I have more than a decade of experience taking high-end watches to this man on five ocassions. Each time something wierd has happened. Yesterday was the straw that broke the camel's back.
I paid $150 to overhaul a Rado I brought in for a stem/crown change because it, "has water damage and was not running right with the new battery." OK - so the crown/stem job was $65 and it wound up costing double - no big deal...
The day I dropped that watch off I had a simple battery change on my Omega Multifunction Seamaster. The week before that Rado repair was done (2 months after drop-off) the "New" battery in the omega dies. Anyone can make a mistake. New batteries can be defective. I usually overlook these small frustrations.
Harri refuses to guarantee his work, wants to be paid again for a battery change - he knocks off $5 from his usual $20 charge. Here's the kicker - I look on the back of the watch, NEVER WORN IN 2 YEARS - NOT ONCE - FRESH FROM THE MANUFACTURER AFTER A MAJOR OVERHAUL IN and every single screw-head is buggered up in the direction of tightening. I am 100% sure that Harri did the damage. I took photos of the back of this watch when it was returned from Swatch Group in Secaucus, contemplating an ebay sale, and every screw is clearly in pristine condition.
The condition of the screws now is absolutely alarming. A 12 year old spastic child could have done better. I ask Harri about the screws and he gives me another one of his confabulated stories about how, "when screws are removed a dozen times, there is some whear and tear. I could take screws out 20 times and you wouldn't see any damage, but you have to expect some wear and tear from the average watch repairman, " -yes Harri, you may be able to remove the screws 20 times, but apparently you cannot put them back in even once without making a total mess of it.
To add insult to injury, he then proceeds to tell me how the battery is probably under alot of strain because the witch hasn't been taken apart and cleaned in a few years and may need a total overhaul for $350! Oh, we could try a new batttery, but it may not work... He wants an additional $20 to replace the (8) screws.
Last year the Tissot he repaired for $150 lasted 1.5 years before it stopped. That was my fault, too - because I did not bring that automatic in "every year for a cleaning"
If you are lucky enough to look here before you bring your watch to this butcher, liar and confabulator, do yourself a BIG favor and call in Secaucus, NJ. They charge less and will do the job right in the first place.
That's where this watch is going as soon as the new, new battery probably dies next month (proving, in Harri's world, that it needs the $350 overaul)- I am concerned that the watch is no longer water resistant, of course he says he will not be responsible for that, either, "It's like a tire, it could blow at any time."
When he said I had to pay $15 for the battery I said not one word except, I asked that he please be sure it was a fresh batttery. He was insulted (he told me so) - the best defense is a good offense?
Harri, you need to retire. You must have Parkinsons AND Alzheimer's. You can't put a screw in a threaded hole right, you can't remember to throw out your dead batteries, you think that a watch which loses less than 2 seconds a year is straining a battery, you imagine water damage in watches that have never seen a sink, shower or pool, you think that hermetically sealed automatic watches need cleaning and oiling annually and you won't even stand behind a simple battery change.
When this battery dies, I will drag your sorry derrier down to Centre Street for a SCC Tort pro-se for the lousey $50 in batteries after verrifies the 'new new' battery is strangely dead in a perfectly good timepiece. I can't wait to see the look on the judges' face when he hears you ranting like Seargent Shultz! - be suing ya.
Barry
New York, New York
U.S.A.
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