Steer well clear - faulty product provided, followed by lousy, slow, intermittent support and refusal to replace or refund. Zero stars not an option.
My daughter wanted to buy her first 'proper' watch, and after weeks of looking at different models decided on the one she wanted. It was available to buy from Amazon but being the gold-hearted person she is she decided she'd rather purchase from an independent retailer. Ordered 25th March 2023.
Her new watch finally arrived nearly a week later on 30th March; at first to much glee. Rated at 50m waterproof we were surprised when after just a couple of days it started showing condensation behind the dial. Understand that she hadn't been using it in the water at all - not even bathing, or showering; at most it had been on her wrist whilst she washed her hands.
I contacted Lee at Chronopolis on 4th April to report the fault. And then again on 6th April having had no reply. And then again on 11th April having had no reply. The last message was to let them know that we'd taken it to a local watchmaker to have it dried out. That message - strangely - had a reply the same day, expressing joy that the problem had been resolved. Obviously nothing wrong with his inbox, just his capacity to respond in a timely manner to concerns raised by customers.
Sadly the condensation returned, so it was another email to Chronopolis to try and arrange a return on 18th April. You may not be surprised to learn I had to email again on 21st having had no reply.
On 26th, with radio silence still being maintained from their end (on this issue at least), I took to the opportunity to reply to a marketing email I'd received from Chronopolis, "Seriously? I need an answer here. This is customer support at its worst." Normally I'm politer, but after over a week with no reply, and an increasingly upset daughter (11 years old by the way) I was beginning to be a little impatient... particularly at the impertinence of contacting me to advertise another series of watches.
That did elicit a response, admittedly including an apology for the 'slow reply' which was appreciated, if somewhat risible. Unfortunately no offer of return, refund, or replacement though - just an invitation to contact the manufacturer to have it repaired under warranty.
The same day I responded pointing out the statutory rights of a consumer to a refund/replacement from the retailer of faulty goods within six months of the purchase.
Guess what? That's right, total silence again.
3rd May I asked again for advice on how to arrange a return. A week later I'm still waiting for an answer.
I'm not one to usually publicly write a review of this nature. I believe firmly that sometimes things go wrong for reasons beyond our control, and that every company has a right to resolve issues quietly, in correspondence with their customers. At this point, though, I do feel that enough chance has been given, and there is now some responsibility upon me to share this experience for the benefit (warning) of others).
Of course you may be a masochistic consumer who enjoys being blanked by the the companies you buy from, and relish having your statutory rights ignored - or maybe you enjoy upgrading young children's cynicism by having their hopes dashed, and innocent trust in a world of fair play dissolved - in which case go ahead and order from this place. If, on the other hand, you are instead a rational, sane human who values their time and money then I would strongly advise steering well clear of this company.







