ComplaintsforMontecito Clock Gallery

• Initial Complaint

  03/28/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Delivery Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  In July 2020 I gave my Piaget polo watch with diamonds and mother of pearl to Ferdinand Geitner of Montecito clock gallery to repair with a 100 dollar deposit he has now had my watch for over three years. I have left several text messages, voice messages at his mobile number, and his work to return my watch to me. Sometimes he has replied one time I called him he answered the phone finally told me I could come pick up my watch. I went to get it, and the whole inside was completely gone. I asked him where it was. He said he sent it out to be repaired, I told him I want my entire watch back and now he will not return any of my calls to his shop or to his cell phone and I have text him several times he will not respond. I did tell him that I would have to take him to court he told me to go ahead , I have sent you pictures of my watch and in value of another watch that is very similar to mine except that it doesn’t have mother-of-pearl and the diamonds going on the inside like mine. I want my watch back. I want the value for it back I’m now scared that he doesn’t have the watch inside at all , I would be happy with just getting the value of the watch back instead of the watch since I don’t believe he has it and I’m afraid if he does, he won’t give it back the way it was plus I would like my hundred dollar deposit back I can’t believe somebody is in business and does this to people. I do know that he had a lawsuit against him recently please help me thank you.

• Initial Complaint

  06/14/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  Took coocoo clock in for repair on July 23, 2021 as it had fallen off my daughter's wall. It had a problem with the chain. We thought a link in the chain may be wedged in somewhere. Called a number of times to see how was going but he does not call back. Finally, as was almost a year I called and said we wanted clock back. He said it would be ready Tuesday, but no call. Called again and he said to come by and when I spoke to him on the phone he said there was a problem with the chain. This meant to me that he had never looked at clock all this time because I told him I thought was the chain was the problem. Now he has a message machine but he never calls you back. My last conversation he said he had not been to his shop in a week and he had a medical problem.

• Initial Complaint

  02/22/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Delivery Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  On Sept 20, 2021, I took my dying father's gold Rolex to the proprietor of the Montecito Clock Gallery for service, at my father request, because he wanted to leave it to my son in good condition. At that time, I asked the owner if he could also repair older watches (1930s, 1940s) and he said yes. So on Sept, 27, 2021, two days after my father passed, I brought the owner two more watches (my grandfather's), one an Elgin, one a Gruen, both gold. The owner finished the Rolex and I paid him cash per his policy. Told me the others would be ready soon. I called and texted several times over many weeks, and finally spoke with him. In December he said they were ready but that it was better not to FedEx them. Because they have tremendous sentimental value, I made arrangements to fly from Chicago to LA on January 7th (after checking with owner), rented a car, drove to the town and met him (with cash). To my shock, he told me that one, the Elgin (engraved 1946), had been ready but "just yesterday" broke and now he needs a new part. Maybe he could get the next week. He then showed me the watch with nothing but the shell (I took a photo where we can also see the original bag, full of parts). He had a similar story for the Gruen - I was so shocked that I had just flown across the country to get them and here not only where they NOT ready, but they were in pieces. He said he would let me know and for six weeks I have been following up once a week, leaving voicemails (when not full) and sending texts requesting a reply. I assumed he was a nice man, knowledgeable craftsman, just not very quick/responsive. Today, however, seeking any other way to reach him, I googled him only to find many, many people telling the same story. And here on BBB, same thing. I do not know what to do and, as I mention, I live in Chicago and he is in California. I will be grateful for any help. I dont care if I just get pieces back, I just want my grandfather's watches.

*Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. ↩