GS High Beat Service

[pandrew6l]

Looking for a watchmaker recommendation for a Grand Seiko High Beat in the San Francisco Bay Area. Newly purchased pre-owned GS SGBH 005 is running 15 seconds slow per day

[PJ S]

Any reason you don’t want to send it to Seiko US in NJ?

[pandrew6l]

Originally Posted by PJ S

Any reason you don’t want to send it to Seiko US in NJ?

No, just I have been serving all my Rolex watches with a local watchmaker. With all the horror stories with UPS, FedEx, I prefer not shipping my watches if I can avoid it.

[uncleluck]

I’d send it to Seiko, Just post it with someone that’ll insure it properly.

[pandrew6l]

Originally Posted by uncleluck

I’d send it to Seiko, Just post it with someone that’ll insure it properly.

Just read the YELP reviews on the Seiko Service Center in Mahwah, NJ. It looks like if you send your $6,000 GS to that Service Center, the only one in the USA , your GS will be mixed with hundreds of $100 -200 Seiko waiting for repair /warranty service. I believe, this is one of the reasons why customer service at the Center is so bad . When will Seiko figure this out ?

[WS9D]

Joe Escobar in Campbell has a 3rd get watchmaker who is CW21. Maybe give them a call and see if he works on GS. He has worked on some Rolex for me. They used to be a Rolex AD but looks like they are no longer within the last few months I have seen their website, but I don't blame them either. Why be an AD with no product and empty cases.

[PJ S]

Originally Posted by Pandrew6l

Just read the YELP reviews on the Seiko Service Center in Mahwah, NJ. It looks like if you send your $6,000 GS to that Service Center, the only one in the USA , your GS will be mixed with hundreds of $100 -200 Seiko waiting for repair /warranty service. I believe, this is one of the reasons why customer service at the Center is so bad . When will Seiko figure this out ?

And the same doesn’t happen when you send your $60K Platinum Daytona to a Rolex SC, mixing it with $3-5K models?
Price is an utter irrelevance, and the only watchmakers who work on Grand Seikos in NJ are those who’ve been trained to, having gone to Japan to learn.

[q52]

House of Seiko, 3109 22nd St San Francisco, CA 415 826-3209

[pandrew6l]

Originally Posted by q52

House of Seiko, 3109 22nd St San Francisco, CA 415 826-3209

Sorry, you are funny ! This guy is off CAPP Street in the Mission District, great guy to have your $50 Seiko battery changed, and no waiting.

[pandrew6l]

Originally Posted by PJ S

And the same doesn’t happen when you send your $60K Platinum Daytona to a Rolex SC, mixing it with $3-5K models?
Price is an utter irrelevance, and the only watchmakers who work on Grand Seikos in NJ are those who’ve been trained to, having gone to Japan to learn.

Price does not make any different in you example , because the the same 4130 movement goes into both the Platona and SS models

[JR16]

FWIW I had a reasonable experience w the mahwah nj service center for my presage. But would def make sure you have your bases covered re: insurance / shipping.


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[Kliminator]

Did the place you bought it from say it was running more accurately? If so - contact them and see what they can do?

[pandrew6l]

Originally Posted by Kliminator

Did the place you bought it from say it was running more accurately? If so - contact them and see what they can do?

Good point , I will contact him . The Seller is one of the big / trusted seller in the TRF

[Kliminator]

Originally Posted by Pandrew6l

Good point , I will contact him . The Seller is one of the big / trusted seller in the TRF

good luck

[RolexBHR]

I would hand my watch only to an authorized Grand Seiko agent that is listed on Grand Seiko's site and take a receipt on the spot. Receipt needs to mention the condition of the watch and what the problem is.

[boatbasin]

Originally Posted by RolexBHR

I would hand my watch only to an authorized Grand Seiko agent that is listed on Grand Seiko's site and take a receipt on the spot. Receipt needs to mention the condition of the watch and what the problem is.

I made the mistake of sending my 6146-8000 to NJ for factory service. The winding rotor was getting noisy. They said all GS have to go to Japan for factory repairs, and required a $200 deposit plus postage and insurance. They had it for 2 months, called and said that they do not service watches that old and they were sending it back to me. It took them another month to send it and they kept my $200 for their troubles. I doubt they ever even sent it.

[RolexBHR]

Originally Posted by boatbasin

I made the mistake of sending my 6146-8000 to NJ for factory service. The winding rotor was getting noisy. They said all GS have to go to Japan for factory repairs, and required a $200 deposit plus postage and insurance. They had it for 2 months, called and said that they do not service watches that old and they were sending it back to me. It took them another month to send it and they kept my $200 for their troubles. I doubt they ever even sent it.

