Peter and Jan:
I am only posting because Peter is putting the onus on the rest of us to decide who is right in this "off-topic" thread. So this is my take.
We are supposedly all a part of a unique group of people who collect, ride, trade and share all things related to bicycles. The best part about the CR list is the "sharing" part. Whether it be ideas and knowledge or loaner bikes for those in need of their daily fix, the vast majority of us are really there for each other, almost unconditionally. There are, however, a few exceptions to this rule and Peter is certainly an example.
Peter has made it abundantly clear on many occasions that he is in this for the money and that is fine. There is certainly NOTHING wrong with this and I do not mean to single out anyone. After all without folks like Peter, many of you would have occasionally been in a pickle. There is a place and a need for people like him and others, if you are always willing to pay.
I, like you Jan, learned the hard way with Peter and assumed more than I should have. Although we try to be fair about things we know to be true, this becomes both personal and business when you "borrow" from someone who is always going to be looking for something in return. So I can see why you are confused and probably a little jaded about the attack from Peter. I think at some point it gets a little TOO personal with Peter sometimes.
My suggestion to anyone sharing equipment through the CR list is to do yourself and others a favor by making things clear, UP FRONT. I think there is an easy lesson to be learned here and it's "Borrower Beware". As for me, I will continue to share when I can without expecting anything in return except that they pass it on.
As for my ruling, if it matters...Peter, take the 30 dollars and put it toward a new tire, I think you got more than most people would have given you considering the circumstances and be up front next time about your conditions. Jan, I think you did the right thing, but don't stay jaded because you were told you didn't do enough. Just ask more questions next time and pass it on, brother. Dale, I think it would be a good idea for these things to stay off of the general posting as the only reason they are here in the first place is for someone seeking that "pound of flesh" they so desperately think they deserve.
Peace,
Mark Pounders Richmond, Virginia
On Tue, Aug 11, 2009 at 8:51 AM, Peter Koskinen <prkbikes1@mac.com> wrote:
>
> Jan,
>
> I didn't look at the bike carefully enough obviously when you returned it.
> I suspect that your damage to the frame occurred when you leaned the bike up
> against something and it rolled forward.
>
> The bottom line here is that you owe me for a Veloflex Carbon tire which
> you flatted under your care regardless of its age, condition when you
> accepted the loan. This isn't the magazine business where you may accept
> 'gifts' from manufacturers to test and do with what you may. This was my
> personal bike.
>
> Had i known that this is the way that you act when the world doesn't go
> your way, I would have never loaned you a bike or anything else without a 15
> page fine print contract so that you can weasel out later because you don't
> want to pay for the damage that you did. Since you sent it along to Wayne
> Bingham (who never belonged in the middle of the dispute anyway, an attempt
> by yourself to shame me into accepting your paltry offering), I'm upping the
> ante. Let the world decide who is correct here.
>
> PETER REID KOSKINEN
> OWNER
> PRKBIKES LLC
> CHAPEL HILL, NC, 27516,USA
> H/O 919-960-5871
> C. 410-991-7539
> prkbikes@bellsouth.net
> peter@prkbikes.com
> http://www.prkbikes.com
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Aug 10, 2009, at 5:30 PM, Jan Heine wrote:
>
> Peter,
>>
>> I had hoped we could settle on a reasonable value for that tire, which was
>> old and cracked and probably leaking before I started the ride. (The rear
>> tire had lost almost no air overnight, the front was completely flat, when I
>> pumped up the tires in the morning. I had to pump it up 5 miles from the
>> start, and then several times before I finally put on the replacement tire.)
>>
>> When one borrows and loans a bike or car, it is a matter of trust on both
>> sides. If I lend you my car with a slipping clutch, and you burn it out on
>> the first hill, it isn't quite fair to ask you to pay for the clutch, which
>> was shot before you left. Similarly, I don't think it is fair to ask me to
>> pay for a new tubular when the tire mounted on your bike was old and cracked
>> and leaking from the start.
>>
>> In a disagreement like this, it is common to have the parts inspected by a
>> third party. I would suggest Wayne Bingham, the Cirque organizer, who could
>> estimate the value of that old tubular. Unfortunately, you threw that old
>> tire in the garbage BEFORE you even told me you wanted money for it.
>> However, even you have acknowledged that the tread was cracked... It was an
>> old tire that had no life left.
>>
>> As a gesture of goodwill, I am sending you $ 30 for the old, cracked
>> tubular, which was leaking before I started the ride. I hope that this will
>> conclude this matter to everybody's satisfaction.
>>
>> Best regards,
>>
>> Jan
>>
>> At 4:31 PM -0400 8/10/09, Peter Koskinen wrote:
>>
>>> Jan,
>>>
>>> Its been several months now and i have yet to see the payment for the
>>> tire you flatted. I am sure that you have a very good excuse (in your mind)
>>> as to why you haven't paid for the tire you flatted.
>>>
>>> The bottom line here is that when you borrow a bike, a car, or anything
>>> else from some one and you do some form of damage to it, it is YOUR
>>> responsibility to take care of the damage. In this case it was a punctured
>>> high quality racing tubular.
>>>
>>> Your dealings with Earle have no bearing on your debt to me.
>>>
>>> Cheers,
>>>
>>> Peter
>>> PETER REID KOSKINEN
>>> OWNER
>>> PRKBIKES LLC
>>> 9506 Collins Creek Drive
>>> Chapel Hill, NC, 27516
>>> prkbikes@bellsouth.net
>>> peter@prkbikes.com
>>> http://www.prkbikes.com
>>> home/office: 1-919-960-5871
>>> cell: 1-410-991-7539
>>>
>>
>>
> _______________________________________________
>
--
Mark Pounders
Richmond, Virginia
USA