CloxMonkey.com
From time to time I buy clocks from other sellers for one reason or another. Either I see something I
like for my personal collection or something that I want to restore and sell. Regardless of whether or
not the seller claims that they serviced, cleaned and oiled the movement, I always open up the clock
and inspect it myself. Not because I want to find something wrong, but simply because I want to see
the condition of the clock. Most of the time...well, they never are what the seller states. My reviews
are only put on these pages when the seller's work does not meet their description. In these pages I
will rate seller's that sell significant amount of clocks at prices that indicate the amount of work I
expect to see in a clock purchased at that price. If you are a collector and you buy clocks on ebay, I
would hope that these reviews will assist you.
like for my personal collection or something that I want to restore and sell. Regardless of whether or
not the seller claims that they serviced, cleaned and oiled the movement, I always open up the clock
and inspect it myself. Not because I want to find something wrong, but simply because I want to see
the condition of the clock. Most of the time...well, they never are what the seller states. My reviews
are only put on these pages when the seller's work does not meet their description. In these pages I
will rate seller's that sell significant amount of clocks at prices that indicate the amount of work I
expect to see in a clock purchased at that price. If you are a collector and you buy clocks on ebay, I
would hope that these reviews will assist you.
A new one to add to my list of reviews is the tictocdoctor. He sells a lot of clocks and from time to
time I will watch them to see what they sell for and check the reviews left by the customers. I finally
took the plunge when I saw two clocks at very good buy it now prices. Let me say, I for a while thought
this was the Alarm Clock Doc under an alias. But after seeing the lack of work put into this clock, I now
know this cannot be so.
Review of Style 1A Big Ben "cleaned and oiled" by tictocdoctor.
Today I decided to go ahead and open up the other clock, a Sleep Meter. One clock in bad condition
could be a fluke, but two in my book is typical practice of an individual. First of all the alarm setting
knob is so tight that it cannot be set. The second immediate issue is the fact that either the mainspring
is broken or has wrapped upon itself as it winds for a little then jumps to fully unwind. So with that in
mind lets see what we have.
Review of Sleep Meter "cleaned and oiled" by the tictocdoctor.
Improper Dials on tictocdoctor's clocks.
UPDATE 22 March 2012
The tictocdoctor had changed his description from "cleaned and lubricated and runs great" to lubricated
and runs great. Much better, but this method of getting a clock to run also has its draw backs. If you
cruise my sight, you probably know how I feel about this. At least he is being honest in this regard.
Noted from other buyers, some luminescent dials are negative images of the white Big Ben style 1A
dials. The two dial are distinctly different and you should know this if you buy one of his Style 1A
clocks with the luminescent dial. Not that all of his luminescent dials are reproduced, but some are.
Obviously he has read this review and I hope he will come clean with the dials also. I have no issues
on reproduced dials as long as it is fully disclosed to the buyer. A majority of buyers want a crisp new
dial and will accept a reproduction, so disclosure most likely won't hurt sales.
Update 11 April 2012
Today ebay has informed me that they are removing the factual comments from tictocdoctors
feedback. Ebay is really disappointing me. Tictocdoctor knows how to work the system. I guess you
develop the skills to do so after 1400 feedbacks. Because I bought two clocks through two separate
ID's; ebay tells me that the feedback is disruptive, even if it is factual. If I would have bought the two
clocks with just one ID, it would have stuck. This is very sad and dissapointing. Just for the record, I
bought this on with the wrong ID. I intended to buy it with my buying ID. I bought both clocks a few
minutes apart and this was my first purchase from him. So no ill will was intended.
So I hope buyers will learn from this site about this seller as he has effectively hid the fact that he sells
clocks that are not properly cleaned and lubricated. All I can say is buyer beware and that time will
catch up to this seller. Maybe one of his buyers will send me another one of his clocks and leave
feedback that will stick.
Below is a screen capture of the feedback as it stands. One thing I have learned and I hope others will
take from this, is that Ebay Feedback is bunk. If a seller like tictocdoctor can have negative feedbacks
removed through a loop hole, why have a feedback system?
time I will watch them to see what they sell for and check the reviews left by the customers. I finally
took the plunge when I saw two clocks at very good buy it now prices. Let me say, I for a while thought
this was the Alarm Clock Doc under an alias. But after seeing the lack of work put into this clock, I now
know this cannot be so.
Review of Style 1A Big Ben "cleaned and oiled" by tictocdoctor.
Today I decided to go ahead and open up the other clock, a Sleep Meter. One clock in bad condition
could be a fluke, but two in my book is typical practice of an individual. First of all the alarm setting
knob is so tight that it cannot be set. The second immediate issue is the fact that either the mainspring
is broken or has wrapped upon itself as it winds for a little then jumps to fully unwind. So with that in
mind lets see what we have.
Review of Sleep Meter "cleaned and oiled" by the tictocdoctor.
Improper Dials on tictocdoctor's clocks.
