My dilema:
My wife bought me a fairly expensive watch about a year back. I love it and it's one of my prides and joy. I wear it all the time. It's an automatic watch, meaning it's not quartz, it's a mechanical, ie: there are a ton of very tiny moving parts inside it and it never needs a battery. It constantly winds itself based on the movement of the wrist.
I've had no problems with it until the last couple of weeks. The watch is supposed to run - after I take it off - for 60 hours (called a power reserve in watch talk). This is to save a person from having to reset the watch's time if you want to take the watch off for a period of time.
My watch apparently is having problems with it's power reserve. I can fully wind it (or wear it all day which "winds" it via my movement), take it off and within an hour it stops. This shouldn't happen. Something isn't right inside with all the moving parts.
The watch is still under warranty and I can send it in to have it repaired, however I've read a great number of horror stories on a watch forum I frequent about the service centers for this brand of watch. Stories like the watch came back in worse condition than it was sent in; the person had to wait up to five or six months to get the watch back; etc.
As long as I wear the watch it keeps perfect time. In fact, the only time I take the watch off is when I work out. Then I put it right back on. Do I take my chances and send it in to be serviced knowing the horror stories or do I simply keep it as it is since it's not really that big of a pain to reset the time? I guess it just irks me that she spent this kind of money and it doesn't work "perfectly" anymore.
Argh! Give me some suggestions.
Thanks for letting me rant.
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Take it back where you got it and have them fix it. They'll be more apt to do it right and quickly when it's their reputation on the line. I'm guessing it's an expensive (price tag has a comma in it?) watch: it should work, and work properly. Jewelers still base a lot of their business on long-term relationships.
I've had little luck with timepieces in the past (especially with a Soviet-era stopwatch I took in for repair that never came back, greedy "collector" fucks). I like Fish's suggestion of going to the original vendor in person rather than just shipping it off to "the factory." Obviously get everything in writing, right down to the cost and TIME estimate, and what they intend to do if something goes wrong. Good luck.
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I bet the local watch shop won't touch it if it's still under warranty. Unless, that is, they are an authorized service center.
That sucks, dude. I have a watch that operates the same way and haven't had an issue with it in the 17 years I've owned it. Personally, I'd just deal with it rather than send it in.
If it's under warranty, contact the manufacturer's customer service. Talk to them about what to expect, etc and see what you feel like after having the conversation. You might even be able to Google the watch or manufacturer and find out more information about service experiences. If you feel comfortable after doing some research, let them fix it. If you are uncertain, then keep it.
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Problem: I didn't mention it but there is no authorized dealer around here for the watch brand so I ordered it via phone from an AD in Washington DC. It's legit and all.... all the paperwork, warranty, etc. but out of state. I also don't think the dealer would touch it since it's still got a factory warranty.
When you send a watch back to the dealer under warrantee they will have you send insured courier so you do not need to worry about the safety. BUT it is a mistake not to have it serviced FOR FREE when it is under warrantee. It may be indicative of another problem which may show after the warrantee.
I am not sure about your watch company, but many of the high end companies will also service the watch while it is in for warrantee claims. SO you may end up haveing the bracelet repolished for free. Also you will get all the internal parts checked and changed if necessary.
In short, send it!!! (I think that you will be looking at about 6 weeks for servicing)
Hope that helps
Peter
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Peter
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I agree with Peter. If it's still under warantee, I'd expect the watch company would want a happy customer.
I learned in my customer service class that people who had a positive experience generally don't say anything, or might tell one or two people about it. Those who have a negative experience tend to make a statistically larger complaint -- they tend to tell at least 10 people or more about it. I think that may be what's happening in your watch forum.
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Not that I know anything really about this kind of thing, but i'm mostly just curious if one of those watch winder boxes thing would "solve" your problem. ("solve" as in cure the symptom, not fix the actual issue, I guess)
Not that I know anything really about this kind of thing, but i'm mostly just curious if one of those watch winder boxes thing would "solve" your problem. ("solve" as in cure the symptom, not fix the actual issue, I guess)
Yes, it would but it's still the point of having it not working properly.
You are right Pete, it could be the start of something even worse. That thought had crossed my mind.
I think I'll do a TON of research on one of the service centers, get a name of someone specific and a number and do a lot of point work. Then I'll decide. Much the same as what Flyin M was suggesting.
I agree with Peter. If it's still under warantee, I'd expect the watch company would want a happy customer.
I learned in my customer service class that people who had a positive experience generally don't say anything, or might tell one or two people about it. Those who have a negative experience tend to make a statistically larger complaint -- they tend to tell at least 10 people or more about it. I think that may be what's happening in your watch forum.
Beat me to it.
Terry, Bill has it spot on from my understanding. That's why sites such as Trip Advisor are not that great for canvassing opinion on vacation destinations. People like to moan and if they've had a bad experience are generally just itching to share it.
Send it off. If it comes back to an unsatisfactorily standard you can take matters further (trading standards and the like). I'd go down the correct channels first and give them the chance to put things right.
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Not that I know anything really about this kind of thing, but i'm mostly just curious if one of those watch winder boxes thing would "solve" your problem. ("solve" as in cure the symptom, not fix the actual issue, I guess)
The other issue with the wider boxes is that you are "running your watch" 24 hours per day. SO there are two schools of thought on this: One it is a good thing because it is convenient (say you have a couple of mechanical watches), and two it keeps the oil lubricating the watch, and these watches were made to be durable.
