Originally Posted by
Closed Office
A question right back might help to keep everyone honest. "Do you want to borrow it temporarily, or permanently?"
Mostly that one is just for a chuckle with friends who are going to have it back in a few minutes, but I negleted asking that a few weeks ago, and I'm still waiting. Nothing dishonest, just a space cadet.
I'm very careful about returning things quickly and tend to think everyone else is like me. Turns out there is a lot of variety.
"Hey,that lool I loaned you? Turns out I need to use it -- can you bring it back TODAY? Thanks." Their inconvenience is not your problem at this point.
If there's hemming and hawing, tell them, "Huh, well I guess you owe me $[retail cost of the tool] next time we catch up -- thanks for leaving me hanging, brah."
Point being: no good deed goes unpunished. When others ask why you don't lend out tools anymore, be sure to name-drop the culprit.