Would you loan a stranger a ladder?

[atgcpaul]

To clarify, my wife called me at work saying an older woman who said she
was a neighbor needed to borrow a 6' ladder because her AC repair guy didn't
bring one.

My wife didn't recognize her and I told her to make up a story that my garage
is too messy to be going through to dig out the ladder--it is a little. My wife
is pregnant, the lady was old, and the AC guy could have been casing the
garage with all my stuff in it. What repairman doesn't bring a ladder with him?
What if the ladder broke? Am I liable?

It turns out the lady lives across the street from us. We actually met her the
year we moved in--4 years ago--but we haven't seen anyone from her family
since. I don't think I'd recognize her. We walk the dogs several times a day
so there is plenty of opportunity.

Anyway, I guess it's sad I don't know all my neighbors better. We have a
corner house so I only know 1 out of the 3 families on the corner. We're close
with the neighbors that are on either side of us on the corner, though. In our
baby class, the instructor even warned about alerting the neighborhood to the
birth of a baby because of the possibility of kidnapping. How said is that? No
balloons or wooden stork?

I don't even loan out tools to my good friends. Would you have loaned out your ladder?

[parnelli]

In our baby class, the instructor even warned about alerting the neighborhood to the birth of a baby because of the possibility of kidnapping. How said is that? No balloons or wooden stork

That's just silly. Too many people watching Law and Order.... Crime is down- we're just as safe as we ever were and yet everyone is paranoid that the other guy is certainly out to get them.

Let's say there really is a crazed baby-napper in the neighborhood trying to recreate the Lindbergh baby- the baby can't stay in the house forever. Sooner or later the crazy Lindbergh wanna be is going to see them, sign or not...

[Alex Franke]

I probably would have done what you did -- or maybe asked her to write down her phone number so I could call her back in a few minutes while I check to find out if it's okay.

That's just silly. Too many people watching Law and Order.... Crime is down- we're just as safe as we ever were and yet everyone is paranoid that the other guy is certainly out to get them.

This is where that concern comes from: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/...n2027910.shtml

[LinuxRandal]

If someones house was burning, yes. Years back, I loaned myself and the one "loaned" to me to a neighbor, whose two year old, shut the door when she went out to get the mail. (door was set to lock).(older neighbor gave me his and told me if he ever needed it, to bring it, otherwise keep it. His daughter was trying to sell/steal his stuff)

But in general, NO I wouldn't loan a ladder, and I would be (censored) sure of its condition. In today's litigious society, you are liable. Years back I climbed up 50 to 70 year old Wooden ladders (built when these houses were). I believe all of them have been cut up now. (dry rot)
If I know you well enough I trust you, I will loan you tools (you break it you replace it). It takes a while to develop that trust with me as I was abducted as a kid years ago. The first lesson my brain thinks to, even thought it wasn't the earliest, is never trust people (then addendum to that, that need no mentioning here). I even think this is partly why I got into woodworking, tools, etc. I am used to having to be self reliant.

[dbhost]

Generally speaking, unless you are a good friend of mine, or family, then no, I do NOT loan tools. Too many opportunities for liability law suits...

[knotley]

Having been asked by a neighbour I didn't know to loan him money for gas at 5:30 am in the morning, I would have thought loaning a ladder was another scam.
Perhaps they need a ladder to break into a home?

http://www.ehow.com/how_2273806_spot...avel-scam.html
http://www.snopes.com/fraud/distress/stranded.asp
http://www.crimes-of-persuasion.com/...reet_scams.htm

[cabinetman]

To clarify, my wife called me at work saying an older woman who said she
was a neighbor needed to borrow a 6' ladder because her AC repair guy didn't
bring one.

The neighbor should tell the AC guy to get his own ladder. I usually don't loan tools...especially to a stranger.
.

[Knottscott]

I guess it'd depend on several things, but I'd be highly suspicious of a repair guy who didn't have a ladder.

[BobSch]

I guess it'd depend on several things, but I'd be highly suspicious of a repair guy who didn't have a ladder.

That was my first thought—If a tradesman showed up without the tool he needed, send him back to the shop to get what he needs.

As far as liability is concerned, in this case you could have your neighbor, her insurance company, the A/C guy, his boss, their insurance and who knows how may other people lining up to empty your pockets. And it wouldn't even take a broken ladder, the guy could claim he hurt himself while using it.

[natausch]

Maybe I'm naieve, but the other "tool" guy and I take turns loaning stuff to the neighbors, they know if one of us doesn't have it the other one will. THis came about from two seperate instances after we had just bought our house.

First week we owned, still moving in my backyard neighbor came over and let us know the door had blown off our attic access. It's impossible to see it except from his kitchen. He lent me his multi-ladder and I was done in twenty minutes before the raid could start

Not too long after I got a bug in my rump to take out an overgrown bush, on the 4th of July (rainy day again). After sweating and straining with my hatchet, bowsaw, shovel and spade a neighbor on his way to a family function asked if I'd like to borrow his axe. He dropped it and was on his way. In turn I cleaned, sharpened, waxed and left it in his garage.

A stranger, no, but our neighborhood is pretty decent for using tools correctly, if a tool received in good condition is broken during use it has always been replaced by a comparable version. Then again, there are certain tools I don't lend, have a cheaper everyday use version for lending or will do the work myself if the person isn't capable of using it safely.

[Black wallnut]

There is no way I'd loan anything to a stranger however I may help one instead.

I find parnelli's take on this rather interesting seeing as he does not even list his location in his profile. For whatever reason........ just saying nothing else.....

[tommyt654]

Let the Ladder Loaning Paranoia begin

[jabe]

I wouldn't allow my wife to loan a stranger my ladder, especially when I'm not there. Like some others said I would be very suspicious of a tradesman who don't have the proper tools to do the job.
I do loan tools to neighbors & friends as nautausch mentioned. I've borrowed tools from my neighbor and returned it cleaned.

[herb fellows]

Hey, I live in NYC, I'm the one who's supposed to be paranoid here!
Seriously, I think you guys have been watching too much law and order or something.
It could well be the electrician was called to do a switch and something else came up while he was there that required a ladder. Happens all the time.
If I knew her, I would certainly lend her the ladder; If I didn't, and she claimed to be a neighbor, I would simply ask which house and lend it to her.
There's an old saying I always liked: if you lend somebody $20, whether they pay you back or not, it was a good investment.
While all the lawsuit scenarios may be possible, if you live your life that way, it's gonna kill ya!

[charliex]

The electricians in most places would arrive in a van with tools and supplies inside and several ladders on the top. My suspicion would be this was not an electrician. A handyman maybe, someone trying to earn a living doing whatever he could?
My requests for assistance are more like what happened Tuesday morning. A knock at the front door and a neighbor asking if I could install a battery in his van. An hour later,Job done, roast chicken, rice w/veggies and watermelon at his house next day. Life is good.