what would you have done ?

[tattooedfagin]

ok, so i've just returned from my local AD....took my Sub date with me to have it sent away for service...i'd left the paperwork etc at home in the safe as i assumed i'd be provided with a receipt showing model & serial numbers etc to identify it as my watch.....the assistant started writing my details down on a plain old piece of paper when i asked if they'd be making note of my serial # on the receipt, oh yes she said & made note of the bracelet numbers.....5 mins later & still no sign of the bracelet being removed i asked again, explaining that any receipt needs confirmation of my serial # so as to identify it as mine. was told they didn't remove the bracelet, only taking numbers off the bracelet, which she seemed to believe were the full ID numbers

i found myself having to explain to them where the serial # was & why i found in necessary for it to be on the receipt, i took my watch back & said not to worry, i'd take it to St James Sq instead....

would you have left it, was i just being paranoid ?

[andypandy]

Chad , you did exactly the right thing !

[Nicko]

Originally Posted by tattooedfagin

ok, so i've just returned from my local AD....took my Sub date with me to have it sent away for service...i'd left the paperwork etc at home in the safe as i assumed i'd be provided with a receipt showing model & serial numbers etc to identify it as my watch.....the assistant started writing my details down on a plain old piece of paper when i asked if they'd be making note of my serial # on the receipt, oh yes she said & made note of the bracelet numbers.....5 mins later & still no sign of the bracelet being removed i asked again, explaining that any receipt needs confirmation of my serial # so as to identify it as mine. was told they didn't remove the bracelet, only taking numbers off the bracelet, which she seemed to believe were the full ID numbers

i found myself having to explain to them where the serial # was & why i found in necessary for it to be on the receipt, i took my watch back & said not to worry, i'd take it to St James Sq instead....

would you have left it, was i just being paranoid ?

I would have left quicker than you mate!!!!

[nyyankees]

You did the right thing. You can't take a chance with something that expensive. Good job.

[SEK John]

I wouldn't have left it.....but I also wouldn't want an unskilled salesperson trying to remove a bracelet and trashing the lugs and who knows what else.

[Colnago]

You know that's something I have never even given a thought to....I have had all my watches (and my wife's) serviced by my local ex-AD for years and years.....never once have I asked for this......they always give a detailed reciept, model, dial colour, bracelet design.....but never serial numbers......I have never had a problem before......

[Rscmaine]

Wow...

Was she writing the bracelet numbers in crayon?

That is remarkable. You did the right thing.

[MikeyTX]

I'm not surprised. Most at an AD are commissioned sales people. Due to the economy, there is a rather high rate of turnover in that field. And, many are merely order takes rather than true sales persons with in depth knowledge of their products.

[Kokyuryoku]

OMG! This is just unbelievable.

Originally Posted by andypandy

Chad , you did exactly the right thing !

100%

Originally Posted by SEK John

I wouldn't have left it.....but I also wouldn't want an unskilled salesperson trying to remove a bracelet and trashing the lugs and who knows what else.

Too right

Originally Posted by Rscmaine

Wow...

Was she writing the bracelet numbers in crayon?

[Bullyterrier]

Why the same thread with different titles?

[Puffy]

haha. Was it Goldsmith's by any chance?

I went there the other week to get a few supplies and I literally had to put together a script the assistant could use when phoning Rolex.

Had no idea what a Jubilee bracelet was, lug holes, spring bars and thought the model number was the serial number!

[Puffy]

I would have kicked the door in running out of the shop

[jets]

Originally Posted by Puffy

I would have kicked the door in running out of the shop

I'd be right behind you racing to the car. Holy crap man had I left my watch there I would have had night-terrors.

[Apatheticviews]

She wasn't even going to kiss you before she put it in...

Yes, you did the right thing. Like a college girl in DC at night, you got out of there before you got...

[tattooedfagin]

the manageress (?) i assume, even questioned the location of the serial number, claiming that whilst all newer watches have the serial # on the rehaut the older serial numbers are inside, behind the case & not in-between the lugs. amazing how these people manage to be employed & allowed to promote the name !!!!

[landroverking]

Right on!

[Dan Pierce]

You did the right thing. Rolex, St James will treat you and your Rolex right. They sure did for me.
dP

[robsteve]

Chad:

I don't think any of them will take the bracelet off to get a serial number. I have had a few serviced at the AD here and you just get a receipt for the watch. The serial number only really matters if it gets stolen and as you said, you have that at home.

For example, the receipt would say Submariner with bracelet. If it got stolen I suspect you would have to deal with replacement value at that point and most likely just get a new Submariner from them or Rolex, depending on where it got lost. It is only on very rare and valuable watches that you might want to get lots of details on it before sending it off and also make sure it is insured under your own household insurance.

Robert

[robsteve]

Chad:

I don't think any of them will take the bracelet off to get a serial number. I have had a few serviced at the AD here and you just get a receipt for the watch. The serial number only really matters if it gets stolen and as you said, you have that at home.

For example, the receipt would say Submariner with bracelet. If it got stolen I suspect you would have to deal with replacement value at that point and most likely just get a new Submariner from them or Rolex, depending on where it got lost. It is only on very rare and valuable watches that you might want to get lots of details on it before sending it off and also make sure it is insured under your own household insurance.

Robert

[Andad]

I don't see tha problem. You have the paperwork and you either trust them or you don't with or without the s/n.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by robsteve

Chad:

I don't think any of them will take the bracelet off to get a serial number. I have had a few serviced at the AD here and you just get a receipt for the watch. The serial number only really matters if it gets stolen and as you said, you have that at home.

