@Kristina it seems unfair as you were using it for the purpose and in the manner intended and it’s not new and this is a known problem with this machine.
Even if the homeowner had insurance for it - the insurance company would probably deduct some of the value for it’s age and that owner has already had x years of use from it .
As others have said if it’s new it should be covered by warranty. If it’s not new then you shouldn’t have to pay for a new one . Have a look on eBay / Facebook marketplace and see if someone is selling a secondhand one to determine the true value.
Yikes! I was thinking something small. I’ll try and fix it (e.g. if I spill something) or buy a new one if I break or lose something small and cheap. It only feels fair and the goodwill you get from buying a replacement outweighs the small amount spent on it.
Touch wood I’ve never broken anything expensive. We dont touch coffee machines generally, mostly due to not loving the coffee they make (especially nespressos!) If i did break something pricey I’d tell the owner. If it was fully on me I’d offer to buy a new one. I agree though something like that buying new for old isn’t fair. Like others I’d suggest you ask when they bought it. Good luck and try not to let it drag you down! You’ll get more sits and good ones I’m sure.
90 euro isn’t exactly a high end model and those are also far more likely to break. I’m surpised the owner even bothered with a repair person which surely cost more than the machine is worth if its a couple of years old. Ultimately it’s up to you what you do from here. I think it’s a bit outrageous to ask a sitter to replace a used machine at this price point and I’m not sure I’d personally agree to do that. You could leave him a contribution towards a new machine, if you have time you could try to find a used one (you could even ask if anyone on the local marketplace is giving one away for free) or you could stand your ground and say it’s not your responsibility at all and leave it at that. Which way you go really depends on you and what your priorities are eg how much you value making the owner happy. Good luck, it’s not an easy situation.
@Kristina hardly a fair compromise to replace brand new for old. It could have happened at any point just unfortunate that it was you who was next to use it.
Hi Kristina,
I’ve had Nespresso machines for years and they have always come with a two year warranty. I just googled Nespresso machines and it says they come with a 2-3 year warranty. If it were me, I’d ask owner for proof of purchase or more information on when it was purchased. You can probably then call Nespresso and ask them to look up the age of the machine if the owner can provide you with some kind of serial number, etc. I’ve had my current machine at least ten years, never had any trouble with it, but I’ve never used the refillable capsules in it. If the owner left the refillable ones for you, to me, it leans more towards their responsibility because if you don’t own one, you may not know the refillable ones can be problematic. If you are able to find out more, and find out it is older and out of warranty, a prorated amount is more in order.
Honestly I wouldnt go to all that effort. I’d suggest he check if still under warranty. If not, offer a token amount (20 euro MAX for 90 euro item!) towards a replacement.
My feelings on things breaking or failing is that if you’re using the owners equipment to do something they asked you to do as part of the sit, and there is equipment failure - that should be on them to replace or repair. (lawn mower, vacuum, etc) Similarly any major appliance - water heater, stove, fridge, pool or TV set should be an owner’s expense to repair unless you as a sitter have misused the item. I don’t think that we as sitters should be expected to pay for items that have failed in normal use or reached their end of life.
When we do sits, we bring our own Keurig and cups. We bring our own plastic wine glasses and plastic drink cups, small crock pot, sharp knife and our own basic spices and we are very careful when using the homeowners ‘stuff’. If we break or damage something due to our negligence, or misuse - we’d feel responsible and take care of it. If it just failed in normal use, I don’t think that’s our problem, but we would certainly let the owners know about it.
I don’t drink coffee and don’t use hosts’ TV or audio equipment, because I prefer my iPad and video accounts, but you won’t catch me paying for stuff that breaks during normal use. Or say if my sit dog chewed on something. From the other direction, I didn’t bother telling my hosts when my sit dog chewed on one of my hoodies.
I once broke a plate. Well, the cat did when he tried to steal my dinner, but still… The family were ok about it.
In another occasion, a wooden chopping board split. Again, the family said they had had it for many year and it was due to be replaced anyway.
I think that providing you are careful with appliances, making you pay for a brand new machine is very unfair. I am not sure I would have agreed to that
Since you asked… I don’t even question fault. If it broken while I was using something, driving something or staying somewhere I just buy a new one, replace or give the money.
It shouldn’t even be a question.
I mean… since you asked.
I don’t care. It will hurt them more than what it has hurt me. I am getting nice sits.
Although… there was an application where I was declined where they mentioned my reviews. When I was the only applicant! But I agreed with them: they would not have been a good match.
It does not matter. There are plenty of sits. Tomorrow I am off to Oslo!
I bring a cone that is made for camping – made of silicone + it folds up. and some paper cones. then do pour over. I hate using people’s expensive machines. in terms of breaking something, I thought that was what liability insurance was for? I guess I may have to find out someday!
I have since told him that I will not be buying him a new machine. I will gladly replace the current value. The answer is that the 90 Euros are already the current value because the machine cost 170 Euros new. He has turned to trusted housesitter because it is too stupid for him
I am curious to see what the outcome will be.
If it’s a situation like you’ve described, I think offering to pay up to the current value is very respectable, i.e. used machine, and willing to pay for the current value to get a replacement, common error that occurs, etc.
In general, I try not to use anything delicate and sentimental and if something breaks…that being said, this sounds like a pretty standard coffee machine, no? (I hate coffee and don’t drink it so have not reference.)
At one sit, the dog chewed my brand new Havianas, does that count as broken?
I told the HO, they didn’t offer to replace nor did I ask to be compensated. I know it wasn’t a lot of money but to me it was and they were new and I had to replace them. It’s all part and parcel of sitting and if things go wrong, you do the right thing, you just deal with it. It’s called life
I travel with my own bedding and I was sending cute pics of the kitty to the HO and cute kitty was not impressed my attention was elsewhere, so she went into the bedroom and tore apart the bed I had just made and chewed quite large holes in 2 of my expensive organic cotton blankets! I was told she was being a bit cheeky lately but I didn’t expect that! HO just laughed … I almost cried!
Fair enough to ask your sitter not to use your fancy coffee machine. But perhaps a cafetiere so they can still make a decent cup of coffee. Instant coffee? No thanks. I always travel with my Aeropress and wouldn’t bother with a fancy coffee machine even if told i can use it.
