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I successfully goldplated the applewatch!
- Thread starter RyanFlynn
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That thing is busted. Looks like you work in construction and use it hammer things.
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not only $400 worth of money wasted looks like ur watch is pretty messed up too,,,,
Is it possible for the mods to do anything here to at a minimum stop this man and company from getting any further business from this thread? Not everyone may read the whole thread before giving them money (may just look at the first couple pages and think "hey this looks great here's $400!")...
Guys, I want to update the situation.
I got a personal call from Rian this evening. He was conciliatory and apologized profusely. He is going out of his way to come pick up the watch (I live in the LA area) and they are going to re-plate it.
You cannot ask for more than that.
I will be updating the situation as it progresses.
I got a personal call from Rian this evening. He was conciliatory and apologized profusely. He is going out of his way to come pick up the watch (I live in the LA area) and they are going to re-plate it.
You cannot ask for more than that.
I will be updating the situation as it progresses.
I must have gotten in the same batch as mbapple. Mine looks about the same. Got it back a couple of weeks ago.
I noticed a few days later that my mic wasn't working but didn't really think anything of it. Bugs and all. Fast forward to today where I really started diagnosing and troubleshooting it. Did everything. Called Apple (I put AppleCare on the watch knowing full well I Was going to get it plated as soon as I received it. Silly me.) They did everything too and deemed it a hardware failure. Wonderful.
I emailed Ryan but he's probably not very happy with me anyway since I basically had emailed him earlier and told him my plating job was horrible. He never responded but in all fairness, I told him I didn't expect him to and he didn't have to and I let him "off the hook." I Was trying to be nice.
$400 lesson learned. Now it's turned into a $1000 lesson. That pill's a little harder to swallow.
Does anybody know how to remove the coating from the watch? I don't want to hear about all the "honesty and integrity" crap. Do you know how to remove the coating or not?
I guess I'm just destined to have a watch without a mic. What a bummer. Pretty useless without the mic but I can't afford another one right now as I just bought my wife one too. Thank God I hadn't had hers plated YET.
FWIW, I'm still not totally convinced it's a hardware problem. Maybe I'm just in denial. My watch was flaky once it upgraded to 1.02 but Apple says it is so I guess that's the end of it. I do know my mic worked before I sent it off to watchplate.com .
Damn. The older I get, the more expensive the lessons of life become.
Bummed.
EDIT to add: Just saw the post just above mine so maybe there's hope. I just saw an email come in from Ryan as I started this edit. Wow. Maybe this will all work out. I'll keep you updated.
I noticed a few days later that my mic wasn't working but didn't really think anything of it. Bugs and all. Fast forward to today where I really started diagnosing and troubleshooting it. Did everything. Called Apple (I put AppleCare on the watch knowing full well I Was going to get it plated as soon as I received it. Silly me.) They did everything too and deemed it a hardware failure. Wonderful.
I emailed Ryan but he's probably not very happy with me anyway since I basically had emailed him earlier and told him my plating job was horrible. He never responded but in all fairness, I told him I didn't expect him to and he didn't have to and I let him "off the hook." I Was trying to be nice.
$400 lesson learned. Now it's turned into a $1000 lesson. That pill's a little harder to swallow.
Does anybody know how to remove the coating from the watch? I don't want to hear about all the "honesty and integrity" crap. Do you know how to remove the coating or not?
I guess I'm just destined to have a watch without a mic. What a bummer. Pretty useless without the mic but I can't afford another one right now as I just bought my wife one too. Thank God I hadn't had hers plated YET.
FWIW, I'm still not totally convinced it's a hardware problem. Maybe I'm just in denial. My watch was flaky once it upgraded to 1.02 but Apple says it is so I guess that's the end of it. I do know my mic worked before I sent it off to watchplate.com .
Damn. The older I get, the more expensive the lessons of life become.
Bummed.
EDIT to add: Just saw the post just above mine so maybe there's hope. I just saw an email come in from Ryan as I started this edit. Wow. Maybe this will all work out. I'll keep you updated.
Well Guys, I just talked to Ryan on the phone. SUPER nice guy. If he's scamming, he's got me sold.
He admitted to the problem. He explained the tech behind why it happened. He explained how they have corrected it going forward, and most importantly; HE OFFERED TO REPLACE MY WATCH WITH A NEW ONE COATED OR NOT-COATED.
For all the things happening in this thread, and I haven't admittedly read the entire thread, if he lives up to what he's promised, he's good by me. Right now, I'm betting he's a man of his word. I think he's going to make it all good. He told me one guy in this thread actually had his replacement delivered today (I won't mention his name for obvious reasons.) so I hope he posts here with positive things to say.
We need to give this guy a chance. I think he's a good guy that's just been inundated with issues because of the newness of it all and the overwhelming response to his offering.
