1). Express your concerns to the business owner in writing, documenting all conversations you have had with him and his employees. Stick to the facts and state what you want him to do to restore you, and why you feel that any previous oral conversations have been unsatisfactory to you. Don’t speculate about, e.g., the cause of the damage. Just state (if true) that the bike was not damaged when you gave it to them but now it is.
2) Wait some reasonable period for a response. If nothing acceptable results, file in Small Claims Court. Do not harass the shop further yourself.
3). Do not, under any circumstances, slander the business by posting defamatory rants in public, including social media. This will be used against you and undermine your credibility in a he said-he said case.
4). Do not say or do anything that could be construed as “uttering threats”, including threats to prosecute or litigate. This could land you in a heap of expensive legal trouble. Do not in your letter state, for example, that if he doesn’t fix your frame you “will be forced to take legal action”. That’s a threat. Just do it.
5). Do not discuss this case anywhere, including here, again. You either have a case or you don’t. Blabbing it all over town doesn’t strengthen it, even though you have stuck to reasonable, temperate language yourself. “All my friends think I’m right,” doesn’t carry any weight. Do collect neutral opinions from experts like a frame builder who gives an estimate to repair damage.
6). You might still lose. And even if you win, you might not be able to collect. “The law is an ass,” as Dickens said.
Last edited by conspiratemus1; 09-20-20 at 11:52 PM.