Michael Young

[esm]

Wow - that is a major thumbs down for this attitude.
I'm so glad I have read this entire thread.

Out of curiosity i googled "Michael Young Rolex" - there were many threads of him from various watch related forums, including this very thread.

Hope this thread lives to avoid future victims of his bad business attitude. Whatever happened to the "the customer is always right" bit?!?

[silvershark]

Well I guess I'll just have to wait and see what happens. I'll give him a few more days to do the right thing!! If not the internet is a mighty powerful tool for totally destroying reputations and giving folks all kinds of hassle.

BTW, his websites feedback page has mysteriously vanished lol!

[Route 66]

Originally Posted by silvershark

Wow!!

I wonder where that leaves me then?

It would certainly seem that you're screwed.

If it's any conciliation, you've done a lot of people here a great service by sharing your horror story.

He may not be taking on any new customers now, but eventually he'll need us and we'll remember what happened to you.

[tifosi]

Wow...this thread was compelling enought to read all five pages.

Silvershark, I'm sorry to read of your misfortune. I hope all ends well although I'm sorry to say it is very unlikely. I am still keeping my fingers crossed for you.

It is laughable that members have posted 3 pages into this thread that "MY is the best in the business, blah, blah, blah" That is ludicrous! Looks to be the worst as far as I'm concerned. I have a feeling and I hope that his bracelet restoration days are over so this doesn't happen to anyone else. Losing something that will cost 1500 some odd dollars to replace is unforgivable. I'll be keeping an eye on this thread to hopefully see a better outcome than I am predicting.

[greekbum]

I am surprised at his handling of this. He is the only person I know that does decent work in this area and if he stops taking work the hope of getting restored an otherwise bracelet for the garbage goes away. I am getting ready to send him 9 bands myself and they are worthless unless fixed so i am comfortable with my risk as junk is junk and fixed is something. If anybody knows somebody else that does decent work please pm me.

[OysterDavid]

Before sending my bracelet to Michael back in '06, I did as much research as I could to see if anyone else was doing that kind of work. The only thing I could find was that pre-owned dealer in Florida that I'm guessing sends their work to Michael. When I called them, they were real fuzzy about details and every so often I'll go back to their site and find that nothing has changed on their web site since I first saw it...same bracelets for sale, same pictures of restored bracelets...so I will wonder just how active they are in that end of the business.

In no way, shape, or form am I condoning the way this story has been handled, but somehow, I don't think Michael derived much of his income from people on this forum. To do the job that he does, one would need an awful lot of specialized equipment to pull apart the links without harming them...access to new pins that fit...and then a machine to squish everything back together again, along with the ability to polish and refinish. Being a free market capitalist, I'd like to think that if there were a strong market for this sort of work, there would be more than Michael offering up the service.

My bracelet that he worked on back in '06 is still looking good and wearing strong. I don't have any new bracelets that need refurbishing, so I guess I'll count myself as lucky. I've always volunteered a very favorable endorsement for Michael because of my experience...I guess I'll just keep that opinion to myself in the future.

[mrbill2mrbill2]

I hope MY's days are over. From a well respected Jubilee restorer to a total POS!!!

Wow!

[jimbones43]

That is completely unacceptable!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Return that and ask him for replacement cost of a new JB bracelet. Can't hurt to try!!!!

He's off my list for sure...............

[Submarino]

Originally Posted by OysterDavid

Before sending my bracelet to Michael back in '06, I did as much research as I could to see if anyone else was doing that kind of work. The only thing I could find was that pre-owned dealer in Florida that I'm guessing sends their work to Michael. When I called them, they were real fuzzy about details and every so often I'll go back to their site and find that nothing has changed on their web site since I first saw it...same bracelets for sale, same pictures of restored bracelets...so I will wonder just how active they are in that end of the business.

In no way, shape, or form am I condoning the way this story has been handled, but somehow, I don't think Michael derived much of his income from people on this forum. To do the job that he does, one would need an awful lot of specialized equipment to pull apart the links without harming them...access to new pins that fit...and then a machine to squish everything back together again, along with the ability to polish and refinish. Being a free market capitalist, I'd like to think that if there were a strong market for this sort of work, there would be more than Michael offering up the service.

My bracelet that he worked on back in '06 is still looking good and wearing strong. I don't have any new bracelets that need refurbishing, so I guess I'll count myself as lucky. I've always volunteered a very favorable endorsement for Michael because of my experience...I guess I'll just keep that opinion to myself in the future.

I am sorry for being this harsh but it just seems very odd and almost impossible to restore a bracelet the way he does and send it back looking practically like new. Can anyone confirm that he is not only swapping old bracelets for new ones (aftermarket possibly) and replacing the clasps to make it look like it's still the same old bracelet that he was sent for restoration?

I am not accusing him of anything I am just wondering!!

