CLOCK SERVICES

We brought our clock in for repair/cleaning in late January. We were told it could take up to 3 months to complete. It is now early October and they have not started on it yet. We called several times over the past 8 months and were told each time that it would take about another month to complete. When we called last week, the owner said he could not give a time when we could expect it back and suggested we pretend we don't actually have a clock. That way, when it is finally completed, we will be excited to have one that works. When we called again today, he said that there are still 20 clocks in line in front of it so we have decided to just pick it back up. We understand that it can be tough to accurately estimate the amount of work in-house, but to be off by over 6 months seems unusual. We suspect that they are not comfortable with this kind of clock and are focusing on easier repair and cleaning jobs. It would have been helpful if they had just said that up front.

I called Clock Services about a grandfather clock that had not run in four years. They agreed to come to my home to look at the clock (they prefer to look at the clock in the home rather than take it their shop). They were upfront about the cost ($195), but since this clock is a family heirloom, I thought it would be worth the price if they could repair in place. I had other work done on the clock and was concerned that it had been harmed (turned out the overhaul was done OK). The technician called before he came for the appointment and arrived at 9am (on time). He asked some questions about the clock, then started to examine it. He had to remove the mechanism and needed to work on it, so I allowed him to use our dining room table. He spread a cloth on the table before working on the clock. He was able to readjust the mechanism and then reassembled the clock (~ 10 min). He restarted the clock and went through some instructions about its care and operation with me. He was done in about an hour. He left with the clock ticking correctly and I have since watched in run for the last 4 days and it has kept very good time. I am very pleased with his services and will use him again when the clock needs to have its regular service done.

In 2008 my Howard Miller wall clock was not working well and needed service. I took it to Clock Services in Drexel Hill, PA. They told me that the clock mechanism needed to be replaced, because it was damaged for lack of service. Clock Services (CS) replaced the mechanism and the clock worked well. Two years later, I took the clock to CS for routine cleaning and service. After this maintenance, the clock soon stopped running. I phoned CS, discussed the symptoms and returned the clock to them. Within a week or two after this repair the clock failed again. I returned the clock yet another time for additional service. About a year after my last experience with CS, three years since the mechanism was replaced, the clock started to chime too many times on the hour, e.g., at six it chimes seven, etc. In May, 2011, I had my clock serviced by a different company. This new clock service company advised me that the mechanism's lacquer coating had been damaged because it had been dipped in solvent. The new clock service company cleaned away loose particles of lacquer, and resolved the incorrect hour chimes by readjusting the mechanism. The clock has since been running perfectly. This repair cost $90. I feel that Clock Services has (1) provided sub quality service and (2) never told us what the problem was.

See above.

The clock was cleaned and done two weeks before I expected it. They were very nice and professional and fair in their price and assessment. They spent a fair amount of time showing me what needed to be done and why and explained how to care for the clock in the future. Highly recommended.

Although I arrived at the store 5 minutes prior to closing on a Saturday morning, Terri assessed the problem and promptly replaced the clock movement in about 15 minutes. Old-fashioned quality service. I was amazed!

THE SERVICEMAN WAS VERY PROFESSIONAL. HE CAME ON TIME AS PROMISED AND DISPLAYED COMPLETE KNOWLEDGE OF THE MECHANISM. HE MADE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS IN LESS THAN AN HOUR. THE CLOCK IS NOW FUNCTIONING PERFECTLY.

HIGH QUALITY REPAIR.