[Lars Jakobson]

The first installment of this sordid story can be found here:

http://www.larrybiggs.net/scwf/index.php?mod=103&action=0&id=1255023567

Well, 9 (nine!) months has passed since then and I haven't got my watch back. It's been in the hands of the watchmaker for more than two full years now. So I think that an update is due.

My problem: in relating my difficulties, shall I give out the guy's name? I said earlier that I didn't want to smear a man's name, but the problem has gone from just silent treatment to what in my book is theft, plain and simple. In January 2010 I got an invoice for the "completed" work, I paid the money, but the watchmaker refused to send me my watch back. For five months all I have gotten is excuses and "the hands need paint" (which was included in the original work order and therefore should have been in the "completed" work) and "going out this week" and - silence.

There isn't too many repair guys that come highly recommended on the SCWF, and with a critical post that don't identify the culprit, they all come under suspicion. Furthermore, members of the SCWF keep reading the walking-on-water praise and they send their watches, just like I did, to a guy that they think is the one to help them.

But he is not.

So: name or no name?


Lars Jakobson

 

[time]

We generally try to avoid getting between private transactions as we do not have both sides of the story, and, we are not referees.
However...If you have tried to contact him all this time and have received no replies, then by all means let us know who he is.

 

[Spencer PK]

Speaking from personal experience, I ran into the "Church of (insert watchmaker name here)" adherents when I had a terrible experience with a very well-known watch repair guy. I had to go on a personal vendetta to get any satisfaction, which wasn't fun, but in the process other people with issues came forward, and all of a sudden I wasn't the only one.


If this watch repair person isn't helping you, and is in fact screwing you over, then you owe him nothing. Nothing. Burn him, burn him down. Cheats, scammers and frauds thrive in darkness. Light a fire.

 

[Thesharkman]

lars,

DEFINITELY name the person. i don't care who it is; anyone who has been that inconsiderate deserves to be outed. i think i know who it is and i tell my story to ANYone who asks and i've had quite a few PM me. don't get this kind of thing happen to others by NOT naming the person. i agree w/ spencer 100%!

<* shark >>><

 

[Seikosonic]

Wow, those hands do need paint. ;D
At the very least, I hope you get your watch back whatever course of action you take.
Perhaps there is more wrong than he is admitting to or he made a mistake and he's scrambling to find replacement parts to fix it...

 

[sharkfinDave]

Yeah I can relate. Its a sticky situation to post here or not. But I do feel your frustration.
Thats a long time.
For me, as long as they communicate and keep updates along the way, its ok. But when that stops, and no replies. That just freaks me out and alarm bells start sounding.
I wish people would communicate better. I hope i don't got down the same road, but you never know.


Good luck,
Dave.

 

[E1000]

I think you should name the guy,....

Here's why:

Me too, I'm waiting for a 6309 I sent to a watchmaker in november 2008!
After april 2009, not a single word from him....

Maybe we're talking about the same person (I'll send you a PM with his name)

Hope this helps in some way....

Kind regards,

Bart Thans

 

[tunafied]

From what you have mentioned,clearly the watchmaker admitted that he has been holding on to your watch(especially a KS!!) for many months for whatever reasons..and you have tried in vain to request the return of the watch to rightful owner ,which is you.

You have shown enough and extreme patience in dealing with this matter. I wouldnt even wait 2 months before I try the hard approach. Since you might feel(I do feel that way) that the watchmaker will never return the watch to you anytime soon or never ever... just name him so that other WIS can take precaution of that fellow. Its simply theft if he really took your watch,your money,your time and trust(that has gone down the drain).

But still if possible,we like to have 2 sides of the story.Not defending anyone but its always good to hear what the watchmaker has to say. Maybe he is a member from the major watch forums or SCWF?

*regard the watchmaker to lume the watch ...why would he do that for a KS?

 

[colburge]

Nothing. Burn him, burn him down. Cheats, scammers and frauds thrive in darkness. Light a fire.


very well put!

 

[anzac1957]

I don't think he was wanting the hands lumed, but repainted with the black stripe..

As far as names go.. I suggest you PM the senior admins on forum and see if they have any other way of contacting the individual.

