Help sending watch back

[tpsreport9]

Hello - I am sending a watch back to Hont for repair, but I think the translation barrier is causing an issue.

I live in the US, sending to Hont’s Macao address. Has anyone done this?

What did you put the address field for province and city?
What did you declare as price?
How did you print the Chinese on the label?

Thanks in advance

 

[dogwood]

I haven’t shipped a watch back to Hont specifically, but I have shipped a watch back to another non-TD (Eric at GT). When shipping back to China there is a high risk of the watch being seized by customs. China is much more strict with inbound inspections than most countries. As such, you need to follow the TD’s instructions exactly. If Hont says to ship with a certain logistics company / postal service / courier, you should ship with that company / service / courier. Ask Hont for exactly what you should label the contents and value of the package as. In terms of the Chinese characters, this is where ctrl+c and ctrl+v are your friends. Copy and paste the address and print your shipping label. You’re in the US, so the company just needs to be able to read the word “CHINA” on the label to be able to get it to somewhere that everyone can read the rest. Good luck.

 

[tpsreport9]

Thanks, yeah my problem is there is no field on the USPS form to print the Chinese into. It’s all English fields even if I select Macao as the country. To your point on Chinese customs, this is why I am sending to Macao and not China.

If shipping to Macao, does anyone know if this would be correct?
Province: Rua da Cidade No 1
City: Hac Sa Wan

I would love to have it fixed here instead. But on the second wear of the watch, I noticed the crown continuously pops out. It will not stay tightened and it’s like it slips. The lone watch smith I have here is 8 months out and im concerned that with this being a rep he may not have parts to fix it.

 

[dogwood]

What watch do you have? Model and factory?

 

[eBoy]

Hello - I am sending a watch back to Hont for repair, but I think the translation barrier is causing an issue.

I live in the US, sending to Hont’s Macao address. Has anyone done this?

What did you put the address field for province and city?
What did you declare as price?
How did you print the Chinese on the label?

Thanks in advance

Sending watches back to China bears a very high risk, because the shipping route is a straight up line to the receiver's address the TD gave you. In other words: There's no clever triangle shipping, no international-to-domestic parcel relabeling, no so-called "special line" transit etc. to avoid and circumvent customs seizures. It's even possible the shipment may simply disappear without a trace in the Postal Nirvana... Has happened plenty of times.

The experienced veteran members here therefore never send watches back, but try to find a different arrangement instead, for example getting it fixed by a local watchmaker and splitting the cost with the TD.

 

[tpsreport9]

What watch do you have? Model and factory?

It’s a Bell and Ross BR123, with a2836 movement. I did not ask factory because a few other users had bought the same watch and had good reviews. This is my second BR from Hont and had no issues with the other one.

 

[tpsreport9]

I should also note the watch was on special, $168

 

[dogwood]

I should also note the watch was on special, $168

What’s the problem with the watch?

Honestly, at that price it’ll be hard to get it repaired in the US for less than the price of simply buying a new rep. Most of the rep friendly watch smiths will charge at least $200 to service a 2836 movement.

Also if you only paid $168 for the watch it implies that the BOM (bill of materials that went into making it) was around $40 for everything (case, strap, dial, hands, movement)— so the Asian eta 2836 clone is probably a very low end one.

 

[tpsreport9]

What’s the problem with the watch?

Honestly, at that price it’ll be hard to get it repaired in the US for less than the price of simply buying a new rep. Most of the rep friendly watch smiths will charge at least $200 to service a 2836 movement.

Also if you only paid $168 for the watch it implies that the BOM (bill of materials that went into making it) was around $40 for everything (case, strap, dial, hands, movement)— so the Asian eta 2836 clone is probably a very low end one.

It was on special so I assumed overstock. It was only my second rep. Basically the crown won’t stay in. I push and turn it in and then the crown eventually pops out.

This is essentially why I am considering sending it back for repair and want to ensure I properly fill out the paperwork

 

[Cprhawkeye94]

Do not send a watch back to China, you will never see it again or get your refund. I had this issue previously with HONT after being a sold the incorrectly factory version of a watch I bought which was also DOA. HONT eventually provided the address of someone in Germany to return the watch too, I am based in the Uk. I sent the watch to Germany only to have it returned to me. Eventually HONT provided me an address in the UK to return to it. See if he has someone in your country to return to if you must. The process is difficult and time consuming and chasing HONT was not easy.

