AITA for asking my classmate to replace the lab goggles she scratched?

In our biology lab, everyone brings their own goggles. I lent mine to a classmate who forgot hers. She promised she would take care of them. After the lab, I checked the goggles and saw a long, deep scratch across the left lens. The scratch is so noticeable that it affects my vision.

I asked her what happened, and she said goggles naturally get scratched. She said it was normal and not something to make a fuss about. I told her these were not scratched before and that the damage affects their use. She refused to help pay for a replacement and said she was not paying for a small line on plastic.

Later she told people that I asked her to pay for something she did “by accident.” A few classmates said goggles are bound to get scratched and I should just accept wear and tear. Others understood why I was upset because the scratch makes the goggles hard to use.

I do not like asking people for money, but the goggles were in good condition before I lent them.

AITA for asking her to replace them?

14 thoughts on “AITA for asking my classmate to replace the lab goggles she scratched?”
    1. and I’d vocalize that to her and anyone who agrees that she shouldn’t make it right.

      “don’t ask to borrow anything from me if you don’t think you are responsible for damage that gets done” and gesture to everyone.

  1. Why does the fact that it was an accident matter?

    She damaged your property, it’s on her to fix things.

    NTA.

  2. If you borrow something, and it is damaged in any way while its in your possession… you pay to fix or replace. Doesn’t matter if it was your fault, your neighbour’s fault, that hooked on the corners fault… you borrowed it, you pay for itm

  3. If it’s not that big a deal then why doesn’t she just give you hers and she can use the ones she scratched up, since the scratch doesn’t bother her?

    NTA

  4. As Polonius once said to Laertes, “Neither a borrower nor a lender be.”

    NTA for asking her to replace them. But expect that she won’t.

  5. NTA & she probably won’t replace them; but warn the rest of the class not to loan her anything because she is not trustworthy. It is common courtesy to replace something that was lent to you. It doesn’t matter HOW it was damaged; it was still her responsibility to keep it safe.

  6. NTA. A deep scratch is damage, not wear and tear.

    People should not borrow things they can’t afford to replace if they wreck them, accidental or otherwise.

    I’d tell her she can get you a new pair and keep those ones since she doesn’t think it’s a big deal.

  7. NTA. If you damage someone else’s property, you make restitution. Yes, this includes what you might consider normal wear and tear.

  8. She probably won’t replace them but you are NTA for asking. This also means that you should never loan her anything again.

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