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| - I tried.
I really did. I really wanted this to be "my watch guy" for repair and servicing.
After reading all of the amazing reviews about 'The Watch Repair Company' I decided to bring in a few of my old watches with the hope of giving them new life. I brought in older Seiko chronograph that needed a battery, cleaning, and some scratches buffed out. I also brought my Skagen World GMT watch that needed a crown replacement, battery, and cleaning along with my Vostok-Europe Anchar that needed the rotating bezel pin replaced or fixed (to keep the bezel from falling off).
I was certain this was going to be the beginning of a wonderful business relationship. After all, the owner is Russian, one of my watches is Russian, and I even spent some time in Russia, so I knew a little about Russian watches and culture. Gosh this would be great I thought.
Boy was I wrong.
Strike One:
After dropping off the Seiko and Skagen for what I thought would be a pretty quick fix and clean up (the owner tells me this), I get a call a week later stating that the Seiko is ready but he would need more time to fix the crown on the Skagen.
"Ok, sure. Let me know when it is ready."
No worries right? I'm not in THAT desperate of a rush to get the watches back. I can wait. About five days after that, he calls me to inform me that the Skagen is ready with the Seiko for pickup.
"Bring cash, I don't take Visa."
Sure. No problem. His business, his rules. I get it. Well, I pick up the Seiko and Skagen to see that yes, they are fixed, but he did not clean or polish them AT ALL and they were both really dirty still.
"Maybe he just got busy and forgot?"
Anyway, while I'm waiting to pick them up there were also several other people (shady looking folks selling gold, and selling it FAST) making deals with him so I felt like mentioning it my "cleaning problem" would not have not warranted a good response at that moment. So I figured I would mention it another time, or just clean them myself as I am more than capable. No biggie.
Strike two:
A few days later I I decide to give him another go as he mentioned to me that he was an expert in Russian watches. So in good faith (once again) I bring him my Vostok-Europe Anchar, and ask him to fix the bezel. he gives me a "range" for a price and so I drop it off. He wasn't sure if he had the parts and said he may have to send it "to a friend" to get it fixed.
"Ok. Just let me know when it's ready".
A couple days later he calls me to tell me that maybe I need to call the distributer (only a couple in the U.S) and have the parts paid for, and shipped out here so he can fix it. So to recap, a Russian watch "expert" who is now asking me to do the leg work and get the parts needed to repair the watch. Hmmm. At this point I decide not to invest any more time into this, as I can now see where this whole thing is going. I decline politely opting to send the watch to RI for repair instead.
Strike three:
A few days after the Vostok fiasco I somehow rationalize with myself that the reason he couldn't fix it was because of the rarity of the watch itself and that i should just stick to "easier" repairs for him.
"Man, I'm trying so hard to give this guy my business it is unreal" -This what I was thinking at this point.
I give him a call and ask about crystal replacement for my Skagen. Why not? Surely he's got this under control right?
"Yes, bring it in. I replace with same crystal, $30.00 cash".
"Great. See you Thursday"!
Not so great when I visit him though. He takes one look at it and tells me he cannot fix it because the crystal is "too big". Mind you, he had an extensive amount of time with this watch (I presume) because he had it for close to two weeks when he repaired it the first time. Ugh.
Here is the deal. I am patience to my own detriment sometimes, I am aware of this. Therefore sometimes I get treated a little poorer by businesses that think I won't do or say anything. I get it. But I really wanted this to by "my watch guy" and I was trying so hard to give him my business even after he fell through twice on his end. What else could I do?
Here is my actual evaluation of his operation:
Got a quartz watch in need of battery?
See this guy.
Got ANYTHING of value that you want back in a specific time frame?
Go to an AD.
Got a watch over $100 with repairs needed?
Go to another shop or send it off to an AD or highly recommended place.
Got gold for sell?
See this guy for quick cash (it seemed like a popular choice when I was there).
Sorry, I tried. Guess I'll have to take my business elsewhere.
One other quick note. The whole "desperate people selling gold and ONLY dealing in cash" made me think that this guy's operation of watch repair may be a front for his other dealings. Not saying I care, just saying it came across like that to me as I was waiting for my watches.
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