ROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEX
25 May 2018, 01:23 AM | #1 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Leicestershire
Posts: 314
|
End of an era
Today marks something of a personal watershed for me having owned Rolex watches for the past 30 years of my life since I turned 21. I even considered myself something of a fanboy for the brand for much of that time.
However after an awful experience with their UK Service Centre last year I decided that I really didn't want to rely on them for future service of my watches. Thanks to the Watchfinder team I sold my final two Rolex watches today for what I considered a fair price so am now Rolex free! It is interesting to see how the Rolex brand has evolved over the years from being a maker of slightly understated, good quality watches - that were readily available - and supported with excellent service. Today, they increasingly seem to have become a piece of jewellery which they are giving you the privilege of buying. However this is only if you make it to the top of the AD list and will put up with nonsense such as sticker removal and Warranty Card retention before you can be trusted to behave as required. At the same time their customer service has (in my experience) tanked to a low point of 'why are you complaining that we scratched your watch whilst trying to regulate it?' Not exactly a rant but I wanted to mark the end of a personal era - and also say how good I found Watchfinder to be when selling a watch if anyone else is looking to sell their watch. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk |
25 May 2018, 01:33 AM | #2 |
2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: NL
Watch: Yachtmaster
Posts: 14,761
|
Care to enlighten us about your experience ?
__________________
Day Date 18238, Yachtmaster 16622, Deepsea 116660, Submariner 116619, SkyD 326935, DJ 178271, DJ 69158, Yachtmaster 169622, GMT 116713LN, GMT 126711. |
25 May 2018, 01:35 AM | #3 | |
2024 ROLEX SUBMARINER 41 Pledge Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Real Name: Mike
Location: Downy Ocean Hon
Watch: my money leaving!
Posts: 13,793
|
Quote:
|
|
25 May 2018, 01:36 AM | #4 |
2024 Pledge Member
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: USA
Posts: 6,173
|
Sorry to hear. What brand will you move to? AP? Patek? Something else?
|
25 May 2018, 01:36 AM | #5 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Real Name: Joshua
Location: Atlanta
Watch: Pelagos
Posts: 7,933
|
Looks like you slowly fell out of love with the brand due to a multitude of factors. Nothing wrong with that.
|
25 May 2018, 01:36 AM | #6 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Houston
Posts: 17,622
|
once your brand experience is soured, the watches become tainted. I get it.
With an AD you can just change, but if the bad experience was with the brand itself as yours was?, its over. Same thing happened to me with AP. Great watches but once they lose that special something its never the same and you cant stand wearing them. If your experience was mostly AD related then maybe reconsider and find a new AD as it seems like it was a combination of things.
__________________
Instagram: tyler.watches current collection: Patek 5164A, Patek 5524G, Rolex Platinum Daytona 116506, Rolex Sea Dweller 43 126600, Rolex GMT II 116710LN, AP 15400ST (silver), Panerai 913, Omega Speedmaster moonwatch, Tudor Black Bay (Harrods Edition) |
25 May 2018, 01:37 AM | #7 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Here!
Watch: Rolex
Posts: 4,366
|
AD nonsense, sticker removal, warranty card retention, waiting lists are just some of the things that now make the buying experience unpleasant.
__________________
16610LN | 16613LB | 16710 Pepsi | 118238 | 116500 (White) | 116500 (Black) | 116710BLNR | 116610LV "The one thing I fear most is time; time waits for no one and leaves no options."
|
25 May 2018, 01:39 AM | #8 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Here!
Watch: Rolex
Posts: 4,366
|
AP and Patek are no different....try buying their sport or boutique models....you will get the same snobbish attitude. And some ADs "want" you to spend money first on other less popular models before you become "worthy" to buy the sport models.
__________________
16610LN | 16613LB | 16710 Pepsi | 118238 | 116500 (White) | 116500 (Black) | 116710BLNR | 116610LV "The one thing I fear most is time; time waits for no one and leaves no options."
|
25 May 2018, 01:43 AM | #9 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Houston
Posts: 17,622
|
its AD specific. If you get that treatment in a Salon or an AP brand owned boutique then yeah i would boycott the brand. If its an AD then no. IMO its a big difference if you are getting that treatment from the actual brand or an independent company selling the brand's products.
