scam artist watch repair

[Tom Lally]

I am really hot right now about this guy ERIC MARTIN, EMW WATCH REAPIR IN SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA. This guy is a classic scam artist posing as a Rolex repairman. After sending my watch to him with a quote of $295 for the 3-5 year service and lubrication, he tells me the watch needs inversor wheels. After an extensive search I could not find anything in a Rolex watch called inversor wheels. Closest thing in reversing wheels, which list at $85 new. Long story short, the bill came to $730, then when the watch arrived it was $765.

Also he told me he put a new clasp and pin that were bent and he left the bent pin and simply bent the clasp back with pliers. After doing a late internet search on this guy, I find he has been scamming people for years in different cities. His Better Business Bureau rating is an F with many unresolved complaints.

Beware, when getting your watch repaired do the research beforehand. I was too trusting and got scammed hard.
I will fly out to see this guy and get some satisfaction as that is the only way I can see to deal with it as he will not answer the phone or return e-mails.

[Mosco]

Tom,

There are inversor wheels on almost every mechanical watch, but not sure if yours needed replacement or not....

I have many good friends in Scottsdale - just say the word.

[tudorman8276]

...you should take-up Greg on his offer...

Stan.

[CharlieG]

Originally Posted by Tom Lally

I am really hot right now about this guy ERIC MARTIN, EMW WATCH REAPIR IN SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA. This guy is a classic scam artist posing as a Rolex repairman. After sending my watch to him with a quote of $295 for the 3-5 year service and lubrication, he tells me the watch needs inversor wheels. After an extensive search I could not find anything in a Rolex watch called inversor wheels. Closest thing in reversing wheels, which list at $85 new. Long story short, the bill came to $730, then when the watch arrived it was $765.

Also he told me he put a new clasp and pin that were bent and he left the bent pin and simply bent the clasp back with pliers. After doing a late internet search on this guy, I find he has been scamming people for years in different cities. His Better Business Bureau rating is an F with many unresolved complaints.

Beware, when getting your watch repaired do the research beforehand. I was too trusting and got scammed hard.
I will fly out to see this guy and get some satisfaction as that is the only way I can see to deal with it as he will not answer the phone or return e-mails.

My only thoughts if you felt uncomfortable with the new quote, you should have declined the repairs and asked to have the watch sent back.

[TimeToGo]

Tom,

Very sorry to hear this. Once this people have the watch, there is no telling what could happen if you ask for it to be returned.

Maybe someone can look this guy up and see if he is legitimate and what his credentials are.

This is an interesting topic. A lot of these "watchmakers" ask to be told up front if the watch is acting up. If all seems fine, they may not do an overhaul as claimed and charge. At the end you receive a guarantee that if anything happens in a year to send it back... Which very seldom, anything does go wrong, though...

[Mosco]

Tom? You still there? Story without a punchline here!

[Tom Lally]

It would be great to see if this guy is legit. This is his address.: Eric Martin
26722 N.142nd Place,

Scottsdale, AZ 85262

Thanks for any help.

Tom

[Tom Lally]

This is just one of the sites about Mr. Martin. http://forums.watchnet.com/index.php...to=69788&rid=0
His Better Business Bureau rating is F- many unresolved disputes.

And here is the BBB site: http://www.bbb.org/central-northern-...ona-az-2001362

[CharlieG]

Well he certainly has a professional looking website:

Maybe someone should forward this for his side?

http://www.emwwatchrepair.com/

[Tom Lally]

Yeah, his website is what first got me interested.

[Terry Newton]

A nice website means you spent money on developing a nice website. Nothing more, nothing less. His reputation is getting around. Maybe we all learn a lesson here in that we look up people on the BBB before we do business with them.

This guy seems horrible.

Terry Newton

[TimeToGo]

I wonder if anyone here is a member of AWCI that can check on his current status and/or report these problems...

[Tom Lally]

I appreciate everyone's comments. I feel scammed and certainly don't want it to happen to others. If I take a $765 lesson and others can avoid it, that is fine.

[stevemulholland3]

Originally Posted by TimeToGo

Tom,

Very sorry to hear this. Once this people have the watch, there is no telling what could happen if you ask for it to be returned.

Maybe someone can look this guy up and see if he is legitimate and what his credentials are.

This is an interesting topic. A lot of these "watchmakers" ask to be told up front if the watch is acting up. If all seems fine, they may not do an overhaul as claimed and charge. At the end you receive a guarantee that if anything happens in a year to send it back... Which very seldom, anything does go wrong, though...

you can very easily tell if someone has done an overhaul or not just by looking at the condition of the movement..so if you ever have doubts just take it to a trusted repair facilityand find out whether a service has been done..

