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13 October 2017, 09:08 AM | #1 |
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Real Name: Steve
Location: Indiana
Watch: PP/AP/VC
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Love/Hate Relationship with AP
I seem to developing a love/hate relationship with AP and maybe even haute horology in general.
On one hand, my favorite all-time watch is my 25860 ROC. There’s just something about seeing that bracelet and the hexagonal bezel screws on your wrist. Nothing quite like it to me. On the other hand, there is service. As chronicled here (https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=387844), I had some service-related issues with this watch after a full movement service in late 2014. Then this fall I noticed some slippage of the crown while winding and eventually I could not wind via the crown. So I sent it back in to Clearwater. Today I got a call from Betsy to go over the $3100 estimate. The hairspring was out of place and they say it needed to be replaced and well as the rotor. They asked me if anyone opened the case and I said absolutely not, because it just had a fairly recent full service. And I said that I thought they put stuff on the screws so they can tell if someone opened it anyway (I didn’t really get any acknowledgement of this one way or the other). She said that this can also happen with dropping it but they can’t find any evidence of trauma - sorry I can’t think of a better word. And I can’t remember anything other than an occasional bump of a doorway with any of my watches. So here I am stuck with a bill for about $1400ish for another movement service (why can’t the broken part(s) just be replaced/fixed? It really hasn’t been that long since it was serviced) and $1500ish in parts (which I’ll never be able to verify truly need to be replaced or have indeed been replaced). Since the caseback is solid, I’ll never know if it the rotor is new. The cynic in me thinks when they looked at my file and the times I sent it back, they decided to stick it to me a bit. Can a rotor really wear out? And could the hairspring have gotten out of place because somehow it wasn’t secured properly at the last service? There clearly were some quality control issues the first time. But at this point, I don’t really have any choice but to pay and fix it because I have a non-functional watch. I guess you’ve got to trust that they’re doing what they need and nothing more. But I am finding it harder to do. I also had a bad experience with Vacheron (https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=417222) where they recommended a full service and replacement of the crown and some parts due to wear in June 2015 — a mere 2 months after it received a full service in April 2015 (I had sent it back for a couple of specific issues). It just gets frustrating at times. So I guess I’m venting a bit and know that there's nothing that anyone can do. But I'm giggling a bit thinking of the types of responses I may get. 1. If that’s the way you feel, don’t ever buy a Porsche/Jaguar/etc. 2. With your luck, remind me not to go in on an investment with you 3. You see that Apple came out with a new watch? |
13 October 2017, 09:26 AM | #2 |
TRF Moderator & 2024 SubLV41 Patron
Join Date: Dec 2007
Real Name: Ken
Location: SW Florida
Watch: One on my wrist.
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Sorry to hear...That stinks! I was actually going to post tomorrow a positive experience with APSC as got my 15305st back 4 weeks earlier than Betsy quoted me and full service for only $850 including shipping. Maybe you should ask them if they would give you any kind of discount. You just never know. Anyway I hope you get your watch back sooner than later and all resolved.
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SPEM SUCCESSUS ALIT |
13 October 2017, 11:03 AM | #3 |
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Join Date: Jun 2008
Real Name: Chris
Location: NH
Watch: 228239, PAM00684
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Sorry to hear Steve...I had my issues with my 25860 after a complete service as well (dial was scratched which they replaced for free, had to send back a third time for poor timing which they claimed was due to oils being dried up not even a year after the service, etc). They always made it right but it was definitely a pain to deal with. Good luck!
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Rolex 228239 PAM00684 |
13 October 2017, 11:14 AM | #4 |
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Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Boston
Posts: 282
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My experience with APSC so far has been great.
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13 October 2017, 12:18 PM | #5 |
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Location: Asia
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i've had to send in my ROO 3 times within the first 2 years of ownership. always the same problem that 'the lubricants dried up' causing it to stop.
as it was under warranty, all the servicing was free although each time took almost 2-3 months. they kindly extended my warranty by a year and offered another free servicing right before the warranty ends in may 2018. i've heard that servicing an AP is very very expensive, so i'm not looking forward to it when the time comes. |
13 October 2017, 12:31 PM | #6 |
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Real Name: Alex
Location: Chicago
Watch: AP,PP, Rolex
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Sorry to hear this. I have always had a great experiences when working with APSC
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13 October 2017, 03:26 PM | #7 |
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First off, i see no reason not to trust if they say they are replacing something that they will. I know you can't see the parts due to the solid caseback but they would never not replace something they said they would IMO.
Sorry for the experience. I know i have had my own issues with London APSC, but it was never related to the quality of work on my watch. I would give clearwater the benefit of the doubt here as the prices are the prices and i don't think that the fact the watch needs parts replaced necessarily has anything to do with something they did or caused. It seems like bad luck, although that doesn't make it any easier to accept. Im guessing if you explained the repair issues that have happened previously though they may reduce the price as a goodwill gesture as its out of warranty, but not that far out of warranty. If you had a two year service warranty issued late 2014 its not out of the realm of possibility.
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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) |
13 October 2017, 04:35 PM | #8 | |
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Quote:
I would add that if I remember well, you can ask to see the replaced spare parts. |
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13 October 2017, 04:47 PM | #9 |
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Location: Canada
Watch: Royal Oak Chrono
Posts: 301
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Is Betsy an actual person or just he given name to anyone that answers the phone??
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Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph 26331OR Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 15400OR Rolex Day-Date II 218235 Rolex GMT-Master II BLNR 116710 |
13 October 2017, 06:12 PM | #10 | |
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Watch: addiction issues
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Quote:
Lol Betsy is a real person. Luz, Betsy and Stacy are all people I’ve talked to.
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14 October 2017, 02:56 AM | #11 |
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Real Name: Marco
Location: Melbourne, AU
Watch: AP/Rolex/Indies
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I´d demand to have the charges waived or at the very least a substancial discount since you just had it serviced.
Very poor form. |
14 October 2017, 04:07 AM | #12 |
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Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Mars
Watch: 5712
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Seems like the lottery some times, you are either lucky or unlucky with a watch, good luck that's not cool
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14 October 2017, 04:37 AM | #13 |
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Join Date: Jun 2016
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Sorry to hear about your bad experience Steve. I would be pretty upset if I was in your shoes too.
APSC has generally been great to me - great turnaround times and communication. However, I recently did have a RO Chronograph that had to go in because of a slipped chronograph hand... once it was taken apart I was told that the "movement was all dried up"... which seems to be a pattern developing around here. Watch was a year and a half out of warranty and I had the privilege of paying for a very expensive service. |
14 October 2017, 07:13 AM | #14 |
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demanding isn't going to get you anywhere
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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) |
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