MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
Had a couple over for lunch and one of them was looking at my hifi, she got a little too close and broke the stylus off my cartridge. I'm not insured for this and a new one is £500.
Accidents happen but 500 notes, what do I do? She was mortified and has offered to replace but I'm not going to ask her for 500 as that's a fair whack for anyone to find.
Maybe her insurance? Personal liability might cover it
a £500 stylus is a bit OTT is it not?
*insert hindsight based comment here*
nice deck
Dont know but I feel your pain.
Tell her how much it is I guess and see what she does.
a £500 stylus is a bit OTT is it not?
hmmmm..... some might say that a £500 bike is too much. After all, you can get one for £79.
EDIT: Sorry. But I'd be gutted if that happened to my turntable and I've only got a £120 cartridge.
Difficult to advise, as your value system is obviously very different if you cna ever justify spending 500 quid on a stylus.
Surely you can get them for less than £10 these days?
What kind was it i really need to see what a £500 stylus looks like.
She's offered to pay (which is what I would do) so let her?
How did she break the stylus anyway? not secured? is it that fragile?
Tell her how much it is I guess and see what she does.
I'd assume you were taking the pi** or trying to pull a fast one. 😉
Maybe settle for a cheaper one
She's offered to pay thinking it'll be a couple of quid.
Why isn't it insured? If I had an AV system with a [i]five hundred quid [/i]stylus, I'd have laser alarms and dobermans. Are you mad?
You sure it's completely bust ? maybe the manufacturer could fix it
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No i have an[relatively] expensive deck no one touches it bar me..OP is better I assume.
EDIT: Face palm for my comment you were being her weren't you and not commenting about my post
They really are 500 notes, Audio Technica AT33EV. I feel really bad about it TBH. Her sleeve caught the stylus can't be repaired the cartridge must be replaced, she knows it wasn't cheap.
Why will your home insurance contents policy not cover it?
Just get the friend to cover the excess?
So - how much of it is your negligence in not securing it / making it safe / allowing a clumsy clot to touch it / not telling her the risks and how much is her fault for being a clumsy clot?
Is the arm not secured when its not in use?
No it was really her fault I even said best not to touch as it's fragile but by then it was too late. Accidental cover excess is - £500!
Can it be repaired?
Hmmm, difficult one. How much do you value their friendship? Do they not know you're precious with your hifi?
As TJ says, surely it would have been secured?
Seriously wouldn't want to be in your shoes but do hope it gets resolved amicably.
joolsburger - MemberNo it was really her fault I even said best not to touch as it's fragile but by then it was too late.
£500 notes please.....
I think the only thing I can do is say look it's 500 quid but I can't ask you for that however if you want to contribute I'd appreciate it. Seems fair as I'm not going to be an arse about it. I think 500 is a lot of money for them to find TBH.
Ok, well in all honesty? If a friend came round and spilled coffee on my ipad when messing with it. I'd be disappointed, but even if they offered, i wouldn't take the money from them.
No it was really her fault I even said best not to touch as it's fragile but by then it was too late.
Could've warned her [i]before[/i] it was too late.
no TJ is right you failed to supervise a house guest so it is at least partly your fault...note to self jump on TJ's rear wheel next time we meet and offer 35% due to his negligence ....must be less now he has been warned.
Your own house insurance, she was in no way to know how fragile it is. By the time you warned her you say it was too late...
Accident and time for you to simply suck it up.
Next time, take measures to secure it or warn people.
We'll we'll see how it goes I suppose.
I diodn't quite say that JUnkyard - I asked a question.
Lets hope her house insurance has personal liability and that will cover it.
i would find £500 a lot to pay and would resent it I think
CharlieMungus - MemberOk, well in all honesty? If a friend came round and spilled coffee on my ipad when messing with it. I'd be disappointed, but even if they offered, i wouldn't take the money from them.
Me too. Just forget it. I find that its better to leave someone the space to be good in rather than trying to push them in. Replace it, I'm sure one day she will do soemthing for you that will blow your mind. If she doesn't, it doesn't matter
Strange one. What does this system look like that would make anyone that wasn't geeked out on that kinda that want to get that close? Most people would just have a quick glance and leave you to it. Or were you saying 'have a look at my very expensive hifi' and after you going on about it all evening she felt she'd better have a look? Well look what's happened now. 😆
Tricky situation though but I guess if you're happy to spend £500 on a stylus then it won't kill you to replace it.
I would never ask her for the full amount but I don't think its unkind to accept a contribution. And no it went more like, oh wow is that a record player, what's it made of, best not touch it's fragile, whoops...
