Missing helmet at Hua Hin motorbike shop

[Perente]

I took one of my motorbikes to the Yamaha shop on Phetkasem Road yesterday. The red place, where the mechanics wear Honda shirts, and the two brothers seem to know what they’re doing. As usual I mimed the problem with the bike, used the words car-ber-etta, and gas-o-lene several times, then left the bike, keys and helmet with them and headed off to fill in the afternoon while they worked in it.
Back at 4:30 and the bike is running properly, I happily pay the bill and ask for my helmet. Confusion reigns. Much pointing at the spot on the desk where the helmet used to be, pantomime looking under the desk and around the workshop, then smiles all round, “Helmet no here.” No problem, it was a “Real” brand helmet, cost around 2800B, do something to replace it, you have helmets for sale here, I’ll accept just about anything, just a gesture to make me happy, I suggest. Much discussion on the phone to the girlfriend, passing of the phone amongst all the mechanics, eventually phone passed to the manager of the store. End result; smiles all round. “Helmet no here, you go home.” And, it now being 5pm, the shop is shut up around me.
A call to a friendly cop later that evening and he opines that since I left the helmet on the desk without actually placing it in the hands of one of the mechanics then it is not actually their responsibility, and there is not a lot I can do.
So, a warning to other board members, when you leave goods with a Thai for safekeeping, remember that all you’re likely to get in return is that wonderful Thai Smile.

[Edit: title changed to reflect content]

[dtaai-maai]

when you leave goods with a Thai for safekeeping, remember that all you’re likely to get in return is that wonderful Thai Smile.

Any Thai? Wow.

[Khundon1975]

There are usually a few "Missing helmets" around Hua Hin but when they sober up, they usually find their way home.

I'll get my coat.

[Perente]

You're right dtaai-maai. Maybe that was a bit of a broad generalization. Perhaps I should have said that in this particular shop, if you want to leave a helmet in their safekeeping you should personally hand it to one of the mechanics and make sure he acknowledges that it is now his personal responsibility to return it to you. Or, like me, all you may get is the famous "we know we've mucked up, but we're not going to do anything about that, like apologize or offer any compensation, so just go away" smile.......

At least the 160B plastic box from the shop around the corner is keeping the bib happy.

khundon. Sadly my helmet wasn't drinking yesterday.

[charlesh]

Handing property over to a third party DOES NOT make it their responsibility. It is YOURS!!!!!

[Ginjaninja]

Handing property over to a third party DOES NOT make it their responsibility. It is YOURS!!!!!

If the motorcycle shop has a theft problem on their premises then it is their responsibility to eradicate the problem.
If the bike was stolen during the service would the shop still refute responsibility? One may consider the helmet a motorcycle accessory and therefore part of the bike.
Either way I think it bad etiquette and I sympathize with the O.P.
Thieving b*ggers.

GN.

[ste860]

ive been using this shop for years and never had a problem and i know lots of others who do ,when ever ive left my bikes for service i always leave the helmet behind the counter , its never gone missing .

its your fault you left it on the desk ,everybody who waits to pick up their bike sits at it ,so its not surprising that someone took it ,would you leave your wallet on top of a bar while you went to the toilet ,

theft happens in every country and thailands no differant ,just remove temptation

besides all this the staff there might not of understood you ,they are only 1/2 that speak english in there ,so maybe they thought you took it with you

im not having a go at you either ,

[alleykat]

No CCTV at this shop?

[alleykat]

Handing property over to a third party DOES NOT make it their responsibility. It is YOURS!!!!!

If the motorcycle shop has a theft problem on their premises then it is their responsibility to eradicate the problem.
If the bike was stolen during the service would the shop still refute responsibility? One may consider the helmet a motorcycle accessory and therefore part of the bike.
Either way I think it bad etiquette and I sympathize with the O.P.
Thieving b*ggers.

GN.

Agreed! What he said.