Third Time Lucky?

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welshlad
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Re: Third Time Lucky?

Post by welshlad »

Personally, if I had lost confidence in the watch in the way you describe, I would "twist" and take the credit note and look for something new from Watchfinder.

I had a similar experience with a car earlier this year where, after a breakdown and a long traumatic rescue to get back home, I completely lost confidence in it and once that happened I felt compelled to immediately set about trading it in for a different car, even though I was due to keep it for quite a while longer.
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downer
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Re: Third Time Lucky?

Post by downer »

This happened to me with my first IWC. Having lost faith in the watch (after numerous issues) I sold it and bought another IWC.
The replacement has been perfect.

Sometimes, you get a lemon. I’d be offloading it asap.
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iain
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Re: Third Time Lucky?

Post by iain »

The feedback, both here and on Facebook where I posed the same question has been pretty much unanimous. It is also in complete agreement with the decision I had already reached.

Sadly it wasn’t third time lucky and the watch is going back. I won’t post the ultimate outcome on this thread which has been about the ups and downs of my IWC. I’ll start a new thread and reveal where I ended up when the time comes.
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Re: Third Time Lucky?

Post by Viognier »

downer wrote: Thu Sep 15, 2022 10:09 pm This happened to me with my first IWC. Having lost faith in the watch (after numerous issues) I sold it and bought another IWC.
The replacement has been perfect.

Sometimes, you get a lemon. I’d be offloading it asap.
As above from Downer, and noted by yourself and Welshlad. If you have the chance to move it on for full refund, take it. There are other fantastic IWC pilot watches !
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Re: Third Time Lucky?

Post by strapline »

iain wrote: Fri Sep 16, 2022 12:41 am Sadly it wasn’t third time lucky and the watch is going back. I won’t post the ultimate outcome on this thread which has been about the ups and downs of my IWC. I’ll start a new thread and reveal where I ended up when the time comes.
I think you're making the right choice here Iain, as you do to. Imagine a recurring problem with a TV or similar; in all probability you'd take your money back without a second thought. Depending on your experience with the brand and its agents you'd probably look at a new make of TV altogether, not wishing to go through a similar experience again. Just my thoughts.

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Re: Third Time Lucky?

Post by Bahnstormer_vRS »

Just catching up on this Iain and I'm really sorry to hear of the issues and your dilemma, after you invested so much in your IWC.

There's no real right or wrong decision as to what to do. It's all down to your personal feelings.

However, like Welshlad, I sold my car last year after ten years of much enjoyed ownership when a big repair bill loomed. I've not looked back.

Good luck with your search.

Guy

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iain
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Re: Third Time Lucky?

Post by iain »

Well it’s gone and it won’t be coming back. I expect it won’t be delivered to WF by DHL until after the bank holiday now, so it will be a week until I can move forward with any exchange.

I have reserved another watch that will hopefully be on my wrist in the next couple of weeks once everything is resolved. I won’t reveal anything here and now, but will start a new topic when I have it and explain my thought process behind my choice as well as putting some photos up.
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Re: Third Time Lucky?

Post by iain »

Oooooo this could be a little naughty.

My IWC arrived back with watchfinder yesterday. There has not been another one of these for sale with them since I bought mine back in January but today one has mysteriously appeared for sale. It’s the same year as mine and the alignment of the screw down case back is exactly the same as this photo I put in the case back of the day thread.

https://www.watchfinder.co.uk/IWC/Pilot ... tem/197279

Coincidence? Or have watchfinder put my watch straight back up for sale with a fault they have been told about hoping that the next buyer won’t notice?

My photo of my case back for reference and a screenshot of the one on their site. Serial number is blurred out on their photo.

508B543B-01A8-41DA-AC38-08BE4FFF2660.jpeg
28C1B6D0-73C2-4849-89FF-1277ECDCF254.jpeg
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Re: Third Time Lucky?

Post by missF »

Certainly worth noting. It would be interesting to keep an eye on the site for another few weeks (ie enough time for them to have a repair done) and see if another watch appears on sale with the same caseback alignment.

I’m really giving watchfinder every benefit of the doubt here- partly because I’d like to be fair, but mostly because I don’t want to have to accept that they might have done something so shoddy.., :(
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Re: Third Time Lucky?

Post by iain »

I’ll wait for confirmation that my replacement is on its way and I’ll email them to ask.
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Re: Third Time Lucky?

Post by iain »

I’ve emailed to find out. Here is my email and I will report back once I get a response.


I am contacting you regarding an IWC Spitfire chronograph I returned this week. I purchased the watch in January and it soon developed a fault so was returned under warranty and repaired. The fault recently reoccurred and it was again returned, however as I had lost confidence with the watch it was agreed that you would allow me to swap the watch for something of equal value. The watch arrived back with you on Tuesday this week.

I believe the same watch is now up for sale on your website 24 hours after you received it. Here is a link to the sale.
https://www.watchfinder.co.uk/IWC/Pilot ... tem/197279
The reason I believe this to be my watch is because the photos of the case back match my watch exactly, the year of manufacture is the same, and also that this is an unusual watch you don’t sell many of, it’s not just a common Rolex. Attached are the case back photos from your sale and one of the watch while it was in my possession for reference.

I note in my account that this is not logged as a sold watch but a cancelled sale. I assume that is how you usually handle all watches sold within the 14 day returns period and therefore by doing this it means you may not give them the same thorough inspection a recently purchased watch would get prior to sale. This would explain how you got it up quickly as you have probably used the original photos from your library when you sold this watch to me and have not taken new ones.

As a repeat customer of watchfinder, this does concern me. I suspect this is a genuine error caused by your cancelled sale procedure rather than an attempt to pass a watch with a known fault on to an unsuspecting buyer.

Can a member of your team please investigate what may have happened here. If it is my watch then it will need removing from sale and repairing. You may also want to review your documented procedures for how returned watches are processed in future to ensure this cannot happen again, as I suspect this kind of repair/exchange may be quite an uncommon event.

Thank you for looking into this and I would appreciate you sharing your findings with me so I can have confidence that I am assured that any future purchase I may make will not be a watch sold with a known fault.

Regards.......
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Re: Third Time Lucky?

Post by iain »

This is the response from Watchfinder to my email

Good afternoon Iain,
Thank you for your email and I hope you are well.

I have personally looked into this matter and can confirm a minor adjustment was made to the movement by our senior watchmaker team, the watch then underwent a serious quality control check which confirmed it was in full working order.

As the watch was only recently purchased from Watchfinder it was not necessary to update the pictures therefore the previous advertisement was re-uploaded

I can confirm the above information has also been confirmed by the servicing manager and the repairs started the day the watch arrived.

I hope this answers your questions


I’m a little sceptical if I’m honest. I had a fault that watchfinder inspected and declared it needed to go to IWC. The second time it happens it can just receive a minor adjustment the same day and be fine.

At least it is confirmed as my old watch and I’d be wary if anyone is thinking of picking it up.
Iain’s Law: Any discussion on the Christopher Ward forum, irrespective of the thread title or subject matter, will eventually lead to someone mentioning the Bel Canto if the thread continues for long enough.
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Re: Third Time Lucky?

Post by strapline »

This sounds highly questionable given what you were told about the need to return the watch to IWC. Doesn’t really fill you with confidence where Watchfinder is concerned.

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Re: Third Time Lucky?

Post by Bahnstormer_vRS »

An interesting turn of events, Iain.

Let's hope, for everyone's sake, that Watchfinder's account of their recent actions is correct, and that your replacement / new acquisition comes through in fine health.

Guy

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And in short measures, life may perfect bee. - Ben Jonson (1572 – 1637)

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