Some context, my friend asked me to buy a gaming pc for him around black friday and I was hesitant at first but he was really adamant about wanting it and said that was the only day that it would be that specific price and he couldn’t afford it at the time. Naturally being a friend, I bought it for him on the condition that he pays for it through payment plans. This was a verbal agreement no official signed contract or any documentation as this was my "friend" I didn’t think that was necessary and I acted in good faith .
Well flash forward two months, he says he got laid off and won’t be able to make payments and I said no problem just pay me whenever but I’m now under the assumption he does not plan to pay me back at all so my question is the property still technically considered mine? I think I would be TA if I asked for it back right?
I’m asking this because I asked for it back and was going to give it to him instead as a birthday gift instead along with documentation saying I did not receive anything for this gift nor do I expect anything and so we both agreed that he would give it back to me while I draft up the document so I can make note of the make model and whatnot for personal documentation for the both of us. I know this isnt required through private sales but I learned to have documentation anytime I do a transaction because of him and even though this would now be considered a gift as I will no longer expect payments nor accept any, I still want to have proper paperwork just acknowledging the fact that this is a gift now pretty much
So right now it’s in my possession but the problem is that while researching what I need, something came up and I am actually reconsidering giving it back because of personal reasons, AITA for backing out of this arrangement because the reason why he even was onboard to giving it back to me was so that we can document it formally.
So, AITA? I don’t know if this is considered theft or breach of some contract if I decide I don’t want to gift it anymore
Edit: The reason I was considering backing out of giving it to him as a gift is because after talking to people about the situation I realized that this person is not truly my friend because an actual friend wouldn’t put me in this situation to begin with. I wanted to gift it out of good faith and you know that’s my friend but after much thought am starting to reconsider
NTA
It wasn’t a gift if he is paying you back, it was a loan. If he isn’t able to uphold his end of the bargain then he cant expect to keep the PC.
Hold on to it and tell him to get the money together then he can have it back. Without knowing more about why you are reconsidering due to personal reasons then we cant pass a judgement on that bit.
I am reconsidering because I don’t think this person is truly a friend and is just using me. I’ll make an edit
Also to clarify the original intent was a loan but the new intent is a gift, AITA for thinking about backing out that new agreement now that the pc is in my possession again
this, he was just using you.
Did he ever make any payments to you for it? If so, NTA on the condition you return his money. YWBTA if you keep both his payments and the computer
No, he did not pay a single penny as he was laid off
Keep the computer, lose the friend. Easy
Did he make any payments at all? If not, why? He had it for two months before getting laid off.
No, he didn’t pay me a single penny. As for why, I’m not sure, I want to give him the benefit of the doubt because he is (or was) my friend but I suspect he never intended to pay me at all and used the layoff as a convenient excuse
If he’s worth it to you, talk it over with him. If he’s not, keep the computer and forget about him. NTA
A brand new gaming system? That’s a REALLY expensive gift.
If he couldn’t afford it when it was at its cheapest, then he shouldn’t be buying it, or trying to get someone else to buy it for him. He really took advantage of you. He’s not a good friend.
NTA.
NTA, but if you do keep it, just think of it as a really expensive lesson on who your “friends” really are also, gaming PCs are way more reliable than people!
It’s not a gift. It was an agreed upon loan. He backed out of it. Keep the computer.