Did Rolex lie to us or mislead us to make more money

[mkmk]

On and before June 30 Rolex was suggesting a service every 6-7 years. Now the same watch, same movement Rolex is suggesting a service every 10 years. Did all those that followed Rolex's guidelines and get a service for hundred of dollars, earlier then needed get ripped off? Why was Rolex suggesting earlier service when they knew it was not needed for another 3-4 years thus costing their customers hundred of dollars?

[themast]

I suspect the new maintenance interval will apply to freshly serviced watches. I am not sure how they will handle NOS.

[Nycturbovr6]

8-10 years is good

[mation]

Hey Mkmk!

just out of curiosity can you post a link to the new guidelines (where it says this) i am curious.

[liuk3]

I don't think Rolex is suggesting every 10 years, rather I think that they were saying that they were finding that their customers were sending their watches in around every 10 years for service.

[GradyPhilpott]

Originally Posted by liuk3

I don't think Rolex is suggesting every 10 years, rather I think that they were saying that they were finding that their customers were sending their watches in around every 10 years for service.

[T. Ferguson]

Originally Posted by liuk3

I don't think Rolex is suggesting every 10 years, rather I think that they were saying that they were finding that their customers were sending their watches in around every 10 years for service.

And someone in Canada said their AD was told it was in reference to the initial service on new Rolexes.

I think we might be jumping the gun on interpreting some strange wording in what was an internal letter from Rolex USA to the US AD's. I'm not sure exactly what was meant at this point.

To answer the OP though, assuming it is indeed a new recommended service interval, no I don't think Rolex had been knowingly gouging it's customers on premature service. They probably have reviewed the repair stats on watches that in the last few years have benefited from the most modern manufacturing techniques and now decided a longer interval is warranted.

[douglasf13]

Originally Posted by T. Ferguson

And someone in Canada said their AD was told it was in reference to the initial service on new Rolexes.

I think we might be jumping the gun on interpreting some strange wording in what was an internal letter from Rolex USA to the US AD's. I'm not sure exactly what was meant at this point.

To answer the OP though, assuming it is indeed a new recommended service interval, no I don't think Rolex had been knowingly gouging it's customers on premature service. They probably have reviewed the repair stats on watches that in the last few years have benefited from the most modern manufacturing techniques and now decided a longer interval is warranted.

Even Forbes is calling it a 10 year "service interval recomhttp://www.forbes.com/sites/arielada...ty-to-5-years/mendation." If that's not the case, they've got some PR to deal with.

[trackntrail]

I think most have realized that their recommendation of 5 years is probably a little bit more conservative than it should be and have been going with close to 10 years anyway. I don't think they have been "lying" to us all along, they've just had the 5 year interval for so long that it has been sort of engrained.

[Cru Jones]

I would venture to guess that the vast majority of (non-TRF) Rolex buyers service their watch when there's a problem, so 5 or 10-year recommendations don't change much.

[Desibaba]

Even with full synthetic motor oils old scam artist mechanics will still make your 80 yr old mother come in every 3k miles for an oil change

[Andad]

Originally Posted by Desibaba

Even with full synthetic motor oils old scam artist mechanics will still make your 80 yr old mother come in every 3k miles for an oil change

And that is still cheap insurance - even for your old mum.

I still change the 20w-50 oil in my old '93 XJ6 Jag every 5K (non synthetic).

It now has 263000Km on the clock and runs like a watch.

Maintenance is important.

[Mr. K]

not sure how many folks actually too it in ever 5 years

[dddrees]

Isn't this the same company who also is now going to give customers a 5 year instead of 2 year warranty?

Some of this maybe trying to keep up with competition and I think some of it may very well be the realization that their watches are pretty robust after all.

[HogwldFLTR]

Seems like it is one of the things that comes out of this high tech world we live in. Better documentation, statistical process control, and continuous improvement. I wouldn't think that Rolex was trying to fleece us, more that they are improving their understanding of what their watches really need.

[PJ S]

http://www.rolexforums.com/showpost....5&postcount=25

[Old Expat Beast]

I have a Milgauss GV that should have run out of warranty two days ago (July 2). Now it is warrantied for another year, and can, I am told by Rolex, now be reasonably expected to run for another eight years before service. I don't feel short-changed at all.

[AK797]

Originally Posted by Cru Jones

I would venture to guess that the vast majority of (non-TRF) Rolex buyers service their watch when there's a problem, so 5 or 10-year recommendations don't change much.

Yes, definitely, and there are probably a huge number that just stop wearing it when they stop and can't be bothered with the hassle of finding out what to do and then paying for it.

[soho]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

I have a Milgauss GV that should have run out of warranty two days ago (July 2). Now it is warrantied for another year, and can, I am told by Rolex, now be reasonably expected to run for another eight years before service. I don't feel short-changed at all.

Well said Adam.


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[Jemspeed]

I don't understand all the hand wringing, where in the lierature that accompanies a modern rolex does it say they recomend five years? I can't find that recomendation anywhere. I know the older ones did mention a time frame but was that altered in the gold service manual? Also, the 3,000 mile oil change was hardly a recommendation by the manufacturers as early as the mid seventies. In 1976, Chevrolet recomended 7,000 miles on the Corvette and in 1978, Porsche recommended 15,000 miles on the 911 turbo.

[joe100]

You haven't owned a new BMW in the past few years have you? Hahaha, then you'd know a thing or two about looooong service intervals

[omx5o]

Relax, it is just a recommendation. They are not telling you what to do with your watch.

[DPE]

One of my other watches is a Raymond Weil Parsafal. I took it into the dealer yesterday as it keeps stopping. They said that it should be serviced every 2 to 3 years !! and it goes away to be done. The turn around time is 8 weeks !! Not very impressed at both the time and the amount of service needed.

[Danny83]

Now were all going to wait 15 years

[Tools]

Did Rolex lie to us or mislead....

What a dumb thing to say. I'm pretty sure most everything you have with a warranty probably offered a lesser one a few years back.

Originally Posted by Jemspeed

I don't understand all the hand wringing, where in the lierature that accompanies a modern rolex does it say they recomend five years? I can't find that recomendation anywhere. . . .

My manuals are pretty clear; clear that it's a very liberal suggestion, not a mandate.

[Royalex]

Originally Posted by Danny83

Now were all going to wait 15 years

Agree

[watchwatcher]

Short answer: No, I don't believe so.

[Jemspeed]

Originally Posted by Tools

What a dumb thing to say. I'm pretty sure most everything you have with a warranty probably offered a lesser one a few years back.





My manuals are pretty clear; clear that it's a very liberal suggestion, not a mandate.

But how old is that manual? Mine says "periodically." Manuals in the 50s said 12-18 months for ladies models and two years for mens. These intervals are evolving.

[erolorhun]

Originally Posted by omx5o

Relax, it is just a recommendation. They are not telling you what to do with your watch.

You mean rolax, I mean realx rolex... Iz a recomendation yes, agreed