[Mosco]

Originally Posted by stevemulholland3

you can very easily tell if someone has done an overhaul or not just by looking at the condition of the movement..so if you ever have doubts just take it to a trusted repair facilityand find out whether a service has been done..

X200000

[morrivivi]

I was also scammed by this guy. I sent him my Rolex Submariner 50th anniversary because of my brother recommendation, big mistake.
After sent him the watch via USPS and fully insured( $55). never replied back to me regarding my watch, just did after calling him twice.
Then he calls me and tells me that he is replacing a broken part with a generic one, much better that the original Rolex one.He said that Rolex do this , keeps putting inferior quality partrs in their watches just to repair them and make $$$, ( I should've suspected something)
He charged me around $ 900.
Sent me the watch not polished with a warranty of 2 years but not signed....
The watch had a different back cover ( not mine) , one with a worn green sticker.
I called his and after reporting this to him, he said" What do you want to do about it, I repair 3 watches a week so maybe I switched the cover, no big deal"He turned defensive and offer to pay for the shipping back.
Now everytime I do not wear the watch for 3-4 hours, it stops working!!!!!
I think I will take this watch to the Rolex authorized sore in town ??
HELP

[RolexPete32]

This is nuts guys. I saw this guys picture and I know a fake ass mother #%>? when I see one. No matter the cost I am only sending my watches stright to rolex service centre.

[Z-Sub]

that's just terrible.
Make sure you check the movement out just to know he did not put in a eta or other movement into your watches

[diablojota]

Originally Posted by morrivivi

I was also scammed by this guy. I sent him my Rolex Submariner 50th anniversary because of my brother recommendation, big mistake.
After sent him the watch via USPS and fully insured( $55). never replied back to me regarding my watch, just did after calling him twice.
Then he calls me and tells me that he is replacing a broken part with a generic one, much better that the original Rolex one.He said that Rolex do this , keeps putting inferior quality partrs in their watches just to repair them and make $$$, ( I should've suspected something)
He charged me around $ 900.
Sent me the watch not polished with a warranty of 2 years but not signed....
The watch had a different back cover ( not mine) , one with a worn green sticker.
I called his and after reporting this to him, he said" What do you want to do about it, I repair 3 watches a week so maybe I switched the cover, no big deal"He turned defensive and offer to pay for the shipping back.
Now everytime I do not wear the watch for 3-4 hours, it stops working!!!!!
I think I will take this watch to the Rolex authorized sore in town ??
HELP

Contact Steve Mulholland, I believe he is in the Tampa area and may be able to help you out. I think Tempo King is also there. They both can provide some assistance.
Sorry to hear about your watch, that is just a friggin' travishamockery.

[Terry Newton]

This should be put in a sticky so that we all avoid dealing with this clown. This guy sounds horrible. I would recommend also posting him with the better Business Bureau and www.ripoffreport.com. If he screws enough people he will be posted everywhere and his business will start taking a beating.

I would be interested in hearing if he did exchange your Rolex movement for a replica movement.

Terry Newton

[djhiram]

Tom, Maybe you should have Greg's friends pay this guy a little visit and make him an offer he can't refuse

[LocoNBroko]

WOW, I guess I got lucky... A few years ago I sent him a Tudor chronograph that I had. He did a complete overhaul, charged me about $500 and the watch came back looking and running like new.
My only complaint was that it took about 3 weeks to get back. But then again, I am not the most patient person on the planet either.

[Imtiaz]

Got to watch out where you send the watch for service.

Some con guys change the movement.

By the time you find out it's too late to do anything.

The ETA movements have the 8 movements per second too. Hard to tell these days.

[CW21-WatchMaker]

Tom,

Very sorry to hear about your bad experience with this other watch repair company. Unfortunately I hear horror stories like this all the time. The reality is that there are very few qualified/certified watchmakers.

In fact, according to a conversation I just recently had with the Executive Director of the AWCI, there are currently only 130 CW-21 Watchmakers in the United States.

Rolex has been one of the leaders in the industry to establish Official Standards and Practices for the Preparation, Education and Certification of Twenty-First Century Watchmakers

I would definitely suggest that anyone that is seriously thinking about having a Rolex serviced should take a few minutes to read this informative document.

I definitely agree with everyone that you need to do your due diligence and know who you are doing business with. A very good qualifying question to ask a watch repair company would be "Are you certified CW-21 watchmaker?"

If the answer is no, then there is no need to waste any more time looking for BBB complaints.

One more way to see who you are dealing with is to ask the perspective watch repair company for 10 names of customers from the past month with contact information. I doubt that many of these fly by night web companies would even respond.

Jeff