first one was breaking a Norman Rockwell plate. Back in 94, lady had a corner tiered shelf with Rockwell plates on it. It only took a small tap from the wand and the one plate teetered and fell, broke! I take the pieces to the client right away, said I'd replace it. Got home, made some calls, phoned her up within an hour telling her a replacement was on the way. $55 for the job, $50 for the plate. She, and her family, became clients for years after. She told me a couple years back that she never really expected to have it replaced, ie she wasn't worried about it. She past away last year.
4 yrs ago, caught the corner of the wand, before
glides, on the bottom corner of a glass mirror on folding closet doors, the ones where the whole door is mirrored. Just a small chip in the bottom outside corner, wanted it replaced. So I take the door off, take it to the local glass place, $90 to replace it. Take it back over, get the door on, swing it closed and it caught on the screw holding the pin base, cracked it again. Take it off again, over for another sheet of mirror. Can't even keep the mirror as it was glued onto the door. Get it replaced for them, another $90, can't remember whether I delivered it or had them pick it up, but I know I let them install it.
Last year realtor calls, wants a condo on the 4th floor cleaned, wall to wall, EVERYTHING moved. The owner, a senior lady, was in hospital. Get there, lots of stuff, furniture etc, start piling everything into the kitchen. I pick up a collector plate, just a plate with a fancy design on it, have it in one hand, pick up a lamp with a glass shade in the other, start to move away and the cord snags. The shade falls, hits the plate, both shatter. Nothing I can do at this point but pick up the pieces, put them in the kitchen. Did a great job, moved everything but a corner unit with glass ornaments. Wasn't going near it!!!
Call the realtor, tell him what happened. $500 bill for the cleaning, offered to pay for what was broken. Was at an antique shop, told plates are rarely over a $100, usually a lot less. I figured about $150 for the shade. Kept calling, never did talk to the owner but a lawyer handling her affairs, never saw a dime. Never pursued it any further.