__________________
Instagram: tyler.watches current collection: Patek 5164A, Patek 5524G, Rolex Platinum Daytona 116506, Rolex Sea Dweller 43 126600, Rolex GMT II 116710LN, AP 15400ST (silver), Panerai 913, Omega Speedmaster moonwatch, Tudor Black Bay (Harrods Edition) |
25 May 2018, 03:33 AM | #10 |
2024 Pledge Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Real Name: Neil
Location: UK
Watch: ing ships roll in
Posts: 59,369
|
Can you tell us which watches you sold to WF and their offer prices? Seems they are tightening recently.
|
25 May 2018, 01:55 PM | #11 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Colorado Springs
Watch: Seiko's
Posts: 2,563
|
they are following in Ferrari's foot steps it seems
|
25 May 2018, 01:58 PM | #12 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: DC
Watch: 126710BLRO, 116600
Posts: 7,869
|
I can understand your frustration and reason to move on. Glad you were able to move your last two pieces, good luck with your future watch endeavors.
|
25 May 2018, 02:00 PM | #13 |
2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Real Name: Martin
Location: Home and Away
Watch: you? "YES PLEASE"!
Posts: 3,719
|
Yes you are right, and I admire you for posting the truth!
But, I will not let go of mine just because of these games that are played by AD's. I have had ROLEX "only" for 35 years (as a watch) Not as a "statement"
__________________
it's not just about telling the time... happy rolexing... I'm just a man with a passion
|
25 May 2018, 02:03 PM | #14 |
2024 Pledge Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Denver
Watch: This and that...
Posts: 1,649
|
I am sorry you had a bad experience.
|
25 May 2018, 02:09 PM | #15 | |
Banned
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Miami
Watch: Rolex GMT's BLNR
Posts: 797
|
Quote:
|
|
25 May 2018, 02:11 PM | #16 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: May 2018
Location: United Kingdom
Watch: 16302 Rolex OP
Posts: 767
|
Can you talk about your bad experience? just I am sending my watch there soon (going to deal directly with the RSC rather than through an AD) but the watch was my late fathers and want to know what I'm letting myself in for!
|
25 May 2018, 02:23 PM | #17 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: norcal
Posts: 3,031
|
Can't blame you, Rolex has taken out the fun out of buying a simple basic SS sport watch, in many way it's can be an unpleasant experience. Rolex AD won't sell the watch if you don't have enough privilege (VIP,VVIP,...) buying used is like walking a land mine with many scammers waiting to rob you (check out the watch-out sub-forum) and you have to pay more for 2nd hand watch.
But there're so many other great watches out there. |
26 May 2018, 05:09 PM | #18 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Finland
Posts: 2,777
|
I feel sorry for your bad experiences.
As a newcomer to Rolex-world (I bought my first last Summer) I have not felt this waiting list -process as insulting or negative experience. Why? Because I have not experienced any other way. In Summer 2017 that was the only way to get certain Rolex models, and for that reason I accepted the situation as it was—no other options available. First I bought what they had in store (classic op39, which I recently sold) and then I started to dig in deeper into R-world... Because not knowing any other options, I have grown to appreciate this process. For me to get a certain Rolex model knowing that it is very hard to get, is an adventure. My Hulk I have been waiting for now almost a year. I flew to Amsterdam to get my Daytona last September. SD43 I got accidently from AD from Switzerland. When travelling, it has become a new hobby for me to walk through Rolex-shops. Certain airport stores (for example Amsterdam, Schiphol) don’t have any waiting lists and you might get one SS model rightaway if you are lucky. Listening to my experiences too much, my friend decided to have his first Rolex, Hulk. He heard that he has to wait approx. 2-3 years. He accepted the situation as it is, because he too has not experienced any other way. He started saving his money right away and said that this is unique experience for him, like a journey: to wait something for 2-3 years! Ofcourse you could buy new Hulk right away from grey market, but that would ruin the journey—and you should have plenty of money to do that. In Finland the AD’s are excellent. They offer 100% Luxury service and they are not removing stickers and holding warranty cards. Finnish mentality is such, that if they would do that, no-one would buy. Holding cards etc. is just unacceptable. I can totally understand the frustration, if you have experienced such a change for last decades. For me, as a rookie, waiting is not a big deal. That is just what I am used to. For me the one and only watch brand is... Rolex. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk |
26 May 2018, 05:18 PM | #19 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: USA
Posts: 5,622
|
|
26 May 2018, 07:19 PM | #20 | |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Real Name: Noah
Location: Ulster
Posts: 391
|
Quote:
|
|
26 May 2018, 08:05 PM | #21 |
2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member
Join Date: Nov 2016
Real Name: Chris
Location: Florida USA
Watch: 5513
Posts: 719
|
Sorry to hear. I’ve had bad service experiences with other brands too.
