Getting something you treasure - serviced / repaired

[Terry]

In England in 1988 (25 years ago) I bought a Seiko AGS watch. AGS = Automatic Generating System – Seiko later changed the name to ‘Kinetic’

I paid GBP160 for it then. It wasn’t cheap but it served me well for many years when it stopped functioning around 3 years ago.

More details of the technology can be found here - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automatic_quartz AGS
I recently decided to try and get it fixed.

Now – I realize that a 25 year old watch might take some fixing – but this little babe is a museum piece (There IS one in the science museum in London)

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So – I took it to the Seiko service centre in Bangkok and was told – Sorry we cannot repair, as it is too old. I explained that if it were a cheap Sukhumvit copy, I could accept that response, but if Seiko really do think that they are a top quality brand, then at least a good examination would be worthwhile. They still said – no can do.
So I sent a polite snotogram email to Seiko in Tokyo

Dear sirs
I am the owner of an early AGS wristwatch which was purchased in England in 1988. It has given me good service for many years and I stopped wearing it around 3 years ago to keep it in good condition to be able to pass it on to my son.
I was very disappointed today when I asked my driver to take it to your Petchaburi Road service centre for a general clean and check- up and possible repair.
He was told that you do not service this watch anymore.
I wish to restore the watch to a perfect working condition and am surprised to be told that Seiko cannot help.
Can you please explain why?
Sincerely

NO REPLY

So I sent another one – this time to Tokyo

Dear sirs
I would be very grateful if you would please follow up my request to have my Seiko AGS wristwatch serviced and returned to a good operating condition.
I simply cannot believe that a Company such as Seiko cannot service one of its products – despite its age.
I am quite prepared to send this watch to your offices in Japan if necessary.
Please advise of my next action
Thank you and regards

FINALLY GOT A REPLY

Subject: Your inquiry about SEIKO AGS watch repair / our ref. 31348
Our Ref. 31348
Dear Mr. Theobald,
Thank you for your patronage of SEIKO watches for such a long time.
Firstly, we apologize for our late response.

With regard to your inquiry, while we would like to assist you, we are unable to make any comments
without seeing the actual condition of the watch since the production of your watch has been discontinued for over 20 years, and we are afraid to tell you that some of the replacement parts might no longer be available to supply.
However, it may be possible to do as good an overhaul as possible at our service center in Tokyo.
If it is acceptable for you to allow us to inspect the condition of your watch at our service center, please send your watch to Japan. As soon as the inspection finishes, we will send you a repair estimate.

As you know very well, we have a national service center in Bangkok, Thailand, who will help you to send your watch to us.
Therefore, kindly please contact them. As you may know already, their address is as follows:

address

We are sure the above-mentioned Seiko Service Center will be happy to be of service to you.

With best regards,
CS Dept.
SEIKO WATCH CORPORATION

AT LAST THINKS I – A POSITIVE AND CONSTRUCTIVE RESPONSE

So I took it back to BKK Service centre where I spoke with an appointed knowledgeable Thai gentleman.
Several weeks later I got a phone call and quote of THB 6,650 to fully fix it – In Tokyo
Having gone this far – I said yes.
I finally got it back on Monday – it works fine
Is there a moral to this?

I guess so – never accept – can’t do – don’t have – until you have explored all reasonable options.

[richard]

Is there a moral to this?

Well done

Moral to this? If not satisfied, GO TO THE TOP

[oakdale160]

2nd Moral---Thais are never the top.

[caller]

Nice story Terry and I'm glad there was a happy ending.

I have a similar problem with a Swiss Army Brand watch that I bought in Kingston in 1996.

It still works okay but the only place I can find a replacement leather strap is via ebay from America and the scratched domed glass case seems consigned to history. If I can track the company down I may follow your route!

[hhfarang]

I have the same problem with 4 Cerwin Vega studio monitor speakers circa 1971 that I have drug around the world for over 40 years. When working they still sound better than anything new on the market. I had them refurbed twice in California and Florida, but 3 out of 4 now need work again (one because a mouse got into the woofer hole in the back and set up shop eating all the wiring!). I contacted Cerwin Vega but no authorized repair service in Thailand even though they sell that brand of speakers here.

[richard]

I have the same problem with 4 Cerwin Vega studio monitor speakers circa 1971 that I have drug around the world for over 40 years. When working they still sound better than anything new on the market. I had them refurbed twice in California and Florida, but 3 out of 4 now need work again (one because a mouse got into the woofer hole in the back and set up shop eating all the wiring!). I contacted Cerwin Vega but no authorized repair service in Thailand even though they sell that brand of speakers here.

Time for that trip to the States then when the cool weather is over here

[Terry]

Well - for my next trick................

I have a pair of Sennheiser 'Reference Gold" headphones that always gave great sound. Unfortunately the earpads have disintegrated and I haven't used them for years.

Let's see what we can do................

[Nereus]

...................I asked my driver to take it to your Petchaburi Road service centre

This is what got them reponding in Japan!

[pe7e]

I have the same problem with 4 Cerwin Vega studio monitor speakers circa 1971 that I have drug around the world for over 40 years. When working they still sound better than anything new on the market. I had them refurbed twice in California and Florida, but 3 out of 4 now need work again (one because a mouse got into the woofer hole in the back and set up shop eating all the wiring!). I contacted Cerwin Vega but no authorized repair service in Thailand even though they sell that brand of speakers here.

If it's just the wiring that has been eaten and not the speaker cone/diaphragm, then almost any competent electronic service-repair centre should be able to help you

[pe7e]

Nice story Terry and I'm glad there was a happy ending.

I have a similar problem with a Swiss Army Brand watch that I bought in Kingston in 1996.

It still works okay but the only place I can find a replacement leather strap is via ebay from America and the scratched domed glass case seems consigned to history. If I can track the company down I may follow your route!

If you can't trace the company, or they are no longer trading it could well be worth your while seeking out a specialist horologist (as opposed to a watch battery fitter) specialist manufacturers supply all manner of watch and clock glasses. Unless the profile of the glass on your watch is very unusual, there will almost certainly be one to fit, the problem is, it's not cheap for such a service and skilled horologists are not on every street corner, especially in Thailand I would think.

[caller]

If you can't trace the company, or they are no longer trading it could well be worth your while seeking out a specialist horologist (as opposed to a watch battery fitter) specialist manufacturers supply all manner of watch and clock glasses. Unless the profile of the glass on your watch is very unusual, there will almost certainly be one to fit, the problem is, it's not cheap for such a service and skilled horologists are not on every street corner, especially in Thailand I would think.

Thank you for that advice - luckily I'm still in the UK!

Tomorrow I'll be seeking advice on a watch forum I've joined, as much to seek more info about the brand, to seek to establish if its linked to Victorinox or Wenger, but also about getting the glass case fixed and I expect I'll be given the same advice as you have provided - and I'm confident I've found just such a man not too far away!