Let's imagine this scenario. A knows B, B knows C.
C lent B a camera. A and B went out on a trip with other friends.
During the trip, B asked A to help her look after her camera for a short while. B went off with some other friends, while A, together with some friends, took the camera and went back to the hotel by cab.
However, probably due to carelessness or negligence, the camera was still lost somehow, after they reached the hotel.
Now, C found out about the loss, and is asking B for payment, and B is asking A for payment. A turned unhappy because he felt that he should not be the only one tanking the cost of the camera, provided cost = responsibility. He felt that everyone has a part to play also. He was thinking it is unfair for B to come only to him since they cannot find the rest of the people apparently involved; A was the direct contact with the camera before it went missing.
What is the problem here? How should it be solved?
Firstly, B and C should not take the loan for granted. There is always a price to pay for lending and borrowing something. When C lent B her camera it also tags along with this word - trust. And the price to pay for this trust? To trust that B will not lose C's belongings and holding on to a chance that THAT might possibly happen. C should be mentally prepared for it. If the camera goes missing, the trust turns to monetary costs that C has to bear as well. How much? That depends on C's trust on B. If they both are good friends of course C might not ask B to pay too much, but if C doesn't trust B then she should not even think of lending B the camera in the first place.
Secondly, The cost of the camera. How much is it valued at? Logically speaking it should be the real price value at the point the loan is made. It cannot be the full cost of a brand-new camera, can it? It's like buying a new car then use 5 years then sell back at the same price you bought. Does it make sense? The camera cost $1800 first hand. After 3 years, with C confessing that it has been used quite often, and the shutter should have been clocked up to a significant number, probably it should cut down to around 1200, max.
Thirdly, when B asked A to look after her camera, A did what B did earlier to C also - taking it for granted. Of course, the responsibility split as the camera is passed down from one person to another. Thing is, A did not ask anyone else to look after the camera. Those in the cab where the camera last was shall be responsible, but A still has to take most out of it.
Fourth, Both A and B agreed that some of the people involved in the loss of the camera are responsible also. However, they did not manage to get them to contribute for the camera's loss. They can't seem to find them.
How should it be split? If B and C are really that close for C to trust her camera with her, then she should be mentally prepared for any chances of losing it. When that happens, she knows she cannot be asking for the full value of the camera back from B. For example, C can probably ask only a maximum of 800 from B over this loss.
Now, B is shouldered with this 800 compensation. She trusted A. How should they split? Are they equally responsible for this? Probably. As C's closer friend, B should be taking up more responsibility since she is the one who decided to 1) borrow her camera, claiming responsibility for the camera and 2) hand over the camera to A to take care of it for the short while at her comfort. Therefore, she has every reason to take up more of the responsibility, which equals costs, of the camera. It is only right for A to pay up less than that of B, which is less than 400 definitely.
For A, this 400 is not only his. Remembered there were a few others with him on the way back? So what happened? Are they not going to do anything about it and let A tank this sum himself? I am not sure, but definitely that is irresponsible of those who were in that cab and just brushing the issue aside as if nothing happened.
So that sums up the costs... OR alternatively the same group of people responsible can just fork out money and choose at least something similar if not the same to C's' camera online, second hand. If they get lucky they might be able to get a better deal at that, and therefore by the same pay-up proportions each person could pay less. :)
In conclusion, lending someone something is not just a simple deal of "Oh, I lend you you must return me". Responsibility, trust, and money are all involved. So friends, think twice before lending your beloved items to the right/wrong person.