(07-07-2010, 06:16 PM)Lavazza Wrote: Now... I didn't expect payment initially, I don't need the money, and moreover he probably needs it more than I do. But in the context of this discussion and being 'honest' about my service, should I demand the repayment of the money he volunteered? Is it my call in other words, since he set the deal?
I've been on both sides of that scenario before. There have been times when I was overly eager to seal the deal (whatever it was) and stuck my foot in my mouth, offering way more than I needed to. In some cases, I got stuck with paying the overcompensation, but in that rare occasion when the other person realized my mistake and reassured me that it was unnecessary, I felt very grateful!
If you needed the $$, and the negotiation had been very clear, then you would be within your rights to speak up. But since you don't need the $$ (or at least not as much as he does), and it didn't cost you anything to store his car, I would suggest letting it go. It sounds like it may be one of those cases where he thought about it later, and realized, Hey my friend would have been happy to store the car...it's not costing him anything...why did I offer $200?? ...What was I thinking!!?? then either blocked it out of his mind or hoped you'd forget. Or maybe something else came up and now his finances are much tighter than they were when he offered.
Finances cause rifts between friends enough already. This one doesn't sound worth risking a rift, especially since you're not out anything.
I would suggest letting it go...or, at most, saying something like, Oh by the way, don't worry about the $100 per month you offered...it really wasn't any problem and I was happy to do it for you.
That might be a way to clear the air without putting your friend in an awkward position.