Rolex certainly is playing games...but then they have their work cut out for them to keep the public interested in wearing outdated and antiquated technology on our wrists. They could please all us forum members and still be out of business in a month. They have to play the long game to sell a million horses and buggies per year ...and that takes a mindset that isn’t always compatible with us that remember the tool watch era. |
26 May 2018, 08:07 PM | #22 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: May 2015
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 279
|
The overall Rolex experience has changed. Supply is tighter but I wonder how much of that is due to global demand that wasn’t there 5 or 10 years ago (developing markets like China as an example). It was just in the recent past that Rolex was culling retailers in the U.S. The first jewelry store in the U.S. that I bought Rolex from and subsequently bought 4 from lost their dealership. Also we are in one of the longest economic expansions of modern times that has most likely brought new people to the brand. And it appears Rolex’s approach was to not make any meaningful increases in capacity. All of which combined is either driving the shortages or significantly contributing to them versus Rolex actually cutting back production. The next economic downturn will show how purposeful the approach has been.
I think that the level of service has declined. I used to be able to stop in and get small scratches polished or brushed out at the RSC in NYC. They recently stopped offering that service and now want you to send the watch in for a service to have scratches dealt with. While that may not be a bid deal to some, it was something I really appreciated. Given how many watches I have and how much money I have sunk into the brand it is disappointing. Having said all that, I am still a fan of the brand and looking to add additional watches to my collection but will have to endure a frustrating wait. But on the flip side I will enjoy taking advantage of the tightness on the watches (higher used values) as I cull some from my collection to help pay for the new additions. Where as sellig old to buy new watches on other brands might mean you would have to take a significant loss. |
26 May 2018, 08:12 PM | #23 | |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Houston
Posts: 17,622
|
Quote:
__________________
Instagram: tyler.watches current collection: Patek 5164A, Patek 5524G, Rolex Platinum Daytona 116506, Rolex Sea Dweller 43 126600, Rolex GMT II 116710LN, AP 15400ST (silver), Panerai 913, Omega Speedmaster moonwatch, Tudor Black Bay (Harrods Edition) |
|
26 May 2018, 08:13 PM | #24 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: UK
Posts: 1,262
|
Sad to hear about your bad experiences, thanks for sharing, take care.
|
26 May 2018, 08:23 PM | #25 | |
2024 Pledge Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Real Name: Neil
Location: UK
Watch: ing ships roll in
Posts: 59,369
|
Quote:
|
|
26 May 2018, 08:27 PM | #26 | |
2024 Pledge Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Real Name: Neil
Location: UK
Watch: ing ships roll in
Posts: 59,369
|
Quote:
It was always this way but now social media has meant hype can build on hype like a mania we've never seen before, and I think a collapse in SM more than the economy is actually needed to return the markets back to balance in this day and age, so I can't really see it. This is the new norm imho. |
|
26 May 2018, 08:29 PM | #27 | |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Real Name: Ben
Location: SIN & JKT
Watch: Rolex, AP, PP
Posts: 9,874
|
Quote:
__________________
Follow me on Instagram : benlee789 |
|
26 May 2018, 08:49 PM | #28 | |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: May 2016
Location: North
Posts: 333
|
Quote:
|
|
26 May 2018, 08:54 PM | #29 |
2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: North Carolina
Watch: Rolex/Others
Posts: 47,787
|
I understand how you can fell the way that you do. Good luck moving forward.
|
26 May 2018, 09:04 PM | #30 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Houston
Posts: 17,622
|
sort of a combination of things and overall they just dropped the ball every step of the process with a really, really bad service experience.
They offered to take me on a manufacture visit to make up for it, and then stood me up and never actually arranged it. Since no one arranged the trip they first blamed "IT issues" for not being able to send me an email to me to arrange the visit. They called other people who went on the trip to arrange, but not me and they have my phone number. Then they said it was my fault i didn't reach out to them to ask why my trip hadn't been booked and offered to send me anyway with a few days notice. That was the last straw as its not my job to make sure they do their job and the idea i would have to chase them down is ridiculous. At that point i just sad no thanks, im done Two other UK members then reached out to me via PM to tell me that they also had been "offered" manufacture visits when they complained about poor service and were also ghosted by AP and never actually went on the promised trip. Some people think they are great and maybe they are but they are not consistent and i tried to give them the benefit of the doubt several times, but it was like they didn't care. I thought going direct to AP in the first place would be an advantage, and i wish i hadn't as i saw behind the curtain and i didn't like it. Had i just dealt with an AD instead, then i never would have known and none of this would have happened... and I might still buy AP. Not knowing is probably better
__________________
Instagram: tyler.watches current collection: Patek 5164A, Patek 5524G, Rolex Platinum Daytona 116506, Rolex Sea Dweller 43 126600, Rolex GMT II 116710LN, AP 15400ST (silver), Panerai 913, Omega Speedmaster moonwatch, Tudor Black Bay (Harrods Edition) |
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
*Banners
Of The Month*
This space is provided to horological resources.