Please get a second opinion!

unholyangel

Joe_Horner wrote: »

I'm not too bothered about the effect on my business tbh, if I lost their trade work i wouldn't lose sleep. But I am concerned about site rules here. Because it's a small town, and I'm the only place that does watch repairs on the premises, if I name and shame I also identify my own business which is verboten.

Does your business have a page on social media? If not, perhaps start one, join local groups and (if permitted by the group rules) publish a list of "typical" prices if possible? You could also state you undertake repairs for chain jewellers (or whatever they are) without naming them. You could also publish the guide prices in a local paper (if you have one).

What about asking satisfied customers if they would mind telling at least 1 person about how pleased they were/how little their repair cost them? Eventually more people would catch on. You'll always get a few with more money than sense but you'll probably find most people don't know what a watch repair should cost, so when they're told an inflated price they don't know its inflated.

Personally though if you're saying you wouldn't lose sleep over the trade customer, I'd consider ending the business arrangement. No doubt you could charge more for your work (as proven by them) but you don't. Again personally, I'd rather support someone making a living than someone making a profit. While a mark up is to be expected (as they would have liability to the customer should anything go wrong) they're charging more for your services than you are, and they're only the go between.

LABMAN

Joe Horner is easily found on Anglesey for those who wish to use him thankfully. Does he do repairs by Post ?

oldhand

Gingernutty wrote: »

"Joe Horner. The professional's professional."

Your watch must be very badly damaged if your sucking up like that...:p:p

mrmechanic

LABMAN wrote: »

Joe Horner is easily found on Anglesey for those who wish to use him thankfully. Does he do repairs by Post ?

Joe does repairs by post and very efficiently as well.
I found out about Joe being a watchmaker through this forum.
I sent him my Breitling Super Oceon Chrono after a local watchmaker had a look and couldn't find any problem but suggested a service at £350 to which i declined as I didn't think he knew what he was doing .
Sent to Joe with a detailed description of the fault with a rough quote of around £70 for a fix and £150 for a full strip down and service.
Joe informed me a service wasn't needed and found out what the problem was with the automatic winding mechanism.
New part fitted, tested for a few weeks on a winder and confirmed watch was ready to be posted back special delivery, all for a total of £50.
Excellent service and 100% trustworthy.There is no reason to pay a highly inflated price to repair a quality watch when there are honest watchmakers like Joe still carrying out an excellent service.
I am sure Joe will not be short of work as he will have built up a very good reputation. Just a pity folk think a shiny well laid out shop in an upmarket location will give a better service than a small independent .
I meant to post up a review for Joe but done it here now.

dacouch

LABMAN wrote: »

Joe Horner is easily found on Anglesey for those who wish to use him thankfully. Does he do repairs by Post ?

I'm guessing he can be found in the corner

Joe_Horner

Thanks for that MrM - glad to have helped and feeling slightly embarrassed after that write up :beer:

As for my original vent, caught her out again today.

Someoone came in asking if i could repair a 9kt safety chain on a bracelet. Jewellery repairs aren't really my field but I'm ok with simple gold soldering so said I'd have a look.

There'd been a previous repair by someone fitting a jump-ring in the middle of the chain but not soldering it shut - they'd just squeezed it closed and that's where it had broken again. I mentioned that I wasn't terribly impressed with the last repair, at which point they told me it had never been repaired but had had a NEW safety chain fitted (and charged for) a few months ago :mad:

They were understandably annoyed but decided to just have it fixed (while they waited just to make the point of where to come next time ) rather than go back and tackle her about it. Ho hum.

mrmechanic

Joe_Horner wrote: »

Thanks for that MrM - glad to have helped and feeling slightly embarrassed after that write up :beer:

No problem Joe, pleasure doing business with you and just echos the fact of "getting a second opinion"