someone stole my STHIL line trimmer..@the shop

[vash]

DAMN! i took it into the shop. the on/off switch was acting funny. sometimes it wouldnt shut off. i worked it hard for 5 hours a few weeks ago.

anyways took it in for a check up. they wanted $125+ for a tune up, and i politely declined..what,,spark plug, air filter..whatelse? they said they needed a week. they took it apart and found nothing. switch works fine. they were to charge me $51...whatever. they never called me back. i finally called them after about 12 days. they said it was done, switch is fine, diagnostic was going to be $51 dollars. wife went to get it. they couldnt find it. i gave them 2 more days, and called them again. they told me they had a break in, and lost 3 line trimmers. one was mine! they looked mine up, and found that i bought it from them 5 years ago. the owner gave me his. a two year old machine. it runs fine, but i think something is unbalanced. the head vibrates more than my old one. any clues? should i mention it to him? he was bumming, and i didnt want to kick him when he was down. they still charged me the $51!!

maybe i'll let the sting of the break-in cool down and take it back to him. the unit is super clean. way cleaner than the one i took to them.

[Zeke]

I don't know if the 51 $ charge is correct, but a break in and they took 3 trimmers?

That doesn't compute.

[RWebb]

drug crazed speed freaks who don't think straight don't make very rational criminals

so, you got back something that is cleaner but works worse? and had to pay $51 for that?

tell him his insurance should pay you for your trimmer...

[bell]

First thing I would check that a police report was filed to make sure he's being honest about the break in.....
There is a chance that business has been slow and his insurance lapsed and he couldn't afford to pay out of pocket to replace?
Or that filing a claim for only 3 trimmers wouldn't be worth the rate increase.....
I don't think anyone with a good reputation would risk it in this scenario, if that is the case.....
Maybe employee theft? That would be more damaging than anything as it would make you question the trust to deal there....why would someone grab a beat trimmer? Would be harder to fence...but easier to cover up.....
I would have a one on one with him (being civil of course), I'm sure he'd fix the one he gave you at no charge.....there may be more going on internally than you're aware of....

[dad911]

I'd let it go. He did his best to make you whole.

[enzo1]

maybe they should have done the 51$ tune up on the 1 he gave you?

[cstreit]

I think he was trying to do the right thing, sort of. I'd have felt obligated to buy you a new one... ...but certainly no reason you shouldn't ask him to fix it.

[Por_sha911]

If yours was in perfect running condition he owes you the same (new or used). Charging you the full $51 was kind of cheap. I'd have asked for a new trimmer or a discount on the price. You definitely need to ask someone (maybe call another shop) about the vibration. He owes you a good trimmer since he lost yours and he charged you full price.