how long before you can sell an item.
Discussion
Hi all just wondering what you all think and would appreciate any advice. A friend of mine is a master watch / clocksmith and has his own shop. He mainly repairs and restores antique types from pocket watches to grandfathers and everything in between he also repairs quality wristwatches. my question is this, He had a customer come in to his shop about 7 years ago for a watch repair, now it wasn't a rolex etc but still a good 300 quids worth of omega timepiece. since the repair was done the customer despite my friend trying to contact him on numerous occasions has never turned up to pay and collect. what would be a reasonable time to wait before he sold it to recoup the hours of work he put in and the parts he had to source. its been in his shop now going on 7 years and he is wondering what to do with it. as i say he has tried many times to contact the owner but nothing. what would be the correct way to deal ? sell it to recoup losses or hang on to it in the vague hope he may someday turn up. cheers for any advice, he just wants to do the right thing. i know 7 years is a long time but there is a person who realy wants to buy it and he is not sure what to do. my gut feeling would be sell it but not sure if legal.
This might be of interest:
https://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/upload/public/atta...
Be worth having a chat with his local Trading Standards just to confirm.
https://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/upload/public/atta...
Be worth having a chat with his local Trading Standards just to confirm.
Paintman , thank you for that, he will check with local trading standards next week but i think after what he has already done wich does comply with what is written there and the fact it is 7 years later the owner would not have a leg to stand on, also i suppose if he were to be bloody minded he could charge storage on the sale price also. thanks for the input and much appreciated. cheers.
evilmunkey said:
Paintman , thank you for that, he will check with local trading standards next week but i think after what he has already done wich does comply with what is written there and the fact it is 7 years later the owner would not have a leg to stand on, also i suppose if he were to be bloody minded he could charge storage on the sale price also. thanks for the input and much appreciated. cheers.
I've got an antique Rolex half-hunter pocket watch that needs a new winding stem, can he do it?.7 years on and he's only now trying to work out what to do with the watch? 
How much effort has he made in that 7 years to find out what happened to the customer? - "Tried ringing his number a few times but it's never been answered!"?
Personally, after 12 months had passed I think I would have been trying to find out what had happened to the customer, such as, had they died?, moved away etc., etc., etc.
7 years down the road, the first thing I would get onto social media (facebook for a start off), to see if the owner is on there, or if any their family or friends are on there, who might know what happened, and try to repatriate the watch to it's rightful owner before simply selling it on - There could be someone out there for whom the watch means a lot more than £300!
How much effort has he made in that 7 years to find out what happened to the customer? - "Tried ringing his number a few times but it's never been answered!"?
Personally, after 12 months had passed I think I would have been trying to find out what had happened to the customer, such as, had they died?, moved away etc., etc., etc.
7 years down the road, the first thing I would get onto social media (facebook for a start off), to see if the owner is on there, or if any their family or friends are on there, who might know what happened, and try to repatriate the watch to it's rightful owner before simply selling it on - There could be someone out there for whom the watch means a lot more than £300!
Tablecloth said:
I've got an antique Rolex half-hunter pocket watch that needs a new winding stem, can he do it?.
more than likely he is based in otley , a great chap called stuart and a real craftsman. he is up the arcade near the top on the left https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g6... he is as straight honest as they come and is a true watch and clock expert, if he cant do it i doubt i can be done.4rephill said:
7 years on and he's only now trying to work out what to do with the watch?
How much effort has he made in that 7 years to find out what happened to the customer? - "Tried ringing his number a few times but it's never been answered!"?
Personally, after 12 months had passed I think I would have been trying to find out what had happened to the customer, such as, had they died?, moved away etc., etc., etc.
7 years down the road, the first thing I would get onto social media (facebook for a start off), to see if the owner is on there, or if any their family or friends are on there, who might know what happened, and try to repatriate the watch to it's rightful owner before simply selling it on - There could be someone out there for whom the watch means a lot more than £300!
he is not on the internet, has no interest in it but has tried calling , letters etc. but because he is honest as the day is long he has held on to it . i could get the details of the person come to think of it and try trace them for him. that had not occurred , that said its unlikley the customer would be on social media given his age. he did see him2 years ago and told him the watch was waiting for him but he never came into the shop. and quite right if it had sentimental value it needs to go to the rightful owner. but that said if it had that value wouldnt the owner or family come get it. he gave reciepts to the bloke etc so you would think the family would have that if anything had happened. he is in no rush to get rid but wants to do the right thing. and also he has put time and money into the repairs and he is a business not a charity.How much effort has he made in that 7 years to find out what happened to the customer? - "Tried ringing his number a few times but it's never been answered!"?
