For when people ask to borrow something?
 

Has anyone else considered asking for 'collateral' before loaning an item?

If someone wants to borrow a book, for example, ask for the replacement cost as a 'reminder' - and then when the item is returned, give the collateral back?

I think it might help some people 'remember' that an item is 'on loan' and NOT a 'gift'.

Thoughts?

I have not asked for collateral , but not a bad idea. Maybe a yard or two of their favorite fabric would be incentive to return the item.

It would depend on who was asking. A close relative I would just show up at their door to retrieve it.

I think twice before I loan something expensive these days. I loaned a good friend my gingher scissors. She was complaining about her carpal tunnel and that she had promised to make drapes for the church and her scissors were not up to the task. She returned them but they were permanently damaged. I don't know how she could damage them on drapery fabric when I had used them to make jean quilts with no problem.

A special Aunt of mine used to say "Don't ever loan something you can't do without and be grateful when it's returned." I have never sued anyone. But it is weird, whenever my kids damaged anything at someones house, we always paid for repairs or replacement. But, it seems whenever anyone kids did something at our house we would be lucky to get an apology. Go figure.

There are some people you can rely on and some you cannot. Alien Quilter, you are obviously in the reliable catergory. I cannot remember the last time I borrowed anything from anyone.

I loaned a book to a friend once and after many months it was not returned so I asked quite politely if she has finished with it could she please give it back when we next meet. Her reply was I had finished it and loaned it on the another friend - unknown to me. I was quite upset about it as the book was not hers to loan. If she had asked me that would have been a different matter. For the sake of peace etc I did not take it any further with her. But ........

A lesson from that day to this - never be a borrower nor lender.

I've had people ask to borrow and tell them it's out of commission or I just don't have one. I loaned an iron a long time ago and it actually came back dented (a big dent). I asked what happened and she said she dropped it on the way back to my house. Anything I've ever loaned out came back damaged. Just say no and some store may have it on sale. I don't like to borrow, I just get my own.

Peace my foot!!! I'd have told her to go get my book back! now. I too return things in good shape. even if I happen to work at some else's desk, I leave that desk the way I found it. everything in it's place as the main worker liked it. Wouldn't think of doing otherwise. Can you tell i'm old?

I learned my lessons from...my mother... I loan her books- then find them in a box marked *free* sitting by her door & find she is telling anyone who stops by to look through the box & see if they want anything; I loaned her a really nice word processor/typewriter...she *forgot* where it came from & put it at the bottom of her driveway with a *free* sign (cost me $189 and I used it on occasion) when I asked for it back she felt bad...found a different one for $25 on ebay & bought it for me- came without a power cord or ink...I loaned her a crystal punch set for an *important* get together- she gave it to my sister in law for her birthday...now, i'm the *selfish* one in the family & just say...no! if the request is something I think someone really *needs* I buy them their own & gift it to them...loans...nope- to aggravating!

[QUOTE=bearisgray;6160830]Has anyone else considered asking for 'collateral' before loaning an item?

I would not have thought of this in terms of quilting, but I required collateral of my 8th grade students who could never provide a pen, etc. for themselves. They always remembered their ring, wallet, etc. Until I started that policy, I failed to have many pencils, books, etc. returned. So - it might work for adults! Who knows???