Matt Graham: Protector and Watchmaker - Danger Close with Jack Carr

[@WilDayne]

The amount that I want to like/love Ares Watches, is heartbreaking.

[@bc6806]

He has to work on the quality control on his watches . A lot of people with problems.

[@davem1505]

Very cool to hear his story. I've recently ordered one of his watches. Great, simplistic design. Agonizing wait, though! That Jack Carr edition looks very, very awesome.

[@bubbaballer88]

I'm a HUGE watch nerd, so this episode is so interesting to me. Between hearing his background in Marshals/Law Enforcement and his Watchmaking, it made for a really entertaining episode. Thanks, as always, Jack!

[@lpis45]

I have never been much of a reader as I tend to lose interest quickly. Unable to concentrate on the pages. I would like to thank you. Your books have brought me to reading in a new light. I can’t put them down when I get started. My wife is pleased as she is an avid reader. Thanks again. Great podcast.

[@DylanLeatherdale]

I rarely comment but just want to say I finished The Terminal List and am now on True Believer (just started it, at the ranch in Africa now). I'm a huge fan of your writing it's hard to find books this captivating and I've read a fair amount of books. Looking forward to more! 👍

[@LongColtSportsman]

I love my ARES Mission Timer! Got one early on after the first time Jack talked about them almost 2 years ago! Thanks Jack and Matt!

[@craigp5130]

Wow! I cannot believe that my story came up! Matt is truly a decent caring dude! Paco aka Craig

[@AresCosmos137]

I love my Ares watch! It is going on it’s fifth fire assignment tomorrow at 0600. I wish Matt would write a book about his career detailing what brought him to watch making and leadership lessons through his career. Also, I wish he were more open on the social media. I love my Diver-1!

[@tylergeeomi6971]

As someone who has received a defective watch from Ares (twice), I’ll echo what others are saying…customer service. I have the utmost respect for someone starting a business and putting everything on the line to make that vision come true. As someone that genuinely needs a “hard-use timer,” I was disappointed I had to send it in twice for service (paying for shipping twice). The problems I sent it in for were corrected in a semi-timely manner, but now doubt has been sewn and I would never take it with me on a dive or rely it on it for genuine hard-use. I’m not saying this to bring down Matt and his company, I’m saying this because I want them to succeed and that starts with the people buying the watches. Matt even spoke with me on the phone and told me he was going to do something…and then crickets. When I reached out (10 emails later), I was STILL ignored. As someone that wants nothing more to be happy with the product and making excuses for him and his company I had to give up on it. I still have my Ares, I still wear my Ares, but I’ll never buy another Ares as long as theses problems exist. Good luck to Matt and Ares, I truly mean that, but just realize the negativity you receive on your Instagram and other social media platforms are not just coming from people that complain about “little issues” like imperfections in the metal, there are much bigger issues that have people have dealt with. Treat every customer like Jack Carr and you’ll have a great watch company.

[@pablogonzalez8304]

Watches! Alright! Wearing Timex Ironman Shock right now

[@mattstakeontheancients7594]

Just heard you talk about him on Andy’s podcast. His watches look awesome and great to see an American watch maker.

[@JrJVintage1956]

Just got my first ARES Jack Carr watch and LOVE IT!

[@rstatham8698]

So now I hear there is a Jack Carr watch so what about fixing all the existing problems? I am surprised that Jack Carr is endorsing this sort of a business.

[@Heywoodthepeckerwood]

I am a watch snob, can’t wait to listen to this podcast and check out his watches.

[@workingwithwarriorsbookshe4145]

Terrific interview. Interestingly,, Oliver North had been an Air Marshal back in the early days, and was also instrumental in having the FAA FAM resurrected after TWA 847. By the way, I still have one of Matt's "Combat Rings" on my Surefire flashlight.

[@sandraa.lelacheur3001]

Phenomenal podcast !

[@fastheads2332]

I was lucky enough to take a pistol/rifle class Matt offered. He’s the real deal. Great at communicating his thoughts on shooting. Wish he was still offering them. Glad to see the watch’s are successful.

[@HARDERNOTSMARTER8985]

Outstanding!

[@zacharymontell5385]

"Who has time to take off their watch or have watches for other functions?" "I wear a watch to bed cause I might wake up at midnight and need to know the time" Just a few of the odd remarks this guest made. I found this guy one of the more odd/least relatable. Jack, as always, very interesting. Holds together this episode..

[@scottyeager539]

Completely agree.

[@navigator5426]

The ' Voice of Reason in the Wilderness '. Except most people don't live in the Wilderness. 😊

[@jenlee6639]

Matt has the time to spend doing these podcasts but he does not have any time to properly respond to customer emails and support requests after people send him their hard earned cash and he sends them defective stuff

[@sdhummer]

I haven’t even received my order yet it’s been 3 weeks.

[@ck25rae75]

Awesome story, just ordered my Jack Carr watch from ARES

[@aware0311]

Just a warning: Ares has poor customer service. They don't stick to their word. They will tell you they are shipping out your watch and then not do it. Then when you reach back out to ask about the status they will not respond. They should just be honest with customers if they need more time instead of making false statements. This is something that has happened to several customers. I know they are growing and are quite busy, but it really is no excuse. All customers want is the truth and they would be more than willing to wait for a small batch crafted product. If Ares wants to be taken seriously in the watch industry they need to work on customer service even if that means hiring someone to just respond to customers with updates. Its really disappointing. I had high expectations for this company, but if they can't even communicate well with their customers that says a lot about the quality and craftsmanship of their products.

[@sdhummer]

You are right. They lost my order. I finally got my CARR watch weeks later, because they rarely responded to my messages.

[@comradecrunch]

Quality is a hit and miss but whats bad is an extremely arrogant owner. Save yourself the frustration and go with a Sangin.

[@jimhenry3128]

Sangin is even worse, and you get cheap movements and Chinese cases that actually cost them $120 to make, and they mark them up to 1k+

[@2K9s]

@@jimhenry3128 wrong, sangin doesn’t have any watches over $700.

[@brettsnell3369]

It did come in the 'scuba tank' I got one many moons ago...

[@tomsealey1384]

Matt should give up on making watches and retire. He has a FU attitude towards customers and the QC is worse than anything found in a third world developing country.

[@jonnypescado1]

I wanted to take Matt's ARRAINDROP class for YEARS. Environmental Manipulation developed for "the State Department".

[@bit5tr3am]

Is Matt a Hexican?

[@rstatham8698]

Matt's shoddy service is an embarassment to "Made in the USA". He should consider moving his gig to Canada and continue down his current path.

[@Flyshooter2]

To purposely make grammatical errors in texts to torment the author…What a riot!

[@davem1505]

As a self-aware grammar-nazi, I can completely understand how this could be alternatingly hilarious or infuriating, depending on your perspective. I may have to start doing it to.

[@johnsharp7160]

@@davem1505 I see what you did there.

[@AskAFireMedic]

God made Firefighters so Cops would have heroes😏

[@AskAFireMedic]

@@Zoopack 😂😂😂😂 I’m shocked it took this long for someone to respond. In all seriousness I love my brothers and sisters in blue and brown. They’re the ones that are willing to come save my ass as a Medic if/when trouble finds me. But they are fun to joke around with and I just couldn’t resist this time.

[@Bill737190]

Two great Americans right here.

[@surroundedbymorons3491]

Ares are terrible watches for the money, attention to detail is unforgiveable.