stingy with flashlight

[NoFair]

I usually have a "you break it, you replace it" policy and it works great with my friends. Even let them borrow the Porsche:crackup:
I often have a couple of loaners for people who are going to be using them for longer periods of time.

I'm a bit more careful with lending out knives since a lot of people have very strange ideas on what is proper use of knives. ZDP is also a pita to resharpen to a polished edge if abused..

Sverre

 

[arpit]

My friends respect me and they respect my things. They treat my property better than I treat it myself.

If my friends need something, I make an effort to make sure that they get it. They, of course, do me the same courtesy.

Similarly, if my friends are in trouble, I help them. If this results in some collateral damage or wear and tear to my property, then so be it. They do the same for me.

That said, I don't come from the USA, like most of the posters here, and as such, I don't share the 'every man for himself' culture.

 

[TECENG]

The other day my co-worker asked me to borrow a flashlight, as he knows I always have a couple with me. I was not in my office (where my beater light is stored in my briefcase) so I reached in my pocket and handed him my Lummi Wee. He is a very trustworthy person.

As soon as I handed it to him, he walked around the corner and accidentally dropped it. Luckily, it was on carpet, not the shop floor.

I have since stored a beater light in my desk drawer and told him he could borrow it anytime he wanted.

 

[chew socks]

I find that when you loan someone a light, they see the switch and feel the need to play with it. Then I have to go over and put back in the right mode :sigh:. I only have one friend that understands how the UI's work (and who i have the patients to teach it to), and she understands if I hand it to her turned on, then that's the mode i want it on and she won't touch the switch to even turn it off.

Plus other people like shining it back in my eyes. :ohgeez:

Now I just ask where they want it shined, and shine it over where they want it so I don't have to hand over my light. :thumbsup:

 

[TonkinWarrior]

I tell them how much the light costs. Then I say "if you drop it you pay for it".

+10. Bingo!

Based on Lessons Learned The Hard Way, this also applies to "loaning" everything from fine automobiles/firearms/lawn-mowers to quality tools and tooth-brushes.

People who haven't yet learned that modern, high-value flashlights are very specialized ILLUMINATION TOOLS --or simply refuse to be taught so by us Flashaholic "nuts" -- don't deserve the benefits derived from using (and damaging) the fruits (lights) of our thorough research and personal inve$tment.

Our knee-jerk "Flashlight Welfare" by itself does little to help the Sheeple "see the light." Let 'em stumble in the dark -- and pay the price for their conditioned ignorance (i. e., feminized pop-culture driven, weapons-and-tools-averse Dumbing-Down). Only way they'll learn.

You can lead horses to water, but if they refuse to drink...

 

[TonkinWarrior]

At my age ( 55 years old ),

i no longer give a sh1t what people think of me. :p


:cool:
_

+1!

(and wait'll ya hit 60!)

 

[jzmtl]

+10. Bingo!

Based on Lessons Learned The Hard Way, this also applies to "loaning" everything from fine automobiles/firearms/lawn-mowers to quality tools and tooth-brushes.

You loan your toothbrushes? Eww.

 

[Long RunTime]

I could live with my SF G2LED being lent out as it only cost me 70 dollars. But if it was a light that cost 100+ dollars. No way! Not lending them out.

:thumbsup:+1

 

[xian13]

I haven't really had anyone ask for a light yet, but if they did they would get the Streamlight Microstream instead of the Nitecore Extreme. Kinda like me handing them a beater Kabar stockman instead of my Spyderco Native or Benchmade 530.

 

[HKJ]

If people want to borrow one of my lights for a short periode, they are usual welcome to it. It does not matter if it is a 5 year old that want to play with my Surefire L1 or somebody from work that want to borrow a light, they get it without any "be carefull" talk.
I am a bit more stingy when young children borrow my camera (A big SLR with good lenses) for a few pictures, they are welcome to it, but there are a few restriction (No running :grin2:).
I have never had any problem with either camera or flashlights, the problem is when people borrow things for some time, that may stretch to infinite:tsk:.

 

[TonkinWarrior]

You loan your toothbrushes? Eww.

Maybe once or twice, long ago... during my old wild-and-woolly bachelor days... for, umm, U.O.G.'s (Unexpected Overnight Guests).

However, being an erstwhile politically-correct (*cough*) person, I always recycled these tainted (but later sterilyzed) tooth-brushes for cleaning my dogs' ("Al" and "Gore") teeth.

 

[chewy78]

When I loan out an expensive and /or modified flash light to someone, I tell them how much it cost to replace. Then I tell them if they break it, they buy it .

 

[BabyDoc]

For me it depends on the situation. If the person is with you and you are aware of the situation, I don't mind. I also don't have any expensive customs though. An event that changed my thought on friends and tools:

A couple years ago I let a coworker use a knife. I was busy working, didn't have time to think about it and handed him a Benchmade folder clipped in my pocket. We were working in a mechanical room together all day. This guy is actually a very intelligent person....