He's got the benefit of a doubt from me until I post back otherwise. I'm giving him a chance. He sounds like he wants to do right by everybody and I think he does.
He admitted to the problem. He explained the tech behind why it happened. He explained how they have corrected it going forward, and most importantly; HE OFFERED TO REPLACE MY WATCH WITH A NEW ONE COATED OR NOT-COATED.
For all the things happening in this thread, and I haven't admittedly read the entire thread, if he lives up to what he's promised, he's good by me. Right now, I'm betting he's a man of his word. I think he's going to make it all good. He told me one guy in this thread actually had his replacement delivered today (I won't mention his name for obvious reasons.) so I hope he posts here with positive things to say.
We need to give this guy a chance. I think he's a good guy that's just been inundated with issues because of the newness of it all and the overwhelming response to his offering.
He's got the benefit of a doubt from me until I post back otherwise. I'm giving him a chance. He sounds like he wants to do right by everybody and I think he does.
Got my replacement watch this Saturday from Ryan. My first watch had marks and during the replace the mic was damaged so Ryan replaced the watch with a new one and plated it. The downside is that it's now been 7 weeks before I finally have a plated watch that's fully functioning. That was painful. I will give Watchplate props for making things right but it sure took a whole lot of effort to get there.
Now time will tell how the plating holds up - going to be my 'daily wear' watch .....
Now time will tell how the plating holds up - going to be my 'daily wear' watch .....
Hey Friends,
This is the first time I've posted on this forum in a long while! I've taken all questions and concerns seriously and made changes to our business accordingly. As of this week, we have a dedicated customer service team and customer emails are no longer getting lost. We are still getting nearly 100 emails daily, but Zendesk has REALLY helped. We've also improved the quality of our plating and i'm very proud of the results. So if anyone has issues with our plating, please shoot us an email and we WILL take care of you.
Lastly, we had an issue with some microphones being damaged. This was a product of our sealing system unexpectedly contracting during the plating process and failing. We've solved the issue with a new sealing system and I've ordered a brand new watch for everyone effected. I've given everyone the option to have their replacement watch plated or just stainless steel. So far everyone has gone with the gold plating option.
Thank you for all your business, helpful advice, and constructive feedback. We went from 0-500 orders in 6 weeks and thanks to you, we've finally been able to hire the right people and set up a functional system to keep up with the demand.
This is the first time I've posted on this forum in a long while! I've taken all questions and concerns seriously and made changes to our business accordingly. As of this week, we have a dedicated customer service team and customer emails are no longer getting lost. We are still getting nearly 100 emails daily, but Zendesk has REALLY helped. We've also improved the quality of our plating and i'm very proud of the results. So if anyone has issues with our plating, please shoot us an email and we WILL take care of you.
Lastly, we had an issue with some microphones being damaged. This was a product of our sealing system unexpectedly contracting during the plating process and failing. We've solved the issue with a new sealing system and I've ordered a brand new watch for everyone effected. I've given everyone the option to have their replacement watch plated or just stainless steel. So far everyone has gone with the gold plating option.
Thank you for all your business, helpful advice, and constructive feedback. We went from 0-500 orders in 6 weeks and thanks to you, we've finally been able to hire the right people and set up a functional system to keep up with the demand.
so are people who invested in you from the beginning covered in any potential warranty upgrade you begin to offer?
i'm terrified that my watch will tarnish in 4 weeks like a poster above showed us it can without any exercise or heavy activity. if you're upgrading your plating technology as time goes by yet the price remains the same i think it's only fair you clear some of your early adopter's heads...
Unless I'm mistaken, and I may be, real gold does not tarnish. Correct? Unless this is a total scam, there should be no reason for 18k gold plating to tarnish. Ever, unless it is a terrible alloy. I hope that what we are seeing here is plating errors from the early runs. My plating had some flaws, but overall it looks(ed) great, especially in areas generally visible to the casual eye.
What I'm more worried about is the flaking. The stainless is a very smooth, which from my experiences being raised in my daddy's garage and body shop, is not a good thing. Want it to stick? Sand it. that concerns me but then again, I don't really understand this process. It's not paint, so I'm going to give it the benefit of a doubt.
Admittedly, I've only had mine back about two weeks. Generally no worse for the wear as far as I can tell so far. Time will tell and my count certainly starts over when I get my replacement next week.
I would like for Rian to address the warranty issue with respect to the watch itself. I think he has had some discussions with Apple but I don't know if he has discussed this particular issue. I certainly understand Apple not covering damage caused by the plating process like my damaged mic, but I would like to know how the first year's warranty needs are going to be handled and how AppleCare applies (if at all). If the watch is not damaged from the plating process, as in 6 months down the road, how are we going to get our watches serviced if the battery or the screen needs replacing, for example?
Rian, what is the plan for warranty claims of have you established relationship with a third party where we can get service, even if for a fee?
