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Thread: I can't get my 4x5 back from the repair guy

  1. #1

    I can't get my 4x5 back from the repair guy

    Hi, I sent my 4x5 camera to a repair person in another state a year ago. He put the wrong type of bellows on it, and he did not attach the bellows correctly to the camera. So I sent it back to him a few weeks ago. He acknowledged that he had put the wrong bellows on it and that he would replace the wrong one with the right one. But now I can't get him to return my camera. He also doesn't answer my emails sometimes for days, nor does he take my calls, nor does he return my calls.

    I am getting worried about getting my camera back. I have been calling him and emailing him every day. Last week I asked him to return my camera by Friday; I got no answer. I emailed him yesterday to ask him if he had sent it; no answer. Today I called him and left a message; no response.

    What is the best way to deal with this? I suppose I could call the Better Business Bureau for his state. Is there another way or a better way to get my camera back? I need it.

    Thanks,

    Shannon Stoney

  2. #2

    Join Date
    Sep 1998
    Location
    Loganville , GA
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    14,409

    Re: I can't get my 4x5 back from the repair guy

    BBB can’t do much. An attorney letter or reporting to the police might do something since they have possession of your property.

  3. #3

    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles de Porciúncula
    Posts
    5,808

    Re: I can't get my 4x5 back from the repair guy

    Do you want it returned, or fixed and returned?

    This is one of those problematic situations. Police likely can’t help because your goods weren’t stolen, robbed, converted, or being held against your will. You sent it with the intent of getting satisfaction for the work you paid the person to do. No crime; no laws to be enforced. A non-response to your email might not be enough to establish nefarious intent for inaction per the terms you set.

    The law generally “requires and expects” you to give the person an opportunity to make the situation right.... which is exactly what you did. Are you withdrawing that request for satisfaction or trying to ascertain a timeline? It sounds like the former.

    As a civil matter you have limited options: a legal”demand to perform “ might be your best bet. That would be the “lawyer letter” mentioned by Bob, but you can do it yourself but get the language very precise: what exactly do you want the vendor to do to satisfy your contract or expectations. After that, if that doesn’t work... small claims court.

    Good luck... these are frustrating situations!

  4. #4

    Join Date
    Dec 2005
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    El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles de Porciúncula
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    Re: I can't get my 4x5 back from the repair guy


  5. #5

    Re: I can't get my 4x5 back from the repair guy

    I want it returned. He claims he did repair it, but at this point I just want it back, whether it's repaired or not. If not, I can send it to a different repair person.

    I am trying to get some sort of response from the repair guy about what he intends to do: that is, when he intends to return my camera.

    I am hoping that some sort of complaint from BBB will light a fire under him. If not, then a lawyer letter seems like a good second option.

  6. #6

    Re: I can't get my 4x5 back from the repair guy

    Thanks, Brian, I will also send a demand letter.

  7. #7

    Join Date
    Dec 2005
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    El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles de Porciúncula
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    Re: I can't get my 4x5 back from the repair guy

    BBB complaint has limitations. Might not be appropriate or effective. Use that, and small claims court, as a consequence of inaction in your demand letter.

  8. #8

    Re: I can't get my 4x5 back from the repair guy

    I have never used small claims court. If the other party is in another state, it seems that you have to file the claim in their state. Does that mean you have to appear in court in their state? This seems unfair to customers in other states: it would make it so easy for mail-order businesses to screw over people in other states. Surely there's some remedy for cases like this when the business is in one state and the customer is in another state.

  9. #9

    Re: I can't get my 4x5 back from the repair guy

    I realized that I paid the repair person with paypal. So I filed a complaint within paypal. Hopefully that will help too.

  10. #10
    darr's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    The South
    Posts
    2,291

    Re: I can't get my 4x5 back from the repair guy

    Who is the repair person or company name?

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