Dead On Arrival Seiko watch from SolarCosa (ebay: sun_and_more)
Update March 24 2020
The seller sent an email threatening legal action, if I didn't remove the negative feedback left for them, before March 27th 2020. Needless to say, this really pisses me off: One thing is that the company does not understand the concept of customer service, but to threaten their customer - that takes the prize. I responded that they should seek legal action immediately, as the feedback would not be revised. See the email and my response below in the mail section.
Edit: I see now they only want me to retract my statement that "The watch never worked" - which is difficult, as I did not make that claim in my feedback. What I do say (and is maintaining) is, that the watch did not work when I received it or at any time while I had it in my possession.
Case timeline:
24.02.2020
Ordered a Seiko SNZG13K1 watch from ebay-seller sun_and_more (SolarCosa).
28.02.2020
Received the watch (serial no. 012577), but it did not run when I unpacked it (this is not normal, as the watch has been shaken a lot by the carrier). After letting the watch get to room temperature for an hour, I tried shaking it, shaking it harder, rotating it as hard as I dared to not be responsible for breaking it even more.
28.02.2020
I contacted the seller the same day (2 hours after receiving the watch) to hear what to do.
03.03.2020
Not being able to use my new watch and not hearing anything from the seller, I opened a "Request return" case with ebay, stating the item was defective.
10.03.2020
Finally! A response from the seller 11 days after the initial message and 7 days after opening the case. The response more less said "There is nothing wrong with the watch, you are just stupid to use it" (not the actual wording, but to the same effect - see the full line of messages below). I stated I was sure it did not work and they asked for me to return the watch. As I now noticed this was a response to the first message, I asked them to respond to the case instead, making them aware that a case was open.
11.03.2020
A response to the case, again stating that I was an idiot, but this time in German (again not the actual wording - see below). However, they agreed to accept a return but not to pay the return postage. I pointed to the law regarding returning a defective item, and they "promised" to look for signs of tear and wear on MY PAID FOR DEFECTIVE WATCH (why should I wear it, but if I did it was my right - it was MY WATCH).
The watch was sent the same evening and a tracking number provided. Proof of return postage was included.
16.03.2020
The watch was received by sun_and_more and the provided an unpacking video and now, the watch was working! Yes, it was indeed my returned and was indeed working. From the time on the watch I could deduct, that the watch had been going for either just short of 36 hours, 48 hours or maximum of just below 60 hours (out of 108 hours of transport time). You do the math.
20.03.2020 (not entirely sure of the date)
I left negative feedback for the transaction. To be fair, the feedback was negative, but seller ratings
21.03.2020 (again not entirely sure - ebay does not list dates for these messages)
24.03.2020
Seller sent a private message (not through ebay messaging system) threatening legal action, if the feedback wasn't removed. I asked the seller to proceed with the legal action, as I will not remove the totally honest feedback.
After sending the response, I reported the message as being a potential violation of the ebay "Member-to-member contact policy".
Videos
Video of SolarCosa receiving returned (the time and date is clearly visible):
Unpacking video, SolarCasa, Germany
Video of me trying to start the watch just before returning it (the time and date is clearly visible) - it moved only a few seconds and stops immediately:
SNZG13K1 not working video
Video of me trying to shake a 30 years+ watch in the same manner - it starts immediately (and runs for 50 minutes):
1990_seiko_5
Messages
28.02.2020 14:47 - Message
New message to: sun_and_more |
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10.03.2020 19:17 - Message
New message from: sun_and_more (4,784)
Dear Sir or Madam! |
10.03.2020 19:43 - Message
New message to: sun_and_more |
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10.03.2020 21:28 - Message
New message from: sun_and_more (4,784) |
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11.03.2020 11:05 - Case response
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11.03.2020 - Case message to seller***
*** Ebay does not seem to let me view my messages in a closed case, so this is to the best of memory.
I informed the seller, that according to EU law and German law, that they (sun_and_more) had the burden of proof, that the item was NOT defective. This was not mentioned in their terms of sales.
I wrote this in English and used google to translate into German.
11.03.2020 12:20 - Case response
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11.03.2020 Case message to seller***
*** Ebay does not seem to let me view my messages in a closed case, so this is to the best of memory.
Thanks for your message. The tracking number is XXXX.
12.03.2020 17:35 - Case response
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Mail sent to my personal mail address at March 24th
Dear Sirs and Madames,
We are sorry that you are unsatisfied with the order. However, we have fulfilled our part of the purchase contract. That means we have sent you defect-free goods. The automatic watch works perfectly.
Now, unfortunately, we found that you left a negative review. Of course, this is your right. However, in this case it is a false claim to say that the watch never worked. Therefore, I would politely ask you to remove them or, if necessary, to write a truthful assessment.
If the wrong evaluation was not removed by March 27th, 2020, we reserve the right to take legal action, although we would like to refrain from doing so.
Best regards from Berlin
Manfred Hartmann
Owner: Dr. . . Stefan Rauscher
Rigaer Str. 3
D-10247 Berlin
Fax center: +49 30 4280 2071
VAT ID No: DE 207874192
Tax number: 14/485/50243
24.03.2020 My response to the letter above
Herr Hartmann,
Proceed legal action immediately. THE REVIEW WILL NOT BE REVISED.
How difficult is it to understand, that the watch DID.NOT.WORK when I had it. I was DEAD.ON.ARRIVAL. DEFECTIVE! I read the manual. I viewed videos on
I sent you an email regarding the problem within 2 hours of receiving the watch. You waited 11 days (eleven) to answer the letter and just said "I works". Not "we are sorry to hear it does not work, but would you please try doing xxx" or anything, just "It works". Even after seeking a resolution
So you expect me
The watch did not work! The video I sent you proves this as much as your video proves the opposite. I actually really wanted this specific watch (big numbers, 100m WR and a good
Finally, apart from non-existing customer service (as mentioned above, why not tell me how to get the watch to work, instead of just saying "it works"), now you move to threaten with legal action (on what grounds?) - what a way to treat your customers!
Regards,
Johnny Norre