if you do repairs for a living, you will sometimes have issues with particular customers. One scenario is when you are NOT dealing with the owner - but some middle man instead. Bad enough.
A worse one is when you do not know who the real owner is, cos someone who borrowed (and broke) the item brings it to you *pretending* to be the owner.
If they do not return to pick up and pay, anyone can then claim to be the owner and try to obtain the item for the repair cost. So the first question you need to ask any new customer is:
" How long have you owned it ? " And if their answer is non very convincing :
" Where did you you get it ? "
One does not what tot be stuck with items that never get picked up or are maybe stolen or where a dispute about ownership arises.
cular customers. One scenario is when you are NOT dealing with the owner - but some middle man instead. Bad enough.
o borrowed (and broke) the item brings it to you *pretending* to be the own er.
owner and try to obtain the item for the repair cost.
maybe stolen or where a dispute about ownership arises.
I've been doing this over 45 years, and have seen pretty much everything. You develop another sense when people bring things in for repair. There ar e times I'll take in an item I suspect will be abandoned and not provide a claim check or receipt of any kind. They have the option of leaving it or taking it - I don't care.
Probably 15 years ago a guy brings in a 20" CRT TV for me to look at. Flat s were what I was mostly repairing and a lot of these small CRT TVs never g ot picked up, repaired or otherwise. It had a smeary video but the OSC gr aphics were crisp and bright, so I knew it wouldn't be something easy like a CRT cathode bypass cap. But the TV was otherwise clean so I took it in a nd I told the guy I'd check it in a few days, and Sharpied (it's a verb) hi s name on the face of the tube. He wanted a receipt. I told him I don't p rovide them for items with a high probability of being abandoned since I ha d to hang on to them for at least six months. He said he wasn't going to l eave it without one so I removed his name from the TV screen and headed out to his car with the TV. He was stunned, then furious and said he was goin g to call the dept. of consumer protection. Of course, never heard again f rom either.
ticular customers. One scenario is when you are NOT dealing with the owner
- but some middle man instead. Bad enough.
who borrowed (and broke) the item brings it to you *pretending* to be the o wner.
he owner and try to obtain the item for the repair cost.
are maybe stolen or where a dispute about ownership arises.
** Me slightly longer. Nearly all for musicians and the like.
ts were what I was mostly repairing and a lot of these small CRT TVs never got picked up, repaired or otherwise. It had a smeary video but the OSC gra phics were crisp and bright, so I knew it wouldn't be something easy like a CRT cathode bypass cap. But the TV was otherwise clean so I took it in and I told the guy I'd check it in a few days, and Sharpied (it's a verb) his name on the face of the tube. He wanted a receipt. I told him I don't provi de them for items with a high probability of being abandoned since I had to hang on to them for at least six months. He said he wasn't going to leave it without one so I removed his name from the TV screen and headed out to h is car with the TV. He was stunned, then furious and said he was going to c all the dept. of consumer protection. Of course, never heard again from eit her.
I still have a Phase Linear 400-2 power amp that was abandoned in 1992. When the owner removed it from his rack, he stole my ratchet screwdriver. Never saw him again. The original repair bill was for $160. Unfortunately, the front dress panel was missing, making it hard to sell.
I did mange to sell a Yamaha P2200 a few years back for slightly more than the repair bill. It had belonged to a famous musician here in Sydney.
articular customers. One scenario is when you are NOT dealing with the owne r - but some middle man instead. Bad enough.
e who borrowed (and broke) the item brings it to you *pretending* to be the owner.
the owner and try to obtain the item for the repair cost.
r are maybe stolen or where a dispute about ownership arises.
lats were what I was mostly repairing and a lot of these small CRT TVs neve r got picked up, repaired or otherwise. It had a smeary video but the OSC g raphics were crisp and bright, so I knew it wouldn't be something easy like a CRT cathode bypass cap. But the TV was otherwise clean so I took it in a nd I told the guy I'd check it in a few days, and Sharpied (it's a verb) hi s name on the face of the tube. He wanted a receipt. I told him I don't pro vide them for items with a high probability of being abandoned since I had to hang on to them for at least six months. He said he wasn't going to leav e it without one so I removed his name from the TV screen and headed out to his car with the TV. He was stunned, then furious and said he was going to call the dept. of consumer protection. Of course, never heard again from e ither.
n the repair bill.
I too had a receiver abandoned for over 1-1/2 years. I was required to kee p it for a year. Finally sold it for a nice profit. 1 week later, the ori ginal owner shows up looking for it. Told him it was sold. Got angry and i ndicated the police would soon be at my door. Told him to check with a law yer first so it wouldn't cost him too much and never saw him again...
particular customers. One scenario is when you are NOT dealing with the ow ner - but some middle man instead. Bad enough.
one who borrowed (and broke) the item brings it to you *pretending* to be t he owner.
be the owner and try to obtain the item for the repair cost.
or are maybe stolen or where a dispute about ownership arises.
Flats were what I was mostly repairing and a lot of these small CRT TVs ne ver got picked up, repaired or otherwise. It had a smeary video but the OSC graphics were crisp and bright, so I knew it wouldn't be something easy li ke a CRT cathode bypass cap. But the TV was otherwise clean so I took it in and I told the guy I'd check it in a few days, and Sharpied (it's a verb) his name on the face of the tube. He wanted a receipt. I told him I don't p rovide them for items with a high probability of being abandoned since I ha d to hang on to them for at least six months. He said he wasn't going to le ave it without one so I removed his name from the TV screen and headed out to his car with the TV. He was stunned, then furious and said he was going to call the dept. of consumer protection. Of course, never heard again from either.
r.
l.
han the repair bill.
ep it for a year. Finally sold it for a nice profit. 1 week later, the orig inal owner shows up looking for it. Told him it was sold. Got angry and ind icated the police would soon be at my door. Told him to check with a lawyer first so it wouldn't cost him too much and never saw him again...
Hmm.. back in the 80s, I repaired a very nice high end cassette recorder (T eac?), and it sat for over a year. I brought it home and installed it in m y system to make cassettes for my cars. 6 months later the guy shows up an d wanted to pick it up. I told him sure, it was $x and I'd get it out of s torage when he paid for it. He said he'd be back Monday with the money. Ne ver saw him again. I'm positive his plan was to sue for the cost of the de ck if I disposed of it.
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