Post by rw16610 on Mar 10, 2016 14:46:20 GMT -6
I just wanted to start a topic to share some findings with the forum members and readers. As you all know, I purchased an Omega Seamaster Chronograph 2225.80.00 a week ago today. Truthfully I couldn't be happier with the watch! Unfortunately the same can't be said for all things "Swatch Group" related...
My watch came from a trustworthy pre-owned dealer in downtown Toronto that I'm actually friends with. Because I've brought him business in the past he sold it to me for a wonderful price. The only thing that made me delay getting the watch this long was the fact it came with no cards (warranty, pictogram, and chronometer certificate). On Wednesday March 2rd 2016 I called Swatch Group Canada to see if it's possible to order replacement cards. My initial assumption was no but in life it never hurts to try, right? Also, back in 2007 / 2008 Omega HQ reissued the hang tag for my newly purchased 2220.80.00 (the non-chrono version of my current watch).
Here's the problem though... Swatch Group doesn't seem to be as well equipped to deal with customers as Rolex Canada. Anytime I call Rolex Canada for anything they are able to answer the phone and then my questions. I've hardly ever had to be on hold with Rolex Canada and certainly never got anyone's voicemail. Why does this matter you ask? Well, after leaving a detailed message for the "Omega" person at Swatch Canada on March 2nd I never got a call back. One week later on the 9th I decided to call back myself and see why and get an answer to my question about the replacement cards. The receptionist transferred me again and I got voicemail!!!!
Of course at this point I called right back and explained the situation to her. She placed me on hold and went to find the Omega customer service lady. It was only then they confirmed I could order those cards at $50 CAD each and it takes 4 weeks to do. It's not something they typically do but it is possible. With my watch the serial number is inside (not on the lug like my past two Omega's) so I'll consider this at service time. It's running at +1.2 seconds per day so I'm in no rush!
Unhappy with the lack of response and service from Swatch Group Canada I registered for MyOmega on omegawatches.com to contact them in Switzerland. Today (March 10th 2016) I had another technical question none of the AD's were able to address regarding what would have been my next Omega purchase. I decided to try calling Swatch Group USA in New Jersey to compare the service / setup. It was a carbon copy of the Canadian branch. A receptionist answers and transfers you to an Omega person who never seems to answer. With no desire to leave her a voicemail I call Swatch USA back to find out from the receptionist if there was anyone else from Omega she could pass me over to. Guess what, there isn't! A country as big as the United States and only one person at Swatch group (for Omega) to deal with this?
Now to the main reason for this post. Eventually I was able to reach someone who went to ask a watchmaker about my question. I was curious what the coloured material was on the Omega Seamaster (both Professional and Planet Ocean) chronograph pushers was. This images below highlights the area:
Image from Google
From - omegaforums.net
I also don't like how the date is now set through the Helium valve with a pusher on the new Professional. They're really killing my desire for one later down.
She was able to confirm the part on the pushers matching the bezel is Aluminum... Anybody really into watches knows almost every major brand (Omega included) revamped their product line and virtually eliminated all Aluminum bezels because they don't age well. They fade over time, get dinged / scratched and look horrible. Why is it Omega would redesign the Seamaster lineup with Liquid Metal ceramic bezels but still use Aluminum on a part of the watch that's susceptible to scratching, denting, and possible fading over the years? For someone like me that purchases watches to be kept for a lifetime this is frustrating.
Swatch Group Canada confirmed the price of a basic service (if no additional parts are required) for an automatic Chronograph is $730 CAD PLUS tax, which is 13% in my province. The watchmaker also confirmed with her that those pushers are all 1 piece even though it might look like a sleeve or two pieces. Therefore at service time if they're not up to standards and you have watch lovers OCD like me, you'll have to have the entire pusher replaced.
Even if the part is the same colour all the way through I don't personally like the way that stuff looks with age or after getting scratched. I'm SO glad I was able to secure a discontinued model 2225.80 so I won't have to worry about this in the future. Between the lack of customer service for simple inquiries from Swatch Group Canada and USA, and the newer design I'm not totally fond of it seems as if I'll continue pursuing other brands going forward. I'll keep my 2225.80 for sure but such a shame a large company like Omega would allow this to happen. If and when Omega in Switzerland gets back to me regarding my message sent via their site I'll share that here too.
