Tag Heuer Servicing Scam?

Joe_Horner

I was thinking maybe advertising copy for a certain department store. "These aren't just any straps......" :P

atippett

Just to add my tuppence worth...

My Tag Link auto chrononometer is overdue a service and tag via watches of Switzerland want 295 just for the service, whereas thee years ago when I originally enquired into the service cost it was 155!!

What?

I can appreciate rising costs; however, how is this not a scam??

Given that independent quality horologists have to source their parts though tag coupled with the fact other high end retailers are also bound to the prices tag set surely this is unfair on the grounds of non-existent competition?

I'm not interested in the argument on cheaper watches; mine was a wedding gift.

My watch does need a repair as it gains time and the crown needs to be replaced, so the quote has risen to over 600!!

Near enough half the cost when new twelve years ago!

Come on, I appreciate the skill/parts/time required, how is the hike in basic service cost plus the large additional figure for repair now a rip off?

Like others I do agree a cheap watch is just as good; however an expensive watch should be a lifetime investment and/or be an indication of success - it seems however at an ever increasing residual cost.

As a parallel, would you service your car, whether a Ford or Ferrari, if the cost of the service was half the cost of the car??

The high cost of the watch therefore does not justify the ever increasing high residual cost of servicing.

While I love my watch I personally would run away from the idea of having another expensive automatic watch having been had over a barrel and accordingly would say the same to anyone thinking of buying one!

I'm currently therefore researching carefully independent horologists via the registration body (https://www.bhi.co.uk) for reputable in dependants that are able to do the work at more sensible cost.

vikingaero

I have a bling blingy Gold and Diamond encrusted Rolex that was given to me on my 21st by my Dad. It sits in a bank vault and gets sent for a service every 5 years to much tutting from Rolex Service.

My Tag tends to gain time if I don't have it serviced so I don't wear it anymore. My main watch is a £7 Casio that I buy on Amazon every couple of years when the strap breaks or the face is so scratched that I can't read the time anymore!

PoorCharleyBear

I have a TAg which I love- no scratches.

Louis Vitton Moet Chandon charge an arm and a leg for servicing (well of course they would) but both me and OH have used swiss serv (horologist called Terry Reeves runs it)...all done by post and pretty good service. Much better charges than LVMC and all guaranteed. Mine came back looking brand new from his servicing

Dreamnine

I have a Rado which was well over a grand.

I just changed the battery myself - £2.

dingosnack

I sent my husbands tag heuer to Watch Repair UK they replaced the bezel as it was dented and gave the watch a long overdue service. The price was half that of what Tag Heuer were charging and the watch keeps perfect time so you can go independent and get a good service!

ukjoel

You can pay up to £500 for a casio now for some of the Gshock, solar powered, satellite connected models.


I have had on of the £100 models now for about 3 years and its been brilliant.

It depends if you want a watch or a piece of jewelry that tells the time.

vuvuzela

ukjoel wrote: »

You can pay up to £500 for a casio now for some of the Gshock, solar powered, satellite connected models.


I have had on of the £100 models now for about 3 years and its been brilliant.

It depends if you want a watch or a piece of jewelry that tells the time.

Oh, you can pay well over £500 if you want the top of the range G-Shock. £2000 for this one... http://www.amazon.com/Casio-G-Shock-MRG-8100B-1AJF-MR-G-Multiband/dp/B001J2YQR6

I've got around 30 G's, I suspect this will never be one in my collection

Gaz1za2

Apologies for opening up an old thread, though I wanted to share my experience recently.
As a life long Tag Heuer fan, I've owned about 6 different watches over 26 years and would always be at the fron of the queue for the next model... ...until now.
I now have 2 watches, a Targa Florio which I bought back in 2004 and had been faultles, requiring just a new leatehr strap and a Carrera Chronograph which I bought 4 years ago.
The Carrera went wrong and was repaired underwarranty twice due to a number of issues, though I was given assurances this wasn't a fault with the design, plus a new 2 year warranty and a free battery offer.
Forward wind another couple of years and after swimming with my daughter in a lcoal pool, I found the glass misted up, so sent it away suggesting it would just need opening up - why not changet he battery whilst they're at it?! - and drying our before resealing; simple or so I thought, especially when the watch continued ot keep perfect time.
Two weeks later, I receive the e-mail and text confirming the estimate has been repaired and is availabel for me to review and approve before work is carried out.

I was shocked, disgusted and sickened by the estimate being 3/4's of the original price, listing new mechanism, new hands etc. and labour as required repairs.

On calling them, I was told I'd broken the recommended service cycle of having the watch resealed and pressure tested EVERY YEAR, for the watch to be at it's optimum; there was absolutely no suggestion that it was unreasonable to expect me to pay 3/4 of the list price on repairing a four year old watch, when I had a ten year old watch which had not received the same 'service' and yet performed perfectly.

I shall be taking the advice from this stream and using independent service centres from now on and if I am ever in the fortunate position to buy another watch.... ....it will not be a Tag.

So if you are considering buying one, give it proper consideration and factor in £300 per annum, for servicing and a shoddy, impersonal customer service which ignores all common sense in favour of creaming off money from their customers.

Cambridge32

Be careful where you send you watch for a service / battery change - a sibling received an expensive watch as a 21st birthday present and opted to save money by going to a reputable local department store instead of sending it to the manufacturer. The watch came back fine, apparently. When the next battery change was requried, the watch was taken to a different but equally reputable department store and they had bad news - whoever had completed the first "service" had managed to damage the inside of the watch such that removing the batter again would require expensive repair work (they showed the damage before removing the battery).