Rolex Service - AD or RSC?

[adamlea]

Greetings. I have a G Series 216570 Explorer II - which I purchased new in 2013 with a lot of sage advice from fellow members. After almost 10 years, it now needs service.

Is it better to go through a local AD or send directly to an RSC? I’m thinking RSC (Dallas) would be the best route, but I don’t know. This is my first service. Seems like RSC personnel would be better qualified and better equipped, which would be moot points if AD’s send them out to an RSC anyway. Do they? That’s another thing I don’t know.

There are 2 ADs in my area. Had a bad experience with one when I was quoted an astronomical price for a repair on a Cartier that was later made by a Cartier boutique for considerably less. So, I won’t be going to that one. And that leaves just one AD.

I recall seeing several threads, maybe even some stickies, about having your Rolex serviced, but I couldn’t find them. So, apologies if I’ve missed them or if I've posted this in the wrong forum. As I remember, there used to be a fairly set protocol about how to request a shipping box, how to pack it, and how to mail it, etc. Maybe that’s changed. The Rolex website wasn’t particularly instructive.

It’s nerve-wracking to send your watch off. I’m not thrilled with the AD route, but can’t get real excited about dropping my watch off at the post office either. If anyone has any kernels of repair wisdom, I sure would appreciate them. Thanks in advance.