Service Centre Lost my Stereo System

Hi All,
I put my stereo system into a service centre to have it fixed. As I never got a phone call to let me know that it was ready, I rang them and was just fobbed off about awaiting parts etc. This was nine months ago. They have now admitted to loosing my stereo and offered me a replacement (second hand). This replacement was not to my satisfaction or to the same value of my own stereo so therefore refused to take it. The service guys are now trying to tell me that my stereo was only worth €300 when new but I paid a considerable amount more than that for it. My stereo is old (about 10 years) and I do not still have the receipt to prove the value of it. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Find some average second prices of your equipment to back up your claim. Whats the disparity between their offer and the prices you've seen?

Though after 9 months I think they'd need to do more than simply offer a cheap replacment. You've been without it for a long time.

In the past I've lost a hi end DiscMan and a LaserPrinter by it being "lost".