Conference napalm::guitar

    If the instructions that I gave the repair shop "verbal", then I
    don't think I'd have much choice.
    
    You would have been better off demanding a *Written Estimate*!
    
    cheers/mike

    
    
      Definately "A"
    
    a) I would re-state the terms that were agreed upon.
          ( that if repairs went over X amount,etc.)
    b) Have the person who was told the above(a) present at the
       confrontation.    
    c) Carry in an Uzi.
    
       Did you sign anything when you brought the ill amp in?.
    Like something that will allow the repair person to charge 1000%
    of the agreed upon ESTIMATE?.
       If so, you may be hurtin'.
    
                                    Good luck,
                                        Rich
    
     

    	Filling in "real dollars" might clarify the situation. The 
    amount that I requested is $100. The amount that it came in at
    is $132. Not too much difference $$-wise, but we all can find
    better things to do with our money. I didn't sign anything and
    the sales guy *wrote* on the sales slip that I didn't want it to
    go over $100. Unfortunately, I don't have a copy of that original
    slip, I never was given it.

    -Tom

    
    Sometimes, you have to ask yourself what would have happened if they
    had actually called (obviously a hypothetical situation) and told you
    the cost was going to be higher - how would you have responded?  If you
    would have told 'em "no way", then stick to your guns.  If you would 
    have responded "go ahead", then maybe you can rationalize paying 'em.
    Either way, negotiate!  Talk to the manager, maybe he'll split the
    difference.  Good luck.  

    
    
      After all, the part probably cost $00.14.
    

    
    Argue your point, the worst is you have to paid in full if you want
    your amp back.
    

    Find out the breakdown of the repair cost.  The repair tech might
    have found a more expensive part went than originally anticipated.
    He/She may have also spent much more time on the repair than estimated.
    In other words, the $132 may actually represent a better deal than
    it looks.  If you intend on maintaining an ongoing relationship
    with this store, it may not be worth arguing over especially if
    the repair was actually worth the money.  It wouldn't hurt to voice
    some dissatisfaction though. They at least need to know they blew
    it and be given an opportunity to respond. jt

    
    
    	Just to clear up some confusion, I took the amp to one of
    "a well known music store chain" that happens to be an authorized
    dealer for the brand of amp. I didn't take it to the repair shop.
    All the salesperson did was take my amp and give me a claim 
    check. The store then trucks it to their repair facility , where
    the actual work is done. 
    
    	What all the above is leading to is that I never got an "estimate"
    done at all. The $100 represents what I think it's worth to me to 
    have it fixed. The amp has two power amps in it, only one of 
    which was broken and the amp was still useable through the other
    channel. I can accept than an estimate is just and estimate and
    the actual cost to fix may be more than that. This is not one
    of those situations.
    
    	Looking at it from another angle. What if all I had was $100 to
    spend on the repair? I mean what if I'm flat broke and don't have
    the $32 extra to pay? What happens then?
    
    Just speculatin'
    
    -Tom
     

    
    I agree with most of the other replies....Bitch!!!
    
    Look, they did the work without an estimate.  Tell them you specified
    you wanted one (whether that was clear to them or not).  Complain.
    If it's the store where you've been dropping your cash lately, tell them
    you expect better service as a regular customer.  Tell them you will
    also be contacting Peavey to bitch (unit should be under warranty, etc.
    why are they charging you $132, etc.).  
    
    Then if they say kiss off, pay the $132 and take your amp (hopefully
    working).  Maybe they will cut you some slack and eat the $32 if they
    want to keep your business.
    
    Being firm but calm always helps in these situations BTW....

    Seems like a reputable dealer/repair depot will be interested in
    keeping your business.  He might eat the $32...Especially if your
    a regualar customer etc...  He won't if you dont' belly-ache about
    it though.  You may think your comin' off as a pr*ck, but if he
    thinks he can take advantage once, he may try again...  Well, let
    us know what happens...And good luck.
    
    jc                                   

    	If this is the reputable dealer I think is??? The sales
    person might have entered your $100 limit on his computer
    terminal? I remember this is what they did with me,even though
    I never got a chance to closely read it. I also asked for a 
    phone call and never got it. My MVII spent 8 weeks in Calif.
    getting a suntan and it's power jack fixed.... :^(  Turnaround
    time sometimes has an effect on price....
    
    						Rick
    

    
    
    
    	Re: .-1
    
    	I'm sure it's your'e thinking of the same place. 
    
    	Tonight's the night, so I'll post the results tomorrow..
    
    -Tom
    

    Well, everyone else has already said it, but you have no chance of them
    doing anything about it if you don't complain.  If you do, the worst
    thing that can happen is that they refuse to lower the price and you
    have to pay what they said anyway (which is what you'll do if you don't
    complain).
    
    What it might do, even if it doesn't help you, is make them aware that
    they need to be more careful when people ask for that kind of thing. 
    Perhaps by bringing it up, you may be able to save their next customer
    (or yourself the next time) from getting the shaft the same way.
    
    I tend to agree that $32 is not really that big a deal, figure that
    probably $5-$10 of that is tax, which wouldn't have been included in
    your repair estimate anyway.  It's the principle of the thing you need
    to argue for.  You requested a certain service which they failed to
    perform, you are entitled to complain.  Demand Satisfaction!
    
