ABC Watchwerks - Site down and my watch potentially lost

[Noonan]

I bumped an older thread in Who's Who the other day but I feel this warrants its own thread.

Long story short, I sent them a watch last summer for a service and de-magnetization. After many months I received an invoice for $500. Few months after that the watch was returned with the exact same problem I sent it in for. As far as I could tell, the case wasn't even opened.

Patrick (via email) assured me every watch was tested before shipping and suggested I sent it back under their warranty. That was now about 3 weeks ago. As of today, their web site is taken down and no one is answering the phones (tried many times on Friday during office hours).

I've tried to contact them via both email and phone a good few times since they received the watch back with no reply from anyone. At this point I'm pretty certain the $500 I paid for the service is lost and I'm worrying about my watch. I don't know how I'm going to get it back.

Is anyone by chance in LA near their office? Has it been vacated? I filed a BBB report but I'm not sure what else I can do. Any suggestions?

[CorradoBrit]

Some bad reviews out there. Not looking good. Hope you can get in contact with someone. Maybe worth contacting one of the neighboring businesses to ask if they are still trading. Wholesale Jewelers Exchange?
https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=587208

[Noonan]

I may do that later today. I'm not even sure if my emails are reaching anyone. If their website is closed, how would I know if the email is still active?

Thankfully the watch isn't super valuable like an older sub but it's valuable enough that I'm going to do whatever I can to get it back.

[Noonan]

Originally Posted by CorradoBrit

Some bad reviews out there. Not looking good. Hope you can get in contact with someone. Maybe worth contacting one of the neighboring businesses to ask if they are still trading. Wholesale Jewelers Exchange?
https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=587208

FYI, the place you listed looks to be out of business also. Listed as Permanently Closed. I left ABC yet another voice mail this morning.

Anyone know of an open business near by I could call to check on the ABC location?

[tudorbaja27]

I'd google nearby businesses and call them up.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Ti...4d-118.2542181

[Noonan]

Thanks. I'll give Time-Tec a call a bit later when they open. Wish I knew they existed when I sent to ABC!

[subtona]

Clearly there were good reasons for the partners to split up.

Hope you get your watch back.

[CorradoBrit]

Try Sal Jewelry at 645. They appear to be in business (213) 622-1428

[Joeguy]

Might be worth a trip out there? Good luck!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[circles]

I'm hoping this is just a fluke.

[Noonan]

Originally Posted by Joeguy

Might be worth a trip out there? Good luck!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I live in Boston. A round trip ticket would almost equal the value of the watch. Not an option.

[LMG1212]

Not sure if this is at helpful, but they are also on facebook under

ABC Watchwerks, Inc.

Not sure if you could send them a message on there, but it doesn't seem too active.

[Noonan]

Originally Posted by LMG1212

Not sure if this is at helpful, but they are also on facebook under

ABC Watchwerks, Inc.

Not sure if you could send them a message on there, but it doesn't seem too active.

Thanks but I don't have a FB account. And if their website has shut down; I can't imagine anyone is monitoring FB.

I left message #3 just a couple minutes ago but it still seems like there's no one there. Makes me wonder who "Alex" is that signed for the package a few weeks back.

[CorradoBrit]

Originally Posted by Noonan

Makes me wonder who "Alex" is that signed for the package a few weeks back.

Maybe one of the three employees

[Noonan]

if that's the case, I sure do wish any of the three would respond to my MANY emails/voicemails. Even before their web site shut down, I was still getting no reply. Last I heard from them was when Patrick told me to send it back in.

[CorradoBrit]

Appears Alex is the owner
https://en.yelp.com.hk/biz/abc-watch...t_by=date_desc

[Noonan]

Well that's even worse then. An "owner" shouldn't completely ignore customers who ALREADY paid for their service and were forced to return a watch because they didn't do anything to fix it the first time, which took over 6 months.

[mastermixer]

im nearby ill walk by and see if its still open.

[GLADIATOR]

Originally Posted by mastermixer

im nearby ill walk by and see if its still open.

Kind Response

[Noonan]

Thanks Michael! That's very nice of you to do.

What really gets me about all of this is that the full service wasn't even needed. I just figured it was a good time to do it. I probably could have de-gaussed it on my own and been fine.

[wesdaniel]

I'll be interested to see how this works out. This is scary for sure.

[LMG1212]

Please keep us posted! We are all eager to hear how this ends up, but obviously hoping for a good ending. I really hope you can get your watch back!!!

[Noonan]

Originally Posted by LMG1212

Please keep us posted! We are all eager to hear how this ends up, but obviously hoping for a good ending. I really hope you can get your watch back!!!

Thank you; I will. In all my years, this is my first real issue with any watch service.

I've contacted my bank to see if there's anything I can do about disputing the charge from back in Jan but the watch is the bigger concern!

[LMG1212]

Was your watch insured? If so, this may be able to qualify as a "stolen" watch. I know that won't get your watch back, but you may be able to reconcile something!

[Noonan]

This one was not. Thankfully it's not a very valuable model; maybe 1k-1200 tops. I didn't think to add it to my insurance like some others. Either way, I'm not gonna let it go without a fight!

[circles]

Just checking here, don’t we think it would be prudent not to use words like “stolen” and talk about insurance claims until there is some type of confirmation?

[brandrea]

Interested to hear what you find out.

[Noonan]

Originally Posted by circles

Just checking here, don’t we think it would be prudent not to use words like “stolen” and talk about insurance claims until there is a some type of confirmation?

I'm not claiming anything has been stolen (at this point). However, after almost a month of no contact, having already paid them $500 for the "service" I would have already filed a claim if the watch was insured.

What else am I supposed to assume when their web site has been shut down, no one answers the phones, and I haven't received an update after many attempts at contacting them? What would cause a business to not be able to send a simple reply to a customer over a month time period?

[CorradoBrit]

I tried calling them and got through to a company voice mail.....eventually. At least the number isn't disconnected.

[Noonan]

Yeah but after waiting on hold it just dumps you into the generic voice mail box. From what I can tell, their v-mail is managed by a 3rd party so it's not really a sign that it's still active.

If anyone were actually checking it, they would have received any of my 5+ messages since Friday.