A guy in a beat up van offered to fix my storefront sign for $50

I own a small hardware shop on Grand River and my old sign was flickering. This guy pulls up in a van that looked like it survived the '80s and said he could fix it cheap. I was sure he'd make it worse or just take the money. He had it working in under an hour, used parts from his van, and it's been solid for 4 months now. Turns out he's been fixing signs for businesses around here for 15 years. Has anyone else had a surprisingly good experience with a local repair person you almost turned away?

3 comments

3 Comments

milam481mo ago

My old cooler at the deli was making a noise like a dying animal. This older woman in a station wagon full of tools said she could fix it for 80 bucks. I almost said no, but she had it running quiet and cold in 45 minutes. That was two years ago and it hasn't skipped a beat since. You really can't judge a repair by the vehicle they drive, can you?

hill.margaret1mo ago

Isn't it wild how the best fix can come from the most unexpected person? Your story about the woman in the station wagon, @milam48, is a perfect example. She saved your cooler for way less than a big company would charge, and the repair actually lasted. Makes you wonder how many other people are out there with that kind of skill just driving around.

emma_flores1mo ago

What kind of tools did she even have in that wagon?