Recompense after losing 40th b'day pressie?

1MoreBadWeek

Hi Everyone, I don't know if this is the right forum to ask this, however, I'll try. A High Street Jewelry shop accepted my Husbands watch that I gave him as a 40th Birthday present in a lovely romantic setting so therefore has huge sentimental value (yes, even to him!). After the 6 weeks quoted, we were told they could not track it down, we've now been told that it has been lost by the manufacturers. We think we have been offered a replacement watch, by the manufacturers, as we would expect, however feel that the company we entrusted our valuable watch to should recompense us. We have suggested 10% of the value of the watch, does this seem reasonable to others?
1MoreBadWeek

4743hudsonj

1MoreBadWeek wrote: »

Hi Everyone, I don't know if this is the right forum to ask this, however, I'll try. A High Street Jewelry shop accepted my Husbands watch that I gave him as a 40th Birthday present in a lovely romantic setting so therefore has huge sentimental value (yes, even to him!). After the 6 weeks quoted, we were told they could not track it down, we've now been told that it has been lost by the manufacturers. We think we have been offered a replacement watch, by the manufacturers, as we would expect, however feel that the company we entrusted our valuable watch to should recompense us. We have suggested 10% of the value of the watch, does this seem reasonable to others?
1MoreBadWeek

I sorry to say but 10% seems an awful lot considering you havnt had any tangible loss.

If they didnt tell you and just replaced it, would you have noticed?.

I really do understand the sentimental value but i cant help but feel its not something you can put a figure to and demand compensation, besides, it wasnt even the retailers fault so why should they suffer. They may offer some recompense but i doubt they legally have to for sentimtiment.

neilmcl

We're not dealing with the C word again, are we. If the Jewellers/manufacturers can replace the watch with an identical replacement then why do you feel that you require compensation. What loss have you suffered?

BlueAngelCV

neilmcl wrote: »

We're not dealing with the C word again, are we. If the Jewellers/manufacturers can replace the watch with an identical replacement then why do you feel that you require compensation. What loss have you suffered?

I really dislike the compensation culture (I am a Defendant lawyer so it is my job to hate it!) but this item had sentimental value.

I would ask them for compensation, there is nothing to lose. But don't be suprised if you don't get it.

jillymit

I would have thought that a lot of items they deal with have some sentiment attached. Was it a unique item, engraved or anything?
Do they mention any compensation / insurance in their terms and conditions when they accepted the watch for whatever reason (you didn't say)?

I understand how an item of jewellery or watch may mean a lot to someone, I'd be gutted if I lost (or someone else lost) something of mine but I wouldn't have thought the company are obliged to compensate your husband for anything other than the cost of the watch.
I agree with the others, no harm in asking!

jillymit

Please can you let us know how you get on OP?

It can be torture for a nosey parker like me never to know the outcome!
Thanks

1MoreBadWeek

After much wrangling, we received a cheque covering the cost of the watch & 10% of the replacement value, this was after finally phoning the parent company. We had been told that a variety of different outcomes were in place, which hadn't been, but the cheque is now in the bank & we will look to replacing the watch. Not the outcome we would have wanted - we wanted the watch back, but at least we can now buy another watch albeit without the sentimental value the original one had.
Thanks for your feedback, 1MoreBadWeek