Classic: Fool me, you can't get fooled again.

mrsconn23 · April 2023

Last year, I lent my brother an expensive piece of photography equipment. After a few months, his wife sold it on eBay; I didn’t find out about it until I asked for it back for a project. He apologized and said it was an accident (she thought the equipment was his). He offered to buy a replacement, but I said there was no need. Fast forward a year later, my brother asked me to borrow another piece of equipment…

climbingsingle · April 2023

I mean, clearly lending him MORE equipment was a huge mistake. Why does he think its OK to sell LW's stuff on Ebay? It's so weird to me. Who does that??

short+sassy · April 2023

People can really suck and it's even sadder when it's family. This is no brainer advice for me. If I didn't want the second piece of equipment anymore, I might make him an offer like he can have 30% of what it was sold for to pay for his time/inconvenience of selling it.

But if he doesn't agree to that or if I still want the equipment, I'd tell him in no uncertain terms that it needs to be returned to me. The OP also should have taken the brother up on his previous offer to pay for the equipment that was "accidentally" sold on Ebay. I also never would have given him another piece of equipment to borrow after those shenanigans.

mrsconn23 · April 2023

There is so much to WTF here. It's LW's property and brother clearly knows it's being lent to him, not transferred to his ownership. Then the brother complains to their mom that LW isn't letting him keep the borrowed property, sell it, and pocket the money. And the GF being all, "Oh just let him"?! Either it's not as cut and dried as the LW is stating or they're surrounded by crazy people. It's just such an odd reaction from everyone involved.

VarunaTT · April 2023

Oh hell no, LW. This is not acceptable behavior. Get your stuff back and never lend to him again. Mom can stuff it.

charlotte989875 · April 2023

I want an update letter because I’m betting the brother or wife had already listed it when he texted asking if it was okay.

banana468 · April 2023

I also want an update. Sounds like the brother is an AH and is either hitting $ problems, living beyond means or just an entitled jerk. But LW shouldn't loan him anything again.