Disrespect

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Demonracer

Demonracer

71 Demon 00 Ram 16 Chrysler 300S 05 Caravan
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This is a long rant, so be prepared.

Here you go guys and gals, this was my experience this past Saturday. A week or so back, I took my 20+ year old Seiko watch to a local well recommended jeweler. I have used them in the past, as I try to patronize local businesses. I have two other watches, so I always have one to wear. The crystal of the watch had a crack in it, probably due to something I had done. It was replaced about 2 years back when I dropped it and chipped the inside of the crystal. Now for the disrespect, I picked the watch up on Friday. I went to put the watch on and noticed that the day/date display was wrong, so I tried to set it. No matter how I tried to use the stem to set it, it would let me set either the day or the date.

I took the watch back to the jeweler and explained to the lady behind the counter what was happening. The owner comes over and takes over the conversation, telling me that the crystal replacement had nothing to do with the day/date function. I asked him to look at the picture they had taken when I dropped it of initially, which he said they delete upon returning merchandise to customers. He said that the gear on the stem that controls the day/date function was plastic and that they wear out and he did this in a very condescending manner. The young lady who was taking care of me at first was standing behind the owner with a "I can't believe he is talking to a customer this way look on her face", I left the watch to get it repaired again.

Once I got home, it dawned on my how disrespected I felt from the way I was talked down to by the owner. Then I thought back to when I had taken the watch in previously, only to pick it up and have condensation behind the crystal. I took it back and was told that the gaskets and o-rings were at fault, not the crystal replacement and this was also done in a condescending manner.

I'm going back today and ask the owner if we can have a private conversation so I can explain to him that not everyone who lives in a small town fell of the turnip truck yesterday.
 
I went to a jeweler years ago to have a new battery installed in my Seiko watch. After an hour of him working on it, he brought it out and the second hand was not moving. I saw that the hand was bent up and was touching the crystal. I pointed this out to the jeweler and he started yelling that it was like that when I brought it in. I replied that while the battery was so low that it didn’t keep accurate time, it was STILL RUNNING. He basically cursed me and called me a liar. I made him open the watch and bend the second hand down so it would run again. He bent it out of shape, so it was now crooked, but it ran. It was all I could muster to not jump over the counter to beat that POS to a pulp. He ruined my watch and it was never the same again. I now change my watch batteries on my own.
 
Wife dropped off her wedding set at a local jeweler to be cleaned. Got the set back a couple days later and she said something about how dirty the stones must have been, that they never shined like that before.
Couple years later, the prongs on the diamond came loose.
We took it to the jeweler that we bought the rings from, as it had a lifetime warranty on things like that.
Came to pick up the set and the jeweler wanted to charge us. Wife pulls out the paperwork, and shows them the warranty. That' when the jeweler told us that the stones in her ring were CZ and not real diamonds. The diamond we bought had serial numbers lasered in. The jeweler put the ring under a microscope and then shined light thru it. The inclusions on the original diamond were mapped on GIA certificate. The CZ had none. The stone had been replaced, and likely the reason for the prongs not being tight.
We can't prove a thing, but wife has been told by others that the local guy has had other people claim that their diamonds have been replaced with CZ as well.
We did file a police report and an insurance claim. All we can do is avoid the local guy and hope that at some point he gets his due.
 
I get being in business and having people try to take advantage of you.Probably happens a lot. That being said being dishonest to cover shoddy work or criminal behavior is grounds for a but whooping.
 

It's hard to make it as a small business owner. Unfortunately most people that have the skills to run a business don't always have the tact to deal with interpersonal situations properly. Part of it is probably due to past customer interactions.

For example, a customer drops off their watch for a crystal. He sees that the gaskets and o-rings should be replaced. They're probably expensive and maybe even have additional lead time. So he calls the customer and they get irate that their $X crystal repair is now going to be $Y and it's going to be another week. So he puts it together without the seals at the customer's request, the customer picks it up, and then complains about the condensation. Now he's learned better than to try to point out additional issues while he's in there. Especially since now days he's just trying to make it through a few more years until he can retire, but he has to do twice the amount of work to make half the margins he did when he started 30 years ago. And it's almost impossible to satisfy any new customers, so he's thankful to have a few loyal ones that he's had for years that make ends meet.

I'm not saying that it's any excuse for poor customer service, but it is never a bad thing to step into the other guy's shoes. Maybe just let him know next time that if he sees anything else while he's in there that you would rather know about it before you come and pick it up, it may be an opportunity for him to make a few extra dollars.

As for the thieves - throw them to the wolves...
 
gunbunny said:
We did file a police report and an insurance claim. All we can do is avoid the local guy and hope that at some point he gets his due.
Click to expand...
I own a fine jewelry store, been in business since 1936. I hate to hear stories like this cause it gives a black eye to all jewelers. It seems to me you are in the perfect position to prosecute. Having a GIA cert and especially one with the ID numbers inscribed should make this a slam dunk. In Michigan you could consider either a civil or criminal position. Usually the civil case has a lower bar of proof. You could get an appraisal on the value of the original diamond and seek restitution. A sharp lawyer could also add emotion and sentimental value because its her wedding set. And thats not all you can do. Today businesses live and die by reviews. Its the new word of mouth but on steroids. I am a GIA professional diamond grader, and I would be happy to help with your documentation.
 
if you try to adjust the date between 9pm and 3am (watch time not real time), you will destroy the date gear drive! Thats what my manual of my mechnical watch says, and yes i feel the very small resistance when i try it. Im pretty sure that happens to your watch!
 