We are talking about a new watch which should have warranty.

[pandrew6l]

Originally Posted by boatbasin

I made the mistake of sending my 6146-8000 to NJ for factory service. The winding rotor was getting noisy. They said all GS have to go to Japan for factory repairs, and required a $200 deposit plus postage and insurance. They had it for 2 months, called and said that they do not service watches that old and they were sending it back to me. It took them another month to send it and they kept my $200 for their troubles. I doubt they ever even sent it.

What did you end up doing with the required repair ?

[boatbasin]

Originally Posted by Pandrew6l

What did you end up doing with the required repair ?

It is with a local jeweler. I'm hoping for the best when I get it back.

[Old Expat Beast]

Originally Posted by boatbasin

It is with a local jeweler. I'm hoping for the best when I get it back.

Should be fine. I've had at least a dozen vintage GS (including several 6146s) serviced here in Hong Kong by independents without any problems. Spares are also quite easy to find on Ebay if you need them.

[pandrew6l]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

Should be fine. I've had at least a dozen vintage GS (including several 6146s) serviced here in Hong Kong by independents without any problems. Spares are also quite easy to find on Ebay if you need them.

Adam, does your comment extend to the current GS models , like SGBH005 ?

[Old Expat Beast]

Originally Posted by Pandrew6l

Adam, does your comment extend to the current GS models , like SGBH005 ?

No.

[DaninFlorida]

Originally Posted by Pandrew6l

Looking for a watchmaker recommendation for a Grand Seiko High Beat in the San Francisco Bay Area. Newly purchased pre-owned GS SGBH 005 is running 15 seconds slow per day

i would think any good watchmaker can regulate a GS easy enough. this assuming thats all it needs

[toxicavenger]

Any good watchmaker in the US can service. But they can not get parts for it if needed. GS does not sell parts. Seiko NJ has a GS side of the house that does a great job at servicing. At one time they all had to go back to Japan but that has changed in the last year or two.

[toxicavenger]

Originally Posted by Pandrew6l

Just read the YELP reviews on the Seiko Service Center in Mahwah, NJ. It looks like if you send your $6,000 GS to that Service Center, the only one in the USA , your GS will be mixed with hundreds of $100 -200 Seiko waiting for repair /warranty service. I believe, this is one of the reasons why customer service at the Center is so bad . When will Seiko figure this out ?

You are kidding me right? This happens at any watch shop. The price of the watch does not dictate separation of services.

[pandrew6l]

You maybe right , value of the watch may not dictate separation of services . For example, RSCs only service Rolex and Tudor watches, these watches are very close in value and inside the case. Seiko is a very different Brand, it sells watches from $50 to $6,000 or higher. Inside each watch case, it could be a quartz, solar, mechanical, or a spring drive movement.

From the YELP reviews , one get the sense that the front office of the NJ Seiko Service Center treats every customer the same way, as they are suppose to , $50 Seiko or 6k Grand Seiko . If you don't get an acknowledgement of receipt for a $50 Seiko you have sent in, or a follow up phone call, you may not be too happy. But not hearing from them for weeks after sending in a GS is a different story.

[pandrew6l]

A heads up, I received a PM this morning from a brand new member, zero post, also banned , offering a refer with a link to click. This thing is smelly, be careful out there.

[pickettt]

Originally Posted by toxicavenger

Any good watchmaker in the US can service. But they can not get parts for it if needed. GS does not sell parts. Seiko NJ has a GS side of the house that does a great job at servicing. At one time they all had to go back to Japan but that has changed in the last year or two.

If I send my GSs to be serviced , I don’t mind sending them to Japan. Word around the campfire is that those guys are pretty meticulous about what they do.

[toxicavenger]

Originally Posted by pickettt

If I send my GSs to be serviced , I don’t mind sending them to Japan. Word around the campfire is that those guys are pretty meticulous about what they do.

The GS guys at NJ are great also. I have dealt with Japan quite a bit over the years for Seiko repairs and I have had great results. But the NJ office has had some changes in the last few years and are a great option.

[toxicavenger]

Originally Posted by Pandrew6l

From the YELP reviews , one get the sense that the front office of the NJ Seiko Service Center treats every customer the same way, as they are suppose to , $50 Seiko or 6k Grand Seiko . If you don't get an acknowledgement of receipt for a $50 Seiko you have sent in, or a follow up phone call, you may not be too happy. But not hearing from them for weeks after sending in a GS is a different story.

I do not expect anything different regardless of the cost of the watch. The cost does not dictate the worth to the customer. To some normal people (non watch guys) a $50 watch is a valuable watch. If I did then I would contact them directly and ask regarding the watch. Did you have any communications issues with them? If not then you might be overthinking it.

Good luck.