As you know, I'm a contractor. I run my business from my house, and we store most of our tools and equipment in my barn.
All of my crews are subcontractors, and as such they supply their own tools and trucks, while I have the more expensive stuff which we lend them as needed. They often leave stuff here for convenience, and pick it up later. I've not got insurance on their tools, nor have I ever said I'd be responsible.
Currently I have 4 crews, and we have people around all the time. Just two weeks ago we had a mobile guy here to replace all the tires on our dump truck(6 tires: $2400!!) I'm not allways here, and people do come and go.
One of my guys, we'll call him "Bob" has been with me for 22 years. Apparently, he left an $800 compressor in the barn a month ago. (We've since seen a similar one on sale for $250 at Home Depot, but whatever). He didn't tell me, and did not ask permission.
Now he can't find it, and thinks I should buy him a new one.
I think it's his responsibility, not mine, and I don't think I should have to pay for a new one. I will offer a couple of hundred dollars to help out, but not $800!
Opinions, please?