 

[dogwood]

It was on special so I assumed overstock. It was only my second rep. Basically the crown won’t stay in. I push and turn it in and then the crown eventually pops out.

This is essentially why I am considering sending it back for repair and want to ensure I properly fill out the paperwork

The keyless works of the 2836 movement probably just need to be reset. It’s an involved, but straightforward procedure. If there’s a local watchsmith where you live who works on ETA movements, then they should be able to help you.

 

[sels1997]

What’s the problem with the watch?

Honestly, at that price it’ll be hard to get it repaired in the US for less than the price of simply buying a new rep. Most of the rep friendly watch smiths will charge at least $200 to service a 2836 movement.

Also if you only paid $168 for the watch it implies that the BOM (bill of materials that went into making it) was around $40 for everything (case, strap, dial, hands, movement)— so the Asian eta 2836 clone is probably a very low end one.

Who are the recommended watch smiths? I am experiencing this same issue with Hont but for an Omega Seamaster 300, stem came out and now the watch is all jacked up after putting it back in. The date functionality no longer works and the date doesn't turn for the next day until 3am. In need of help, all the watch smiths I know are fully booked a year out.

 

[Yacht-Monster]

I’m going to sound at odds with other members here and I’m probably biased as I’m in Australia and have many friends throughout Asia that I send and receive goods from all the time. If you send a watch back to China, which I have done several times when they’ve arrived DOA, the instructions my main TD (trusty) gives me is to list it as broken toy watch with a value of $30 as well as taping the address in China to the box in Chinese separately from the English details.

I use Australia post which uses EMS for international shipping and comes with tracking. China isn’t a mystery Wild West, but if you’re sending something and it kills like you’re avoiding customs then it’ll get pinged, just like it would in a western country. I’m not doubting senior members who haven’t had success, but I’ve never had an issue. Moreover, my friend from China sends all sorts of stuff to his family and it never gets confiscated.

 

[dogwood]

Who are the recommended watch smiths? I am experiencing this same issue with Hont but for an Omega Seamaster 300, stem came out and now the watch is all jacked up after putting it back in. The date functionality no longer works and the date doesn't turn for the next day until 3am. In need of help, all the watch smiths I know are fully booked a year out.

There are several trusted watchmakers who are based in the west who are listed in the trusted vendors section of the forum.

 

[sels1997]

There are several trusted watchmakers who are based in the west who are listed in the trusted vendors section of the forum.

I was able to locate them, thanks!

 

[tpsreport9]

So I finally had a watch smith willing to look at the watch here in the states. Unfortunately he said the screw down was attached to the crown instead of the case, and when they finally got it open the threads were gone and metal shaving came out. They said they cannot fix (sounds mainly like the parts aren’t available) and that I should send it to Bell and Ross in Miami to fix. Clearly I cannot do that. What would you all recommend?

 

[TESLA760]

Unfortunately he said the screw down was attached to the crown instead of the case,

I'd find a better watchsmith . What he told you makes no sense to me.

 

[tpsreport9]

I'd find a better watchsmith . What he told you makes no sense to me.

Yeah I had a total head scratch there. Unfortunately, they are the only one in my town.

 

[mclarendude]

So, the sad reality is that if the crown or tube is stripped, that is not an easy fix. You wouldn't be able to get new parts and for what you paid... its not worth it.

But, there is an easy fix and I do it with any watch I get with this issue. You can shorten the stem of the watch to get the crown to sit flush against the case. The watch won't be water-resistant, but appearance and functionality-wise, it would look fine. It would not pass a pressure test but would be fine for daily use as the crown has its own gasket inside that is independent of the tube.

There is a possibility that the tube could had fallen out of its tap in the case and stayed in the crown, but I do not know this model that well.

 

[mclarendude]

See the first post on my repair log. I did it on a Planet Ocean with the same issue.

MCD’s mod/repair log

Just a thread to catalog my daily gripes with my reps and gens. Definitely not a watchmaker but, I spend time on my watches almost daily. First VR3135 swap. The victim was my BP 16610. I had to source a new stem since the one that came with the movement snapped. Regulated it today and...

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