Tag Heuer Servicing Scam?

Joe_Horner

bazster wrote: »

Really? You think that's the reason, do you?

With mechanical watches generally yes (at least, judging by the people I've sold them to over the years). Very few of them thought they were getting a better timekeeper for their money - and the ones that did were always put right sharpish.

By far the majority of those buying for other reasons either bought Rolex for the name (frankly, not the best out there for quality or value but the customer's always always right at those prices) or mid / high-end quartz.

~stinkerbell~

Thanks Joe. I found your posts useful and informative. You certainly explained it way better than the folks in Emerson Haig. The sealing is a particular issue for me as I am a swimmer. Verrrrry interesting about the synthetic oil too.

So I have booked it in for a mere battery change for £75. I will have been without it for 7 weeks by the time I get it back - 4 weeks waiting to hear back from them (Tag) and 3 weeks for them to go ahead with the battery change. This is a whole 'nother ishoo'! Gahh -they have me over a barrel!

I almost didn't post my original query as I thought no one would want to bother answering such a mundane question about a watch.

Thanks folks for all the replies!

Joe_Horner

You're welcome, 'bell. Of course, from the explaining point of view I have the advantage that I'm not trying to sell you a service

It's well worth hunting round for a good independent repairer for the future, btw. They are out there (I happen to know a great one on Anglesey ) and they should be able to handle future batteries and servicing, as long as no unavailable parts are needed, at a lower cost and much quicker than sending it back to Tag. As an example, for battery and pressure test I'd normally be asking about 45 minutes. If it fails the test then there may be a delay to get seals if they're not in stock but you can always take your watch (and keep it dry) in the meantime.

I'm sure there'll be someone local to you who can offer much the same

kev.s

anyone got the time?

Azari

Joe_Horner wrote: »

With mechanical watches generally yes (at least, judging by the people I've sold them to over the years). Very few of them thought they were getting a better timekeeper for their money - and the ones that did were always put right sharpish.

When I bought my moderately expensive (quartz) watch, I asked the seller (a very pleasant and knowledgeable chap who handles the horology side of things for a small, independent, jeweller and has obviously been in the business for decades), how accurate the item I had in question was. He admitted that he didn't know and said that was the first time anyone had ever asked him that about a watch! And this is somewhere that sells watches from £20 to thousands.

As it turned out it gained about two seconds from the time the clocks go forwards to when they went back and around a second from back to forwards. Which strikes me as pretty good - presumably I must have been lucky.

visidigi

my local rolex/tag dealer has everything needed to do my battery on my tag - £17.50 and done in three hours last time...

Dave_C_2

Joe_Horner wrote: »

<snip interesting stuff>

At this point I'll bow out of this debate. As you say, I'll keep using my £30 watch until it wears out and simply replace it.

Thanks for the info.

Dave

vuvuzela

bazster wrote: »

Really? You think that's the reason, do you?

Seems fair to me. I have several mechanical watches and that's one of the main reasons I own them.
What do you think is the reason ?

Oh and to anyone thinking the price paid is extortionate, what about these 2 pieces of leather and a steel buckle :
http://www.network54.com/Forum/353393/thread/1340895821/last-1340895821/FS-+NOS+PRE-VENDOME+STRAPS+%28B.7924%29

Joe_Horner

vuvuzela wrote: »

Oh and to anyone thinking the price paid is extortionate, what about these 2 pieces of leather and a steel buckle :
http://www.network54.com/Forum/353393/thread/1340895821/last-1340895821/FS-+NOS+PRE-VENDOME+STRAPS+%28B.7924%29

Ahh, but the hide for those straps comes from the inner thighs of unicorns, bated with the dung of Vestal Virgins and brain tanned, then dyed using pigments dissolved in the tears of an albatross. The steel for the buckle is hand forged by direct descendants of Masamune and tempered in the blood of their own ancestors.

At least, at those prices they damn well should be made like that!

~stinkerbell~

Joe_Horner wrote: »

Ahh, but the hide for those straps comes from the inner thighs of unicorns, bated with the dung of Vestal Virgins and brain tanned, then dyed using pigments dissolved in the tears of an albatross. The steel for the buckle is hand forged by direct descendants of Masamune and tempered in the blood of their own ancestors.

At least, at those prices they damn well should be made like that!

Joe - you are wasted as a horororologist. You need to be writing your first book!