DEAR HARRIETTE: I lent my friend an older laptop charger that I have because hers was broken and she needed it for work. When she gave it back to me, it did not work. I mentioned this to her, and she said she noticed it was older so it would probably break soon. She had this charger for 5 days, and gave it back to me broken!
I told my friend that she should pay for a new charger; they cost $80, and mine worked when I gave it to her. She told me the most she would do is a third of the price. Should I take the deal? I can't believe a "friend" would get so aggressive about money like this. -- You Break It, You Buy It, Denver
DEAR YOU BREAK IT, YOU BUY IT: Ask your friend if your old charger worked a third of the way to helping her complete her work, or if she was actually able to use her computer. That might get her to thinking rationally. Tell your friend you will be happy if she can find a used one that works that she could buy for her suggested price. Essentially, you expect her to replace your charger with one that works. Tell her that you are shocked at her attitude. When you rescued her with your charger, she happily took it. That she returned it to you broken -- without saying anything -- is unconscionable.