Help! My PAM288 from Lay is Dead on arrival

[Darthmemnoch]

I just picked up my new purchase from the post office. Beautiful watch... Problem is, it does not run.

I chose to buy from lay as he does a qc check which includes testing the watch on a timer.

How then is it possible that the watch I received does not run?

I read somewhere else that A7750s should be serviced if I intend to keep the watch for long, so I am considering between getting this fixed and serviced in Singapore or sending it to lay for an exchange (non serviced replacement). Can anyone give some views?

Any recommendations for a Singapore based watch repair guy who will do reps? Anyone face the same issues with the PAM288?

 

[metals99]

This happens even after QC ... I suggest you should contact Lay he is off for vacation so you got to wait a while until after Chinese New Year... Lay would be responsible for this...

 

[Darthmemnoch]

Yes. I am in contact with him (or his staff) via email now. So far he's asked me to check the running secs but no, it's not working.

Let's see what happens. Hopefully he has a guy in sg that could fix it rather than get me to send the watch back to china.

 

[alvinado]

Lay is a great Dealer, he will work things out for you , do not worry.

 

[Simonporsche]

Don't panic,
Welcome to the world of reps, this kind of thing happens to us all at some point, I know it's upsetting but you need to be patient and arrange to post back to lay. This can be costly at first but you can try to get money back for postage or as I've done in the past just agreed discount or free shipping on your next purchase. It's a waiting game.

 

[hooligan]

This isn't your first automatic watch, correct? Did you give it several gentle winds via the crown to try to get it running?

 

[Darthmemnoch]

Lay has agreed to take the watch back and send me a new one but only after CNY. I was wondering if its worth just getting it repaired here and getting it serviced at the same time so that it will last (since I have read advice in this forum that A7750 watches should be serviced if we want it to last. What do you guys think?

I wound it, set it in several positions and then tried winding it, shook it in various positions, etc... but it would not move. Sigh... if there is anything I should try, please let me know...

 

[Mambo]

If you are planning to service the watch anyway ( good idea BTW ) ... why not just this one ?

 

[KBH]

The 7750's from dead unwound often take quite a few winds to get them going. I'm hoping you've had experience with automatic movements before. You wouldn't be the first that expected a battery to keep it going.

And if you're planning on servicing it, definitely no need to send it back. Servicing will solve what ever problem you currently have.

 

[JC7]

I think taka is in SG you can just send it to him and have him mod it for you too!

 

[hooligan]

Servicing will *most likely* fix whatever the problem is. However, if there is something catastrophically wrong with the watch, you will have paid a fee to the watchmaker and still end up needing to send it back to Lay. Up to you, mate.

 

[J.Prime]

A watchmaker won't service a broken movement. If parts are bad, they can replace them. Having it serviced will save you having to wait until after CNY to get a new watch, which may also need service. I vote service!!

 

[alvinado]

You are in Singapore right? Maybe i can help you, you can email me at [email protected]

 

[Darthmemnoch]

Email sent

 

[Asheron82]

good luck bro! im also waiting for my replacement watch from Lay which will only be ready after CNY also....

 

[mfb2007]

Same thing happened to me. Give it a full wind and try giving it a gentle tap on your knee. Or screw off the back and see if you can give the tourbillon a spin to see if it just needs a jump start.

Otherwise, stick with Lay - he may not get back to you right away, but he will right it eventually.

 

[Darthmemnoch]

Guess these things happen. I'm sending it to lay. Will probably look to get it service after I get the replacement.

 

[theorallye]

Hi my friend. I too received my PAM 288 from Lay yesterday (along with a $88 DSSD, I will begin a thread later) and I had the same problem as you. Wound it several times, shook it a little, but no go. As I was talking to Lay online about the problem and after he offered to send a replacement, as I was moving it, I heard a "cling" and the watch started working. It has worked since then without a problem and within 1 second in the last 24 hours. Try and shake it a lot, and it could start as well. Shake it in your habd for 3 minutes non-stop, it worked for me.
Obviously I am a noob too (first mechanical watch, The DSSD on the other hand, (a21j) worked from the first rocking of my hand)
Hope it helps
The PAM had one more problem. The deployment buckle was missing one pin and it wouldn't close (latch?). My watchsmith had nothing similar. I was lucky enough to find a similar pin, file it a little and put it in with super-glue. So far it is working, I hope it lasts. These are minor problems and I am very happy with Lay. I think he should add a buckle check in his already good QC
Thanks Lay.

 

[theorallye]

I have news on the matter. Don't try to get it going. You should either send it back to Lay or get it serviced immediately. Mine stopped today all of a sudden.
Thankfully I was able to open the case with my bare hands. Inside I found that two of the screws were loose. One of them was blocking the mechanism, that is why the watch was not working. I screwed them in their place and now it seems to work fine, but if it had kept going like that I am sure it would be destroyed.
I have no problem with Lay. I understand that the QC does not go that far , but it is something we should all keep in mind when ordering from any seller.
I for one think that I will get it serviced soon because I plan to keep it for a long time and wear it every day.
I have to say that Lay was very helpful and immediately offered to send me a replacement when I told him that the watch was DOA.
QC goes up to a point in replicas obviously and some times the bigger problems can go unnoticed

 

[Mambo]

I always tighten all the screws, also the ones holding the movement ... more then often you will find a few loose ones ...