So, you have a friend that is moving across the country to Berkely / San Fran from Atl. He is leaving for 3-6 months and then coming back for the rest of his stuff so he can then sell his condo. While he is gone for the 3 months he hopes to rent out his condo. He asked you to help him organize and pack his things so that he can take what he will need for the three months in the car out there with him and not leave anything out in the condo he wouldnt mind someone he doesnt know seeing. He offered to pay you and you said that was not necessary. Yesterday, you spent 4 hours helping him and while you and he were going through things he gave you some gift certificates to local restaurants and a really cool jog friendly MP3 player that just sticks in your ear. The MP3 player he got at the Grammy's and had not been opened. (He is not famous but he somehow got into the Grammy's and got a gift bag).
So, you get home and decide to use one of the gift cards for some take out since you really havent eaten all day. You order, go to pay, and the gift card has expired. When you get home you check the other gift cards and they have all expired. You cant get the MP3 thing to work on your MAC (but you havent really read the directions yet).
You dont hang out with this guy ALL that much but you like him enough to help him out. However, now, he has asked you for two more days of organizing and packing help. You just started a new job but you want to help him so you offered to do so at night and during the weekend.
Question: Do you even mention any of these things dont work?
I would gladly help him for free and that was my intention. I think that if you help someone you should do so for fun or for free. Otherwise, just dont do it. That being said, I feel like I want to tell him these things dont work. When he gave them to me he said that he felt better knowing I had been paid somehow. So, I think he might try to pay me in another way. Im leaning towards not mentioning it at all. What would you do? Oh, and Im sure the mp3 player will eventually work. I just need to spend some time with it.
I would in a joke manner say, hey why did you give me expired gift cards? You know I would have helped you anyways right? Well, now you owe me a favor.
I would mention it but don't make it a judgement session. Water off a ducks back.
Definitely mention it in the razzing fashion that Bider suggested! Obviously you are close enough to this guy that he asked for your help and you were willing to give it. I would broach it like any guy to a guy would:
like:
"Hey douche! Thanks for the ALL EXPIRED gift cards!" smile, punch him. Not because I would want any compensation, I would just want to tease him about it.
I agree with Bider and Anny. You'd want to know if the roles were reversed right? Just keep it light.
And what the what with gift cards expiring. That's just ridiculous. I would call up the companies and make a stink about it. How do they justify getting free money.
Well, the cards were probably like a year old. Small print on the card states that they expire after a year. We were cleaning out bowls (like where you keep keys and empty the stuff in your pockets when you get home) and they were hanging out in there. Sux too because they were to some pretty decent places around here. I ended up spending $20 last night on take out. I would never have done that otherwise.
Thanks for the advice. I might say something like "when did you get those cards? 1992?"
This message has been edited by CLeaC on May 2, 2012 10:07 PM
I just totally think it's crazy that cards are allowed to expire. I know here they are not allowed to have expiry dates. I'm not suggesting those companies are breaking a law, I'm just surprised.
I know one of the cards had $50 on it because that is what was written on the paper wrapper. It does seem like the restaurant is stealing. Im glad I wasn't the one to give a $50 gift card only to have it sit in a bowl and become obsolete.
Caps, The fist comment is funny but I dont understand your second comment. Please splain.
This message has been edited by CLeaC on May 2, 2012 10:34 PM
