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Shady Lane

I'm getting the run around and want my unit back--need advice

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I have never been in such a frustrating situation! Maybe someone else has run into a similar situation and can offer advice.
I have known a local dealer for some years now. He has been doing repairs as well as dealing in vintage audio, and up until now, had been the just wonderful to deal with. I will refrain from specifics for now because the situation has become rather sensitive and I'm just not sure what is going on.
Recently the brick and mortar business has closed and it appears that he has been doing business via ebay and his website, and from what I can see, things are not going too well. I don't really think that vintage audio restoration is a very easy business these days.
Well, after some time, I dropped an item (not just any item but a unit that I have made a considerable investment in of both time and money) off for repair. It's been more than a month now and I have been just getting the run around on this one, finally getting to the point where I just want to retrieve my item and cancel the whole deal. But, our last conversation was very abreviated and I was told to just come and pick up the item and "lets just forget the *()(&)'ing thing." Very Jeckyl and Hyde; very scary really.
To sum up, I think this guy is becoming unhinged for what reason i do not know and I just want to retrieve my item. He lives in a rural area and frankly I am concerned about my safety in terms of going out there and dealing with him.
So...does anyone have any suggestions on how to handle this? I've thought that I could just get the local sherrif to accompany me while I get my stuff. I'm thinking better safe than sorry.
I have never run into anything like this before. And my gut feeling and intuition tell me the guy is a ticking time bomb. I've havn't the time to include all the details which would cause me the concern I have, for instance the tone and manner of communications that have led me to feel this way, but all of sudden, for the first time, I feel like I have encountered a person that is losing it and is potentially dangerous.
Any suggestions?

Follow Ups:

Re: I'm getting the run around and want my unit back--need advice - Jimmy 08:22:28 11/16/05 (0)
I would request the sheriff dept to assist in a pickup. You must have some copy of paperwork showing you own that item as the sheriff will need it.
If not, get the largest or pair of large friends to assist you. If it was mine, I may want to live a day in jail after I placed the item in my car & knocked that punk into next week. Being from the old school, it was effective to create no misunderstandings where one stood.
But, I guess I am not politically correct now-a-days. Perhaps that old book 'I'm OK, Your OK' is a reference now. I believe that person is not OK by any means.
My 2 cents.
Re: I'm getting the run around and want my unit back--need advice - pmsummer 15:09:49 11/10/05 (0)
Take a friend to help you "carry" your gear. Be super nice (maybe offer to pay a "diagnostic fee" if he's looked at it).
If there's any good place to eat nearby (say, barbecue?), maybe offer to meet him for lunch, your treat.
Be nice. If his life is going badly south and he has pulled his wagons into a circle, your being nice and understanding is the best policy.
But take a friend (not the sheriff), unless he has made physical threats against you.
--
simul justus et peccator
Just had a similar situation with a speaker repair company - grinagog 00:53:16 11/10/05 (2)
that quoted me for a fortnights turnaround on a recone that subsequently dragged into 3 months of emails, faxes, phonecalls and frustration
Eventually I contacted the consumer affairs department of the State this company was in, and supplied them with copies of all correspondence between us; they called him up and asked for his side of the story
He had my speaker back to me within 10 days; the complaint cost me nothing
Arriving with the Sheriff is an option after you have succeeded in a small claims Court action, which requires you, and him, to appear at a hearing in front of a judge
There is a small filing fee to get this moving
If he doesn't turn up for the Court date, you win by default, go get the Sheriff with the Court order in hand and you can both go pay him a visit, but this may be a last resort if a consumer affairs complaint has failed If he's a business, contacting them would be my 1st move
You can fill out forms online to get this happening; I've included a link for a State of California small claims Court action procedure + consumer affairs FYI, a websearch will find the info for other States
Don't risk your safety if you think he might be dangerous ( ! ) there are other viable options and it's not worth the risk
Good Luck!
Grins
- Consumer affairs + small claims for CA links here (Open in New Window)
- Re: Just had a similar situation with a speaker repair company - JoeEL-34 17:33:58 11/12/05 (1)
  Are the initals of the place you brought it to "CC" by any chance? If so, yes that guy *is* nuts.
  - Actually not the same company - grinagog 19:00:16 11/13/05 (0)
    I won't "name names" as ultimately this issue was amicably resolved; and I'm happy with the repair
    Grins

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