Here’s my problem: I’ve broken a mug ([see picture](https://imgur.com/a/5QsFCrt)) in my landlord’s flat, where I live at the moment. I’ve tried to find in on the Internet but it seems to be out of stock, is there someone out there that could point me some french site where I could try to find it, or someone among you that is available to sell it to me?

**Version en francais**

J’ai cassé une tasse ([voire la photo](https://imgur.com/a/5QsFCrt)) dans le apartament que j’ai louè. J’ai essayé de l’achtere mais semble que c’est out of stock. Je vous demande s’il ya entre vous quelqu’un qui pourrais me dire ou trouver cette tasse.

13 comments

  2. Ask your landlord, it’s just a mug, maybe a high quality one but he might not care about (because he left it in your apartment).

    Buy a new one for the same amount if you’re worried.

  3. If the flat that you are renting has mugs, then I suspect the landlord does not attach any emotional value to them, so you can replace it with a similar mug (in terms of functionnality).

  6. As others have said, if he liked the mug he wouldn’t have left it in the flat while renting, and if the contract only mentions a number of mugs but not that exact mug, then just replace it with a random mug before you give the flat back. I know you’ve said he’s annoying and you want to avoid the conflict, but it’s really not worth it spending HOURS trying to find that mug online… Also, you could also not tell him it broke lol. Usually you don’t go contacting your landlord to tell him you broke a mug… He’ll see it at the inspection at the end (if he even remembers the mug lol).

  7. Unless it’s specified on the contract “THESE 4 MUGS ARE ULTRA IMPORTANT” it’s most likely no big deal.

    Two things i would do :

    – Buy a replacement one without saying anything and leave it here

    – Call the landlord, say you broke one and ask if he wants a replacement or not

    That said, the exact one seem to be out of stock ( [https://www.surlatable.com/jacques-pepin-chickens-mug/PRO-2642882.html](https://www.surlatable.com/jacques-pepin-chickens-mug/PRO-2642882.html) ) but searching “jacques pepin chicken mug” gives a few other options 🙂

  9. If the break is clean, you could use superglue. I’ve saved a few mugs like these.

    If it was smashed to pieces in a fit of chickenphobia…

  11. OP,

    As an exact replacement is unavailable, I would try to replace it with something as similar as possible and be upfront, honest and apologetic.

    Don’t wait until you leave but let your landlord know as soon as possible. You could even offer to send him a link with the different options that are available but first, wait to see if he’s actually that bothered.

    Is the mug part of a set? Does it fit in with a particular decorating style that the landlord was trying to achieve? Or is it simply just one of a random assortment of mugs?

    The answers to these questions may also help you anticipate his response. Obviously, if it was one of a set then you would probably need to replace it with something as similar as possible and again, if chickens formed part of a larger decorating scheme, urban farmhouse kitchen perhaps 😉 then you would want to find a replacement that didn’t stick out like a sore thumb.

    But it might turn out that the mug was a Christmas present that he couldn’t stand so dumped in your flat instead? It’s absolutely the sort of thing that gets bought by well meaning relatives as a gift.

    Send him an email, be very polite, very respectful and honest. Accidents happen in the kitchen with tiled floors. Tell him that an exact replacement isn’t available but you can buy something online from the same brand, if he wishes, or you can just buy something locally of a similar quality. Tell him that you didn’t want to act without checking with him first since it was obviously such high quality.

    You should play up to his fussiness and try to compliment him in the language you use while keeping the balance between that and appearing overly obsequious!

    Hopefully, he will appreciate you coming to him and asking for his thoughts on the matter and this will basically curry favour for you.

    Bonus anglophone living in France tips for writing in French:

    Write it out in Word (or similar) first, with spell & grammar check set to French (obviously!). You might have to fight with the language auto detect a bit. This will pick up most of the minor errors that are easy to miss.

    [Word Reference En-Fr Online Dictionary ](https://www.wordreference.com/enfr/) is excellent and there’s a free app. I use the app on my phone all the time when I am mid conversation and just can’t think of the word I need but a different one just won’t do. People usually understand and are patient because it just takes a few seconds.

    There are lots and lots of sites that have sample letters for anything that you may need to write formally in French. Similarly, you can find sites that list all the ways to open and end letters, how to write CVs and letters of motivation etc. These are so invaluable.

    I keep a small notebook in my bag where I write down new, interesting vocabulary, organised into sections. Often, it’s less everyday terms (because those are used more frequently and are more easily remembered) and more specialised terms: medical for when I visit the doctor, hobby related terms, etc. I find that writing it down is important, it helps fix it in my memory.

    Bonne continuation!

  12. Is this a result of some kind of anxiety or some phobia? Yes you broke it. Yes it’s not nice breaking involuntarily someone’s stuff. But shit happens. You are ready to pay for it if the landlord points fingers.
    This is totally not..”emergency” as you have described in the title.
    May be you should take things lightly cause what you preach is what you practice.
    Genuine question: how do you handle when someone breaks a cup of yours?

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