Friend borrows $1200 MacBook, loses it and offers the owner $100 in compensation: 'They acted like I was being greedy and should just let it go'

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Brad Dickson • Managing Editor
May 12, 2025 12:00 PM EDT

They say you shouldn't lend out any amount of money you can't afford to see back. The same is true for things and possessions. Let something go out of your grasp, even to close friends or family, and you'd better be prepared not to see it back. Still, that doesn't mean that people should be absolved of not returning your things and not be held accountable or compensate you for them if they ruin them or if things go missing. If they're not capable of doing 

While it's nice to be there for someone and to lend them something to save them buying it for themselves, doing so is a sign of the respect you have for them. And if they can't be respectful of you in return by taking care of your things and fairly compensating you for them if something happens, well, it's probably time to reconsider that relationship, and it's worth thinking about the fact that you're never going to want to lend them anything again.

When this person lent their friend their $1200 MacBook because their laptop had stopped working, they had expected that they would be receiving it back soon thereafter. But when their friend continually fobbed off returning the laptop with escalating excuses, they began to grow suspicious. When they finally cornered their friend, they learned the truth: the friend had lost their laptop, offering them a mere $100 in return.

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    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

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    "AITA for calling out my friend after they 'borrowed' my MacBook and basically never gave it back"

    A while ago, my friend asked if they could borrow my MacBook "for a few days" because their laptop stopped working and they had school stuff to do. They were a good friend so I trusted them and I agreed. Days passed, then Weeks. Every time I asked about it, they'd say they were still using it or would "get it back soon." Eventually, they admitted they lost. it while moving and casually handed me $100 as
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    "compensation". My MacBook was over $1,200 new. I told them that wasn't even close to fair, and they acted like I was being greedy and should just let it go since it was "used anyway." Now some mutual friends think I'm being petty and putting money over friendship. AITA for being angry and not accepting the $100 as enough?
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    OP has offered the following explanation for why they think they might be the a hole: I confronted my friend for never returning my MacBook and told them $100 wasn't fair compensation. This might make me the a hole because I got really upset and refused their offer, and now they and some mutual friends think I'm being materialistic and prioritizing money over our friendship.
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    mavenmim NTA. You didn't gift them the macbook, you loaned it. You didn't sell it, and if you were asked to sell it you wouldn't have accepted $100 for it. You are not being unreasonable. I'd look up the value of the same model on eBay and what you'd get for trade in and ask for that as the minimum, but I'd still be annoyed to lose my work and files and to be treated with such disrespect.
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    This isn't a friend. You don't know what happened to your macbook either (they may still have it, or have sold it). And your emails show that it was a loan if you ever needed to take legal action to get your money back, so they should be acting like a grown up, apologising and paying you a fair price for your loss.
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    Timely_Egg_6827 NTA I don't think they lost it. I suspect they stole it. Also even if used, insurance tends to pay out the replacement value. Also the pettiness of putting money first rests with the person who "lost" your Macbook. They borrowed something from you and lost you - they owe you a replacement.
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    Give them back the $100 and tell them to get you a replacement macbook as used ones are so cheap. I'd consider reporting to the police if you have a series of texts and emails asking for it back (and then admitting to still having it). Edit: do you know if they have an ebay seller account or checl the local shops? I'd also block the macbook if you can as if they did sell it, the person they sold it to is likely to bring it back and complain.
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    zealot_ratio 1. they didn't lose it. Can you brick a MacBook like you can a phone? If so, do so. 2. They're gaslighting you. 3. if they did this, made you pursue them, and then offered far less than it's worth even used, they chose not to be a friend. You have no moral requirement to be a better friend than they are. NTA
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    AdministrativeSun364 Tell them they have days to return say laptop to you or you will be reporting it to the cop/taking them to court for the full value of it. Once money and police are involved, people tone change.
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    devsfan1830 Lost it? They stole that sh. NTA and call the cops.
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