zOwie Omega Discussion Forum

I recently bought a new smp and soon realized that it was not winding properly and sent it in to get fixed at a local swatch group service center. This is where things started getting worse.

First - they told me my warranty which was less than a month old was expired. The technician said the 06 on the date was in fact a 04. I told them twice that I had bought it less than a month ago and even produced the sales slip. They then said they would fix it. I will add the 06 in no way looks like a 04.

Second - when I asked what was wrong with the watch they said it was because I shook it. I do not see how moving the watch back and forth , such as walking should damage a sports watch.

Third, after telling me it would be ready in three weeks, I waited nearly two months for it. When I go it back, I was naturally happy and took it home since I was wearing another watch at the time. Once home, I realized my watch was covered in scrathes. There were vice grip like marks on both sides of the watch like someone had not loosened the grip and just yanked it out of its hold. They were not deep scratches, but enough to make me angry. And as I feared, when they first took the watch off the bracelet, they put in on a plastic tray that had compartments that were too small so the watch was riding on the edges of the tray - and guess what, there are scuff marks on the four corners of the watch. And, they put deep scratches on the sides of the clasp that need to have the pins pushed out. Now these scratches would be difficult to get out. Are these guys so heavy handed that they can not even get a pin out without scratching up the sides. I could go on and list all the other scratches, but let me just say there are many. I am simply amazed at the level of service here.

When I went in to the service center, they told me this is normal when servicing a watch. I said "WHAT! I don't think so. I have other divers watches that need to have their backs screwed off and they get serviced regularly and never come back with scratches. I also know from wearing a stainless steel divers watch for 12 years that the claps and bezel get scuffed and scratched, but the rest of the watch rarely does."

I told them since it was a a new watch, I should get it back looking new. They said they would send it out to a professional and try and get it polished.

Now, what angers me is I have not even had a chance to wear this watch except for a couple of days when I first got it to see if it was working properly. I had always planned to keep this watch only for occasional wear and I should add, I am very careful with my watches since I have a everyday watch I wear. I also know that a watch in this condition could have been taken back for a replacement - but - I bought it during a trip in another country from a registered dealer, so it would have been difficult.

What are your thoughts on this?

I was planning on buying another omega, but I am now very reluctant and an even thinking about getting rid of this one. I will have to see how it comes back. The big question mark is - being an automatic watch - means it will need regular servicing and if it gets scrathed every time I get it serviced I do not want to keep it.

Do you others on this forum get your watches coming back with many very negligent scratches?

Remember, this is a swatch group service center.