Article - Why Was My Repair Refused?
- Published in The RWR Blog
While it is rare that we turn down a repair, this can happen for a few reasons. Outside of fraud, the most common reason is due to damage that was caused by someone attempting service who was not qualified to do so. Replica service / repair is far more difficult than typical service on most genuine makes. Cheaper parts, looser tolerances, inferior finishes and non-mainstream practices all contribute to the difficulty of repairing replica watches. While working on a movement is already a technical, tricky proposition, adding in the additional difficulties that abound in clone and low grade movements used in replicas adds additional difficulty in terms of service and repair. Unqualified servicers, including self service, may lead to situations where a service or repair is turned down. While we hate to offer this response, it is sometimes necessary. We attach our name and reputation to every watch we service, along with a warranty. If we do not feel comfortable attaching these to a repair, it will be refused.
Should I work on my own watch? After what I posted above you may think that we would discourage working on your own watch. Nothing could be further from the truth. You can't learn if you don't try. If you are rather handy with DIY repair and are comfortable working with small, delicate items, it may be worth a shot. If you believe you can, I'd say go for it. If the watch is your favorite, expensive, or you lack the proper basic skillset, then I'd say pass on self repair. Note that even qualified persons find some watch maintenance and repair tasks difficult. Damaging a watch movement is easy to do and said damage may result in a watch that is refused for service or may no longer be worth fixing.
Can a regular watch shop fix my watch? Maybe. And maybe they will, maybe they won't. We have an article specific to this topic. That said, many gen techs who take on rep repair quickly bail due to the additional difficulties outlined above. Just because they are qualified to fix a gen does not mean they can handle a rep. Most of the time it is not lack of skill but rather a lack of understanding of the idiosyncrasies and techniques used by rep makers when designing and assembling replica watches. Use your best judgement.
Is there anything I can do to get my watch serviced if it is refused for repair? You can appeal our initial finding with additional information. We may or may not consider moving forward with this additional information. We may give you the opportunity to bypass repair, moving into movement replacement as a means of service. You may need to find a different repair shop if all else fails.