A repair shop handed my antique accordion to another customer after eighteen days, even though my receipt says they hold completed repairs for sixty days
LOCATION: Illinois, USA
I left an antique accordion at a small repair shop to have two keys fixed. It belonged to my family, and I have dated photos plus the serial number. The paper receipt says completed instruments are held for 60 days before being treated as abandoned.
The shop called on July 27 to say it was ready. I went in on August 14, so 18 days later. They told me another customer had been given my accordion by mistake and had since stopped answering them. The owner first promised to retrieve it, then emailed yesterday saying I should deal with the other customer directly. They refuse to give me that person's contact information, which I understand, but they also wont explain what they're doing.
I still have the receipt and every message. I dont want a replacement because the family history is the entire point.
Is my legal claim against the shop, the person who received it, or both? Should I make a police report before sending a formal written demand?