Changing the price after the fact!

amother

Impatiens

Thu, Sep 30 2021, 2:05 am

amother [ OP ] wrote:

I actually once had a story years ago with a frum guy that I will never forget. The earpiece of my glasses snapped off. I went to a glasses store but the owner said he couldn't fix it. He recommended I go to a certain (frum) silversmith who fixes silver.

I went to the store and showed the owner my glasses. He told me he can fix it for $15. I agreed and he wrote out an invoice for that amount. He told me to come back in 20 minutes.

When I returned, there was a lady ahead of me waiting to pick up a silver kiddush cup. The man started wrapping it up and named a price. The lady objected that they had agreed on a different price She had the invoice to prove it. He responded that although he said it would cost x amount, he has to charge more because as he was fixing it, he noticed another dent. The lady started protesting that it was not right. They agreed on a price and it was not honest to change it. The guy got a little irritated, and, raising his voice said, "well what's the point of fixing this dent if you have another dent?!"

She continued saying that she didn't think it was fair, but the man didn't budge. Finally she just paid what he asked. What choice did she have?

I will admit that while I was watching this, I felt bad for the lady, but at the same time I was thinking that for sure he won't do the same shtick on me.

To my shock, as soon as the lady left the store, he said to me, "I hope you wont do to me what she did!"

I said, "what??"

He said that although he said he could fix it for $15, he has to charge $40. He started showing me that he planned to use a certain metal to connect the earpiece to the frame, but he realized it would not hold, so he had to use a stronger metal. And that costs more money.

I told him that I didn't think it was fair. It was an old pair of glasses, and I don't know if it made sense to spend $40 fixing it. But also, if he saw he couldn't do the job for the price we agreed on, he should have called me.

He started literally yelling at me that he fixed my glasses like new, and I gained a brand new pair of glasses. He said that if he would have called me, obviously I would have told him to fix it.

He was holding onto my glasses and wouldn't give it, so in the end I paid the money. I was so disgusted with his dishonest way of dealing with people.

PS, the glasses broke in the same place 2 months later.

Makes me so angry, people take advantage like this. They manipulate by yelling or sounding upset, and then you don't want to get them more mad. People, don't let yourselves! Stand your ground. Esp if the price was agreed upon beforehand. They have no right to do this!

champion

Thu, Sep 30 2021, 2:15 am

amother [ Snowflake ] wrote:

it sounds very unfair what she did.

But just pointing out that a 19 yr old is old enough to make the decision whether she'd like to just pay the $$ (assuming she's using her own money) or go fight for her rights. Unless she asks for advice/ help doing that.

The mom did 100% the right thing. She didn't belittle or force her daughter to do anything. She coached her to be an adult in a world of adults.
If your 35 year old friend was to timid to speak up for herself and was taken advantage of would you just stand by? I hope you would encourage her to stand up for her rights.

Last edited by champion on Thu, Sep 30 2021, 2:46 am; edited 1 time in total

DrMom

Thu, Sep 30 2021, 2:43 am

amother [ OP ] wrote:

we coached her to text the lady that they had agreed to a $70 facial and she never authorized a $230 dollar treatment. The lady answered back "ok. No stress. Money comes and goes." And just like that, it went from $200 back to $70.

"Just like your customers."

amother

Thu, Sep 30 2021, 2:48 am

DrMom wrote:

"Just like your customers."

Lol! Even though, my darling daughter said she wants to go back because the lady "was so nice!" Can't Believe It

DrMom

Thu, Sep 30 2021, 2:51 am

amother [ OP ] wrote:

Lol! Even though, my darling daughter said she wants to go back because the lady "was so nice!" Can't Believe It

What? Why would she want to give her heard-earned money to a thief?

Aren't there any other places to get a facial where you live?

amother

Thu, Sep 30 2021, 2:58 am

DrMom wrote:

What? Why would she want to give her heard-earned money to a thief?

Aren't there any other places to get a facial where you live?

I think she is still not convinced that the lady meant to cheat her. As I wrote above, she was dan l'kaf zchus that the lady assumed my daughter understood how she runs her business.

There must be other places. She just has to ask around. This lady was recommended by a friend, and my daughter made sure to tell the friend what happened.

singleagain

Thu, Sep 30 2021, 6:49 am

I know when I've taken my car to the mechanic for an oil change. They always call and say we found another problem. I rarely give them permission to actually do whatever they want. Bc most of the time I don't actually need that service.

Unless your daughter will be firm and insists on being told what treatments are changing in the middle. She shouldn't go back.

chanchy123

Thu, Sep 30 2021, 7:08 am

amother [ Snowflake ] wrote:

I'm 41 and I recently had a similar situation with a plumber. Some of us are just not so assertive, it's terrible to take advantage. I ended up paying a lot more than I had thought I would need to pay, but DH wouldn't let me pay the final asking price after he raised the sum for the fourth time. Some of us need the DH or parent or whatever to help us stand up for ourselves.

Rosanna

Thu, Sep 30 2021, 2:22 pm

Terrible. As well as the dishonesty, what infuriates me is the tone the therapist used in the subsequent interactions, as if she is a sweet, long-suffering tzedeikis and being the bigger person in the interaction. Punch

amother

Forestgreen

Thu, Sep 30 2021, 7:10 pm

Blessing1 wrote:

Why do you assume that the provider is jewish?

you have no idea how many jewish people try tricking innocent young girls awhile ago there was a poll asking people if they were cheated on at a job dont know where it is but its a sad reality for some people.

tp3

Thu, Sep 30 2021, 7:17 pm

amother [ OP ] wrote:

Similar story happened to me many years ago with my silver candlestick. Popular silver store.

amother

Chambray

Thu, Sep 30 2021, 7:25 pm

amother [ Impatiens ] wrote:

This.
I don't fall for it because I grew up with a father and brother who did this all the time. It's just manipulation. It's their problem if they want to be angry, not yours.

amother

Forestgreen

Thu, Sep 30 2021, 9:28 pm

people dont realise that its literally geneivah I worked in a place when I was a teenager I had youthcorp so I got paid from 9-3 they had me do bus duty and when I protested their excuse was that I was younger than the teacher so I had to do it. I was but it was still geneivah I worked for them from 8-4:30 and was only getting paid from 9-3 they also had another staff member who got youthcorp and they were paying her on top of the money she was getting from youthcorp. I sometimes wonder what they will answer after 120 like are they going to be shocked when they find out surprise! it actually is stealing even though I was "only" 18!

amother

Forestgreen

Thu, Sep 30 2021, 9:30 pm

I also get anoyed at people who take advantage of kids. just because the person is smaller is smaller than you doesnt mean you could take advantage of them.