Fast Fix

Homer

Anybody any experience with this company? http://www.fast-fix.ie/watch_repairs.html They have just opened in the Pavillion shopping centre and I went in for a look and a chat. Looking to get my calibre 36 Tag serviced and the bracelet refurbed.. Guys seemed to know their stuff and said no problem. Their watchmaker is ex rolex (according to them)
Said it would be certainly cheaper than returning to Tag directly.
I know they have a few branches but I've never dealt with them before.

Wibbs

Only a brief encounter with one branch I'm afraid H. In the end didn't leave the watch with them for a couple of reasons. Mostly nothing to do with them. They seemed to have knowledge, but I smelled a whiff of flim flam too. I'd get an estimate first, before committing. If it's a straightforward service they should be cheaper, but if it turns out it needs parts or something more complex... I'd also get an estimate from Tag themselves, the price difference may not be that large and at least you'd have the official Tag service bit in case there's a problem. Plus if it does need any parts they'll be genuine Tag ones.

Mitch Buchannon

I agree with Wibbs about getting a few quotes for the service etc. I did however have a look at their website under the "franchise" section and the last bit on the page scared me a little.


"No Jewellery Experience Necessary
Tried and Tested Formula
Full Training
Marketing Support"

Now I have no reason to think that their telling porky's regarding their watchmaker being Rolex accredited, but I would think twice about handing in my precious watch without some proof (former work place) or references etc.

Wibbs

Mitch Buchannon wrote: »

Now I have no reason to think that their telling porky's regarding their watchmaker being Rolex accredited, but I would think twice about handing in my precious watch without some proof (former work place) or references etc.

+1 That's why I mentioned "smelled a whiff of flim flam" in my brief dealings with one of their outlets. Just a couple of points where I went "ORLY?". Now this is talking as someone who is a watch savant/nutter/enthusiast, but it was enough for me to think "maybe not". One example was the guy saying to me "oh you do realise there's 400 plus parts in the average watch". Given I wasn't handing in some 1930's Patek complication I thought "hmmmm. Eh... No". The second part was when the same guy informed me "oh we can get any part for that". A very ambitious claim for the watch in question I was thinking of handing over. I knew by his reaction he had never seen one or known of one before.

That said if you have a relatively common and modern watch with an ETA or the like movement then they're likely worth a punt if you price compare. If they're favourable on that point I'd say they're worth a punt. After all quite a number of official outlets just farm out their work to watchmakers you will never meet.

Cyrus

Used them in stephens green and wouldnt bother again,

only small jobs but always required more than one go to get it right

made a mess of engraving the back of my wifes cartier, and then couldnt understand why i was unhappy with it being crooked

Zagato

Cyrus wrote: »

Used them in stephens green and wouldnt bother again,

only small jobs but always required more than one go to get it right

made a mess of engraving the back of my wifes cartier, and then couldnt understand why i was unhappy with it being crooked

This attitude amongst people working in trades/services drives me nuts. I suppose they felt that once it was legible, that' ok

Homer

Cheers for the responses folks! I'll enquire about a TAG service and also with Emily in watch repairs.ie. It's probably the fact that it has the zenith movement that is making me a bit more cautious as to who I give it to.

Mitch Buchannon

Homer, Get a quote off William Rice in the UK (Yorkshire). I think he specialises in Rolex and Omega but Id imagine Zenith wouldnt be off his radar. He is very highly regarded in the UK for Rolex servicing so it may be worth a punt.
http://www.williamricewatches.com/index.php

Wibbs

Homer wrote: »

Cheers for the responses folks! I'll enquire about a TAG service and also with Emily in watch repairs.ie.

I'd plus one on Emily going by the experiences of people here who found her very good.