Thieves

Friggin Thieves.

Months ago, one of my Bulova watches battery died. I took it to the local watch repair and the lady put in a battery. But that battery was too thick so it would stop when she put the case back on. She said she’d have to order the battery. I said I’d come back.

I seemed to remember it having a lifetime battery, so I took it to Jared in Arlington, supposedly a Bulova certified service center. I think I told this tale before, only about service. The only one at the counter was a black woman who, it seemed, I was bothering her by walking in as a customer. She wrote up a ticket, said it would have to be sent to Bulova (even though I told her all it needed was a battery. Her story was that since it wasn’t working, she had to send it as “not working”, which was retarded.

Whatever. So she sent it in.

Two or three months later, I get it back as unrepairable. Needs a new movement for $275. Bullshit.

I took it back.

In the meantime, my other Bulovas battery died. I figure I’d simply bring it back to the local shop. So yesterday I brought both. Turns out, the other one that went dead was the one with the lifetime battry. She gave me the option of taking it to them. Nope. That store was in a mall that is now flattened. The local one is in a mall in Arlington, that I have no great desire to visit. I’m not a mall guy. So I paid her to put a new one in.

Twenty minutes, and $32 later I have two working watches:

As she rung it up, I told her the story of the round face watch. She didn’t remember me coming there, or at least didn’t say so, so I left that part out. She said if it stops, bring it back. They can replace the movement (if it can’t be fixed) for $70-$150.

Well. Guess whose doors I’ll never darken again, for anything?

Jared that’s who. Dead to me.

Always start with the local shops. Lesson learnt.