Two, you shorten the watch life because of wear and tear on the gears, etc. and it keep the oil flowing you need to either wind it or wear it about once every two months. (I am of the second school).
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Peter
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You are right Pete, it could be the start of something even worse. That thought had crossed my mind. I think I'll do a TON of research on one of the service centers, get a name of someone specific and a number and do a lot of point work.
Thanks everyone.
Hi Terry
I wonder why you need to do research o which service center. As long as you send it thru an AD, it should go to an official repair center because it is under warantee. I know that your particular brand has a good toll free service line in the US (search your brand, service center, US) and it also has a loaner program (where they will lend you a watch- I think it depends on the model- while the repair work is being done.
Since you are under waranttee I would send it back to one of the 5 ( ithink) regional service centers in the US.
cheers
Peter
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Peter
After all, diamonds are a girl's best friend…
I wonder why you need to do research o which service center. As long as you send it thru an AD, it should go to an official repair center because it is under warantee. I know that your particular brand has a good toll free service line in the US (search your brand, service center, US) and it also has a loaner program (where they will lend you a watch- I think it depends on the model- while the repair work is being done.
Since you are under waranttee I would send it back to one of the 5 ( ithink) regional service centers in the US.
cheers
Peter
Eh.... I'm just skittish about sending it in without getting a name and contact #. I didn't even realize they had a loaner program. I'll have to check that out. Thanks Pete. I'm off to check the site here in a bit.
The other issue with the wider boxes is that you are "running your watch" 24 hours per day. SO there are two schools of thought on this: One it is a good thing because it is convenient (say you have a couple of mechanical watches), and two it keeps the oil lubricating the watch, and these watches were made to be durable.
Two, you shorten the watch life because of wear and tear on the gears, etc. and it keep the oil flowing you need to either wind it or wear it about once every two months. (I am of the second school).
See, I get that. I hear the same thing about cars. Take it out at least once in a while, but the more you use, the more it degrades, so to speak.
Terry, I hope it all goes well, too bad there's just not a good place local to do it under warranty.
My dad and brother each have one of those watches - and my Mom got them watch winders. When you take the watch off (to sleep or whatever) you strap the watch to a little pillow thing and every 15 minutes or so it turns it to simulate movement and keep the time correct.
They work like these: Watch Winders Store Company Regency A model
I don't know what the deal was/is but the watch is working fine now. I don't get it. I'm not sure if something was just "off" or what. I've been told that happens sometimes with mechanical watches. I took it off yesterday just to test it again and it was fine after 1 hour, 4 hours and overnight for 9 hours. I don't get it, but whatever.
wind it up fully (- it should have a release so you cannot overwind it) and let it run. It should be OK for at least 48 hours. put it on its face the first day (the flip it on its back the second- you should not lose anytime that way and make sure that it operates and that you are within your chrongraph specs. If not send it in while it is still under waranttee. Terry, since you have not sent it in yet, I am guessing that you do not know how much an overhaul costs. Done by the watch company, usually min of $500, so send it in and have it checked.
Cheers
peter
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Peter
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I thought I had it fully wound the other day. I guess not?Yeah, I knew it was about $500-600 for the servicing. I should go ahead and have it done prior to the guarantee running out. Good point. Thanks Pete.
I don't know what the deal was/is but the watch is working fine now. I don't get it. I'm not sure if something was just "off" or what. I've been told that happens sometimes with mechanical watches. I took it off yesterday just to test it again and it was fine after 1 hour, 4 hours and overnight for 9 hours. I don't get it, but whatever.
You didn't happen to wear it to bed and 'overwind' it, did you?
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'8 replies before the gutter! Good job Clubhouse!!!!!' Ninjabookey
Rest and relaxation can be a powerful “nothing” to propel us to greater achievements. Mahler
Stop listening to your wiener. He may want to go for a swim, but you haven't checked if the waters are shark infested yet. Ninjabookey
Maybe the problem is you. Have you ever had trouble with watches in the past?
I ask because my dad and I have trouble all our lives in finding watches that work. We have some sort of weird magnetic field. Most of the time watches just stop working when we wear them, but one time I made the date indicator go backward.
We've also set off metal detectors at airports if they're set too sensitive. One TSA agent, even after I warned him, got out the wand and my entire body was setting it off.
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Maybe the problem is you. Have you ever had trouble with watches in the past?
I ask because my dad and I have trouble all our lives in finding watches that work. We have some sort of weird magnetic field. Most of the time watches just stop working when we wear them, but one time I made the date indicator go backward.
We've also set off metal detectors at airports if they're set too sensitive. One TSA agent, even after I warned him, got out the wand and my entire body was setting it off.
OK, got one for you , just to show you I do what I advise. I got a new watch a few months ago, and the rotating time dial "wiggles" if you push down on it on (alternating sides). So as much as I hate to send it away when it is hardly broken in, i will bring to the AD to send back fro a check.
So, did you send your watch in yet?
Cheers
Peter
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Peter
After all, diamonds are a girl's best friend…
Trying to make a decision, a little help please
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