There is nothing and no-one I can trust anymore. My "Cartier" watch from Mongkok had a broken link. So on the weekend when we were back there I took it to my man and told him I needed the link replaced. He's a busy man. His shop is tiny. It's three floors up with an entrance no greater than a hole in the wall, but barricaded with an inch thing steel door. As is the entrance to his shop. You enter a space of no more than 80 square feet, where you are bombarded with handbags, wallets and watches from every brand in the world. Good quality stuff too. So my man tells me he cannot replace it now and will have it ready on Monday. He's constantly answering his mobile phone. He's got ADD. Nevertheless I get him to focus for three seconds. I tell him there's no way I can leave work to get back to Mongkok this week and that I need the watch before Friday. I don't really need the watch at all but that's besides the point. If I don't set a deadline I'll never see it again. He tells me again I need to come to Mongkok to pick it up. I tell him no, he will deliver or send it to Central. We're talking about 4 stops on the train, at a cost of HK$10 or so. OK he repeats three times in that local way, rapidly and as a way to say "Whatever, just leave me alone." I judiciously slip his card into my pocket.

So I ring my man this afternoon. Where's my watch? If he sent it Monday, it should be here today (HK Post is good like that; same-day delivery is not unheard of). Oh, he says, obviously scouring his mind to remember who I am. It will be ready tomorrow. He'll send it to me tomorrow. I must have it by Friday I repeat to him. I will call him again tomorrow to make sure. Yes, yes, yes, I will send tomorrow he tells me again. He hangs up on me. We both know the truth. If he remembers he will send it. And it may not be the same watch. And I will ring him irrately and he will tell me to come to Mongkok to his store to sort it all out. And he will have won.

There is no honour or trust in such dealings. This guy's after-sales service sucks. I don't care what part of commerce or business you are in. You make sure your goods are of good quality and if not you do your darnest to make it up to your customer. This is a guy I've sent plenty of others too. I will never send anyone again if that friggin' watch isn't here by Friday. I'm not saying I have life or death power over him. He probably won't notice the drop in business. At first.

But I will not rest until I avenge this travesty. Or until I get my watch. The right one. Fixed. Properly.