Methods to avoid being scammed when repairing a watch

Watch Repair

Below are a few ways to prevent being cheated when repairing a watch:

　　Method one: Review the repair quote; you must agree on the price with the watchmaker before handing over the watch.

　　Method two: Avoid express repairs whenever possible and do not trust promises of “ immediate service ”, as inspection and performance testing are essential parts of watch repair. It is impossible to return a watch to a customer immediately without verifying its reliability.

　　Method three: Try your best to choose watch shops with a good reputation or those located within large department stores, as large stores provide a level of management oversight for individual watch repair shops.

　　Tip four: make sure not to trust watch shop advertisements blindly. Check their watch repair equipment and oils; you can ask them to bring out the watch oils for inspection, and if they do not have at least4~5different types of watch oil, you should not get your watch repaired there.

　　Tip five: after the repair, always request all the replaced parts back, especially when gears or circuit boards have been replaced during the service.

　　Tip six: have a basic understanding of your watch's faults. The likelihood of a mechanical watch having broken gears or a quartz watch having a broken circuit board is extremely low. If it has genuinely broken, the corresponding fault symptoms will be apparent; a properly functioning watch does not simply develop such issues out of thin air.

　　Tip seven: always request a repair invoice and a detailed register including the scope of repairs, along with a complete list of replaced parts (specifying if they are imported parts), and have them stamp it properly.

　　Tip eight: if you are from out of town, avoid speaking in your local dialect, and it is best to bring a local friend with you. Nowadays, getting a watch repaired feels like guarding against thieves; however, the tactic of startling the snake to frighten the grass should be used when necessary, leaving unscrupulous watch shops no opportunity for any scams.

　　Tip nine: if you are still concerned, take the watch to the local technical quality inspection department for authentication, or file a complaint with the administrative bureau for industry and commerce or the consumers' association. Before doing so, make sure to bring sufficient evidence in your favour and strengthen your self-awareness and protection. Many dishonest repair shops refuse to return replaced parts, or the parts given to you are not from your watch at all, simply because they never actually replaced them. Furthermore, regarding the cost of the repair, this is a matter agreed upon and authorised by you and the repair shop beforehand; even if you later find out the repair price is higher than elsewhere, you cannot lodge a complaint, as this is the same as purchasing goods.