Rolex Service.....

[fosbibr]

Question regarding sending a watch to Rolex for service. As noted in another post of mine, the SEL of my WG BLRO broke - seriously.

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=634321

I took it to a local AD (not where I bought it) requesting service. Obviously, this is a Rolex defect, watch is a little over two years old, and should probably go to Rolex itself for repair.

Local AD is asking a number of questions, including how much do I want to insure it for - I replied what's the retail price. I wasnt really thinking about why they asked me that during the moment. Additionally, the customer rep (or whatever you want to call him) at the AD merely placed the watch on a hard counter - no tray - and continued looking, laying on different sides; up, face down, crown side, etc against the hard counter...... I then suggest he should be using a padded tray to place my watch on - he complies.

Then rep tries to take a screwdriver to undo the spring bars - I suggest to him that he should be using a spring bar tool similar to fancy tweezers - "Oh, I do it this way all the time."

He gets done (and doesn't damage or mar anything to my amazement), bags everything up and says it will be $350 for shipping. Now, I'm understanding why he's asking for insured value. We go back and forth about how this is Rolex warranty issue and I don't expect them as the AD to pay for it, but Rolex should. Manager is not there to discuss, so he says he'll check with her before sending and call my for payment.

My question (beyond the crappy handling of my watch while in the store which will be discussed with the Manager) - is it reasonable / normal for me to expect the shipping to be covered by Rolex? Or is this just the normal standard situation and I should shut my word hole and pay the $350?

Thanks