How did you actually leave the situation with them then? It's not always easy to deal with something some time after an accident.
On the other hand, if they were good friends then they should have known you were into your hifi and have kept well clear.
I think your suggestion of requesting a contribution is the most sensible option, that way you will not ruin a friendship.
Have you looked at repair?
If I left a precious antique crystal vase around when guests came round and then only said it was fragile and precious when it was " too late" I'd blame myself and put it down to experience, rather than blame them. I feel your pain. But most people will not get why it is so valuable.
I would never ask her for the full amount but I don't think its unkind to accept a contribution.
I feel slightly embarrassed for you.
Just tell them how much it was.
Wait and see - or if you value their friendship, say 'no worries', and let your SO tell her privately.
If she's offered to pay tell her much it costs and just ask for a contribution.
That way you don't have to pay for the whole thing, she'll feel better for making amends. Everybody should be happy(ish) then 😛
DS you talk like I've got money to burn. I bought that deck after a period of saving and I can ill afford the loss. Not like it's a wine glass eh..
How the crap exactly did she break it?
Becky has it. 🙂
Errr... A good wine glass eg Riedel can increase the perceived quality of wine... Whereas a really good cartridge.... Etc etc
You can decide if you want the money or want a friend, and all the people she tells about this as friends...
I want to see this bloody £500 stylus. And I want to know how she broke it. What did she do, bite it? Hope she didn't stand on the directional cables too 😯
DS you talk like I've got money to burn. I bought that deck after a period of saving and I can ill afford the loss. Not like it's a wine glass eh..
TBH the value is irrelevant in my book. I'm not interested in your financial circumstances, as far as I'm aware you have fancy kit, you can afford it. Put it through the insurance and be done, but wait, you do have insurance, don't you?
You could get an iPod for that money, better sound quality than records and you dint have to keep the vinyl! 👿
TBH the value is irrelevant in my book. I'm not interested in your financial circumstances, as far as I'm aware you have fancy kit, you can afford it. Put it through the insurance and be done, but wait, you do have insurance, don't you?
Tosh! That's an extremely narrow-minded view - you don't judge folk on what they spend their money on.
Why should the OP be saddled with higher insurance premiums?
DS +1
You invite people in. You take the consequences with good grace, or you have no friends Sinple politeness as a host. The worst thing you can do is make her feel guilty. You won't get the money and you won't keep a friend.
I own a somewhat valuable painting. I adore it. Guests enjoy it too. I don't let them take to it with their crayons, however.
If it was that valuable, you should not have let your guests "play with it" in such a way as to break it.
as far as I'm aware you have fancy kit, you can afford
rubbish, I have lots of stuff I can't afford 🙂
I think asking for a contribution, letting her know the full price would be reasonable, but I'd have a number in mind that you would be willing to accept (min and max)
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Its one with no obvious right answer to me.
I bust a pair of expensive sunglasses belonging to a pal - I paid for them to be repaired.
As I said before - see if she can claim on here insurance - personal liability
Is that a £500 stylus Jimmers?
Why should the OP be saddled with higher insurance premiums?
Because the insurance covers accidental damage and the damage was done accidently?
Irrelevant anyway as I've just re-read and the OP doesn't have insurance, just an expensive lesson.
£500 ins't actually a lot of cash for a halfway decent stylus these days.
due to the number of decks being sold, parts like these go up anually by a lot more than inflation. I have Linn lp12, its over 2 decades old now, but I paid £700 second hand for it. A new one would be a couple of thousand. The cartidge/stylus I had on it I can't get anymore (A Linn k9 if anyones got a new boxed one under the bed). To get anything like it now is £300 minimum, yet I recall when they were being cranked out for £59.
They are delicate and she is a silly tart for smashing it up, but it was an accident. I can't believe that the stylus can't be replaced, no need for a whole new cartidge? Or are AT33's built so they can't be repaired?
That's [url= http://www.eu.audio-technica.com/en/products/product.asp?catID=6&subID=42&prodID=4071 ][i]the[/i][/url] stylus/cart in question.
Because the insurance covers accidental damage and the damage was done accidently?
Irrelevant anyway as I've just re-read and the OP doesn't have insurance, just an expensive lesson.
It's very much a moral situation here and one I would not like to be in.
Ah right, read down through but didn't see the post where he described it. Is it heated?
E-mail: Service&Repair@audio-technica-europe.com
It's very much a moral situation here and one I would not like to be in.
It shouldn't be and the OP should just suck it up and learn from the experience. Not complicated and no dilemma.
Is it heated?
Beaucoup de lollage.
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Sure none of these parts can be serviced?