69conv said:
I own a fine jewelry store, been in business since 1936. I hate to hear stories like this cause it gives a black eye to all jewelers. It seems to me you are in the perfect position to prosecute. Having a GIA cert and especially one with the ID numbers inscribed should make this a slam dunk. In Michigan you could consider either a civil or criminal position. Usually the civil case has a lower bar of proof. You could get an appraisal on the value of the original diamond and seek restitution. A sharp lawyer could also add emotion and sentimental value because its her wedding set. And thats not all you can do. Today businesses live and die by reviews. Its the new word of mouth but on steroids. I am a GIA professional diamond grader, and I would be happy to help with your documentation.
Click to expand...
Nice!

I was pissed-off reading what they did to @gunbunny 's wife, and I was hoping someone would chime-in with a fix...

Good for you, sir! My hat's off to you!
 
I hope it turns out alright! What happened here is called trustee embezzlement and its a felony.
 
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When i worked on bikes, many people would bend a brake rotor doing stupid stuff, bring it in for an oil change, and 'hey you bent my rotor'.
The **** I did. I put the REAR wheel in the chock, and you're demanding a FRONT.
 
There are many reasons I have never ever been a "people person" unless I was actually involved with worthwhile and honest people. There are many honest people, but it is easy to just remember the crooks and assholes.
Too many people are overpaid and underworked.
Too many people will be tempted to cheap anyone for a few $$. It is one thing to be a good or shrewd businessman, it is another to have the goal to screw some one for a $.
Karma is real.
 
ProjectBazza said:
Nice!

I was pissed-off reading what they did to @gunbunny 's wife, and I was hoping someone would chime-in with a fix...

Good for you, sir! My hat's off to you!
Click to expand...
Unfortunately, to much time has passed. Insurance did pay off, and we had a new diamond placed in the setting.
Wife is happy, so no point rocking the boat.
The place is still open though. Looks like there is a mix of happy customers and disgruntled ones. Most of the complaints come from over charging on repairs. He won't get us again.
 
gunbunny said:
Unfortunately, to much time has passed. Insurance did pay off, and we had a new diamond placed in the setting.
Wife is happy, so no point rocking the boat.
The place is still open though. Looks like there is a mix of happy customers and disgruntled ones. Most of the complaints come from over charging on repairs. He won't get us again.
Click to expand...
It called BOYCOTT
 
gunbunny said:
Unfortunately, to much time has passed. Insurance did pay off, and we had a new diamond placed in the setting.
Wife is happy, so no point rocking the boat.
The place is still open though. Looks like there is a mix of happy customers and disgruntled ones. Most of the complaints come from over charging on repairs. He won't get us again.
Click to expand...
Maybe some are happy until they learn the store stole the diamond from their ring!!
 
nitro_rat said:
It's hard to make it as a small business owner. Unfortunately most people that have the skills to run a business don't always have the tact to deal with interpersonal situations properly. Part of it is probably due to past customer interactions.

For example, a customer drops off their watch for a crystal. He sees that the gaskets and o-rings should be replaced. They're probably expensive and maybe even have additional lead time. So he calls the customer and they get irate that their $X crystal repair is now going to be $Y and it's going to be another week. So he puts it together without the seals at the customer's request, the customer picks it up, and then complains about the condensation. Now he's learned better than to try to point out additional issues while he's in there. Especially since now days he's just trying to make it through a few more years until he can retire, but he has to do twice the amount of work to make half the margins he did when he started 30 years ago. And it's almost impossible to satisfy any new customers, so he's thankful to have a few loyal ones that he's had for years that make ends meet.

I'm not saying that it's any excuse for poor customer service, but it is never a bad thing to step into the other guy's shoes. Maybe just let him know next time that if he sees anything else while he's in there that you would rather know about it before you come and pick it up, it may be an opportunity for him to make a few extra dollars.

As for the thieves - throw them to the wolves...
Click to expand...
i went to look at a deathtrap today with my contractor, 600 sqaure feet on a 10th of an acre

i had talked to the selling realtor before showing up because, well, it was in my price range
this realtor threw out several number, he thought $10.500 would get a new septic system, and $7500 would get a new pump (the well had a topside pump, instead of a submersible

he also claimed he had talked to two different contractors and they both told him 20 grand would bring this tinderbox right around

wouldnt you know it, ive just dont most of the same work, one county over, he is about 4K shy on his septic, dead on on the well and i need to ask him the number of his contractor because mine couldnt get it cleared out to get started on it, for 20K


i got my realtor running comps, but unless he can show me half a dozen 6-800 square feet homes in that area that went for 150K, im gonna have to make hard pass, there is NO WAY that place will suck up less then 80K
 
I would see what car he’s drives, then put dog **** under his door handle.
 
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