Speedmaster reduced has problems

Northernman

If you hang in here long enough you will see my point.
Not any battery-swapper down at the mall for sure, you need someone with references.
This should go for any job you need to have done to something of value.
There are plenty members from all over the world on this forum.
A quick forum inquiry about recommended independent watchmakers in your area will often work.

Omega is NOT the place for (neo) vintage stuff. Take it from a collector with some experience in this matter.

dsio

It varies on condition but the trick is to wait until the right one comes along, ideally a seldom worn single owner watch then pounce. Seeing what's offer then feeling you have to choose from that isn't a good way to buy, you want to know exactly the watch you're looking for then keep your powder dry until the right one pops up.

Archer

No, I don't service these. When someone asks me to service one, I typically suggest that they send it directly to Omega. Omega will swap in a freshly serviced complete movement (base movement and chronograph module) and then send the movement they remove back to Bienne to be refurbished - that's the procedure here in Canada anyway, and I can't see why it would be different anywhere else.

As you noted, it's not just me - here is a quote from another watchmaker on another forum who answered a question about servicing these recently:

"The service is a movement exchange generally, the DD modules are a pain to work on and it's next to impossible to get parts so finding someone to perform an actual service is tricky. They work quite well until they don't, as a watchmaker I wouldn't own one and despise working on them."

Pretty much sums up my feelings. Even @Canuck who is arguably one of biggest defenders/fans of the reduced model here, and is a watchmaker also, doesn't work on them from what I have gathered and said his didn't work well until he sent it to the service center for a movement exchange. I'm sure there are watchmakers out there who service these, but when I have so much work I turn down several people a day, why would I take in work that I know is going to be a pain in the arse? It's not about skills or abilities, but access to parts and making a business decision.

The OP should send it back for a return - although he's been told this countless times, been told not to contact the seller, he seems determined to make a mess of this return process. I wish him luck!

Cheers, Al

Vintage Lemania

Figured Id post a little update to this whole mess. The seller messaged me again last night(unprovoked) and offered me a $200 partial refund. As you can imagine, I have not responded to the message he sent. Here is the actual message that was sent to me last night: Hi - I'm afraid I find your proposal unreasonable. If you send the watch to Omega for full repairs (and I mean full - including replacing parts, etc.) wont cost more than $450. Considering above, the fact that I continue to disagree with your assesment of the watch, the fact you had ample opportunity to further inquire about the watch before you bid and saw that returns were not accepted, and in the interest of settling this now, I offer you a $200 refund which I find to be more than reasonable. Please advise. Thank you.

My question now is: how much of a chance do I have of Ebay siding with me at this point and allowing me to send it back for a full refund? Im about to get them involved here..but wanted some opinions first. Thanks in advance!

efauser

Christ, almighty! You have been given enough opinions about what you should do to get your money back. What is it you're not understanding?

Archer

No, I don't service these. When someone asks me to service one, I typically suggest that they send it directly to Omega. Omega will swap in a freshly serviced complete movement (base movement and chronograph module) and then send the movement they remove back to Bienne to be refurbished - that's the procedure here in Canada anyway, and I can't see why it would be different anywhere else.

As you noted, it's not just me - here is a quote from another watchmaker on another forum who answered a question about servicing these recently:

"The service is a movement exchange generally, the DD modules are a pain to work on and it's next to impossible to get parts so finding someone to perform an actual service is tricky. They work quite well until they don't, as a watchmaker I wouldn't own one and despise working on them."

Pretty much sums up my feelings. Even @Canuck who is arguably one of biggest defenders/fans of the reduced model here, and is a watchmaker also, doesn't work on them from what I have gathered and said his didn't work well until he sent it to the service center for a movement exchange. I'm sure there are watchmakers out there who service these, but when I have so much work I turn down several people a day, why would I take in work that I know is going to be a pain in the arse? It's not about skills or abilities, but access to parts and making a business decision.

The OP should send it back for a return - although he's been told this countless times, been told not to contact the seller, he seems determined to make a mess of this return process. I wish him luck!

Cheers, Al

Don Bocadillo

I'm going to chime in once more as a quick refresher/ summary for the OP with my experience as a medium volume seller of high value items.

1. Initiate an 'item not as described' case
2. eBay will then require seller to take action
3. Wait. You will at some point be instructed to return the item either by the seller, if they want to maintain their feedback ratings or by eBay support.
4. Return the item with tracking and signature upon receipt.
5. Get your refund. 100% guaranteed. eBay is set up to side with the buyer in all but the most extreme cases or if the item has been tampered with or 'opened' as in the case of the watch has been opened up or the amplifier has been opened. They deem this 'modifying' the item and is grounds for immediate dismissal of any item not as described case.

Simple as that. Now the seller seems like an idiot as he should know that if you are unhappy and want to return the item the best course of action is to immediately accept the return, issue the refund on receipt of the item and get the associated positive or Non-negative feedback for handling the situation properly.

Clear once and for all?

efauser

Christ, almighty! You have been given enough opinions about what you should do to get your money back. What is it you're not understanding?

watch3s

will ebay take into consideration the message exchange op had? i recently had my own ebay gamble and the seller did inquire what it would take for me to keep his corroded vintage seamaster but I said nope, refund

Don Bocadillo

Only if they had agreed terms for a partial refund, otherwise it would seem negotiations were still in progress and didn't end in a satisfactory outcome for the buyer at which point a full return is requested. As with most situations, until something is agreed upon, you generally have all options open to you.