What I'm more worried about is the flaking. The stainless is a very smooth, which from my experiences being raised in my daddy's garage and body shop, is not a good thing. Want it to stick? Sand it. that concerns me but then again, I don't really understand this process. It's not paint, so I'm going to give it the benefit of a doubt.
Admittedly, I've only had mine back about two weeks. Generally no worse for the wear as far as I can tell so far. Time will tell and my count certainly starts over when I get my replacement next week.
I would like for Rian to address the warranty issue with respect to the watch itself. I think he has had some discussions with Apple but I don't know if he has discussed this particular issue. I certainly understand Apple not covering damage caused by the plating process like my damaged mic, but I would like to know how the first year's warranty needs are going to be handled and how AppleCare applies (if at all). If the watch is not damaged from the plating process, as in 6 months down the road, how are we going to get our watches serviced if the battery or the screen needs replacing, for example?
Rian, what is the plan for warranty claims of have you established relationship with a third party where we can get service, even if for a fee?
it will, because it is not pure gold. Other metals will react with oxygen and e.g. sulphur compounds much easier than the gold and that is the reason why you will see it tarnishing.
When you plate stainless steel you need to very careful when doing the first step before the actual plating happens. If you skip this process, use bad chemicals or do the job poorly, you will see it when you plate the item. Plating looks awful or it is fading in few days or weeks. When you know what you do and do the first step correctly, the plating will last years. There are few methods to "active" the stainless steel. Without the proper "activating" method, it is uselless to plate the item. If you want to learn about electrochemistry, you can start reading the commonly used method called "woods nickel strike".
There's not much excuse for returning a watch to a customer looking as horrible as some of the photos I've been seeing. Did he think you wouldn't notice? I'd be enraged.
At only 500 orders, they surely could give each one a quick glance over before sending it out. This is the part that disturbs me the most. They think some will just not care or complain?
Sounds like the coating is just too thin and not too durable. Those who are made right with another coating, how long will that coating last? Is he going to keep re-coating these after the warranty? Seems many will never have their watches on their wrists if they need to be re-coated every so often. Glad I steered clear of this one.
Sounds like the coating is just too thin and not too durable. Those who are made right with another coating, how long will that coating last? Is he going to keep re-coating these after the warranty? Seems many will never have their watches on their wrists if they need to be re-coated every so often. Glad I steered clear of this one.
Rian gave the runaround on the warranty being voided on his FAQ, but we already know that plating the Watch voids the warranty unless it's reversed. This is evident by his having to send brand new Watches to customers with apparently busted microphones from his equipment. Otherwise, these customers would have been able to get Apple to swap them out just from saying their microphones no longer work.
What's this "sealing system" during the plating process? There's the electrocleaning step, the surface activating step and the electroplating step. Properly plated gold doesn't need to be "sealed." Are you using an unorthodox method of plating?
With due respect, it doesn't appear you're learning from your mistakes. Over three weeks ago, a customer posted that he got a dirty box (post #411). Another customer who just received his Watch yesterday reported that he also got a dirty box/case. Why aren't you doing anything about your sloppy workers who are getting customers' boxes dirty, much less allow them to ship obviously defective/incompletely plated Watches to your customers?
because he doesn't give an EFF! He's made 500K and it sounds like even more morons keep sending him money. I asked for a refund minus his expenses for my watch since it has tarnished before 30 days. Lets see what he says. I'm thinking about legal action.
I sent him 475 so he should be sending me about 375 via paypal if he knows what is good for him
I sent him 475 so he should be sending me about 375 via paypal if he knows what is good for him
Rather than a lengthy apology, and an "I'll make it right speech", I'd like to know why these problems happened or are happening?
Why are the boxes getting so grubby? Are the employees just that sloppy?
Why are watches getting sent back without being QC'd if you've only had 500 orders?
Why is the plating process not working on certain parts of the watch?
Why are some watches showing wear after a short amount of time worn?
What is the actual thickness of the gold? I remember hearing a claim and that you were testing the claim but we never heard anything else?
Why only a 30 day warranty? Do you expect them to never fade or have problems after 30 days or the opposite?
I'd never consider this until these questions (and others) are thoroughly answered.
Why are the boxes getting so grubby? Are the employees just that sloppy?
Why are watches getting sent back without being QC'd if you've only had 500 orders?
Why is the plating process not working on certain parts of the watch?
Why are some watches showing wear after a short amount of time worn?
What is the actual thickness of the gold? I remember hearing a claim and that you were testing the claim but we never heard anything else?
Why only a 30 day warranty? Do you expect them to never fade or have problems after 30 days or the opposite?
I'd never consider this until these questions (and others) are thoroughly answered.
WOW, that really looks like crap..did it ARRIVE that way or end up that way after time? I've had several things gold plated in the past, on outdoor items, jewelry and such and they never looked that way to begin, or after several years. Something is way off in the alloy mixture they used or the plating process.
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