For example, the receipt would say Submariner with bracelet. If it got stolen I suspect you would have to deal with replacement value at that point and most likely just get a new Submariner from them or Rolex, depending on where it got lost. It is only on very rare and valuable watches that you might want to get lots of details on it before sending it off and also make sure it is insured under your own household insurance.

Robert

X2 And when watch is sent to RSC its packed securely with all the details of owner etc, and fully insured once you have your receipt from AD.When they service watch, all details like serial, what parts used cost etc, will be on the service papers when returned with watch.

[Colnago]

I have to say, it's never even entered my head....my own ex-AD is part of the Goldsmiths group in the UK, they are brilliant even though they no longer have the AD status and I know they really appreciate my custom.....dare I say I trust them implicitly.....

[DerekS]

ouch. You made the right choice. To me, at least in my area, a good AD is impossible to find. The last place I'd trust with my watch is the AD I bought it from

[tattooedfagin]

Originally Posted by robsteve

Chad:

I don't think any of them will take the bracelet off to get a serial number. I have had a few serviced at the AD here and you just get a receipt for the watch. The serial number only really matters if it gets stolen and as you said, you have that at home.

For example, the receipt would say Submariner with bracelet. If it got stolen I suspect you would have to deal with replacement value at that point and most likely just get a new Submariner from them or Rolex, depending on where it got lost. It is only on very rare and valuable watches that you might want to get lots of details on it before sending it off and also make sure it is insured under your own household insurance.

Robert

whilst a new replacement might be nice i'd still prefer knowing that my watch, which i know to be 100% genuine could be identified against others.....worse case scenario, lets say someone else drops off a sub date the same day, if the AD takes no serial numbers & they get mixed up, how are they to tell the difference when they don't have all the details, worse still what if the other sub is a snide ? for a £305 service charge i'm expecting a certain level of professionalism ALL along the line & even more so from the public face of Rolex on the high street......

[bewithabob]

well if you cant trust an AD, who can you trust? IF you bought your watch from them, why wouldn't you trust them?

That you are better educated about your Rolex than a sales person who primarily deals with new watches is not surprising. Even if you had brought in your paperwork, showing a serial number, who is to say that that paperwork necessarily applies to that particular Rolex. After all, if you had several ROLEX and brought in the wrong paperwork, then what? Still I think you did the right thing to require that the serial number be recorded on your receipt with the AD. If they didnt have a jeweler on the premises at that particular moment, then I would ask to make an appointment with them for when they do.

Typically, when you take your watch to an AD or the RSC, they take it behind the counter to have their jeweler remove the bracelet. They don't do this in front of you at the sales counter. At some point, you have to trust them to record the numbers accurately. And if you want to verify what they record with your own eyes, so be it. I certainly wouldn't want an untrained sales person or technician removing the bracelet. Better that an experienced technician do this on their bench, under good light, etc.

When your watch is returned fully assembled from RSC, you can't see the serial number. Do you demand that the AD remove the bracelet again to prove to you that the watch is one and the same with the service paperwork? They will still take it behind the counter to reassemble it. All I am saying is, IMHO, I think at some point you have to trust your AD. After alll, they are not a pawn shop.

[frank gama]

Originally Posted by bewithabob

well if you cant trust an AD, who can you trust? IF you bought your watch from them, why wouldn't you trust them?

That you are better educated about your Rolex than a sales person who primarily deals with new watches is not surprising. Even if you had brought in your paperwork, showing a serial number, who is to say that that paperwork necessarily applies to that particular Rolex. After all, if you had several ROLEX and brought in the wrong paperwork, then what? Still I think you did the right thing to require that the serial number be recorded on your receipt with the AD. If they didnt have a jeweler on the premises at that particular moment, then I would ask to make an appointment with them for when they do.

Typically, when you take your watch to an AD or the RSC, they take it behind the counter to have their jeweler remove the bracelet. They don't do this in front of you at the sales counter. At some point, you have to trust them to record the numbers accurately. And if you want to verify what they record with your own eyes, so be it. I certainly wouldn't want an untrained sales person or technician removing the bracelet. Better that an experienced technician do this on their bench, under good light, etc.

When your watch is returned fully assembled from RSC, you can't see the serial number. Do you demand that the AD remove the bracelet again to prove to you that the watch is one and the same with the service paperwork? They will still take it behind the counter to reassemble it. All I am saying is, IMHO, I think at some point you have to trust your AD. After alll, they are not a pawn shop.

X2

[kcmo]

Originally Posted by sek john

i wouldn't have left it.....but i also wouldn't want an unskilled salesperson trying to remove a bracelet and trashing the lugs and who knows what else.

x2 !

[2th Dr]

Originally Posted by SEK John

I wouldn't have left it.....but I also wouldn't want an unskilled salesperson trying to remove a bracelet and trashing the lugs and who knows what else.

Completely agree!

[mborner]

Originally Posted by bewithabob

When your watch is returned fully assembled from RSC, you can't see the serial number. Do you demand that the AD remove the bracelet again to prove to you that the watch is one and the same with the service paperwork? They will still take it behind the counter to reassemble it. All I am saying is, IMHO, I think at some point you have to trust your AD. After alll, they are not a pawn shop.

Exactly! When I took my Sub to Mayors to have them ship it off, I trusted them with my watch. I felt a little uncomfortable at first but I could clearly see the first class operation there. I felt better. I don't think my serial # was recorded at the store but it was recorded on the warranty card when I got the watch back. I confirmed it with my original certificate of authenticity. Everything worked out great. No worries.

[Esexx]

Ditto...I would have left too.

I would also tried and experiment by asking them to change the battery too! See what they say.