Charlie Charles Brown , Practiced Liar who doesn't tell the whole truth, Frankfort, Kentucky
Charlie is a consumate liar in that he can't tell the whole truth...only bits and pieces to attempt to make himself look better. He sent me his watch. I fixed it. He paid for a bad part in addition to a service repair. He also paid for a crystal and hand replacement. He asked if I had an old twist-o-flex band for his watch and I went through my parts and found a nice one without wear and put it on for him for no charge. I did, however, mistakenly forgot to install his crystal and hands. He had paid for the crystal and hands with a successive payment which I had forgotten to record. My fault. He then sent his watch back and I did install a crystal and hand replacement. As an apology, I took, the liberty of polishing his watch and restoring its finish without charging him for that additional service.
Charlie never even so much as acknowledged the case polishing, nor did he acknowledge the free band I took the time to install for him. Then, he emails me a nasty complaint about how I didn't take the time to clean his free band and that if he gives a gift he would have made sure it was clean first. It was an old band, what did he expect for free and from a 40 year old band. Was I supposed to spend more time without reimbursement, especially after polishing his case for free? Evidently, he thinks so.
He claims his crystal has a scratch and that the replaced hands aren't new. I don't think so. So, I asked him to send his watch back a third time so that I could remove everything that was done for him without charge, remove and replace his current crystal and hands and reinstall his old ones, and I would refund him his cost for the crystal and hands plus return shipping. He declined. Go figure. That's what I would expect from someone trying to get something for nothing.
He says I sent him $15. Actually, I sent him 2 payments. One payment was a refund of his $80 for the crystal and hands. I sent the second payment of $15 to cover his shipping for whomever he wanted to send his watch to next for his "trouble". Whoever he chooses, I wish them the best of luck. They will be in for a surprise if he behaves anything like he did with me.
Yes, I started as a hobbiest but am definitely an expert when it comes to repairs and work on a dozen watches a week. I tried to do right by Charlie but his demands are out of this world. Not a pleasant person to do business with, ol' Charlie. He's thankless, and very likely to not give the whole story.
Bob
3 Updates & Rebuttals
Collector
Frankfort,Kentucky,
United States of America
Well......Here we go again!
#4REBUTTAL Individual responds
Thu, February 03, 2011
I too am disappointed, not in the fact that I wasted money on this shoddy repair but because this watch is a heirloom and it didn't matter so much as to what it cost; what mattered was whether I got what I paid for. I gladly paid the $410.00 Bob asked for his so-called professional repair and restoration but what I believe I got was this: I got a new battery, a dirty watch band and the watch cleaned off with jewelery wipes. I didn't even get a work receipt. That is why I didn't return it a third time.
When Bob got his hand caught in the cookie jar he got mad and started the name calling. (Old Charlie, liar). How does he know how old I am? It is true my watch is 40 years old and belonged to my grandfather, that is why I wanted it repaired. I treasured it. Bob treated it like a repair at a cheap pawn shop.
So here is the $80.00 question, did I receive a refund? I did get receipt for $15.00 through PayPal, but no $80.00 receipt. Bob must have sent it by pony express or maybe he simply "forgot" again. Or maybe the check is in the mail. Who knows?
I have all the emails where he states the watch hands are "not new" as he said in his rebuttal. I have the email where he says, "Maybe I scratched the crystal." I have my $15.00. My watch is finally restored and I can wear it proudly. (And incidentally Bob, referring to the dirty watch band. If I gave a pair of shoes to Goodwill, I would at least clean off the mud. Take a little pride in your work even if it is a gift to someone.) I have "all" the returned parts from the "other" repair done professionally I might add. I am a happy man.
And Bob, just because you have repaired 1000 watches doesn't make you an expert like me driving home from work 1000 times makes me a race car driver. Grow up young man, you have some years ahead of you.
Bob
Normal,Illinois,
United States of America
I'm not mad, Old Charlie
#4Author of original report
Wed, February 02, 2011
I'm not mad at all, Old Charlie. Frankly, I'm disappointed. You taught me a valuable lesson. It takes more than being very good at what I do. With persons such as you, it takes a thick skin (which I have) and the realization that there are people out there such as you who will distort truths and flat out lie in an effort to hurt other people. I always give everyone the benefit of the doubt but you've shown me some people can be comfortable telling lies. Evidently, it gives you a feeling of power that you are lacking elsewhere in your life. Tell the truth, Old Charlie. Why don't you admit to receiving $95 in refund instead of just the $15 that you claim? You won't admit to it. I'm aware of that. If you did, everyone would realize the fraud that you are. Thankfully, in the over 1,000 repairs I've made I haven't had the misfortune of doing business with another like you. Goodbye, Old Charlie. I'm done with you.
Collector
Frankfort,Kentucky,
United States of America
Once again Bob Piker is mad and blaming others for his incompetence
#4REBUTTAL Individual responds
Wed, February 02, 2011
Consummate (the correct spelling) liar are harsh words and certainly not true in my case.Bob knows nothing about me except this poor watch service incidentthat I filed a complaint about. You can tell that Bob is mad again and taking his frustration out on someone else for his lack of professionalism and incompetence.
If people are going to trusthim to sendtheirvintage watches to be repaired then Bob should take the time to do the repairs correct and and quit making excuses about howhe"forgot" todo what hewas paid for. Would a crystal and hands be a valuable part of the repair? Oh, I forgot!I also forgot to return you the bad parts! But I do this for a living! I'm an expert! Hummm!
Bob states he "polished and refinished" the watch. He did make it "shinny" but "refinish" is definitely not the word.He complains about time he was "not reimbursed for", he did notdo the work in the first place, remember, he forgot. Once again, a hobbyist.
My demands are not out of this world, just do what you say and get what you pay. I did. I got substandard work and when I made a complaint, I was called a liar.
Bob probably won't go out of business because of my complaint and chances are his business won't suffer.Just send him your watch and after two or three attempts you'll get your watch repaired. And for heavens sake, don't file a complaint because he will result to name calling. Professional all the way.
By the way, I did send my vintage watch to a craftsman who substantiated my fears, no new crystal and no new hands. Really?
I just picked the wrong person for professional services and learned by it. Do yourself a favor and do your research. Just because someone says they are an expert..... well, you know the rest of the story.