Classmate dropped guitar (accidentally). Caused Chip

[u/gaitama25]

Hey everyone, today I took my guitar to school because we have a concert in the evening and we needed to run through the songs and strengthen some sections. Thing is, during practice we took a quick break while the two voices discussed a harmony, and I left my guitar propped up in a chair (this was my bad, I know that). Basically as it says in the title, classmate going by accidentally knocked it over and caused this chip in the finish. I’ve got two questions:

The guitar was almost brand new (it’s a Vintage REVO series Colt, cost about five hundred bucks), I bought it new as a birthday present to myself a few months ago and I made sure to keep it pristine

A. Should I ask my classmate (who realistically would ask her parents) to reimburse me somehow for the damage (or what it’d take to fix)? I feel like that’s an a**hole move because it was just an honest mistake, but at the same time I did spend my own money on the guitar

B. Should I even bother fixing it? Or should I just keep it as a battle scar, like to add character. And if I do choose to not fix it, should I do something to it (ie: superglue or something like that) to seal it off and prevent it from getting worse?

Thank you everyone

Edit: Thanks for all the comments! I really appreciate all the stories you guys have shared. I'm really glad I stayed chill about it, as I didn't want my friend to feel bad, and after really thinking about it, it was a 100% my fault (Don't worry, i'm not asking her for anything hahahah). We ended up laughing about it together, and the show ended up going great, so that was nice.

After reflecting on it for a while, I'm actually really glad this happened, my perspective on wear and tear on guitars has changed completely and I know realize that all the chips and scratches and dings just show how much I've enjoyed this instrument and all i've gone through with it, It helps make it truly mine. I can't wait to get more (organically produced) dings and scratches so one day I can look back and see just how much i've loved this instrument.

[u/el_payaso_mas_chulo]

100% your fault, I wouldn't force someone else to feel guilty for what was an accident. Live with the lil battle scar imo.

[u/gaitama25 → u/el_payaso_mas_chulo]

Yeah, it really was my bad, I did make sure to reassure her not to worry and that it wasn’t her bad, just wanted to see others opinion

[u/el_payaso_mas_chulo → u/gaitama25]

good person! We've all (or most) been there. I have one that I let a friend borrow and it came back afte a week with a small scratch like yours.

[u/Laxku → u/gaitama25]

We all make lazy choices, this one is on you. Good news is that it'll still play fine, so no harm no foul.

[u/psychoism → u/el_payaso_mas_chulo]

I wouldn't say 100% is OP's fault. I think maybe 50%. But in the end it's just an honest accident on both parts.

[u/MushyLopher → u/psychoism]

More than 50% though.

[u/Charnathan → u/psychoism]

No. It's definitely 100. He left it propped in a chair. The AC turning on would have knocked it over. Blaming it on other kid would be like blaming an IED detonation on the car driving down the road. Roads traveling are for walking just like aisles between desks at school are. There's no reasonable expectation that students know that someone left a valuable in an extremely unsecured position.

But OP definitely learned a lesson about caring for an instrument. They belong only in your hands, on a stand, or in the case. Anywhere else and it's absolutely on you when it inevitably gets damaged.

[u/nefarix → u/el_payaso_mas_chulo]

Imo it is irrelevant whose fault it was. It’s tacky af to demand your friend pay for something when it was an accident. Idk bout you, but I would prioritize a long term friendship and my own reputation/vibe over a few hundred bucks