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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:
Thisismynamenow · 15/04/2022 13:33

You're totally being unreasonable, you broke a £70 item and walked away. You should of come in an appropriate vehicle with sufficient people to carry it.

BoredZelda · 15/04/2022 13:34
oakleaffy · 15/04/2022 13:42

That hutch sounds shoddy as heck.
It should be screwed, not nailed but depending on the size, needs two people to LIFT the thing, one each end.

If a nail just pulled out, it is easily fixable, but if the timber snapped {Say if it's rotten} it is different.

You shouldn't really have tried to have dragged it, as unlikely to have had ''Stretchers'' to reinforce the legs, if only nailed together.

KosherDill · 15/04/2022 13:43

@Toocooltoboogie

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.
Agree.

I've sold heavy items and always warn buyers multiple times that I'm unable to lift & they must bring help.

She's unreasonable.

oakleaffy · 15/04/2022 13:44

Edit..It is buyer's responsibility to check dimensions and have suitable people/vehicle.
YABU.

KosherDill · 15/04/2022 13:45

@JennyJumpup

She's trying it on.Particularly as she refused your offer to fix the very small amount of damage! Don't pay for it!

Exactly.

And her ad should have specified that moving it is a two-person job.

zingally · 15/04/2022 13:56

YANBU. That being said, I wouldn't have just walked away, having caused some damage. I would have said I'll pop back tomorrow with someone to help lift it, and with a hammer/screwdriver.

YABU to have walked away with no solution.

TheGlitterati · 15/04/2022 13:56

To be honest, rabbits shouldn’t be in hutches anyway.

Longingforatikihut · 15/04/2022 13:56

Is wondering what was going to go in the hutch as they're not considered suitable accommodation for most animals by modern welfare standards.

KosherDill · 15/04/2022 14:00

@Longingforatikihut

Is wondering what was going to go in the hutch as they're not considered suitable accommodation for most animals by modern welfare standards.
This is a good point.
Original poster
picolata · 15/04/2022 14:05

Ok got the message.

For those concerned about animal welfare, it is for a single Guinea pig who has had to be separated from his cage mate. He is in a hutch at night and large run with hide during the day.

OP posts:
HaudYerWheeshtYaWeeBellend · 15/04/2022 14:08

You broke it… I think you should have paid

No, she didn’t break it, she moved it and it fell apart, hutches are supposed to be sturdy and safe for the animals, this was neither.

She was a chancer.

MrsLargeEmbodied · 15/04/2022 14:11

can you get help to collect it op?

WeBuiltCisCityOnSexistRoles · 15/04/2022 14:17

Are you going to back with someone to fix it and buy it @picolata? Good on you for taking it all on board, people assumed it was for a rabbit though, because you referred to it as a "rabbit hutch"...

I still think, even for a single GP, you should get a hutch large enough that it needs two people to get it!

girlmom21 · 15/04/2022 14:17

@HaudYerWheeshtYaWeeBellend

*You broke it… I think you should have paid*

No, she didn’t break it, she moved it and it fell apart, hutches are supposed to be sturdy and safe for the animals, this was neither.

She was a chancer.

It fell apart when she dragged it along the floor.

If two people had lifted it the weight would be balanced and there's have been nl friction

CecilyP · 15/04/2022 14:34

But anyone buying a rabbit hutch should know it should be big enough that two people are required. Otherwise they are going to be a shit irresponsible pet owner.

True, but OP didn’t know the seller would not be able to help as she wasn’t told. She asked dimensions and the seller didn’t know. She was hardly likely to ask the seller would be unable to help because she was pregnant! The seller could have said, ‘I don’t know the exact size but it’s big and heavy, it’ll take two people and I won’t be able to help.’ As OP said in her OP, she would have taken someone else if she had known. Probably shouldn’t have attempted to drag it but I don’t think she should pay anything. I certainly wouldn’t go back. This seller sounds hopeless; no tape measure, no ruler, no screwdriver, probably no hammer and very poor communication skills!

Original poster
picolata · 15/04/2022 14:36

I think there is also some confusion, by the people saying I broke it and left. The nail that popped was just one of the ones that holds the back panel in place. It can just be knocked back in.
The legs are not broken, all screws etc still in tact.

OP posts:
Original poster
picolata · 15/04/2022 14:37

I'm leaving the chat now, thanks for all the suggestions

OP posts:
1forAll74 · 15/04/2022 15:02

I would have told her, that due to the hutch being quite heavy and whatever, that I would ask her to hang fire, and gone and asked my neighbour, who has a van, to come and collect it later..You can usually find someone with a larger vehicle to help you out.

girlmom21 · 15/04/2022 15:31

@picolata

I think there is also some confusion, by the people saying I broke it and left. The nail that popped was just one of the ones that holds the back panel in place. It can just be knocked back in. The legs are not broken, all screws etc still in tact.
You said earlier it needs to be nailed back together. You still broke it and left, regardless of whether it was minor or major damage.
Newnamefor2022 · 15/04/2022 15:37

You broke it. You should repair it or pay for it.

lemongreentea · 15/04/2022 15:53

At the very minimum you should go back and repair it. You have caused damage to something that doesnt belong to you and walked away.

5128gap · 15/04/2022 16:14

@TheArtfulBlogger

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

Well yes. if she had circled back and touched base with you, you could have said "basically, like, I'm sorry not sorry but let's power through this situ, and like brain storm a solution" .

😂
Illwithdisappointment · 15/04/2022 16:54

I personally think the seller should haveade it clear it would need two people to carry it and that the OP would need to bring someone because she (the seller) is unable to help.
If I sell something and it's big/heavy I will always make this clear and state that 2 people need to lift the item (unless I know myself or partner can help).

The seller sounds rude.

CapMarvel · 15/04/2022 16:58

@Illwithdisappointment

I personally think the seller should haveade it clear it would need two people to carry it and that the OP would need to bring someone because she (the seller) is unable to help. If I sell something and it's big/heavy I will always make this clear and state that 2 people need to lift the item (unless I know myself or partner can help).

The seller sounds rude.

Nah, you have no idea whether the person selling something is able to help you lift it into a car. To assume that is a bit of a dick move.

Presumably the OP saw a picture of it and was able to determine whether help was required as well. What OP should have done is return with help rather than damaging it and running away.

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