I can remember going to Time Wise Jewelers when I was very young. I had a nice CASIO Surfer's Watch and the plastic band was coming apart.
I walked into Time Wise and an older man asked me, if I needed any help. I told him that my watch band looked like it was ready to break and he said, "Young man, why don't you let me take a look at that?" There was a younger man in his shop and I assumed that he was the older man's son.
Anyhow, even back in those days, a Casio watch was "a sportsman's watch" ; a good one had many special features and if one spent about $175 for his Casio, he had just about the best that money could buy. I certainly didn't want mine to come apart when I was surfing or into any other "performance sport," so I asked him if he could help me.
He said, "Son, let me take a look at that watch of yours." Then he told me, "You know what? I've got a small box that's full of watch bands however, although they look like Casio Watch bands, there are a few manufacturers out there who make watches that look similar to your Casio but, they aren't exactly the same. Their bands are all about the same size and one of theirs will probably fit your Casio ; it just won't be an authentic Casio band and if I find one, I'll put it on your watch and it's yours for nothing."
I couldn't believe how lucky I was ; I didn't really care about the watch band, as most of them all looked the same and besides, he was doing me a favour.( I really didn't want to have to go and search all over town for the right band ; plus maybe get soaked by another jeweler for, either an imitation or the real thing. I just wanted a band for my watch!)
That same shop was there for years and I went there once more to exchange watch bands. Yet one day the older gentleman was in the back of their store - or so I was told. I vaguely remember a man and someone else. My watch was repaired once more time and I returned a couple more times,just to say, "Hi." And so, my story ended.
Years went by, and then one day - while shopping at Costco - I bought one of the newest "state of the art Casio watches." ( It ran on light and told the time using "atomic power."). The cost? Guess?I've had this watch for about ten years - misplaced it after a fire nearly burned down my house; I found it about three months ago inside of of a small box. It had stopped however, after I removed it, but it soon readjusted itself and began to work perfectly. The band was coming apart again.
I need to quit telling my story now or the next thing that I know, I'll be writing a book about it.
As for Time/Wise? I will never go back there again! What rude people. Whoever took the place over, told me that they had been in business for about 30 years and I remember going there sometime during the mid to late 70's! That was well over 40 some years ago!
The woman who helped me, went back into her office and then came out with another associate and told me to use the internet to get a hold of Casino, as they weren't able to get the band that I needed. Why didn't she offer to do this for me? That's why I went to a jeweler!
Actually, I had this strange feeling that they didn't want to help me - maybe they thought that my watch was stolen - as they were quite persistent about the internet and the "serial numbers on the back." They knew that it wasn't a cheap watch and that I wasn't in the original store, plus it was their third relocation...Sorry. I had you all going there for a while, huh? If they had wanted to, they could have of done it all for me however, it probably would have cost me a small fortune? I'll never know, nor do I care.
I would never recommend that jewelry shop to anyone, as I could feel "the negative vibes" eminating from all three of the associates and in "my world of customer service, sometimes it's three strikes, and YOU'RE OUT!" It was best that I leave, as they were already helping another customer change a watch battery.
THE END.