A Shop Just Broke My Camera! ARG!

[Robin]

I got my camera back from Sony a couple of months ago after having it fixed under warranty. When I gave it in it had no protector plastic on the screen and when I got it back the engineers had put some kind of suck down plastic wrap over it (probably to protect it whilst fixing).

Anyway I thought I would leave it on until I bought a proper screen protector, which was today. I took it to a shop and despite me knowing the model and the size of the screen the guy wanted to see it so I gave it to him, thinking he was just going to check the size.... but instantly before I can say anything he rips of this plastic wrap thing at such speed like he was waxing someone’s back!

Well he ripped the entire top blue-ish coating off the surface of the screen leaving it patchy and totally wrecked. HE RIPPED THE SCREEN OFF! He bloody knew what he had done and just quickly chucked me the camera and said "its you word against mine", before I even protested. Damn I was ready to call the Police but it probably wouldn’t have done any good.

So I went straight to Sony and handed it in to get the screen replaced, its going to cost like £100 on a camera which costs £270. I am absolutely livid, I cannot believe that anyone would tear something off so damn fast probably because he was a total slob who doesn’t give a damn. I didn’t even give him permission to remove it, I would have carefully pealed it off at home like everyone else.

If this was an SLR camera or something I would have probably filed a complaint with the Police. Problem is I don’t know where the law stands with something like this. Also there the issue about whether this was actually Sony's fault for putting something on the screen that might have been too adhesive but you know Sony will manage to get out of that one!

Its been a bad day

Robin.

 

[HenGTX]

It doesn't matter what kind of camera it is.

If it was mine, I'd go back to the shop and called the manager.
They are insured for things like this and it's their fault.

Him saying it's your word against mine is admitting he's wrong.

If he does such a thing it's probably not the first time he broke something.

Good Luck.

 

[Jay]

Sorry to hear.

You should have got/requested the manager straight away (assuming it wasn't him), who cares if it was your word agaist his, make your stand. Most stores have CCTV's these days which would have crushed his word.

 

[Robin]

Because I was only looking for a screen protector it was a small independant shop and I think he might have been the manager / owner. There was no CCTV that I was aware of not that it would do me any good if its his own system! To be honest I was kinda intimidated and dont really want to go back, he looked like a thug!

I went to a few other stores before his and some of them asked to see the camera, NOT ONE person removed the plastic so I assumed he wouldnt, I guess I was wrong.

Robin.

 

[Neal]

As it was an independent shop and the guy is obviously dishonest I'm not convinced you'd get it sorted at no cost and no hassle by going back in.

You should contact The Citizens Advice Bureau and The Trading Standards. Explain exactly what happened and they will tell you where you stand and what you can do about it. The Trading Standards may even take the case up for you.

I'd be incandescent with rage if that happened to me, I hope you get this sorted out and put him out of business. Good luck.

 

[Omnis]

As it was an independent shop and the guy is obviously dishonest I'm not convinced you'd get it sorted at no cost and no hassle by going back in.

You should contact The Citizens Advice Bureau and The Trading Standards. Explain exactly what happened and they will tell you where you stand and what you can do about it. The Trading Standards may even take the case up for you.

I'd be incandescent with rage if that happened to me, I hope you get this sorted out and put him out of business. Good luck.

Do the above. If that doesn't work...

 

[Neal]

That was my first first idea after reading Robin's post, probably wouldn't get the camera fixed or be worth the jail time though...maybe do it once the camera's fixed

 

[Seismica]

As it was an independent shop and the guy is obviously dishonest I'm not convinced you'd get it sorted at no cost and no hassle by going back in.

You should contact The Citizens Advice Bureau and The Trading Standards. Explain exactly what happened and they will tell you where you stand and what you can do about it. The Trading Standards may even take the case up for you.

I'd be incandescent with rage if that happened to me, I hope you get this sorted out and put him out of business. Good luck.

Best. Advice. Ever.

Seriously though, Citizens Advice and Trading Standards are excellent. It's a shame not too many people know about them/use them when situations like this arise.

 

[Solid Lifters]

Nah, sounds like he'd enjoy the insurance payout and go do something else.

However, you should trail this guy after closing and see what car he drives. Go back the next day and slash all his tires.

Every once in a blue moon, go back and slash them again.

 

[boiltheocean]

Wow what a tool, I'd hate it if some jerk did that to any of my cameras (although 2 out of 3 don't have screens).

Maybe walk back to the shop with some wax strips and go to town on his eyebrows then finish of with "How do you like it?"

 

[SRV2LOW4ME]

Wow, I wouldn't have walked out of there without something (fixed camera, new camera, etc.)

If he really pulled that stuff, I would have walked around the shop breaking random things while saying "your word against mine...whoops, your word against mine" and then left, only to come back later that night to spray paint what the person had done and said on the walls of the shop. Cheap camera or not, no store should pull that sort of stunt with a customer.

 

[exigeracer]

I would have called him on his bluff. His intimidation worked on you. I can guarantee the police would intimidate the hell out of a character like this, and vandalism of this sort is a criminal offense. I'd bet even drawing your cellphone and dialing 9-1- (whatever half the emergency phone number is in the UK?) would intimidate him enough. Certainly don't break his things or slash his tires, that won't get you anywhere.

It is also very likely that this isn't the first time this has happened, as you mentioned, at which point it is the word of multiple people people against his, hopefully documented in police reports.

It is far easier said than done, but you shouldn't let yourself get pushed around like that.

 

[Golfman]

Do the above. If that doesn't work...

Nice picture from GTA3 there. It was GTA3 wasn't it?

 

[ExigeEvan]

Personally I'd have punched him, said "it's your word against mine" and left.

But then thinking about it, you should probably follow the advice given above.

 

[Nero9]

At least your phone was'nt stolen...mine was.

 

[a6m5]

Yeah, if something like that happened to me(in the U.S.), I would file with Better Business Bureau. I wouldn't have left the store so easily though. I would have complained & hassled, made a huge deal out of it. Then gone to Better Business Bureau.

 

[Joey D]

I'd bet even drawing your cellphone and dialing 9-1- (whatever half the emergency phone number is in the UK?) would intimidate him enough.

0118 999 881 999 119 7253

 

[Robin]

All your suggestions were hilarious, nice to know your such model law abiding citizens! It had crossed my mind to have it 'taken care of' but I don’t think im that well connected .

But seriously in that moment it was easier said than done to do something about it, I wanted to go all 'postal' but I knew it would probably be a bad thing to do.

I rang the various government departments and basically there’s nothing much I can do, because there were no witnesses and no evidence that he did this to my camera its like a hit and run. If this had been a bigger chain store such as Curries / Dixons it would have been much easier to sort out because it would be all on CCTV plus those stores have proper insurance for this sort of thing. I could have probably had it sorted out in store there and then.

Oh well you live and learn, now waiting to hear what Sony says. I'm even more pissed about it today than yesterday and I'm never handing over anything to a shop person ever again!

Robin.

 

[ExigeEvan]

That's the thing that kicks me. There's a mass of people that constantly denounce the use of the Chain Stores, but this is why we still use them. In the past I've been to get a phone unlocked, and it was hella dodgy in that place. So much so that after I handed them my phone, asked for it back again so I could take the memory card out.

But if you go to a chain store and they mess up, you are at least assured they will probably kiss your ass and bribe you so you don't take the issue any further.

I don't know how many people you know in the photography community, but FaceBook is always a good way to make people aware of shady stores.

 

[a6m5]

Similar incidents happen at my work place, great once in awhile. We are independently owned automotive dealer. If I don't initiate a replacement, or refund, you, the customer can ask for my manager, he would order me to issue a refund. There is no insurance. We eat the cost.

If you ask me, there is nothing wrong with non-chain stores & dealers, as long as they are not ran by crooks.

And Robin's comment about how it was easier said than done, while that is true, if somebody rip you off, you can't just shrug it off, walk away. The VERY least they can do is try to make it right. At least try.

 

[Touring Mars]

Sorry to hear that, Robin. I don't have any clever or useful suggestions, but I do have two words that you might want to consider... they are 'poo' and 'envelope'.... just make sure you get his name and address right