Dear Quentin,
After not seeing a friend for a few months, she asked if I wanted to go to a show with her that evening, if she could get free tickets from work. I graciously accepted. I expressed my enthusiasm throughout the evening, and I thanked her several times.
I felt I was both overtly and appropriately grateful. For instance, I drove us to the theater, and paid $10 for parking. When we got dinner, I was happy to split the bill 50/50 even though she had a $15 cocktail and I had water.
The show was great! I told her how serendipitous it was because it ended up being a table read of my all-time favorite movie, “When Harry Met Sally.” My friend had never seen the film. It was a Netflix/Seth Rogen
NFLX,
-1.54%
fundraiser.
Later that night, my friend texted me, “As I got these tickets, can you get our next meal or activity?” I replied to say she gave me the impression the tickets were free. She replied that they were free but, “It doesn’t matter because she still ‘got them.’”
“‘She told me about her new job, and that she is making $30,000 a year more than me.’”
In the past year, I have hosted her and her husband for dinner twice, and gave them leftovers to take home, both times. She has never hosted me and, frankly, I’ve never thought twice about it. I had them over because I wanted to.
If I had treated her to dinner before the show, paid for parking, and drove, it would have been roughly an $80 night for me and $0 for her. Is it reasonable to invite someone to something (free) and expect them to treat you?
I get joy from including friends in fun activities and opportunities. Am I out of touch, tacky or unjustified to not see where she is coming from? I don’t know how to move on with a casual friendship as this will feel like an elephant in the room.
I want to respond to her with, “I will be happy to invite you to the next event I get free tickets to. I will let you drive, pay for parking and split the dinner bill, even if I get a second course and you don’t. I will then make sure you pay for the next time.”
So far, I have refrained from sending that text. What do you advise?
Confused Friend
Dear Friend,
Your dilemma reminds me of this letter I received a few years ago. It is very similar, but in that case the friend had snagged $70 tickets for free and surprised his friend by asking him to pick up the tab for their pre-concert sushi ($150).
In that case, and this, you have been presented with a “gift tax.” Your friend put a monetary value on these theater tickets, despite snagging them for free, and believes she should be reimbursed for that market value.
Of course, that is ridiculous. Firstly, she surprised you with her conditions after you got home and, secondly, did so by text. She could have said, “I’ve got the tickets, so would you mind getting dinner?” You could have made a decision before accepting.
You have two decisions: Do you acquiesce and take this friend for dinner? And do you want a friend who would behave in such a penny-pinching way? This is the kind of weird swerve of etiquette that can end a friendship, especially a casual one.
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