Does the "You break it, you buy it" policy still apply if it was an accident?

I know most shops have a "You break it, you buy it" policy, but would this policy still apply if it was a genuine accident?

For instance, if someone was in an antique shop and accidentally bumped into a shelf, which knocked an expensive ornament onto the floor and it smashed, would the owner still make that person pay for it even though it wasn't done deliberately?

Reply 1

username3895014

21

I guess it depends on the shop owner. It probably still does though, especially if the ornament is expensive

(edited 5 years ago)

Reply 2

Andrew97

Entertainment Forum Helper, Debate & Current Affairs Helper

20

I would say yes, the majority of breakages in these shops will be accidents anyway. Nobody goes into an Antique shop with the aim of smashing everything up.

Reply 3

Good bloke

19

Yes but you only have to put the shop into the position it was in before the breakage. Hence, you only pay the wholesale price of the item, not the retail price.

Reply 4

Kinyonga

20

I'm not sure how many people go into a shop and break ornaments on purpose... Anyway, it probably really depends on the circumstances and how nice the shop owner is feeling.

Reply 5

Reality Check

22

Original post by 214124

I know most shops have a "You break it, you buy it" policy, but would this policy still apply if it was a genuine accident?

For instance, if someone was in an antique shop and accidentally bumped into a shelf, which knocked an expensive ornament onto the floor and it smashed, would the owner still make that person pay for it even though it wasn't done deliberately?

From a practical point of view, I'd recommend not going into an expensive antiques shop if you're prone to clumsiness.

Reply 6

akbar0123

18

Why would it not be an accident? Do people go around shops breaking things on purpose?

And yes, it does apply

Reply 7

Joleee

19

i broke something once in a gift shop. they didn't make me pay for it and i doubt most stores would. an antique shop is different tho because now you're talking about rare and probably one-of-a-kind pieces so fhey'd be pretty PO'd if you broke something. you can't exactly replace it.