper · 09/01/2022 22:06

Can't they be covered in your house insurance? Like a push bike?

Dogshark · 09/01/2022 22:14

I think that some on here don’t understand what “borrowing” means in this context. It is threats, either explicit or implicit, that will increase if not complex with. It is actually robbery. A youth isn’t being foolish by complying, they are a victim of robbery.

Did ds2 get a cheap deal because he knew/suspected he was buying stolen parts? If so, I’d say he has to hand the wheels over. If both are innocent parties I think you have to manage it somehow so neither lose out more. I don’t know enough about scooters to know how this could work.

Rightshoardingsaurus · 09/01/2022 22:18

OP, with your attitude, no wonder your kids are squabbling too.

Datsandcogs · 09/01/2022 22:26

DS1 has his wheels, he should be grateful that you replaced them.

DS2 keeps what he has, unless he can get his back or he wants to swap with DS1

Original poster
100daysandBeyond · 09/01/2022 22:31

@Rightshoardingsaurus

OP, with your attitude, no wonder your kids are squabbling too.
Awwwww thank you. 🥰
OP posts:
Original poster
100daysandBeyond · 09/01/2022 22:32

@Dogshark

I think that some on here don’t understand what “borrowing” means in this context. It is threats, either explicit or implicit, that will increase if not complex with. It is actually robbery. A youth isn’t being foolish by complying, they are a victim of robbery.

Did ds2 get a cheap deal because he knew/suspected he was buying stolen parts? If so, I’d say he has to hand the wheels over. If both are innocent parties I think you have to manage it somehow so neither lose out more. I don’t know enough about scooters to know how this could work.

DS2 is 10, he wasn't getting any deal.

He was asked to swap wheels under duress by someone who was 15 and he didn't know.

Then the kids just left. Because they were better wheels.
The kid knew exactly what he was doing.

OP posts:
CouncilHousedAndViolentBaby · 09/01/2022 22:38

@Rightshoardingsaurus

OP, with your attitude, no wonder your kids are squabbling too.
OP has said nothing wrong??
SavoyCabbage · 09/01/2022 22:50

I don't know why you are getting a load of grief for supporting your sons in a hobby they enjoy. Confused it's exactly the sort of thing parents should be encouraging their dc to get involved with.

And why should they give it up because they have been robbed? That's so ridiculous.

Burgled? Sell your house and live on the streets.
Run over by a bus? Stay at home. Give up work and have your shopping delivered.

3luckystars · 09/01/2022 22:54

Give them one wheel each.

Original poster
100daysandBeyond · 09/01/2022 23:01

@3luckystars

Give them one wheel each.
I know you're probably being daft, but that's actually a really bloody good idea!!

It's the back wheel that wears out quickest, so one each might well be the compromise!

I think you may have won battle for me!!

OP posts:
SavoyCabbage · 09/01/2022 23:03

Good old King Solomon does it again. Grin

Justajot · 09/01/2022 23:05

Your 10 year old does need adult supervision at the skate park, as a minimum.

JugglingJanuary · 09/01/2022 23:09

My heads banging now...I'd tell them both to shut up about it or there will be NO more wheels for either of them. Deal with it when wheels need replacing.

House insurance additional cover is your friend here.

Bagamoyo1 · 09/01/2022 23:09

Jesus where do you live? It sounds awful.
I’m too tired to try and figure out the wheel situation, but I think if crime is so rife where you are, then you’re just going to have to go with the kids when they go to the skate park.

JugglingJanuary · 09/01/2022 23:10

Depending on excess of course.

Be glad they're not riding skateboards! Some of the 13 year olds in the Olympic were on £50,000 boards & long before they were selected. 😩😩😩

Original poster
100daysandBeyond · 09/01/2022 23:11

@Bagamoyo1

Jesus where do you live? It sounds awful. I’m too tired to try and figure out the wheel situation, but I think if crime is so rife where you are, then you’re just going to have to go with the kids when they go to the skate park.
Rife 😂
OP posts:
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