    Go for it!
    Greg
                                                                    

    	I'd complain... and specifically state you did not want the amp
    repaired if it was over $100 limit. Of course this could have cost you
    $25 or whatever to find out it would cost more than a $100. 
    
    							Rick

    
    
    
    	re: .-1
    
    		I think if they had called and told me it would 
    be $132 before the job was done, I'm sure I'd have said ok,
    and been done with it. Like some one else here said, It's
    now a matter of principal. 
    
    		As usual, the advice here great. Thanks to
    everyone for the advice.
    
    -Tom
    

    
    
    	Here's the final scoop: I won! :-)
    
    	I went to pick up the amp last night and the salesman that
    I got couldn't find any record of the $100 "fix if under" 
    request. I have him a hard time for a while until it became
    clear that he wouldn't (couldn't) do anything about it. 
    
    	Anyway, I paid the $132 and called back to talk to the
    guy who did the original transaction 2 weeks ago. He knew who
    I was as soon as I told him my name.I guesss the word got out about the
    jerk who came in the night before :-).  It turns out that this
    guy is regional manager for this chain and he happened to 
    be in the store helping out when I dropped the amp off. He 
    said he remebered the arrangement and thought he probably 
    entered it into the computer wrong and I'll be issued a 
    credit for $32 to my credit card immediately. He also apologized
    profusely. 
    
    	I guess it pays to be complain, especially when you know you're
    right. Boy am I a happy camper!
    
    -Tom 
    
    

    Congrats!
    
    Reminds of the time my wife picked up a DOD Chorus Flanger for me (that
    was supposed to be a Roland delay-- Never let the wife, [God bless the
    woman] into a music store unattended again!)
    
    Anyway, she bought it at 'My Pals' Kurlan Music,,, (eeuuwwww)..
    
    Anyway, not only was it "Not what the man (me) asked for" it had
    this neat little feature in that if it wasn't working right at
    the time, a solid "WHAP" on the top of the unit would make it "work"
    as I assume it was supposed to.   (P.U.)
    
    so, noticing that A: It wasn't what I wanted, B: they didn't have
    what I wanted, and C: it was obviously a lemon, I called the first
    thing the next morning (Saturday) to say "Here I come, get a Visa Credit 
    ready!"
    
    When I got there I was poilitely informed that "We don't do refunds,
    but we'll get you another unit (e.g. piece-of-crap-useless-thing) to
    replace the defective one."
    
    I said, "Stop, don't bother, this is not what I want, you don't
    have what I want, so I want a Visa Credit"
    
    The guy then repeats, "Sorry, no refunds" (not so politely this time)
    while pointing to a sign posted, (that I guess was suppose to back up 
    his position) that stated NO CASH REFUNDS.
    
    I says, "Excuse me, I bought this with a Credit Card, there was no cash
    involved, and at this point your wasting my time and yours.  I'll tell
    you what comes next... I'm gonna make a complete scene infront of all
    these customers, and I'm gonna storm out-a-here, and immediately call
    my bank who holds the credit card and stop payment of this transaction... 
    Either way, YOU LOOSE! So you pick what happens next."
    
    He sighs, (Twas then I knew I had em!) shakes his head, and proceeds in
    writing up a Visa Credit, then has the BAWLS to say, 
    
    "Have a nice day, and come again !"
    
    I said, "Riiiiiggghhttt"  
    
    
    
    It'll be a cold day in hell before I ever think about purchasing
    anything there again.
    

    Good to hear, Tom!  I'm glad it worked out for ya.
    
    Greg

    I have learned by making a jerk out of mysylf several times, that it
    pays to be civil with people. It is okay to complain, and scrutinize
    people do you business with, as long as you do so in a polite manner,
    with no screaming, swearing, etc.  I probably would've paid the $132,
    but would have reminded them that they failed to call me with an
    estimate, and would have made it clear that in the future I will not
    accept any excuses for same.
    
    Reading through the lines, I am guessing that the store in question
    is Daddy's. I would like to relay a surprisingly pleasant experience
    I had with them recently.  Last summer I was in the market for a dual
    channel compressor/limiter. I heard about an Audio Logic MT66 through
    this notes file, which sounded like it would be perfect for me. I asked
    about this specific unit at Daddy's Shrewsbury store. They looked it up
    on the computer and said they had one in the warehouse and would
    transfer it. It originally was suppossed to take a few days to get it. 
    It ended up taking them 2 to 3 weeks, because the warehouse kept 
    sending it to the wrong store. Finally, they got the unit, and I ended
    up buying it for $299. After getting the unit home, I noticed A. There
    was no manual in the box, B. The box was for a quad gate. C. The unit
    had the remains of a price sticker on the face, which indicated to me
    that I had purchased a demo model, not a brand new unit.
    
    I brought the unit back to the store, and complained. The saleman 
    apologized, bought the unit back, and resold it to me for $229. He
    issued me a credit slip for the differance, and got me a manual from
    Audio Logic. All things considered, I feel that they treated me quite 
    fair, probably because they know I am the type of customer that will
    continue making purchases as long as they keep me satisfied.
    
    I have heard good and bad things about most music stores, but I
    don't like to pass judgement unless I know all the details. Some 
    music stores are unreasonable, but most will treat you good if you
    show them that you can be decent to deal with, and will become a long
    term customer.
    
    Mark