Post by High Priestess on Mar 1, 2016 5:50:26 GMT
Carmen and Jim shared on New HOsts Forum Feb 29 2016 Leap Year Day!
www.airbnb.com/groups/content/content-211328
A request that is simple but bugs me on a moral level.
My current guest asked if I had a extention cord and I replied I had a short multi plug one and what would they need length wise.
Turns out they need something that is long enough to reach the car outside their window because they have a ding on their rental car and they want to pull it out with a hair dryer.
I have a 15 footer cord plus the short multiplug plug my week hair dryer cord to make it to any spot on the car.
What I am having a problem with is this guest trying to dodge a bullet with the car rental company and asking me to be a part of it. I am in a gut wrench about this and feel used in a plan to hide a damage.
I have no idea what to do at this point, because it bothers me a lot and at the same time if I didn't know the reason for the cord I would be fine with providing such a item.
How would you handle it?
4 comments
Following
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Carmen and Jim
Carmen and Jim6 hours ago
btw these folks are new and wanted a really early check in which lucky for them I had the previous guest check out the previous day so it was easy.
Deborah
]
Deborah6 hours ago
I dont' know the trick of pulling out a car dent with a hair dryer, but if these folks do, I say go for it. Did the guest not have insurance on the car? Last time I rented a car I paid $14 extra in insurance per day which meant that even if I totalled the car while renting it, I would be home free as my daily insurance would cover all damage up to total loss of the car.
I guess I'm not seeing it the way you may be viewing it, regarding the moral issue -- my take (from the car rental service's perspective) would be that regardless what happened to the car, if the car is returned without damage, then all is fine from car rental service's perspective. They needn't know if the renter paid $2000 to fix a dent , or removed a dent with a hair dryer -- as long as they are satisfied with the condition of the car on return that is all they should be focused on.
But if you think they are just trying to hide the damage to avoid being responsible for it, and you dont' want to be part of it, you could say you have no long cord.....
Queenie & Ted
Queenie & Ted6 hours ago
I would tell them that I couldn't be party to hiding damage to a rental car and not provide them the extension cords. If they really want to try to 'fix it', they can go out and buy the extension cords (must be cheaper than the damage report, right?) and fix it somewhere else. In addition to not wanting to be part of a coverup, what happens if they make the dent worse? Is that now your fault? Tell them no and keep your own conscience clear.
Andrew
If the guest had mowed down a pedestrian with his rental car, and asked you for a shovel to hide the body, you'd have good reason to withhold your services.
But denting your rental car is not a crime. Either the guest's plan will be successful - and no harm will have been done to anyone - or it will fail, and he'll still be on the hook for damage. Either way, lending him an extension cord would not make you a responsible party here.
Of course, you're never under any obligation to lend any of your own tools to guests just because they ask. But one thing I would not recommend doing is expressing your moral disapproval to the guest.
Reply Liked 3 replies•4 likes
C C
C C4 hours ago
That answer is a downright work of art, Andrew.
Donna
Donna3 hours ago
Yep, another work of art, Andrew.
Deborah
Yes, as usual Andrew's perspicacity shines through here! I think the last line is helpful to keep in mind -- about not expressing moral disapproval -- for me I would be confused enough about what they were trying to do to a car with a hair dryer that there would be more curiosity than morality by far.
Deborah
www.airbnb.com/groups/content/content-211328
A request that is simple but bugs me on a moral level.
My current guest asked if I had a extention cord and I replied I had a short multi plug one and what would they need length wise.
Turns out they need something that is long enough to reach the car outside their window because they have a ding on their rental car and they want to pull it out with a hair dryer.
I have a 15 footer cord plus the short multiplug plug my week hair dryer cord to make it to any spot on the car.
What I am having a problem with is this guest trying to dodge a bullet with the car rental company and asking me to be a part of it. I am in a gut wrench about this and feel used in a plan to hide a damage.
I have no idea what to do at this point, because it bothers me a lot and at the same time if I didn't know the reason for the cord I would be fine with providing such a item.
How would you handle it?
4 comments
Following
Like
Carmen and Jim
Carmen and Jim6 hours ago
btw these folks are new and wanted a really early check in which lucky for them I had the previous guest check out the previous day so it was easy.
Deborah
]
Deborah6 hours ago
I dont' know the trick of pulling out a car dent with a hair dryer, but if these folks do, I say go for it. Did the guest not have insurance on the car? Last time I rented a car I paid $14 extra in insurance per day which meant that even if I totalled the car while renting it, I would be home free as my daily insurance would cover all damage up to total loss of the car.
I guess I'm not seeing it the way you may be viewing it, regarding the moral issue -- my take (from the car rental service's perspective) would be that regardless what happened to the car, if the car is returned without damage, then all is fine from car rental service's perspective. They needn't know if the renter paid $2000 to fix a dent , or removed a dent with a hair dryer -- as long as they are satisfied with the condition of the car on return that is all they should be focused on.
But if you think they are just trying to hide the damage to avoid being responsible for it, and you dont' want to be part of it, you could say you have no long cord.....
Queenie & Ted
Queenie & Ted6 hours ago
I would tell them that I couldn't be party to hiding damage to a rental car and not provide them the extension cords. If they really want to try to 'fix it', they can go out and buy the extension cords (must be cheaper than the damage report, right?) and fix it somewhere else. In addition to not wanting to be part of a coverup, what happens if they make the dent worse? Is that now your fault? Tell them no and keep your own conscience clear.
Andrew
If the guest had mowed down a pedestrian with his rental car, and asked you for a shovel to hide the body, you'd have good reason to withhold your services.
But denting your rental car is not a crime. Either the guest's plan will be successful - and no harm will have been done to anyone - or it will fail, and he'll still be on the hook for damage. Either way, lending him an extension cord would not make you a responsible party here.
Of course, you're never under any obligation to lend any of your own tools to guests just because they ask. But one thing I would not recommend doing is expressing your moral disapproval to the guest.
Reply Liked 3 replies•4 likes
C C
C C4 hours ago
That answer is a downright work of art, Andrew.
Donna
Donna3 hours ago
Yep, another work of art, Andrew.
Deborah
Yes, as usual Andrew's perspicacity shines through here! I think the last line is helpful to keep in mind -- about not expressing moral disapproval -- for me I would be confused enough about what they were trying to do to a car with a hair dryer that there would be more curiosity than morality by far.
Deborah
