I'll Get It For You

[cabinetman]

About a year ago I bought two like new large floor speakers at a garage sale for $40. Never got around to use them, and LOML says they gotta go. I've got a friendly (at the fence) relationship with the guy next door who does some hobby woodwork, so we've had some nice chats.

So I asked him if he would be interested in the speakers, and he said yes, as all he had were small bookshelf ones. So I carted them over for him to try out. About a week later, he said he wanted them and thought $40 was fair.

That was about six weeks ago. I only really see him on weekends and for about three separate times when I've asked about the money, he would say: "I'll get it for you". I would like to maintain some good feelings, and am getting tired of asking him. I don't have the personality to just let him get away with going back on his word. That's like he 'got one over on me'.

I'm at a sort of impasse as I'm running out of nice guy requests, but OTOH, would like to maintain peace. I need some suggestions.

.

[Mr__Bill]

I would just say "I know you said you would get it for me but, if you are having some money issues, whenever you have it will be fine." Now he may be embarrassed into opening his wallet for you, or he may have money issues and be thankful and/or he may put you off again, either way you come out as the bigger man.

The bonus is, you are rid of them, the wife is happy and when 40 bucks makes the wife happy it's a deal!

Bill
on the left coast

[LCHIEN]

He said 40 was fair, he never said he'd pay you. Knowing that he knows you wife wanted them gone, you may never see the money.

just take the smaller speakers in trade.

[cabinetman]

He said 40 was fair, he never said he's pay you. Knowing that he knows you wife wanted them gone, you may never see the money.

just take the smaller speakers in trade.

You aren't privy to the exact discourse. He agreed to pay the $40. He wasn't told of my wife's wishes, just that I wanted to sell them for $40. In the times he was asked for the money he was continually admitting he owed the money as he said..."I'll get it for you".

.

[LCHIEN]

so would you rather have the speakers back or the $40?

[cabinetman]

so would you rather have the speakers back or the $40?

We had a deal. I made an offer...he accepted. If for some reason he isn't a man of his word, I will accept the speakers back. The first time I asked him for the money I offered him that option. He reiterated that he wanted them and that he would pay for them.

.

[jbrain]

Yep, he owes you the $40.00. That would REALLY annoy me. But.......

If you have (had) a good relationship with him I might let this one slide. I wouldn't do any future transactions with him again. That is a tough situation to be in. Living next door complicates it.

[Kristofor]

So, once the deal is struck he needs to live up to it. I'd phrase it exactly that way, with the option of letting him back out of the sale if he wanted to (in the interest of not having bad neighborly relations)

That said, I probably wouldn't have been in that situation these days. For a neighbor and something I only valued at $40, I'd have probably said take them for free, or maybe drop off a case of beer, or let me use the rental lawn aerator for an hour free of charge when he rents it for half a day, or, or, or... My neighborhood is only ~10 years old, so most of the families living here are about the same age, with similar aged kids. There's a fair amount of give-and-take for driving kids to various activities, helping with the occasional heavy lifting, and the like. That's different from several places I've lived in the past where I may only know the names of a handful of neighbors...

[herb fellows]

I don't think I'm following you. He said 'I'll get it for you' and walked away and didn't come back? Or he said it as 'in the near future'?

If the former, I would state loud and clear 'ok, I'll wait here for you to get the money.'
If the latter, I would tell him 'I'm sure it just slipped your mind, but do you have the $40 you owe me for the speakers.?
This requires a direct answer, so at least you'll know where you stand.

[eezlock]

I'll get it for you

Sounds like it is past time for him to pony up or just plain admit that he doesn't have the money! I have a "buddy" like that, took him forever to pay me the money he owed me....but after a few reminders he finally did pay up.
When he wants something now days, it takes me a little longer to agree to let
him have it. An older guy I once knew, years ago always said " cash makes no enemies, so let's stay friends."

[Shep]

Does the guy next door have a wife? I would try to get your wife to ask his wife if he left it for you while you were out. Might help getting the wife involved and make it sound like it must have slipped his mind.

Might work, might not.

[JimD]

I would write if off and if he does come through some day, it's a bonus. Holding a grudge only hurts you. I agree he's a bum, there might be a good reason but it seems at least as likely there is not. Some people are like that. You learned that lesson about him for something between $0 (the value of the speakers if your next best alternative was to throw them away) and $40 (figuring somebody else would have given you that much for them).

I wouldn't loan him anything and if I "sold" him anything in the future I would insist on cash before the material left my hands. He's proven to be untrustworthy. I would not talk to his wife or other people about it. That just asks for more trouble than $40 is worth. It's worthwhile to learn of this character flaw over the speakers instead of a car or something else of higher value. And there is a chance he will show up with the money and a good explanation at some future point and then he can go back on the "A" list.

I don't think you can teach him or make him demonstrate different character than he has. That is fundimentally why I would drop it.

Jim

[jnesmith]

Explain to him that you would like the speakers back; you want to donate them to worthy cause, and that you will be able to save some money on your taxes by doing it.

[conwaygolfer]

I agree with JimD. You hold a grudge against the neighbor (or anyone else for that matter) and they end up controlling you. Best to just let it go and hopefully one day he will come around. Besides, at this point he has to avoid you etc., and he is the one with the guilty feelings.
Just my 2 cents.

Conwaygolfer

[billwmeyer]

Tell him you need the money for pipe and gunpowder. Maybe he'll move.

Bill