RSC Service

[Gil F.]

Hi folks -

Some of you may recall that over Christmas I did some light shooting with a handgun and afterwards my SD started gaining +30/day. This was not the first time, as right after I got this watch this past October, it was also gaining a lot of time and I had to send it to RSC.

Bottom line: I just got my watch from the RSC from its 2nd servicing. So far, it's very accurate and I am glad to have it back after a month.

Here's the question: I sent a letter to the RSC with my watch (through the AD) asking for something back to tell me what was wrong with it and what they did to fix it. I've had to send the watch back twice in three months for the same problem. I got my watch back, but I didn't receive any information about what the problem was or how it was remedied. Nor does my AD know.

Should I worry about that? I'm tempted to call the RSC in NY but don't have the number and my AD says they don't have a public number for the RSC.

Any thoughts? Should I call RSC and ask what they did? If so, does anyone have the number for me? It's not listed on the Rolex website or on any of my literature.

Thanks much.

[f16570]

I would be interested to know what they had done to my watch, so at least if it was something I was doing then I could cease this.
Hope it is okay from now on in.

[atldavek]

If it were me, I would want to call and find out what they did/was wrong with the watch.

Wonder why they didn't reply.

[Gurmot]

This is a new situation to me. Not many hand-guns around in the UK.

I suspect the reason is due to shock loading of the watch resulting in unintentional adjustment to the regulation. If this is true, it explains why they don't want to admit it to you. The last thing Rolex want to do is admit that their tough image watch can't take a few knocks.

The SDs are great watches. Mine is as near to perfect in time keeping as any mechanical watch could ever be. There are obviously going to be limits to the amount of punishment any watch can take and I guess you have found it.

My advice - wear a cheap watch when you go shooting.

[atldavek]

Originally Posted by Gurmot

This is a new situation to me. Not many hand-guns around in the UK.

I suspect the reason is due to shock loading of the watch resulting in unintentional adjustment to the regulation. If this is true, it explains why they don't want to admit it to you. The last thing Rolex want to do is admit that their tough image watch can't take a few knocks.

The SDs are great watches. Mine is as near to perfect in time keeping as any mechanical watch could ever be. There are obviously going to be limits to the amount of punishment any watch can take and I guess you have found it.

My advice - wear a cheap watch when you go shooting.

When this surfaced in the past there were many memebers including myself that shoot with our Rolexs on no problem, hence the wonder.
There is no reason why shooting would affect the watch.

[Gil F.]

Thanks very much for the help. Gurmot, thank you also for your comments. I try to be relatively careful with my watch in the sense that I don't wear it during home repairs, yard work, or anything like that. I was surprised that a handgun would have any effect ... it's not like I was jackhammering with it on, and also, I was not shooting for long at all, and since I'm right handed, my watch was worn only on the support hand. It's definitely something I will keep in my mind in the future, however.

I just thought it was odd that the RSC didn't provide any further explanation. For now, I am simply trusting that they took the whole thing apart and examined everything before putting it back together and testing.

[Letsgodiving]

Copied from a sticky of a couple of years ago. I'm assuming it is up to date.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rolex Watch Service Center:

New York, NY:
212-758-7700

Dallas, TX:
214-871-0500

Beverly Hills, CA:
310-271-6200

Rolex USA Inc: 1-800-367-6539



Rolex Canada (Toronto)
416-968-1100

[Gil F.]

Mike, thanks. I appreciate it.

[JBat]

I'm not sure which handgun you were shooting with, Gil, but it's not inconceivable that it could knock something out of whack. As I'm sure you know, the shock and recoil can be considerable, at least with something like my .357. Maybe you just got unlucky. Hope you're able to get some answers, but it may just be that the RSC is being secretive per company policy. Who knows?

[Gil F.]

Originally Posted by JBat

I'm not sure which handgun you were shooting with, Gil, but it's not inconceivable that it could knock something out of whack. As I'm sure you know, the shock and recoil can be considerable, at least with something like my .357. Maybe you just got unlucky. Hope you're able to get some answers, but it may just be that the RSC is being secretive per company policy. Who knows?

Thanks, JBat ... it was a Glock .40 ... but, yes, it could have been! I'll try to find out more.

Take care

[Texsubmariner]

Originally Posted by Gil F.

Thanks, JBat ... it was a Glock .40 ... but, yes, it could have been! I'll try to find out more.

Take care

The .40's do have serious recoil. In fact, I find the .40 kicks sharper than the .45 ACP.

[Alcan]

Gil, I think I've found the problem. You need to work on your aim a bit.

P.S. Thanks for the pix, Jocke.

[SPACE-DWELLER]

Gil, basically I think most RSC watch makers are too busy (or too lazy?) to make details reports about what exactly they have done with the watches. You normally get service papers (not very specified, though), but don't expect the watch makers taking the time to make reports.

[Gil F.]

Originally Posted by SPACE-DWELLER

Gil, basically I think most RSC watch makers are too busy (or too lazy?) to make details reports about what exactly they have done with the watches. You normally get service papers (not very specified, though), but don't expect the watch makers taking the time to make reports.

Originally Posted by Alcan

Gil, I think I've found the problem. You need to work on your aim a bit.