A few seconds later I looked over towards him and noticed him prying a huge staple out of a cardboard container. I stopped him and grabbed my knife. There was a pretty large chip out of the edge towards the tip. After I told him what I thought of his brilliant act with my $120 knife he said: "why in the h3ll would you carry a $120 knife!?"

If it were a flashlight I handed him he may of used it as a hammer.

When a good friend asks to borrow any expensive tool, I always loan it to them, but I preface the loan with, "I know it doesn't look that expensive, but this light cost me $125, please take care of it." Most often, fearful of the responsibility involved, they tell me they they don't want to borrow it any more. If they do borrow it anyway, they do take better care of it. I would never just tell them they can't borrow it, no matter how uneasy I feel about it being out of my control. Accidents do happen. Most good lights are easily replaced, but good friends aren't.

 

[DucS2R]

I carry good knives, watches and flashlights. People are always asking to borrow a knife. I always ask them what they are going to do with it. You can't believe how many times it was to use it as a screwdriver! Mind you my knives cost more than my flashlights (Chris Reeve, Strider, Microtech).

Some people take care of things and some people abuse them without really understanding that they abuse things. My older son (21) is that way. If he borrows something (and he doesn't ask first) he never gives it back and if you recover it from him it is damaged. He doesn't mean it and it is not upbringing, his brother is as careful as I am with things and I have been tough with my older son about his bad habits. Supposedly it is ADD, but it is annoying.

I have learned to keep the things I care about locked up and to gift many flashlights and knives (gave a bunch of G2's and E01's at home and work this year as well as small Bark River knives).

Sometimes I think I am too materialistic, but I have things in perfect condition that I have had since I was a kid (and I am post 55) and I have friends (and a kid) who can destroy them in minutes.

T.

 

[besafe2]

I also will only loan a cheap one.

 

[carrot]

Flashlights are a tool people usually know how to use -- you know, you turn it on, you look at something, you turn it off and slip it into your pocket... so what I worry most is people losing it. If it is replaceable, I will lend it out, but I expect anyone who wishes to remain friends to replace it if it is lost. All my lights are beaters and if they don't bang up my lights I probably will at some point.

I recently got the perfect loaner light, a Pelican 3C 8020, which is bright yellow and should prove near impossible to lose. It is quite durable, dumb simple in operation, and has great runtime. I picked it up after someone lost my Fenix L2S in a forest. I figure a bright yellow flashlight will be easier to find next time.

Now knives... almost nobody has a clue how to treat blades properly so I just ask "what do you need to cut?"

I should get a bucket of Fauxtons and sell them.

 

[AA6TZ]

. . . You can't believe how many times it was to use it as a screwdriver! Mind you my knives cost more than my flashlights (Chris Reeve, Strider, Microtech).

Sometimes I think I am too materialistic, but I have things in perfect condition that I have had since I was a kid (and I am post 55) and I have friends (and a kid) who can destroy them in minutes.

T.

Hey T. -- You're not "being materialistic." You are simply taking diligent care and showing great respect for maintaining the operating condition and aesthetics of the tools you own. Ditto here - and I'd bet with virtually all CPF'ers, as well.

Just THINKING about some yokel borrowing one's prized Strider or W.Henry and using them as prybars or screwdrivers bugs me to no end!!! :crazy: :hairpull: The same holds true for our flashlights. The ol' "I'm sorry" apologetic afterthought hasn't resurrected any of my damaged-beyond-repair tools.

No one ought to feel "stingy" or suffer any feelings of guilt/remorse when denying someone from borrowing their prized tools if there's even the slightest chance in H*LL that some form of abuse might ensue.

My $0.02.

-Clive

 

[lightplay22]

I'll usually loan a stranger my strion but not my HDS or A2. Most of the time they return it out of focus (used to the mini-mag) and comment about how good it worked and ask how much one costs.

I get asked on jobsites from time to time "hey, you got a screwdriver I can borrow?", and I always ask, "what are you going to use it for?" and if they say they need to tighten or loosen a screw, then I'll let them use it but, the answer is NO if they need it for punch, prybar, or chisel duty.

 

[carrot]

For what it's worth don't lend me your Strider because I might be tempted to break cinder blocks with it.

 

[OCDGearhead]

I wouldn't have problem lending one out, but I have no neighbors.

I like getting friends interested in the hobby & how to appreciate what the different lights will do. It's fun to watch their eyes light up when they turn on the light and get something they had not expected.

Be kinda weird if somebody came over about borrowing a light & became pissy about it though. Real weird:thinking:. I give quite a few away, but not the hard to find stuff I'm attached too.

Kind of a funny thread, the different perspectives remind me how odd it is to be part of an internet "hobby" community.

Good reading:popcorn:.