Borrowing Tools

[Hakeem]

Spotted a new salesman at the dealer I worked at digging through the drawers of my box looking for something. I said to him “can I help you?” in one of those tones that would make most people realize they have screwed up. He didn’t stop or even look up at me. He just got an attitude and told me he was getting a screwdriver. What happened next could be best described as an unpleasant education for the salesman and a sit down meeting in the service manager’s office for me. We got it all worked out but I’ll be damned if some slick Irish vacuum salesman thinks he can help himself to my ****. Nothing irritates me more than entitlement.

You handled it much better than I would have. Can’t believe you got reprimanded for it.

What would they say if you were to dig through the service managers desk looking for a marker?

 

[redwrench60]

You handled it much better than I would have. Can’t believe you got reprimanded for it.

What would they say if you were to dig through the service managers desk looking for a marker?

Believe me, I definitely got my point across. I didn’t get any real punishment, just a talking to. The service manager was on my side about it. He just can’t have techs and salesmen going at it in the shop. As it turned out, the guy thought the tools belonged to the shop. But still, who thinks everything in the world is just there for them to take.

 

[Skellyii]

When I was a kid, we all used to pass around each others tools. No problem, they were all **** tools because none of us had any money, and it was a small town and we saw each other all the time.

After I got my first real job, started buying good tools and bought my first house, one of my uncles pulled me aside and told me to keep my old **** tools as "loaners". HIs point was since I was a young guy moving into a new neighborhood, it would foster good relations with the neighbors to loan them a tool occasionally. Once I figured out who was reliable, I could let them have access to my better tools.

That worked well for a lot of years.

I'm in a new neighborhood now, no one here seems to do much that requires tools, so that's not an issue. My son, my fiancée and a long time friend have free rein to my tools. A couple of other guys used to, but sadly they've passed.

 

[rust in the eye]

I've been burned a few times by not getting things back of getting them back broken yet I remain a sucker.
Recently I've adopted a new policy; assume responsibilty for full value (try explaining to a non tool oriented person that a single wrench or socket of yours may carry an eye watering price tag offers some discouragement) AND bring it back as soon as you are done with it!

 

[Nobody-named-Olli]

I have tools I will loan. I have tools I will not loan.

I do not keep a second set of ”loaner tools”.

Kind regards,
Olli

 

[M635_Guy]

For my actual friends (or neighbors) the only reason I wouldn't lend a tool is a concern that they might hurt themselves with it, in which case I'll generally offer to help.

Most of my tools are locked up in the chest. That's as much to keep them organized as anything. I'll provide "the good stuff" if I'm around to make sure they get back where they're supposed to be. I have some duplicates, in which case I'll offer the one I'm least likely to be upset if something bad happens. I have a family set of tools in an easy place that doesn't need my permission to use/mess with, and I don't fuss about them getting put away since they aren't 'mine'.

I don't value my tools over my friends and family, though I'd probably be a little tougher on lending if my income depended on them. But Relationships>Stuff is my general attitude.

 

[bonneyman]

Spotted a new salesman at the dealer I worked at digging through the drawers of my box looking for something. I said to him “can I help you?” in one of those tones that would make most people realize they have screwed up. He didn’t stop or even look up at me. He just got an attitude and told me he was getting a screwdriver. What happened next could be best described as an unpleasant education for the salesman and a sit down meeting in the service manager’s office for me. We got it all worked out but I’ll be damned if some slick Irish vacuum salesman thinks he can help himself to my ****. Nothing irritates me more than entitlement.

Time to get some industrial strength mouse traps and hide them around the tool box. Loosing a finger while rifling thru my tools will teach stickey fingers real quick!

 

[Dakotadadv8]

Only to kids the tools will go to them eventually.

 

[GaryM909]

Now that I have retired I don’t have to lend tools to co workers but I will lend tools to friends who have borrowed and returned without me having to ask for them back. If my kids need to borrow tools they aren’t allowed to bring them back.

 

[Hannahranga]

If my kids need to borrow tools they aren’t allowed to bring them back.

That's a good way to do it. Tho oddly enough these days it's mostly my dad borrowing my tools. Mechanical ones atleast, he's got more house maintenance stuff

 

[Radio Flyer]

Isn’t this thread about loaning tools?