Prior to moving to the Midwest (from New England), I loaned several pieces of equipment to a friend, as he was trying to get more LF experience. (omega 45D/180mm Sironar-N, B&J 8x10 commercial/305 Caltar/165 Angulon/355 G-Claron, various 4x5 and 8x10 film holders, a pentax spotmeter, Gossen Ultra Pro, 2 or 3 Tripods, etc. With the understanding that they be returned once I was settled down. About 6 months after I moved here, I went back home and stopped by to see him, was told he was in the middle of a big, funded project and could he borrow them for a little while longer. I agreed. I've kept in touch with him off and on, and until recently wasn't the least bit uncomfortable with everything.
Now he's a VP of Sales and Marketing for a paper company, owns a B&B, etc. for the last year, He's not returned calls, and quite frankly, I'm sure that I'll never see the equipment again.
Now the Question, Do I send him a registered letter asking bluntly what his intentions are in regards to the return of my personal property, or just let it go and move on?
The hard part is when I bought everything, it was a struggle, over a 3 year period and I just resent the fact that I'm giving up 3 years of working extra jobs, living cheap, etc. (as it would be now to replace it) My first impulse is to get in the van and drive back home, get his ass out of bed if need be and get the stuff, but I suspect it's long been sold. Any suggestions?
I would send him a letter, explaining that you would like to have your equipment back, I would also include a list of equipment as you remember it, with the current cost factors included, just explain to him that you loaned this equipment in good faith and now that he has moved on, you need to get your property back, of course by including the cost factors and such in there, if he has sold your equipment, then you would expect him to pay the replacement costs for the equipment. Send it via registered mail with return receipt requested, that way you know he receives it, then proceed accordingly based on his response. I would not write the gear off, also in the initial contact, I would not make any threats or such..just a nice letter typed up to feel the waters of how difficult or easy it may be to get your equipment.
Hence the notion that no good deed will ever go unpunished.
Yes, I would confront the guy. What, after all, do you have to lose? If he is still a 'friend', he'll aplogize and return your stuff; if he isn't, then you can have at him and at least unload how you feel about his being a schmuck. If you do nothing, you lose your stuff, swallow your anger/irritation/hurt/whatever and have it churning inside you, which is unhealthy and totally unproductive.
Kick some ass....the worst thing that'll happen is you'll hurt your toe if you kick hard enough!
Funny thing too, Were it any of the numerous Snap On tools I have, I wouldn't have loaned them out in a second. Somehow, I have (used to) a trusting personality that believes people are basically honest, though the last several years would prove otherwise.
erie
Quote:
Originally Posted by Curt
Rule Number one; never loan tools.
Rule Number two; never loan photo equipment.
Norm from the New Yankee Workshop has a sign in his shop.
"I never loan tools; I don't want to lose my tools and I don't want to lose my friends."
Funny thing too, Were it any of the numerous Snap On tools I have, I wouldn't have loaned them out in a second. Somehow, I have (used to) a trusting personality that believes people are basically honest, though the last several years would prove otherwise.
erie
See with me, I would loan my tools before I would ever even let someone touch my camera gear, when my wife became interested in photography, I bought her a complete set up virtually identical to my set and she don't even go close to my gear! LOL But I consider my camera gear as my tools...
There's a legal term for that. It's called theft by conversion and you have good grounds for a law suit, if not possible criminal prosecution. Send a certified letter, return receipt requested, demanding immediate return of your property. Include an inventory list. My opinion is that it would be worth the 50 bucks or whatever to have an attorney write this, just for the impact of the professional letter head. Don't let him get away with this. I speak from experience, being Mr Nice Guy for too many years, and paying dearly. Until I woke up.
I did for a few years, did alot, and alot and alot....of tabletop work. Got burnt out and started helping a friend in his sign shop, ended up being the smartest thing I ever did.
A thorny decision 
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