ClassicWatchParts (Hong Kong bracelet-fixing people)

[Submadatejust]

I would say that I have sent at least five of my friends from this board to Michael Young/ClassicWatchParts.com because of the good work he did on two Jubilee bracelets for me.

I would still endorse his services, but I had a so-so experience with Mike recently.

Sent him a bracelet to be shortened -- after a long saga of trying to get a man's Jube shortened for my wife's ridiculously tiny wrist. It took more than just removing the removable links -- the bracelet basically had to be rebuilt.

Well, long story short (!), I asked for a favor -- if Mike could work on the bracelet as soon as possible and THAT didn't happen (in his defense, no particular reason why it should have been expedited, but it would have been nice and I would have paid whatever). To make things worse, it was well over a month and Mike didn't respond to two "please update me" emails over the timespan. So, crummy communication.

But the bummer thing is that, when I got the bracelet back, it still didn't fit her right. It was a LITTLE shorter, but they had also moved the buckle over all the way, which I could have done without sending it to doggone China. I had SPECIFICALLY asked him to remove links and he specifically DID NOT DO SO. I knew it wasn't going to work otherwise, as I told Mike when he wrote me telling me he was going to tighten the bracelet rather than remove links. He didn't respond to my email questioning that decision.

Finally, well before I posted this, I wrote to Mike saying that I wasn't as pleased with the work he had done. I was assuming he was at least going to make a gesture such as "please send it back and I will fix it," or maybe even an apology. So, I think I gave him a chance to address my concerns before I told you folk about it.

But, again, dead silence.

I just think he could have done a WAY better job all around.

[jasonbellevue]

I read about his service and reputation on TRF. I sent him several queries about bracelet repair, as I was contemplating on sending him at least 3 Jubilee bracelets for repair. I hesitated because he doesn't really respond to your e-mail on time. I'm talking about weeks late before getting a reply.

I agree "he could have done a WAY better job all around."

[CPCC]

Thanks, this is great to know.

[Submadatejust]

Originally Posted by jasonbellevue

I read about his service and reputation on TRF. I sent him several queries about bracelet repair, as I was contemplating on sending him at least 3 Jubilee bracelets for repair. I hesitated because he doesn't really respond to your e-mail on time. I'm talking about weeks late before getting a reply.

I agree "he could have done a WAY better job all around."

Thanks.

Your options for getting a jubilee fixed at a reasonable price are really limited. I would advise still considering giving him your business, but go in knowing there is going to be some frustration involved.

Until now, I've never had a reason to question the work he did.

This episode of getting the bracelet the right length went on for, literally, three months, so I was doubly p*ssed-off when my fallback of sending it to Mike didn't work.

And I wasn't cheap about it! I threw money at the problem and couldn't get any joy! Why should I have to present my wife's birthday prezzy (OCT) to her for Christmas and still have to see that it's loose??

I had to go out and get her a Chanel bag!! Who the heck ever heard of a purse that costs well into four figures?? I could have wasted that money on a watch. :(

[SPACE-DWELLER]

I have heard stories about Mr. Young being slow on mails, but until now I have only heard positive reports about his work.

Anyway, I am sad to hear about this, but have you given him a chance to set it straight??

[Lol-x]

Maybe you need to just send the bracelet back wih detailed instructions.
If he is no good at responding to e-mails then you need to step it up by telephone calls or sending the item back.
Just my 2c

[chuanlim]

Originally Posted by Lol-x

Maybe you need to just send the bracelet back wih detailed instructions.
If he is no good at responding to e-mails then you need to step it up by telephone calls or sending the item back.
Just my 2c

+1. some people just havent got on the internet communication wagon. is he by any chance an old timer? i've personally dont depend on emails for important stuff. always follow up with calls.

just IMO.

[Submadatejust]

Originally Posted by SPACE-DWELLER

I have heard stories about Mr. Young being slow on mails, but until now I have only heard positive reports about his work.

Anyway, I am sad to hear about this, but have you given him a chance to set it straight??

Well, as I tried to communicate in my first post here, I did write to him telling him I wasn't satisfied. This was enough of a "chance," in my book. I waited for his response for more than a week before posting here, wanting to give the benefit of the doubt.

I don't think sending the thing back to HK is in the cards. My wife wouldn't be happy about being without the bracelet for another seven weeks. She has sort of worked out a way of making it fit well enough by jamming it against another piece of jewellery, I think.

I really feel a trust has been broken here. Not sure if i even have a phone number for the guy.

[abigsecret]

Any good jeweler is able to shorten a jubilee bracelet! Especially if it's the one with the hollow links!
It's just a matter of cutting a link however high-up needed, and than ading one removable link, and job't done! It doesn't have to go to HK for that guys!

[billswim]

I don't know him at all and am not defending him but I see this problem quite frequently in my work. I work on people's hobby,toy,race type cars. I flat out refuse to communicate to my customers with e-mail. It's a no win situation for me. I have to clean up enough to go into my office, read the e-mail and take enough time to accurately and articulately address any questions they may have. It takes an inordinate amount of time to accomplish, if I bill the customer for the time they get upset, and its time I won't get back that I could have spent on getting the project done.

Granted this guy is around the world from you but I think people these days take instant responses as a given and get upset if they don't get an e-mail right back. For the craftsman, the computer often represents a world he may(in my case certainly)not want to be in but is a necessity these days and is used begrudgingly.

That's just my 2 cents. I would strongly suggest searching out someone in your area to perform the tasks you require. Your avatar says your location is NY. I can't imaging there isn't someone in the ny metro area who could not fix your problem.