Brookside Jewelry — Local services in Kansas City

I would advise against going to Brookside Jewelry. I dropped a watch off over a month ago for an estimate, it required servicing. I was initially told the watch guy, someone different that works for them, comes by the store and picks up the watches for repair on Tuesdays, I dropped mine off on a Friday. I was told it takes a week to get an estimate on the service specifically required to get my watch running better, my watch is a vintage diver so that made sense so far. I was also told by the second Tuesday, or 10ish days after I dropped off my watch, that I would receive a call with the estimate for repair. I never received that call so I called them.

That's when they said that they still had my watch. I guess the watch guy couldn't look at my watch, so they had another guy. I thought, ok, wished they called me, but I'm fine with that. Another week goes by, I still haven't received any call, no updates, no nothing. So I called back. That's when I was told the new watch guy just picked up my watch. I'm getting frustrated at this point, but what can I do? I asked them to actually call me back, and informed them that I have yet to receive a call from them, at anytime.

Another week or so goes by, guess what...no call. You know what I did, I called back. I was told the new watch guy just picked my watch up earlier in that day or the day before, can't remember exactly. I informed them that was not the story the last time I called, I said someone somewhere is lying to me. Instead of an apology, I heard the owner, that was obviously listening to my conversation with whom ever answered the phone, yelling back at me "no one lied to you". All I needed at that point was an apology, but he was so damn determined to defend the fact I called him a liar, I got nothing. They then said they would have the watch returned, and still no apology. They said they would call me when my watched was returned. I literally laughed out loud. I told them I'll call them since they aren't so good at calling me.

Fast forward to today, I just went by to pick up my watch, more than a month after dropping it off. I get no apology, just a funny look from the owner as he walked in back. I then hear another worker tell the lady that's helping me, that my watch was just dropped off earlier today. Yeah right. I was in their store at like 10am, so unless he was there between 9 and 10, they were lying. Oh, and guess what else...I just dropped in to the store unannounced, they...

Very rude customer service. I asked the woman behind the counter if they fix watches. She says yes. Ok cool. I show her the watch and show her the part that's broken. It was something very simple. The tongue in the buckle had broken. She goes in the back to ask the guy (who I assume is the owner) shows him the watch and he comes back looking at me like I'm crazy or stupid and it was the dumbest question he had ever heard. With the most condescending tone he says, "Oh you're going to have to look this up on the internet." I'm thinking "Seriously dude? What is this magic internet you speak of?" As if I haven't already done that?

So I tell him as nicely as I can that it's a Swatch watch and the company wants you to buy a whole new watch band. I don't want to do that. The band is fine. It's just the little metal tongue that I need. Then Super Watchman begins to speak to me like I'm a child again, "There is no way anyone on the face of the planet can fix this. You're asking me to do something impossible! Do you have any idea what this would entail?" It was the weirdest thing. If he says he fixes watches then he should have a whole box of tiny watch parts for simple things like this. I was willing to pay him $10 or $20 to fix it. Give him some business and be a good neighbor. Instead I get a lecture from Mr. Watch Expert about the internet and how I must buy that specific part for ten million dollars (that they don't even sell). If you disagree with him it's like speaking to the Great Clockmaker God of the Internet. "How dare you mere mortal speak to me this way! I am the ONLY Watch Master in Brookside!"

Whatever dude. I'll just go to a thrift store, buy a cheap watch, take the little metal tongue out and fix it myself. Which is what I did and it took me two seconds in the parking lot. Why I ever went to Brookside Jewelry to ask for a small watch part was my mistake. I was just trying to support a local business. I would avoid that place at all costs unless you want to be berated and treated like you're the biggest loser...

After an interview, I stepped into this store, a true gem in the over-saturated real estate filled worth-dilettante artist jewelry stores or those boasting curated designs +for you* - I assure you this store is not-like-the-others.

The service was tremendous. I was greeted with familiarity, as if they knew me. They spoke easily, casually and knowledgeably about their estate given, not hunted, pieces: they pointed out the chiefs jewelry as a bonus to the entire artistic clutter of quality costume jewelry, dazzling gem ring designs, silver and turquoise pawns, to a selection of pearls that was reminiscent of grandmother strings of dipped to real Akoya masterpieces.

It so happened I had a necklace of real amethyst beads, Once belonging to my Grandmother, that I’d had Turned into a necklace. The chain had broken and I’d hope along the day is find another safety-pin to save it and wear it. The woman behind e counter said “give it to me, I’ll fix it right now…”. She did and for a price that was unbelievable.

The store was filled with men buying the pieces and promises they’d made for Valentines Day and it required all hands on deck. I think that anyone could find a piece of the last, design for a future gift, or the perfect piece at this place. They know their stuff. Go inside. See...