Oh yes, and for anyone interested in learning more about how the date now sets through the Helium escape valve see the video below and skip forward to 1 minute and 20 seconds in, you'll see shortly thereafter:
My watch came from a trustworthy pre-owned dealer in downtown Toronto that I'm actually friends with. Because I've brought him business in the past he sold it to me for a wonderful price. The only thing that made me delay getting the watch this long was the fact it came with no cards (warranty, pictogram, and chronometer certificate). On Wednesday March 2rd 2016 I called Swatch Group Canada to see if it's possible to order replacement cards. My initial assumption was no but in life it never hurts to try, right? Also, back in 2007 / 2008 Omega HQ reissued the hang tag for my newly purchased 2220.80.00 (the non-chrono version of my current watch).
Here's the problem though... Swatch Group doesn't seem to be as well equipped to deal with customers as Rolex Canada. Anytime I call Rolex Canada for anything they are able to answer the phone and then my questions. I've hardly ever had to be on hold with Rolex Canada and certainly never got anyone's voicemail. Why does this matter you ask? Well, after leaving a detailed message for the "Omega" person at Swatch Canada on March 2nd I never got a call back. One week later on the 9th I decided to call back myself and see why and get an answer to my question about the replacement cards. The receptionist transferred me again and I got voicemail!!!!
Of course at this point I called right back and explained the situation to her. She placed me on hold and went to find the Omega customer service lady. It was only then they confirmed I could order those cards at $50 CAD each and it takes 4 weeks to do. It's not something they typically do but it is possible. With my watch the serial number is inside (not on the lug like my past two Omega's) so I'll consider this at service time. It's running at +1.2 seconds per day so I'm in no rush!
Unhappy with the lack of response and service from Swatch Group Canada I registered for MyOmega on omegawatches.com to contact them in Switzerland. Today (March 10th 2016) I had another technical question none of the AD's were able to address regarding what would have been my next Omega purchase. I decided to try calling Swatch Group USA in New Jersey to compare the service / setup. It was a carbon copy of the Canadian branch. A receptionist answers and transfers you to an Omega person who never seems to answer. With no desire to leave her a voicemail I call Swatch USA back to find out from the receptionist if there was anyone else from Omega she could pass me over to. Guess what, there isn't! A country as big as the United States and only one person at Swatch group (for Omega) to deal with this?
Now to the main reason for this post. Eventually I was able to reach someone who went to ask a watchmaker about my question. I was curious what the coloured material was on the Omega Seamaster (both Professional and Planet Ocean) chronograph pushers was. This images below highlights the area:
Image from Google
From - omegaforums.net
I also don't like how the date is now set through the Helium valve with a pusher on the new Professional. They're really killing my desire for one later down.
She was able to confirm the part on the pushers matching the bezel is Aluminum... Anybody really into watches knows almost every major brand (Omega included) revamped their product line and virtually eliminated all Aluminum bezels because they don't age well. They fade over time, get dinged / scratched and look horrible. Why is it Omega would redesign the Seamaster lineup with Liquid Metal ceramic bezels but still use Aluminum on a part of the watch that's susceptible to scratching, denting, and possible fading over the years? For someone like me that purchases watches to be kept for a lifetime this is frustrating.
Swatch Group Canada confirmed the price of a basic service (if no additional parts are required) for an automatic Chronograph is $730 CAD PLUS tax, which is 13% in my province. The watchmaker also confirmed with her that those pushers are all 1 piece even though it might look like a sleeve or two pieces. Therefore at service time if they're not up to standards and you have watch lovers OCD like me, you'll have to have the entire pusher replaced.
Even if the part is the same colour all the way through I don't personally like the way that stuff looks with age or after getting scratched. I'm SO glad I was able to secure a discontinued model 2225.80 so I won't have to worry about this in the future. Between the lack of customer service for simple inquiries from Swatch Group Canada and USA, and the newer design I'm not totally fond of it seems as if I'll continue pursuing other brands going forward. I'll keep my 2225.80 for sure but such a shame a large company like Omega would allow this to happen. If and when Omega in Switzerland gets back to me regarding my message sent via their site I'll share that here too.
Oh yes, and for anyone interested in learning more about how the date now sets through the Helium escape valve see the video below and skip forward to 1 minute and 20 seconds in, you'll see shortly thereafter: