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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I shouldn't have to pay for this right??

154 replies

picolata · 15/04/2022 09:25

Arranged to collect a second hand rabbit hutch on 4 legs. Had previously asked for dimensions but they hasn't given any.
When I arrived the lady said "I can't help you lift it as I'm pregnant." Fair enough (but would have been useful to know in advance as I would have asked someone to come with me but hey ho I didn't check either).
I said I'd give it a go and would see how heavy it was. Turns out very.. I tried to lift it but as it is big only 3 legs lifted off the floor. I pulled it towards me a couple of inches to see if it could be pulled towards the car. Turns out not and by pulling it and the leg not dragging with the hutch a nail popped out a bit. It is basically it is a very heavy hutch on 4 thin legs.
It was also going to be a tight squeeze in the car. I suggested a few things eg, if she has a screwdriver I could take the legs off and take them separately. She said she didn't.
I said unfortunately I'll have to leave it.
She said she wasn't happy about the damage I'd caused to the hutch. Given it is not brand new I'm not convinced that it wasn't already like that. Plus surely a hutch should withstand that kind of movement, it's not as though I moved it in a forceful way, just checked if it was movable. Am I being unreasonable to walk away in that instance?

OP posts:
Schmz · 15/04/2022 09:28

I think you had to walk away - what else could you do ??

Original poster
picolata · 15/04/2022 09:31

She wanted me to pay for it anyway as I'd damaged it...

OP posts:
Monsterjam · 15/04/2022 09:31

You broke it… I think you should have paid

Viviennemary · 15/04/2022 09:32

She should have told you in advance it needed two people to lift it and shd would be unable to help. Who doesn't have a screwdriver. Just walk away.

Finfintytint · 15/04/2022 09:32

If you managed to get it in the car then you could have fixed it on returning home. Or nipped home to get some tools.

switswooo · 15/04/2022 09:33

The onus is on you to ensure you are able to collect the item, that means being able to carry it and to fit it in your car.

You’ve behaved very badly in my opinion.

Whinge · 15/04/2022 09:35

@picolata

She wanted me to pay for it anyway as I'd damaged it...
Well she's not wrong, you did damage it. You say it wasn't forceful, but your actions caused the damage.

I think you should have paid.

TweetTweetMF · 15/04/2022 09:39

Who doesn't own a screw driver?! YANBU. She should of told you beforehand it was heavy and needed a extra person to help lift it.

Just ignore her. Chances are it was probably damaged anyway especially if it's been left outside.

EggBurger · 15/04/2022 09:39

I think you should pay for it. It's obvious you can't drag something heavy on one of its legs. If you need a hutch can't you pay for it and fix it?

Original poster
picolata · 15/04/2022 09:40

It's not broken though, a nail just popped out and needs hammering back in.

I would have taken it in that condition to knock back in myself if I could have got it in the car.

Had she been less confrontational I would have arranged to come back to get it another day with help / with a screwdriver etc but she didn't seem to be open to solutions.

OP posts:
Hwory · 15/04/2022 09:40

You should be able to move a hitch a few inches without it falling apart.

WildCoasts · 15/04/2022 09:41

It sounds like it's just a nail that needs banging back in? I'd have told her I'll leave it and come back later with someone to help lift it - and pay her for it on my return.

Original poster
picolata · 15/04/2022 09:49

If it was £10 or something it would be different but it was £70... happy to pay that for a well made sturdy second hand hutch but not to just leave for the damage of a nail popping up.

I think it all comes down to how things are said. If she had troubleshooted with me we could have come to a solution but that wasn't the vibe.

OP posts:
LetHimHaveIt · 15/04/2022 09:54

'If she had troubleshooted with me we could have come to a solution but that wasn't the vibe'

Hmm

Well, I was (mostly) on your side . . .

OhPullThemUpBrenda · 15/04/2022 09:57

Why can't you go back with someone, get it and pay the money? That would be a better solution

Lockheart · 15/04/2022 09:57

You should have left and come back later with someone else to help you carry it. You shouldn't have damaged it.

Toocooltoboogie · 15/04/2022 09:58

You asked for the dimensions. If it was me as a seller I'd have made sure you knew two people needed to lift it and would have been embarrassed it had broken so easily. I've come across so many cheeky people buying and selling. I don't think you were unreasonable to walk away.

Monsterjam · 15/04/2022 09:58

So she didn’t pass your attitude test so you won’t pay for the damage you caused Confused

BuanoKubiamVej · 15/04/2022 10:01

I don't think you should pay the asking price no. You were prepared to pay £70 on the assumption that it was sturdy enough to be movable because this is a basic assumption that is reasonable for any item that is for sale barring immobile "real estate" sales. You discovered that it is basically not movable - it must have been constructed in-situ and never moved before. It's therefore not worth what you were originally prepared to offer.

Given that you damaged it, I would suggest £10 as an appropriate compensation for the damage done and leave them to it finding another customer.

Sally090807 · 15/04/2022 10:02

So why aren’t you going back with someone to collect it if it’s just a “popped nail”

JimmyShoo · 15/04/2022 10:03

You should have asked about being able to move it by yourself beforehand.

You turned up at someone’s house, damaged their property and then walked away.

Mamamia7962 · 15/04/2022 10:04

This is why when I advertise something for sale I always state dimensions. Same when buying something, always check dimensions first.

Having said that you did damage the item by trying to drag it. Surely the sensible thing would have been to take a tape measure to make sure it could fit in the car first before trying to move it.

You are in the wrong and should have offered to screw the nail back in. I'm sure one of her neighbours would have let you borrow one.

Lalliella · 15/04/2022 10:04

You damaged it, you should pay. Go back with someone else so you can take it home, and fix it then. You’ve behaved badly imo.

fineappleglasgow · 15/04/2022 10:05

Sorry OP but I think YABU.

I would have been mortified in breaking something, and would have paid and gone back to collect with another person. You took the risk in trying to move it then it clearly needed two people, as you acknowledge yourself- and it broke.

Mamamia7962 · 15/04/2022 10:06

Borrow a screwdriver I mean.

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