 

[cobrajet25]

If you have waited two years, then all bets are off. Short of death or quadriplegia, I can't imagine any watch repair that should take this long, and if he can't "find the time" over the course of two years then he simply never will.

I personally believe that you would be doing all of us a disservice by NOT outing this person. It's like walking with a large group of friends in the woods and not warning them of the rattlesnake that just bit you. Same snake could bite them, too. Not cool.

I think you have played it close to the vest for long enough. Two years is FREAKING RIDICULOUS. You will likely never get the watch back. Sound the alarm...I don't want this snake biting me. ---A

 

[aannddyybb]

Lars,

So far your posts on this matter seem very professional with no confrontational tone. I would start a new thread with a complete description and timeline of what happened. Maybe even include the email correspondence. Don't put any emotion into it. In it I would name the watchmaker. Then see what replies you get. Perhaps something really did happen along the way and the watchmaker had some sort of honest issue. No matter how much complaining you get for replies, keep YOUR replies professional.

andy b.

 

[junlon]

As far as names go.. I suggest you PM the senior admins on forum and see if they have any other way of contacting the individual.

I like anzac1957's idea of going through the admins first before releasing the name. Some of the admins may have that person's phone number and they can call that person for his/her side of story. Email communications are not as effective as we think. Maybe the emails you sent to that person were routed to the junk mail box.

 

[TakesALickin]

My take is this: Yes, his refusal or unwillingness to complete the work or at least provide an acceptable explanation for the delays is frustrating. Beyond frustrating. Two years? That's outrageous.

Presumably, he relies on his income from watch repairs for at least "mad money" and he would hate to see that income decrease. That income is dependent on his reputation as a reliable repair guy. If he values that reputation and that income, he'll want to protect them both.

Direct him to this thread. Make it clear to him that this is his opportunity to explain - in detail - what has caused what seem to most of us to be inexcusable delays. Give him a deadline - he must reply by July 7, or you proceed with posts here revealing who he is. If he declines the opportunity to make a full account, and to apologize publicly if that's warranted, then by all means give us his name. His reputation and income should suffer because of poor performance - if there is no reasonable explanation for that performance.

You want to change someone's behavior? Hit 'em in the pocketbook. Works every time.

 

[Jan-10]

If I send a watch for repair I expect it back completed within 2-3 weeks. Anything longer than that requires communication via voice or email. I would have filed a police report 1.8 years ago.

 

[Technoman]

I think Jeff nailed it in his response. I wouldn't wait more than a couple of days for a response though....

 

[JohnWN]

My opinion aligns with what is said below. But I wouldn't bother to have him respond here, as that would no doubt lead to a lengthy flame-war "he said" exchange.

At the same time, I would email this individual's contact info to the forum's administrators so that we know who you are talking about.
If this is an unethical businessman with many unhappy customers then they should be brought into the light to prevent their taking advantage of others. If they are just a bad/disorganized businessman then they need a BIG reminder about the width and breadth of the WIS community and its dislike for such silliness.

Direct him to this thread. ...........

 

[whitemonster]

There is no excuse. Hang him.

 

[Thesharkman]

If you have waited two years, then all bets are off. Short of death or quadriplegia, I can't imagine any watch repair that should take this long, and if he can't "find the time" over the course of two years then he simply never will.

I personally believe that you would be doing all of us a disservice by NOT outing this person. It's like walking with a large group of friends in the woods and not warning them of the rattlesnake that just bit you. Same snake could bite them, too. Not cool.

I think you have played it close to the vest for long enough. Two years is FREAKING RIDICULOUS. You will likely never get the watch back. Sound the alarm...I don't want this snake biting me. ---A

AMEN!

<* shark >>><

 

[OldHippie1968]

In my opinion approaching one of the senior mods is the way to go. The general consensus is to draw this person into the open, basically put him on public display so to speak. I don't think that this is the approach that should be taken. Normally it's not policy of the admin. staff here to get involved in personal dealings, but maybe by contacting one of the senior mods regarding this it's possible some insight can be given on what your next step should be.

Cheers!
Mike