Tag - Repair Hell

[dkpw]

Until I bought my SubDate three weeks back, this Tag Sports was my daily wear (G-shocks for sporty days). One of the clasp spring pins broke, so it was taken to a branch of Goldsmiths for a replacement pin.

Four weeks later, a work colleague helpfully picked it up this lunchtime. Goldsmiths indicated that they had sent the watch to Tag to provide and fit the pin. The watch was running but as we are now in DST, I tried to unscrew the crown to change the date. I couldn't.

The crown will not budge. On my first attempt, it felt like it had been mechanically screwed down to the case. There is no give in it at all.

Looking at it under a loupe, it appears as if the crown has been bent off centre and down towards the case. In other words it feels as if it has been bashed, although there is no obvious mark. Several folk with stronger fingers than I could not move it.

I'm taking it back tomorrow, with the intention of asking them for a repair, an explanation and possibly some form of compensation.

Any advice on how to handle this sort of thing? Apart from never using Goldsmiths again...

[DSJ]

Sorry to hear that. Let us know how it turns out.

[dkpw]

Thanks David - I'll post the results of my "discussion."

My starting point is I want it fixed, a full explanation of how the crown can be damaged when it was only sent away for a replacement pin and a full service as compensation. I plan to give the watch to my best friend, so a new battery, bezel and seals will see him right for about 4 years hopefully.

Although I have my new Sub to console me, that Tag has been through a lot with me. It's worked perfectly for 10 years and now some *!#~!^%#! has potentially bust it.

I've resisted the temptation to take a pair of pliers to it, but I want to show the sales staff how firmly jammed the crown is. ARG!

BTW every time I see your avatar, I think "There's a man with excellent taste." Wine and Rolexes - what more does anyone need?

[sherwin]

well... they have a shop and you can easily take remidial action against them. just write a letter (politely) stating what you send it in for, and what was done, and the remedy that you are seeking.

[stevemulholland3]

I am glad you resisted the urge to use pliers!

[doc_colton]

I've dealt with the Heuer Authorized service centre here in Toronto for years and have always found they did great work at surprisingly reasonable prices (compared to RSC). That's too bad, nice looking Tag Sports by the way

[dkpw]

Thanks Doc! It'll be even nicer when it works.
Steve - I was tempted to take pliers to the Tag repair staff.

I'm just back from Goldsmiths. At first they thought "it might be a little stiff after a service" but when I pointed out that it had not been in for a service, just a pin replacement, the sales ladies couldn't believe it. They had a try at moving the crown but obviously couldn't.

They checked that it had been "serviced" by Tag and took it back to resend to them. I asked them for a full repair and a written report that the mechanism was not damaged. A full service as compensation was also asked for. So I'll wait and see what happens.

Here's a pic of the crown from the rear. As you can see it's definitely leaning to the left and is sitting very tight to the body.

[Earl]

certainly looks bent/off center to me

[Terry Newton]

Looks like they used a pair of pliers to tighten it. I would definitely seek a satisfactory outcome. You did not bring it to them that way and they should not have returned it in that condition. Good luck with the outcome. I think they will be honorable and take care of it for you.

Terry Newton

[dkpw]

Thanks Terry, all the support here has helped. I'm disappointed that I've had this experience, because I was going to give the Tag to my best friend.

It's entirely possible that they used pliers or something similar to tighten it, as human fingers are not able to even move it slightly. I'd still ask and want to know why?

Perhaps, as it was only in for a clasp pin, they gave it to an inexperienced or trainee technician who possibly thought he was doing the right thing. There was a job number on a plastic tag round the bracelet, so I'm assuming they can determine who worked on it.

I'm hopeful for a decent outcome, and I'll post what happens next.

[dkpw]

I got the call from Goldsmiths that my Tag Sports had returned from Tag and was fully repaired. Well they are partially correct.

I went it and gave the crown a thorough examination under the loupe. As you can see from the photograph below, it is still off centre compared to when I first gave them it but it is not as bad as it had been when the crown was welded to the case. I was pleased to find that I could now unscrew the crown, and it did not feel off or angled. I then checked that I could change the date and time at the respective crown positions. All worked as they should.



The helpful sales assistant apologised as they were unable to provide the asked for explanation from Tag as to how the crown had been jammed. In compensation they offered me a no cost one year warranty should the watch develop any fault as a result of its experiences. This was good enough for me.

The strap is a bit battered after 10 years daily use, and one bike crash, so maybe a Bond Nato would look good on it. As you can see, it looks tiny next to the Sub, but it's still a good looking watch with excellent quartz accuracy.

[Terry Newton]

Congratulations on it coming back in good working order. Don't you just hate those bike crashes . They hurt like hell when they happen. My last one cost me three major surgeries and screwed me up for life. I shattered my clavicle, blew two discs in my spine, and battered me good. I had the shoulder surgically repaired and went to Germany for four artificial discs to be put in my spine; two in my neck and two in my lumbar region. A 100 Lb German Shepard/Rottweiler took me out by colliding with my front wheel.

You watch would look good with a Nato Strap. Glad it's back . I wear my Tag as my bicycling watch. You just never know; the next time it may be a deer that flies in front of me. happened last year in Traverse City, Michigan with three riders in a pace line. A deer shot out in front of them and they all plowed in to it's side. Screwed them up royally. OUCH!

Terry Newton

[dkpw]

Nice one Terry! I was thinking of wearing both the Tag and the Rollie when next cycling but that would simply be an extravagance....

I was taken out by another cyclist in wet conditions, as he came up on my blind side when I was trying to do a right turn up an off ramp on the cycle path near my home. He at least had the decency to stop and ask if I was okay. I got off lightly compared to you. OUCH!!!! I hope you are all okay now.

I holiday in the highlands of Scotland each year and there are tales (mostly tall) of the damage a deer can do to a car, never mind a train of cyclists. I know the Sub is a tool watch, but one can dig up tarmac with cheaper peices!

Thanks, I think a couple of NATO straps (Bond style of course) for the Tag and Sub are called for, one 18mm and one 20mm. That should do nicely.

Cheers

David

[JJ Irani]

Sorry to hear that, David.

Moral of the story: Never touch a TAG or Goldsmiths with a barge pole in the future.

JJ

[dkpw]

JJ, it's not too bad you know... The Tag is going to a very good friend of mine, he's only ever had a "Singapore Rolex" before, it's a nice watch and I've just bought a Seiko SKX007J for beating purposes.

Next stop the GMT Pepsi

or is it the

COSC Sub ND

or is it the

SD

arrgggggg!