Chicago Service Center....

[sailboat641]

I know that Davedender has another post up regarding local service centers, but I didn't want to hijack his thread. So I just wanted to see if anyone can help point me to a local Chicagoland rep friendly service center (preferably closer to downtown) that doesn't give attitude.

Anyhow, just a little background... I'm fairly new to the rep market and was introduced by my coworker. As I was just about to purchase a new watch, I decided to test out the reps. I just purchased three watches from EL (should be arriving within a couple of days) for a FRACTION (1/10th) of the cost of 1 genuine. Very excited....

Anyhow, per the suggestion of some on this forum, I wanted to have the watches serviced and visited my local Tourneau dealer to inquire if they could accommodate me. As I have given them my entire business over the past 4 years (and lots of $$$$), I have come to know several of them pretty well and didn't think this would be a problem.

However, lo and behold, the attitude emanating from several of sales people was incredible. As I had dropped by during my lunch hour on a weekday, no one I knew was on shift. The sales manager said he didn't know if they serviced "homage" timepieces, but at least he had the courtesy to inquire about it.

The downtown Watertower location doesn't have an onsite service center (with exception of minor/cosmetic services). They had to call their service center to see if it was possible. It wasn't so much as the sales manager, but several of the salespeople nearby were cracking jokes. I wouldn't have cared if they did it after I had left or where I couldn't hear them (I was expecting some of this), but it seemed to me they wanted me to overhear what they were saying. The store was fairly empty with lots of space, but all 4-5 of them had to congregate within 10 feet of me.

Anyhow, with the exception of those few snobby idiots, my experiences with this location has been excellent and I wouldn't say that this has turned me away. At the time, I was boiling mad on the inside, but now that I think back, I shouldn't have even inquired about it. Embarassing...

Anyhow, thanks for reading my rant....even though my ego took a bashing....I still want to see if the rep market is up to all the praise I have been hearing from several of my coworkers. Our main office is located in New Jersey, but I'm out of the Chicago location so those bastard coworkers are of no use to me...

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated....Thanks!

PS: I know about The Zigmeister and sending the watch to a service center, but I would like a local one. I hate to admit it, but when I was buying genuine watches for the past several years....I knew $hit about them except that they looked nice. Ironically, now that I have found a forum for reps....I am learning more about watches than I would have ever thought possible.

Edited November 21, 2006 by sailboat641

[Claus1100xx]

very interested in this topic as well since my new AP and PAM reps should be coming in soon.

[rower]

I just got a Rolex Explorer II "homage" that had a power reserve of only a couple of hours. I live in Rockford Illinois (1 hour from Chicago)and took it to my watch maker here. He said it needed a new mainspring and it would cost me $70. He said he would also check all the seals and make sure it was water restistant for me for that price. He had no problems working on it for me. He has worked on a few of my gens and I was pleased.

I have used Kent Parks of Everest Watchworks do some incredible lume work for me. Now I have a local watch maker. I think this will help me move easier into replicas.

I got a DW6263 with the mystery movement and it will only take a couple of winds. That only lasts an hour or two before I have to wind it again. I think I will look for a VJ72 and have my watch maker do the conversion for me.

[sailboat641]

Can you PM his information in Rockford? I live downtown so it would be a LONG haul for me out there. If he works weekends, maybe that's the only choice I got.

I also got my first rep today and am having problems with the date adjustment. Everything else is perfect. Need to take to a service center to have it checked prior to getting it exchanged.

Any other guys from Chicago willing to share info on their service center?? I'm also familiar with the Ohare area as well. I've tried calling several places in downtown, but they don't service non-authentic pieces....

I've learned to call prior to dropping in.....

I just got a Rolex Explorer II "homage" that had a power reserve of only a couple of hours. I live in Rockford Illinois (1 hour from Chicago)and took it to my watch maker here. He said it needed a new mainspring and it would cost me $70. He said he would also check all the seals and make sure it was water restistant for me for that price. He had no problems working on it for me. He has worked on a few of my gens and I was pleased.

I have used Kent Parks of Everest Watchworks do some incredible lume work for me. Now I have a local watch maker. I think this will help me move easier into replicas.

I got a DW6263 with the mystery movement and it will only take a couple of winds. That only lasts an hour or two before I have to wind it again. I think I will look for a VJ72 and have my watch maker do the conversion for me.

[thedoctor]

I have a guy I use in Vernon Hills, which is about 45 minutes north of Chicago. He's a third generation watchsmith from Belarus and is funny as hell. When I brought in a Pam replica for him to work on, he told me a Chicago Bears player recently brought 2 in to work on, and they were also reps.

I'll PM you the info.