Bo, thanks for the input. I appreciate that, for sure. Do you think it would be incredibly obsessive for me to call and ask what they did? I was thinking along your lines and, honestly, I trust that Rolex read my letter and absolutely made sure my watch was perfect before sending it back. It is keeping great time. Besides that, I don't discount the possibility that I shouldn't have been shooting with it on in the first place and I'm sure I won't do that again. No Rolex should be treated like a G-Shock.

Alcan, great post + pics! Good aim indeed Just goes to show that although many of think our Rollies are bulletbroof, sadly, they are not. Ha.

Thanks for the input, gentlemen.

[SPACE-DWELLER]

Nothing ventured, nothing gained, Gil. So why not phone them as you suggest and see if you can get some further information. I'd be interested, too, in knowing what was wrong with the watch.

[Gil F.]

Originally Posted by Texsubmariner

The .40's do have serious recoil. In fact, I find the .40 kicks sharper than the .45 ACP.

Tex, I agree with you there. Couldn't help noticing you have a mighty fine collection of tool watches! Two M series ... very nice.

[Gil F.]

UPDATE: Just got off the phone with the RSC. All I needed was my serial number, and they could pull up the information quickly and easily. Customer service rep was very professional and said the balance wheel needed to be adjusted and that they did a full factory service on the watch.

I figured they would do all that, but it was good to hear it and good to find out the issue for future reference.

[nikhsub1]

Originally Posted by SPACE-DWELLER

Gil, basically I think most RSC watch makers are too busy (or too lazy?) to make details reports about what exactly they have done with the watches. You normally get service papers (not very specified, though), but don't expect the watch makers taking the time to make reports.

True. I had a similar situation with my EXP II... after 4 months the watch was about 10 seconds fast per day, RSC Beverly Hills did a full service on the movement... no details other than that. 8 months later, the watch was 40 MINUTES slow a day, something happened obviously but I have no idea what. When I brought the watch back the the same RSC, the woman walked into the back with the watch, she returned 5 minutes later and said "Oh dear, it's not even registering on our machine". Anyhow, I specifically asked for a detailed report of what happened and why. I even called 2 times while the watch was in service to get more info, I got nothing.

I, like Gil, was a bit annoyed that no info could be had! I asked the woman how hard was it to make notes as to the problem by the technician? She then said that it is not ONE technician that works on the watch, it is several and this is the reason why nothing detailed is noted. I also believe that when a watch comes in for warranty or service the whole movement is disassembled, cleaned, examined then reassembled, oiled and tested. In this process they would not note if something was wrong unless a part was bent, warped, broken etc. Even then, they would not note this, the technician would just get a replacement part and carry on. Finally, the story of MY watch was that it wasn't oiled properly... at leas that is what I was told. I was even more annoyed at this explanation as the watch just had a FULL service at the same RSC 7 months prior

Originally Posted by Gil F.

Bo, thanks for the input. I appreciate that, for sure. Do you think it would be incredibly obsessive for me to call and ask what they did?

Gil see above, you won't get anything out of them, I don't believe this is on purpose, it is just that they don't make good notes and many technicians service the watch, not just one.

Perhaps Ironstark can shed some light on the procedures inside the RSC's.

[nikhsub1]

Originally Posted by SPACE-DWELLER

Gil, basically I think most RSC watch makers are too busy (or too lazy?) to make details reports about what exactly they have done with the watches. You normally get service papers (not very specified, though), but don't expect the watch makers taking the time to make reports.

Originally Posted by Gil F.

UPDATE: Just got off the phone with the RSC. All I needed was my serial number, and they could pull up the information quickly and easily. Customer service rep was very professional and said the balance wheel needed to be adjusted and that they did a full factory service on the watch.

I figured they would do all that, but it was good to hear it and good to find out the issue for future reference.

Oops cross post, my first took too long Good that you got some info out of them!

[Earl]

3 x for the same problem..... do high priced watches fall under the lemon law?

[JBat]

Originally Posted by Gil F.

UPDATE: Just got off the phone with the RSC. All I needed was my serial number, and they could pull up the information quickly and easily. Customer service rep was very professional and said the balance wheel needed to be adjusted and that they did a full factory service on the watch.

I figured they would do all that, but it was good to hear it and good to find out the issue for future reference.

That's great news, Gil. It's got to be nice to know that your watch is now fully up to factory specs and ready to roll. Hopefully you'll have no further issues with it!

[AGENT4734]

Originally Posted by Texsubmariner

The .40's do have serious recoil. In fact, I find the .40 kicks sharper than the .45 ACP.

The .40 has much more muzzel flip than the .45 round. The .45 has a "push back " characteristic where the .40 twists the barrel.

[Gil F.]

JBat and Nikhsub1, thanks very much! I was glad to get the info. Sounds like several of us, including Earl, has been there. But I think they do keep some basic info for the record in case an issue comes up in the future. The customer service rep was able to read the notes right off the computer, so if any of you have issues down the road, be sure to call them as I did. Nik, thanks for the info on your experience.

On the lemon law question, mostly this is a specific creature of state law. Off the top of my head, I think in my state, the lemon law applies to motor vehicles only. Of course, if you have a repeated failure to get a product where it should be under the warranty, you would have a breach of warranty claim against the mfr. I think Rolex's reputation and usual quality control is excellent, so I would hope this would never happen to any of the members here or Rolex owners generally.

Thank you all again for the help