The bike I sold a friend broke two weeks later: do I pay?
Editors' DilemmaOctober 28, 2026· Be the first to vote
A story made up by our editors to get the debate going, not a real account.
My side
I sold my old bike to a friend for $150. It rode perfectly, I’d used it to get to work the day before. I let him try it, we rode around the block together, he was thrilled. Two weeks later, he sends me a photo: the chain came off, and something near the pedals makes a weird noise. The bike shop quoted him $80. He’s asking me to pay half, because according to him, the problem “must have already been there.” I sold him a used bike, at a friend price, and I have no idea how he rode it for those two weeks.
Their side
My friend explains that he only rode around town, taking it easy. The mechanic apparently told him the part had been worn for a long time, and that a careful eye would have spotted it. He isn’t accusing me of lying, but he thinks that between friends, you share this kind of bad surprise. He points out that he paid me right away, without haggling.
So, who's wrong?
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