Aibu for responding this way?

[ForOliveShaker]

Currently I’ve been spending a lot of money and I decided I’ll be doing packed lunch for work for a while. Or I’d but something like crackers and meats to last the week. I ran out of time last night to faff around and left lunch at home so decided I’d nip to the shops quickly.

I usually politely offer anyone on my table hoping they’ll say no anyway unless they either often do me favours or give me the card to pay on. There’s one staff member who always, without fail asks me to get their stuff. She NEVER goes to the shops for any of us but always asks us to get their things. Also rarely pays me back. Or will offer but never gives me the money. They would often also task me with picking up other things for them like a new mug or medication while I’m at the shop. Again wouldn’t mind if this individual did something for me.

Today I just wasn’t in the mood I had a bad sleep and have some worries on my mind and purposefully tried to just slip out to the shop. I didn’t ask anyone if they wanted anything which was indication of please don’t ask me. So, as I’m putting my coat on
they said “oh are you going to the shop”
me “yes”
them “can you get me a sandwich”
me “which one”
them “only vegetarian”
me “ok”

I then headed for the door

Them “oh can you also get me a can of coke”
me “good grief is there anything else you need while I’m there. Jesus”

I then came back and put the receipt on their desk because there has been a few times they haven’t paid me for their food that I’ve gone out and got.

AIBU? Was I rude and unfair? It’s just costing me a lot of money to do these things and they just never give me anything back. Also I find it hard to say no.

My answer would have been no I’m not going the shop.

I dont think it was rude

This.

she is unfair to ask you to get shopping and not pay! From now on Id just say you only have cash for your own and she will need to pay upfront. And try and work out what she owes you and chase her for it.

Pre-empt the request:

"Yes, I'm going to the shop but I won't be able to pick anything up for you today, sorry."

No chance I would be funding someone else's lunches. If she asked for something I would jokingly laugh and say 'no, you never pay me back' and walk out the door.

No Sharon o won't buy anything until you have paid back everything you already owe

Very loud so the whole office heard

This is why I stopped offering long ago. Too much faff sorting the money but equally don’t want to be out of pocket either, nor do I want to waste my break looking for some obscure item I’ve never heard of in Tesco’s.

I once bought a colleague a coffee on the way into work as a treat because I’d buy self one every morning and they’d always say how nice it looked and how they’d like to try that specific type of coffee. They loved it and the next morning asked me to pick them one up again, this went on for the next 5 or so days and only once did they give me any money so I nipped that in the bud sharpish by ignoring the morning texts and they got the hint quickly.

The other one was when I was walking to the Tesco 15 minutes away and my colleague asked me to get him a 5 x multipack of 2L waters because he’d seen they were on offer. I did it for unknown reasons and swore never again - SO heavy.

No, they need to pay for the things they ask you to get. When they ask next I would just say no because you haven't paid for the last lot, you still owe me xxx

I don't think you were rude or unfair really but in future I wouldn't offer. If they want something they can go or they can ask you.

No not rude at all. I notice she didn't even say please. She is the rude one and a scrounger.

I would have just said no, sorry.

I've had a few CFs I've had to knock on the head over the years.

As an office junior one of the more senior staff would ask me to go out and get her a sandwich. She did pay but I usually worked through lunch as I was going to law college in the evening so I'd be losing at least half an hour flexitime to do her a favour. I think she realised it was cheeky as she never asked if my boss was around. After a while I just starting saying no sorry I'm not going out to lunch today.
I also had a boss who knew I carried stamps in my purse. He kept asking to "borrow" a stamp until eventually there were none. Next time he asked I said there aren't any left, you have used them all. He had the gall to look annoyed rather than embarrassed.

Someone else asked to borrow a fiver. I lent it. Next week he asked again. I pointed out that he still owed ME a fiver. He told me I was "petty" over such a small amount and stomped off. He didn't ask again though.

Well, stop usually asking and then expecting not particularly attuned colleagues to notice that as you haven't asked you want them not to ask you today?

If you do offer, say 'Payment upfront, Marjorie. I don't think you've ever repaid me a penny in all the times I've bought you lunch.'

What toomuchfaff said. And YANBU.

I would have said no not unless you have cash or give me your card. Nobody can afford to be paying for someone else’s lunch. Freeloader!!

The only way in which you were being unreasonable was not to just say no in the first place!

Ah “petty” - the cry of the unmasked CFs everywhere

Just put your hand out and ask card or cash?

I’d have replied with ‘yes if you’re planning on paying me this time’ 😂
You’re being taken advantage of - just next time say you have an appointment. Or they didn’t have any veggie options out. She’ll take the hint.

Answer …. You still owe me from last time do afraid I can’t get you anything.

So, what did you do?

Either say no I'm just shopping for myself or sure I'll need to get the money from you now.

When she asks if you’ll get her a sandwich say “yes, when you’ve paid me for the last one.” And stand there waiting. I just couldn’t accept this - how can people afford to just bankroll cheeky fucker randoms they work with?