Robert L Boggs Clock Repair

I brought in an antique cuckoo clock that needed tuned up. He stripped off most of the parts and put on cheap replacements. It still doesn't work.In August 2014, I took my antique cuckoo clock to be tuned up. This man never stated what exactly needed to be done and I never got an estimate of what the charges would be. After a week, he called and said that it was ready. He said the cost would be $225. He wanted to be paid in CASH. When I went to pick up the clock, I was shocked! He had stripped off the hands and put on plastic ones, removed my chains and put on cheap metal ones, and the weights looked like something from a 5 & 10 cent store. He said that it would be $275 now instead of $225. I had to ask for a receipt, but he wouldn't sign it. I took the clock home, the pendulum stopped after 2 minutes. I called him; he came to my home. He sat down, held the clock between his knees, took out his pocket knife and started jabbing in the center of the clock. I yelled, "What are you doing?" He said that he had to break off a part in there. He hung it back on the wall; it worked for about 5 minutes, then started running fast. He adjusted the pendulum and said that that should do it. He left. In about 15 minutes, I noticed that it had stopped again. I called him back, furious! He said, "What's wrong with it now?" He wanted to come and get it, but I said NO. I called him back later that evening, and asked him if he'd be willing to refund some of my money, since he DID NOT fix my clock. He said that wasn't a good idea to him. SO, I'm stuck with a cuckoo clock that not only doesn't work, it has cheap replacement parts on it. I threatened legal action; he didn't seem to care.Desired SettlementI would like at least a partial refund since he didn't fix my clock.Business Response Looking back on my records, I did repair a cuckoo clock for a customer at this address in August 2014. I replaced the mechanism and the charge was $275.00. However, this was five months ago and I really can't remember a lot of details. I have repaired quite a few cuckoos since then.All mechanisms I replace are purchased at a reputable clock parts distributor and are ordered according to the numbers on the back of the old movement. New movements come with chains and hands (yes, the hands are now plastic -wooden hands can be ordered separately if I can find the right size and they are quite a bit more expensive), new bellows are ordered separate if needed. I use the customer's old weights unless they are not heavy enough for the new mechanism, I might add new weights look the same as old -they all look alike.My standard procedure is to call the customer if the old movement is not repairable and get their okay to replace it. I don't do this without their permission. They are given an estimate at that time. Sometimes I know right away that a movement can't be fixed and this is discussed at the time of drop off with the understanding that the estimate could go higher or lower according to what is needed and labor involved.I am not set up for credit cards so customers are told (if they ask) that payment is cash or check. I have never asked for cash. A receipt is always available to anyone that needs one. I want satisfied customers so I will go back if necessary and work on clocks or bring them back and work more on them (no extra charge) until the customer is happy. I don't jab clocks with my pocket knife - yes, I might use the knife to adjust or clip something or replace a chain on a sprocket if my tools are not handy.I do not recall any discussion about refunds or legal action for any customers. This is something I think I would remember. I would have been happy to work with this clock until she was satisfied.I am sorry I can't be more specific to this claim but five months ago makes it hard to remember details.