[OysterDavid]

I can confirm with photos that my original bracelet was returned with the pins replaced and tightened. There were minor imperfections on the solid gold that show up in before and after...so I don't think that this major transgression spoken here is indicative of Michael Young swapping bracelets with aftermarket.

With the exception of this story and the stories of his poor email communication, his past reputation was very favorable from a finished product with a fair number of satisfied clients.

Originally Posted by Submarino

I am sorry for being this harsh but it just seems very odd and almost impossible to restore a bracelet the way he does and send it back looking practically like new. Can anyone confirm that he is not only swapping old bracelets for new ones (aftermarket possibly) and replacing the clasps to make it look like it's still the same old bracelet that he was sent for restoration?

I am not accusing him of anything I am just wondering!!

[Submarino]

Originally Posted by OysterDavid

I can confirm with photos that my original bracelet was returned with the pins replaced and tightened. There were minor imperfections on the solid gold that show up in before and after...so I don't think that this major transgression spoken here is indicative of Michael Young swapping bracelets with aftermarket.

With the exception of this story and the stories of his poor email communication, his past reputation was very favorable from a finished product with a fair number of satisfied clients.

Thanks so much for the explanation. I was just curious but now I know for sure that it is indeed possible to restore the bracelets the way he does. Sad that poor communication and a lack of client service just recently might take away good business for him.

[Oyster1982]

This is how all good businesses decline, they get too big for one person to handle. He might be so overwelmed with work that his quality has sufferes as a result.

[mikelprz]

[mikelprz]

Hey Silvershark,,

You might want to add him to the "Watch Out" section of this forum.

[silvershark]

Hey all

Had an email from MY today saying that he is "putting together" another bracelet for me and will I return the replacement back to him. However I feel abit unsure of what to do. Obviously because of what has gone on, I am a bit reluctant to send this one back untill I receive another one from him.

Any advice?

[MonBK]

Originally Posted by silvershark

Hey all

Had an email from MY today saying that he is "putting together" another bracelet for me and will I return the replacement back to him. However I feel abit unsure of what to do. Obviously because of what has gone on, I am a bit reluctant to send this one back untill I receive another one from him.

Any advice?

I would send it back.

After all this, if he doesn't send you a bracelet he would be considered a thief.

[Welshwatchman]

Originally Posted by silvershark

Hey all

Had an email from MY today saying that he is "putting together" another bracelet for me and will I return the replacement back to him. However I feel abit unsure of what to do. Obviously because of what has gone on, I am a bit reluctant to send this one back untill I receive another one from him.

Any advice?

It's completely up to you but if it was me I'd send it back and allow Michael Young to redeem himself.

[siewmaiwatch]

Send it back when you get the replacement just to make sure he does not just refurbish the same crappy item. Make sure you get reimbursed for the shipment costs, as he tries to right the wrong. I do hope you get a nice beautiful replacement coming with a nice goodwill surprise gift.

[ingoodtime]

Originally Posted by Welshwatchman

It's completely up to you but if it was me I'd send it back and allow Michael Young to redeem himself.

X2. Let the man make it right.

[Johny]

Originally Posted by Welshwatchman

It's completely up to you but if it was me I'd send it back and allow Michael Young to redeem himself.

x3.

[dddrees]

Originally Posted by Welshwatchman

It's completely up to you but if it was me I'd send it back and allow Michael Young to redeem himself.

Absolutely, you've got nothing to lose at this point.

[silvershark]

Nice one guys!

Good point about being considered a thief Monbk! I'll send it back and see what materializes!

[StJamesSq]

Of course you send the unsatisfactory bracelet back to Michael Young. This is not about scoring points off each other, this is about trying to arrive quickly and easily at the outcome you want.

[harry in montreal]

I would wait until you get the new one in your hands.

You never know, if he's slow as sh't again you may keep your blood pressure in check by retaining what you got.

Then whe number 2 arrives. Wear it a bit. If it falls apart as well, you may need both bracelets to put together one wearable band.

Then you can mail him back a pile of useless broken garbage.

I feel bad for you only because the transaction dragged and he was not diplomatic about it. Harry

[diego]

I would send back the 1st bracelet back. I don't think you'll ever use it anyway since it looks like crap. Just hope that with your gesture he'll replace it soonest.

[bayerische]

Send the crappy one back. I would have done so right away.

[crowncollection]

Send it back I am sure you will get a satisfactory bracelet back if he does not redeem himself with a good one now he has lost my respect also. He used to be good a few years ago.

[OneMoreSi]

You have a lot of patience.

Hope it gets fixed soon.

[bayerische]

Originally Posted by OneMoreSi

You have a lot of patience.

Hope it gets fixed soon.

Definitely!

I would have exploded 10 times over.

[travisb]

Originally Posted by siewmaiwatch

Send it back when you get the replacement just to make sure he does not just refurbish the same crappy item. Make sure you get reimbursed for the shipment costs, as he tries to right the wrong. I do hope you get a nice beautiful replacement coming with a nice goodwill surprise gift.

x 2
You've been through enough with this already