JLPJ
04-04-2005, 09:56 AM
"Why does it cost so much to fix my watch?" :(
Consider a typical scenario for a mechanical watch:
1. Visual determination of condition both internally and externally.
2. Diagnosis of the problem.
3. Disassembly of the movement of up to 125 parts or more.
4. Cleaning of the movement parts.
5. Replacement of the parts required for the repair.
6. Sourcing those parts.
7. Cursing mightily that the parts are no longer available.
8. Making the needed part from scratch; you laughed at your instructors when they made you learn this.
9. Emergency room treatment for metal splinters in your fingers plus minor cuts and abrasions because you didn't pay close enough attention in class way back when.
10. Cleaning all the blood off the movement from #9.
11. Assembling all the parts back together in order and linked together properly.
12. Puzzle over where the extra wheel came from that doesn't seem to belong to this movement.
13. Disassemble movement again and reassemble with extra wheel found to go into previously un-noticed pivot holes.
14. Oiling the movement with up to eight different kinds of watch oil.
15. Cursing yourself mightily for forgetting to order replacement stock for three of those eight oils you are now out of.
16. Doing a slow burn waiting for the oils to arrive from overseas while fielding calls from the watch owner wondering why the watch wasn't ready 2 hours after turn-in.
17. Finish the oiling job.
18. Reassemble the dial and hands to the movement and place in case.
19. Test the movement for accurate timing on your highly expensive timing device.
20. Puzzle why the device isn't working.
21. Plug in the device.
22. Adjust and regulate the watch.
23. Give to customer with a bill.
24. Withstand large amounts of vocal whining concerning amount being charged for what the customer says was only a simple repair job.
25. Open next job envelope and proceed to Step #1 above.
So, as you can see, we should be charging the customer even more than we do now for our repair services on watches. There is so much that goes on behind the scenes they never even know about. :p
Consider a typical scenario for a mechanical watch:
1. Visual determination of condition both internally and externally.
2. Diagnosis of the problem.
3. Disassembly of the movement of up to 125 parts or more.
4. Cleaning of the movement parts.
5. Replacement of the parts required for the repair.
6. Sourcing those parts.
7. Cursing mightily that the parts are no longer available.
8. Making the needed part from scratch; you laughed at your instructors when they made you learn this.
9. Emergency room treatment for metal splinters in your fingers plus minor cuts and abrasions because you didn't pay close enough attention in class way back when.
10. Cleaning all the blood off the movement from #9.
11. Assembling all the parts back together in order and linked together properly.
12. Puzzle over where the extra wheel came from that doesn't seem to belong to this movement.
13. Disassemble movement again and reassemble with extra wheel found to go into previously un-noticed pivot holes.
14. Oiling the movement with up to eight different kinds of watch oil.
15. Cursing yourself mightily for forgetting to order replacement stock for three of those eight oils you are now out of.
16. Doing a slow burn waiting for the oils to arrive from overseas while fielding calls from the watch owner wondering why the watch wasn't ready 2 hours after turn-in.
17. Finish the oiling job.
18. Reassemble the dial and hands to the movement and place in case.
19. Test the movement for accurate timing on your highly expensive timing device.
20. Puzzle why the device isn't working.
21. Plug in the device.
22. Adjust and regulate the watch.
23. Give to customer with a bill.
24. Withstand large amounts of vocal whining concerning amount being charged for what the customer says was only a simple repair job.
25. Open next job envelope and proceed to Step #1 above.
So, as you can see, we should be charging the customer even more than we do now for our repair services on watches. There is so much that goes on behind the scenes they never even know about. :p