offshore Posted February 14, 2009 Report Share Posted February 14, 2009 Don't know whether this should be here, or in humour! Last week at my market stall, a guy produced a copy DD. Not bad, just your average Canal St clunker. "It's not working" "Hmm, looks like a quartz, may be a flat battery. Actually I didn't bring my Rx caseback tool today, so I will need to take it home" "How much for a battery" "$7.00 fitted" "OK" ( Repair docket given) Today, as I work thru last weeks "too hard for market" repairs, I come across the envelope with this DD. Out with Rx caseback tool. Doesn't fit, not even close. Check all dies.. No way. Closely inspect, in case it is a snap back with faux dimples, but doesn't look like a snap back! (There are a hell of a lot of Chinese quartz, that look like screw backs, but are actually snap backs) Hmmm, Sticky ball! No way will it move! OK Duct tape....Same result. I must have by now spent an hour f***kin around with this thing. But not to be beaten, I stick it under the microscope (80X) to make sure it is not a snap back. I do detect a minute gap in one area, mark it with a marker, and sit back under loupe (highest mag) Taking my sharpest and pointiest case knife, I proceed to insert in the gap area. Slip--- slash....large deep cut, blood everywhere. Off to the kitchen for band aid etc! Undaunted, I return clean up bloody mess, and start again. Not going to let this mongrel beat me! In fact the slip has revealed a small gap, so reinsert case knife, and Voila... It is a bloody snap back, just with no entry point! And the case back pops off, clean as you like. Quick inspect of movement, never see one of these before, Let's test battery. Flat as a maggot! Insert new battery, still no response. Out with circuit tester. Test for quartz crystal. Negative. Test for coil. Negative. Well, this thing really needs a transplant. Can't find any cross reference of this movement anywhere, so check dimensions, and a 2115 will go in nicely. Date wheel will line up (fonts will be off a bit, but I'm really beyond caring!) And I have a bulk supply of these, purchased quite cheaply. So I ring the client, and give him the bad news, but offer to do a heart transplant for $25.(maybe I can recoup some of my time!!) "$25, your kidding aren't you? I picked that up in KL for $5 bucks, and I'm back there next week. I actually thought your quote for $7 for a new battery was a bit steep. Just throw it in the bin. Thanks" Click. Am sitting here now rolling around in laughter...If you don't laugh, you have to cry. It's +2hours since I picked this bloody thing up, what a waste of time! Oh the trials and tribulations of a watch repairer! Hope some find this just a little amusing....! Offshore Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shundi Posted February 14, 2009 Report Share Posted February 14, 2009 Oh please do post pictures haha...hope your hand is ok though!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
By-Tor Posted February 14, 2009 Report Share Posted February 14, 2009 That was pretty damn funny story! "$7 is a bit steep". Now that's a classic... it must suck to be a poor Rolex owner! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jkarpas Posted February 14, 2009 Report Share Posted February 14, 2009 awesome story, i did nt know you work as a watch repair guy. Can you please post some pics of this watch? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wombat247 Posted February 14, 2009 Report Share Posted February 14, 2009 Sounds like you were earning while learning except you learned a lot more than you earned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billywhiz Posted February 14, 2009 Report Share Posted February 14, 2009 Slip--- slash....large deep cut, blood everywhere. Off to the kitchen for band aid I wasn't laughing at this point........ honest.... Great story Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dluddy Posted February 14, 2009 Report Share Posted February 14, 2009 Great story Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest asim Posted February 14, 2009 Report Share Posted February 14, 2009 lol he still proceeded if the batt was 7 and the watch 5??? haha hope the cut is not too bad! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trailboss Posted February 17, 2009 Report Share Posted February 17, 2009 LOL, bad luck mate. I didn't laugh, realy. Not as bad as the poor soul on RWI who took his gen Rolex quartz into the AD for a batt change only to have the twerp at the counter threten to smash his "crappy rep"! I can see the law suit now. Col. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toadtorrent Posted February 17, 2009 Report Share Posted February 17, 2009 Ooooh...I feel your pain. How frustrating...and funny at the same time. Tell him to get all his repairs done in KL...they'll be much cheaper there!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asf Posted February 19, 2009 Report Share Posted February 19, 2009 I really couldn't help but chuckle! Like the others said, throw some pics in! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxman Posted February 19, 2009 Report Share Posted February 19, 2009 I realy did have to laugh. Sounds to me like you took it in stride. Comes with the realestate I suppose Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
omni Posted February 19, 2009 Report Share Posted February 19, 2009 Great story. Sounds like a "Murphy's Law" outcome, "whatever can go wrong, will go wrong!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KB Posted February 19, 2009 Report Share Posted February 19, 2009 Ok I'll admit it I laugh when someone trips over, heck I laugh when they fall off ladders so yeah I laughed at the slip/slash too. Got to wonder why this guy even bothered to bring a 5 buck knock off to the repair man in the first place. Ken Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrgod Posted February 19, 2009 Report Share Posted February 19, 2009 Good story, thanks for sharing. Hope your hand heals well! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted February 20, 2009 Report Share Posted February 20, 2009 haha thats a good story. BUT i think we're gunna need to see some pics of this bad boy!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
offshore Posted February 21, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 21, 2009 OK, so everyone wants a shot of "that mongrel watch". As I have never posted a "wristy" thought I would use the opportunity to kill a few birds! Here, for your viewing pleasure, is "tmw". Also my daily beater, gen Mido Oceanstar, the RWG ring, and note at bottom the bandaid! You don't wanna see the cut! JTB knows the Mido, think he still has one the same in his armoury, courtesy of an ill conceived wager about cricket, some years back! An interesting note about the Mido, is that is promoted as the worlds most waterproof watch. Only has 2 points of entry for moisture, as it has no caseback. So crown or crystal, and the crown is a specially designed seal system which uses cork gaskets as well as O rings. Also note the concealed crown, makes for a much more balanced watch IMHO. Offshore Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chronoluvvv Posted February 21, 2009 Report Share Posted February 21, 2009 sucks to hear but what to do ? sometimes you're the hammer and sometimes you're the nail Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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