Personally, after 12 months had passed I think I would have been trying to find out what had happened to the customer, such as, had they died?, moved away etc., etc., etc.
7 years down the road, the first thing I would get onto social media (facebook for a start off), to see if the owner is on there, or if any their family or friends are on there, who might know what happened, and try to repatriate the watch to it's rightful owner before simply selling it on - There could be someone out there for whom the watch means a lot more than £300!
4rephill said:
7 years on and he's only now trying to work out what to do with the watch?
How much effort has he made in that 7 years to find out what happened to the customer? - "Tried ringing his number a few times but it's never been answered!"?
Personally, after 12 months had passed I think I would have been trying to find out what had happened to the customer, such as, had they died?, moved away etc., etc., etc.
7 years down the road, the first thing I would get onto social media (facebook for a start off), to see if the owner is on there, or if any their family or friends are on there, who might know what happened, and try to repatriate the watch to it's rightful owner before simply selling it on - There could be someone out there for whom the watch means a lot more than £300!
None of that is his responsibility, most garages have a clause in the contract stating if a bill isn't paid within a certain time storage charges apply and the owner loses the right to the car if he doesn't pay it.How much effort has he made in that 7 years to find out what happened to the customer? - "Tried ringing his number a few times but it's never been answered!"?
Personally, after 12 months had passed I think I would have been trying to find out what had happened to the customer, such as, had they died?, moved away etc., etc., etc.
7 years down the road, the first thing I would get onto social media (facebook for a start off), to see if the owner is on there, or if any their family or friends are on there, who might know what happened, and try to repatriate the watch to it's rightful owner before simply selling it on - There could be someone out there for whom the watch means a lot more than £300!
why should the shop owner chase the customer 7 years on, just the fact he still has the watch waiting shows his honesty but you must think differently
wack said:
None of that is his responsibility, most garages have a clause in the contract stating if a bill isn't paid within a certain time storage charges apply and the owner loses the right to the car if he doesn't pay it.
why should the shop owner chase the customer 7 years on, just the fact he still has the watch waiting shows his honesty but you must think differently
That might be the OP's friend's problem, It sounds like there is no contract in this case, and he certainly can't charge for storage if that's the case.why should the shop owner chase the customer 7 years on, just the fact he still has the watch waiting shows his honesty but you must think differently
evilmunkey said:
Tablecloth said:
I've got an antique Rolex half-hunter pocket watch that needs a new winding stem, can he do it?.
more than likely he is based in otley , a great chap called stuart and a real craftsman. he is up the arcade near the top on the left https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g6... he is as straight honest as they come and is a true watch and clock expert, if he cant do it i doubt i can be done.singlecoil said:
wack said:
None of that is his responsibility, most garages have a clause in the contract stating if a bill isn't paid within a certain time storage charges apply and the owner loses the right to the car if he doesn't pay it.
why should the shop owner chase the customer 7 years on, just the fact he still has the watch waiting shows his honesty but you must think differently
That might be the OP's friend's problem, It sounds like there is no contract in this case, and he certainly can't charge for storage if that's the case.why should the shop owner chase the customer 7 years on, just the fact he still has the watch waiting shows his honesty but you must think differently
4rephill said:
7 years on and he's only now trying to work out what to do with the watch?
How much effort has he made in that 7 years to find out what happened to the customer? - "Tried ringing his number a few times but it's never been answered!"?
Personally, after 12 months had passed I think I would have been trying to find out what had happened to the customer, such as, had they died?, moved away etc., etc., etc.
7 years down the road, the first thing I would get onto social media (facebook for a start off), to see if the owner is on there, or if any their family or friends are on there, who might know what happened, and try to repatriate the watch to it's rightful owner before simply selling it on - There could be someone out there for whom the watch means a lot more than £300!
Problem is he probably had another set of watches to repair so did not have the spare time How much effort has he made in that 7 years to find out what happened to the customer? - "Tried ringing his number a few times but it's never been answered!"?
Personally, after 12 months had passed I think I would have been trying to find out what had happened to the customer, such as, had they died?, moved away etc., etc., etc.
7 years down the road, the first thing I would get onto social media (facebook for a start off), to see if the owner is on there, or if any their family or friends are on there, who might know what happened, and try to repatriate the watch to it's rightful owner before simply selling it on - There could be someone out there for whom the watch means a lot more than £300!
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