Beware of Inflated Estimates
Antigue clock suddenly began to run only ten minutes. Took to Suburban Clock for estimate. On delivery, I found a screw which had come out loose inside the case and this was pointed out to staff. Left clock for them to check over and provide estimate. A week later, was informed that clock needed a total rebuild and new main spring at cost of $400. Retrieved clock. Noticed that clock had not been checked prior to estimate (to check it the screw would have had to be reinstalled and it had not been touched). Installed screw myself in 1 minute. Clock now works great. This estimate for total rebuild and main spring was made without checking clock over and was not needed.
As non clock makers, customers are quite vulnerable to up-charged estimates for work that is not needed -- so beware that this business would have done all this work on my clock which only needed a single screw put back in place.