Had a customer in my shop try to fix a shutter with a toothpick and super glue

This was in my small shop in Tacoma last month, and the guy said he 'saw a video' and thought it would work. The repair bill ended up being over $400 to fix the mess he made of the curtain and the blade mechanism. Has anyone else had to deal with a DIY fix that went really wrong like that?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_dylan7d agoMost Upvoted

Honestly, sometimes you have to admire the hustle. The guy saw a problem and tried to fix it with what he had, which is more than most people do. Not every DIY attempt works out, but at least he was trying to learn and not just throwing money at a pro right away. That kind of creative problem solving is how a lot of people actually get good at fixing things, even if they mess up a few times first. Calling it a "recipe for a bigger bill" ignores the fact that everyone starts somewhere, and failure is part of the process.

spencerm4616d ago

My buddy in Portland had a tenant try to fix a leaky kitchen faucet with a balloon and a hose clamp. He said it was a "temporary solution" he found online. The water damage to the cabinet and floor ended up costing over two grand to fix, all because he didn't want to call a plumber for a fifty dollar part. Some of these internet fixes are just a recipe for a bigger bill.

jennyp1916d ago

My old apartment had a constant drip under the sink. I watched a few videos and learned to replace the cartridge myself for about twelve bucks at the hardware store. Took me maybe twenty minutes with the right wrench, and it actually held until I moved out. Sometimes the fix is simple if you find a decent tutorial.