zOwie Omega Discussion Forum

John,

It's funny what you say, as I did actually request a replacement after the second time I sent it to Eastleigh. When I spoke to the customer service representative the second time I got the watch back she was adamant that a replacement could not be offered. (Again somewhat defensive, as those words were uttered without me verbally asking for a replacement, it was mentioned in letter and e-mail)

She also said that the watch was seen by the workshop manager, the customer relations manager and herself prior to it being sent to me. I just wonder if they were looking at it in a dark room, without a light on!

I did mention in the third letter I sent to Eastleigh that I had spoken with a customer relations officer in Bienne and that she was positively supportive in pursuing the issue until I was happy. Bienne did not suggest a replacement, or sending it to them ,but in the future I think I will, providing I can find a UK carrier that can insure the article without me having to donate my kidney to do so!

The other thing that was said (not written) was that marks on bezels or on the face can occur if the article was on display for a long time or if it had been mishandled prior to purchase. This is total BS. The only way dust can get under the crystal is if they were there before the unit was sealed. (Please, anyone correct me if I am wrong) I had a feeling that when I was speaking to Eastleigh, I was half being accused of opening the unit and wrecking it myself. I paid a small fortune for a piece of timekeeping history, and bought into what I thought was a brand that prided itself on prestige and supreme craftsmanship. AM I WRONG? I don't have the tools, let alone the know-how on how to open the unit. Have any of you experienced dust under the crystal upon return of a serviced/repaired unit?

Finally, (I am sure many of you are saying "at last") when you guys get your watch back from a service center, is it in a foam filled cardboard box? If this is how a service center transports it's units, I dread to think how the units are treated upon repair. It would not surprise me in the slightest if the scratch in the "radial graining effect" was placed on the face by them (It sure as hell was not me, and it certainly was not there on purchase.)

Any advice on UK carriers or comments would be greatly appreciated. Apologies again for having gone on a bit.

Thanks

Nafees