Manners question
David Miller from Iowa
>How does one tactfully communicate to their friends NOT to buy used tools for me? Now don�t get me wrong, I like to receive free tools, I just don�t want my friends laying out cash for stuff when they are not qualified to know if they are getting any value.
Now, a number of my friends have generously picked up some very nice tools for me over the years, but they were usually things from their family that they knew I would appreciate or they paid so close to nothing that it was worth the gamble.
The problem started about 15 years ago, my ex bought me a bullnose plane she thought I�d like � got it from an antique store and paid about $100 for it. Unfortunately it was a #191 that had been busted in half and somebody made it into a chisel plane the likes of which we have seen on some recent ebay postings.
More recently, my well meaning SO gave me a plane she got at a flea market � a busted #220. I hope she didn�t overpay for it, but $1 would have been too much. I think I broke her from buying used, as she did come through with a choice item from the Lie Nielsen catalogue that I had circled and conspicuously left lying around.
The catalyst for today�s rant is a neighbor and friend who just came over and handed me a #3 that was rusted into a solid block. Said he picked it up at a garage sale this morning and if I would spot him the $20 he spent, he�d be glad to keep on the lookout for other bargains. I mentioned to him that we both have cell phones and maybe he should call me when he finds something he thinks I�d like. He was disappointed.
So, my friends in etiquette land, what would be the best way to let people know how not to do this?
