Stop abusing my staff, says business owner

Just Games Ltd owner Stu Lean has created a new branch of the business dedicated to tech repairs in the same building which previously housed Tech-Zone, an Ireland-based company which collapsed and withheld its customers’ devices.

But the new business has left some confused and Mr Lean said his staff have been threatened, because people did not realise it was different.

He posted in a Facebook group announcing the launch of Just Tech and disassociating his new business from Tech-Zone.

‘I wanted to make a one-and-done Facebook post, which I did from my own profile rather than the Just Games page so any consequences would fall on me and not my staff,’ he said.

‘The main problem was that people were coming into the shop and threatening my staff with their issues from Tech-Zone, which has resulted in me getting the police involved.

‘Some people may say that my Facebook post was harsh, but in my opinion it worked and people now understand that we are not Tech-Zone and unfortunately cannot help them with their previous issues.’

Mr Lean said at Just Games they were often asked about technology repairs, and with the closure of Tech-Zone, he saw the opportunity to expand the business to incorporate repairs.

‘It was a bit of a spur of the moment, but we wanted to have a separate shop solely dedicated for repairs to distinguish between the two services of buying games and repairing technology, with more space in both shops,’ said Mr Lean.

‘This building was definitely a second choice to begin with, but after other shop spaces fell through we took this one, despite the reputation and history of Tech-Zone.’

He added that there were benefits to settling in the old Tech-Zone building, as people know the property as a tech repairing shop, regardless of the change in occupying businesses.

Just Tech is based at 39, Commercial Arcade and has had only a soft launch so far, with a full launch due to come in the near future once branding has been completed.

The shop can provide repairs on a variety of electronics, but not Apple products.

Tech-Zone director apologises, blames ‘misfortunes’

TECH-ZONE’S former director has apologised to customers affected by his ‘misfortunes’.

Christopher Shanahan was responding to the abuse Just Games staff have faced after opening a tech repair business in his former premises.

‘It was a catastrophe and series of unfortunate events that has now left Tech-Zone shopless and resulted in many upset valued customers, and I would be furious should I have been in their shoes,’ he wrote on social media.

Mr Shanahan managed the Guernsey branch of Tech-Zone from Ireland, where he lives.

He said his finances were hit by the pandemic and a loss of staff.

He claimed the Tech-Zone business in Guernsey would be re-opening at a new location.

‘I had planned to reopen last September and to have returned everyone’s devices that I hold in secure storage, fixed at no charge. I was personally going to undertake this and face the music so as to not put any stress on any staff member,’ said Mr Shanahan.

‘If someone had a bad experience in the past with Tech-Zone, which was mostly down to a lack of education with the staff on my part. What more I could have done for those affected was due to my absence or attention elsewhere.

‘I’d like to apologise to all my customers who were affected by my misfortunes.’