What's your friend's income like? If they can afford it...let them! But only if they were completely aware of what to/what not to do with said object.
I lent a friend a camera, she took ages to give it back and it emerged she had broken it. She offered to repair/replace/pay for a service. She was also a couple of months pregnant and not too wealthy.
I looked into a service and it was a write off. She reminded me of her offer, but each time she did she was getting bigger. Eventually her partner (who I think is the one who f*cked it) helped rip out a kitchen and it was said to be quits. I think a friend would help regardless but there you are.
I personally would have replaced the camera [i]and[/i] done the kitchen in my situation.
If I broke your ridiculously expensive stylus, I would feel compelled to replace it.
I now don't lend expensive stuff out as I don't want to be in the situation again. Which I dislike, but it feels necessary.
1) are you sure it's not repairable?
2) rather than ask then right out for £500, ask if their home insurance would cover it maybe?
3) If none of the above, have a look [url= http://www.richersounds.com/products/hi-fi-separates/separates/cd-players-recorders-dacs ]here[/url] for a cheaper replacement perhaps.
I had a record player and theres no way you could break the stylus by 'getting a bit too close', even if you did there was a catch on the arm so you couldn't knock it off the stand.
If it was me i'd be gutted, but i'd suck it up. Its a luxury item, id rather have the friend.
Shame tho, sorry.
Maybe you could settle on having a acouple of goes on her. Seems to be a balance, she ****ed your needle now you **** her with your needle
It shouldn't be and the OP should just suck it up and learn from the experience. Not complicated and no dilemma.
By both parties meeting halfway, it will ensure a friendship is not damaged beyond repair, pardon the pun.
[i]she is a silly tart for smashing it up[/i]
What a bizarre thing to say, I take it you don't have many female friends.
What's broken btw?
Just be honest and say
if £500 matters to you, i.e. its not a drop in the ocean, then your a complete mug for paying that much in the first place, considering the quality difference over a £50 stylus is minimal!
A mate of mine lost my prescription Oakleys, ca. £400 to replace. I know he can't afford to buy me a new pair, and neither can I. Was ages ago, I've just accepted it's part of life, some you win, some you lose. 🙁
He's still a mate, which is far more important really.
She broke it, she pays. Simple as.
[i]*insert hindsight based comment here* [/i]
Yeah, she could pay like that but it'd take quite a few visits before I felt I'd got my 500 quid back.
riding in sedbergh once with haddock off here, I unlocked the bikes on the roof rack, but in taking one off, the other fell and swung down smashing his door in. it was still fastened at the tyres you see.
the pedal put one huge dint, and the handlebar another. entirely my fault. I offered to pay full immediately, thinking it'd be about £80-100 quid. it wasn't. it came up at about £450. I still offered to pay, but he went halves, stating 'accidents happen'.
I'd tell her the cost and see what she says.
I don't get it. You can afford to spend £500 on a stylus, but then your too tight to pay for insurance that adequately covers you. Ie you went for a high excess to lower your premium.
Pay for it yourself and at insurance renewal set your excess at a realistic level.... or sell equipment you can't afford to replace....
This may be the only time I ever type this:
Elfin +1
How about one that costs ten times the amount:
The Koetsu Jade Platinum:
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Every hobby has it's high end where the prrices seem ludicrous to anyone outside of that world. Bikes are no different.
The only really ridiculous thing is people commenting how ridiculous it is to spend that much on an 'x'.
I feel pretty sorry for the OP, it isn't a nice situation to be in. I don't have a lot of sympathy for all the posters who are expressing incredulity/jealousy at the concept of a £500 stylus (on a mountain bike forum? Who do you think you are kidding?). And as for the people who think the OP should have been supervising his visitors more closely, I hope I never have to endure your hospitality.
A similar thing happened to me but not quite as painful. A visitor broke my £120 stylus - they have never even seen a record deck up close before and had no idea how fragile they are. I bought another one and didn't even mention it to her.
In summary, sh*t happens, and hindsight is a wonderful thing.
The only really ridiculous thing is people commenting how ridiculous it is to spend that much on an 'x'.
Except there is a bit more 'meat' to justify the cost of a mtb over a stylus. True they are precise devices, but that's about it.
Could it have been weakened already through wear and tear? If its relatively new speak to the manufacturer IF the nudge etc was minor?
Did she 'drop' the arm down causing the damage?
force her onto the street until she's earned enough money (with pimp tax, or 'interest' as the banks call it) to pay you back. then sue her for emotional damages and loss of earnings.
...only £325 on [url= http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/items/__audio+technica+at33ev_W0QQ_dmdZ2?tm_kw=audio+technica+at33ev ]ebay[/url]