UPDATE 22 March 2012
The tictocdoctor had changed his description from "cleaned and lubricated and runs great" to lubricated
and runs great. Much better, but this method of getting a clock to run also has its draw backs. If you
cruise my sight, you probably know how I feel about this. At least he is being honest in this regard.
Noted from other buyers, some luminescent dials are negative images of the white Big Ben style 1A
dials. The two dial are distinctly different and you should know this if you buy one of his Style 1A
clocks with the luminescent dial. Not that all of his luminescent dials are reproduced, but some are.
Obviously he has read this review and I hope he will come clean with the dials also. I have no issues
on reproduced dials as long as it is fully disclosed to the buyer. A majority of buyers want a crisp new
dial and will accept a reproduction, so disclosure most likely won't hurt sales.
Update 11 April 2012
Today ebay has informed me that they are removing the factual comments from tictocdoctors
feedback. Ebay is really disappointing me. Tictocdoctor knows how to work the system. I guess you
develop the skills to do so after 1400 feedbacks. Because I bought two clocks through two separate
ID's; ebay tells me that the feedback is disruptive, even if it is factual. If I would have bought the two
clocks with just one ID, it would have stuck. This is very sad and dissapointing. Just for the record, I
bought this on with the wrong ID. I intended to buy it with my buying ID. I bought both clocks a few
minutes apart and this was my first purchase from him. So no ill will was intended.
So I hope buyers will learn from this site about this seller as he has effectively hid the fact that he sells
clocks that are not properly cleaned and lubricated. All I can say is buyer beware and that time will
catch up to this seller. Maybe one of his buyers will send me another one of his clocks and leave
feedback that will stick.
Below is a screen capture of the feedback as it stands. One thing I have learned and I hope others will
take from this, is that Ebay Feedback is bunk. If a seller like tictocdoctor can have negative feedbacks
removed through a loop hole, why have a feedback system?
Ebay Seller Legjr
Ebay Seller TicTocDoctor
My first encounter with a poorly restored clock, if you can call it that, was through one of my clients.
After buying two clocks from the ebay seller Legjr, the new owner found that his clocks just would not
run. He wanted a full refund, but would have to swallow all the costs of shipping. So instead of
sending the clocks back, he sent them to me for an inspection/servicing and what I saw disgusted me.
When I opened the first one, I couldn't believe what I was looking at. It was the main reason I set up
this site. To inform others about seller's on ebay taking advantage of their customers as well as
hopefully showing what a properly serviced clock should look like.
To see legjr's restoration skills click here. This seller is still selling on ebay today.
After buying two clocks from the ebay seller Legjr, the new owner found that his clocks just would not
run. He wanted a full refund, but would have to swallow all the costs of shipping. So instead of
sending the clocks back, he sent them to me for an inspection/servicing and what I saw disgusted me.
When I opened the first one, I couldn't believe what I was looking at. It was the main reason I set up
this site. To inform others about seller's on ebay taking advantage of their customers as well as
hopefully showing what a properly serviced clock should look like.
To see legjr's restoration skills click here. This seller is still selling on ebay today.
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Once a month I will offer 1 or 2 free clock services. Basically, if you bought a clock off of ebay within
the last 60 days that was passed off as cleaned and serviced, I will repair and service it for free. The
free service is offered in exchange for your permission to post the original auction as well use
information gathered from the inspection to post reviews of clocks being sold by sellers on ebay. To
secure service contact me with details of the clock you want serviced. You are responsible for all
shipping. This service does not only pertain to Westclox, but other clocks as well.
I am doing this because I am tired of sellers passing off clocks as "clean and oiled" when they are not.
Someone has to put a stop to this practice. Because those that buy these clocks, find themselves at a
disadvantage. They simply cannot look and tell if a clock was properly cleaned and oiled. And, making
matters worst, sellers hide behind the feedback wall and their no return policies. It is time to put a stop
to this practice. It hurts ebay and us buyers as well. So I have created a "Review of Other Ebay
Sellers" page, a place where sellers will now be exposed. I hope this page will become popular enough
to let others know who is cheating the buyers without remorse.
the last 60 days that was passed off as cleaned and serviced, I will repair and service it for free. The
free service is offered in exchange for your permission to post the original auction as well use
information gathered from the inspection to post reviews of clocks being sold by sellers on ebay. To
secure service contact me with details of the clock you want serviced. You are responsible for all
shipping. This service does not only pertain to Westclox, but other clocks as well.
I am doing this because I am tired of sellers passing off clocks as "clean and oiled" when they are not.
Someone has to put a stop to this practice. Because those that buy these clocks, find themselves at a
disadvantage. They simply cannot look and tell if a clock was properly cleaned and oiled. And, making
matters worst, sellers hide behind the feedback wall and their no return policies. It is time to put a stop
to this practice. It hurts ebay and us buyers as well. So I have created a "Review of Other Ebay
Sellers" page, a place where sellers will now be exposed. I hope this page will become popular enough
to let others know who is cheating the buyers without remorse.
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