The wife dropped the items off for cleaning, and (she says she) was told she could pick them up the next day or later. She then procrastinated for well over a month, and when she went to pick them up, the store told her they couldn’t find them.
Compensating us was mentioned, and they (say) they spent a whole week searching the shop. But then later they show us a stamped receipt saying they were picked up they same day they were dropped off.
This is despite the fact that she (says she was) only at the shop for about 10 minutes, and cleaning supposedly takes about 30 minutes (although they also said it takes 5-10 minutes… a couple of the things they said didn’t quite add up). She has receipts (figurative and literal) showing she was elsewhere around the time the cleaning would have been completed.
For reasons unknown, they didn’t give her a receipt (azukarisho), or even take pictures of the items.
Apparently for polishing and cleaning, he doesn’t bother with that sort of paperwork…
Also, the invoice (seikyuusho) or receipt (nohinsho) for the cleaning charge (which she says she never paid) did not have her signature on it. I should mention that these two forms and a third (missing) customer copy of the receipt (nohinsho) are all carbon copies of the same receipt.
Oh, and the shop \*doesn’t even have a security camera.\*
They also threw out the sheet where she wrote her name and number when she left the items.
So neither of us has solid evidence of anything other than the fact that the three items were cleaned.
Has anyone had a similar situation in Japan, and how was it resolved?
I have talked to a lawyer, but spending 100,000 yen for a retainer to \*maybe\* get compensation for jewelry worth a bit more than twice that amount seems dubious.
Leaving a bad review just seems like a good way to get sued in Japan.
FYI, I don’t think they stole them, even though the shop seems almost designed for this purpose. The guy is in the 70s and looked really distraught (and \*extremely\* defensive).
8 comments
It’s cute how we retain our idealistic views even through circumstances which disprove them.
I also was once was wide-eyed, optimistic and romantic about Japan.
No experience with this but wow, that sucks, condolences.
Your jewelry was not misplaced. They probably thought the owner forgot/abandoned it since it wasn’t picked up for over a month and sold it or something. They stole it.
Go to the local police box and take the officer to the shop.
Lawyer?!
Go to the POLICE. Report that your rings were stolen.
Why is this even being thought about. You didn’t go straight to the police head quarters already?
Imagine just like, not picking up an expensive but also invaluable sentimental item because you procrastinate over a month longer than when you were told to.
Like, you’re kind of setting up a timeline to invite error all the more.
How much do you trust your wife?
🤔
She waited for a MONTH?
Definitely as others said, got to koban and talk with an officer who’ll come with you to the shop.
Jewelry stores that misplace items are in major trouble.