Where Do I Stand? Hi-Fi Repair Place Broke Something . . .

[Jonny M]

I took my Denon receiver into a local hi-fi repair place last week, and was charged £25 to give them the priviledge of poking around inside it.

They got back to me today saying that the microprocessor on it was failing, which was what had prevented the CD tray from opening (this sounds believable, it wasn't a mechanical issue). They wanted a further £50 to fix it, and I politely declined. I've just been to pick it up, with the view to eBaying it as faulty, because I saw one with a broken amplifier stage go for £80 or so a couple of weeks back, and a unit with everything working except the CD has gotta be worth at least that.

Anyway, I got it home, and the thing is completely trashed, the LED screen doesn't display anything, cycling through the functions causes the relay to bounce without doing anything, and then it powers itself off.

I will phone them tomorrow about this, but where do I stand with regards to getting them to put it back to how it was before I took it in? I'm not after a free repair here, I'd just like to not have my stuff totally destroyed when it's meant to be getting repaired / looked at.

Thanks

[Dav0s]

unfortunately unless you can prove it, you arent in a great position.

you should just rely on the "niceness" of the staff at the shop. Go in, be polite, and explain what happened. Hopefully all should go ok, and if it doesnt, ask to speak to the manager if its a large place.

[Jonny M]

Yeah I was worried that proving anything might be a problem. They're going to call me back tomorrow and discuss it.

[5lab]

get someone to back you up on the fact it was working. winge alot, if they dont give in phone the local radio and complain to them 'poor student ripped off by local hifi shop' - might not get you anything but it'll teach them to do better

[Dav0s]

I'm sure it will work out fine, did they give you any receipt or proof of what was wrong when u paid them, or they gave the hi-fi back to you?

just stay polite on the phone, and dont try to fix anything yourself

[Mike Fishcake]

Seriously, stay polite. As someone that's been in a similar situation from the repair person's point of view, they might be incredibly embarassed about it and offer to quickly fix it for you, so they don't get themselves in ****. Don't shout, don't get arsey, just explain what has hapened and hopefully it will be fine.

[Mike Fishcake]

erm, WTF?

edit: weird, for some reason, my above post appeared to display in the thread literally about 30 times. how strange.

[badass]

Seriously, stay polite.

Very important and very true :nod: Especially if its a small, local shop.
Legally, you have a right to demand it is returned to its original position, but realistically it will be iompossible to prove so you will most likely need to convince them its in tehir best interests to at least get it back to the condition it was before they made it worse.

[shelley bda]

Seriously, stay polite

I find they are more willing to help you if you stay as nice and polite as you can, when complaining about something i always start with "I'm really sorry to be a nuisance, wonder if you can help me?"

[hitman67]

Being female will usually help your cause though Shelley

[shelley bda]

Being female will usually help your cause though Shelley

Hehehe! tried and tested with female shop assistants too

[5lab]

Hehehe! tried and tested with female shop assistants too

your end of hte country, they could be your sister and it'd still work

[Jonny M]

Well they offered me a reduction in the price they were going to charge me to repair it, which will basically bring it back to 100% working. Sounds fair to me. Thanks for the advice.