Shipping Costs Returning an AP from Service

[philster]

During a trip to Italy, my wife’s AP had an issue with some fogging inside the watch. We went to the AP store in Florence where we were told that the watch needed to be sent in for service. We left off our watch at the Florence dealer and they sent in the piece for us. Fast forward a ~8 weeks the watch is ready and the Florence dealer has informed us they are ready to ship the watch back to us.

The service I knew was going to be expensive (1750 Euro) but the shipping costs from Florence back to California seems over the top @ 1150 Euro.

Is it just me? Or am I missing something?

Thanks for your input

[imperio]

Mind boggling ridiculous. You could probably fly over to pick it up for cheaper

[domo69]

Greed!!!

I had my ROO serviced at AP Clearwater back in February, they send me a overnight prepaid packet for my watch to be sent back overnight to them. The service took around 8-10 weeks once done they overnight my watch back to California, I paid 1500+tax for this experience..

[watchaser]

Free shipping to and from with a service from APSC in Florida.

Sorry to hear. Hope it gets worked out.

[duc888]

Same experience here.....free shippping to and from service center Madrid.

[philster]

My thoughts exactly — Any suggestions on what can be done? The AP dealer in Florence is not flexible. Is there a corporate email or contact that I can reach out too?

If I can’t get the shipping reduced, my thought is to try to make a trip out of it or send someone to go get it for me.

Originally Posted by imperio

Mind boggling ridiculous. You could probably fly over to pick it up for cheaper

[bruinmd]

Originally Posted by philster

During a trip to Italy, my wife’s AP had an issue with some fogging inside the watch. We went to the AP store in Florence where we were told that the watch needed to be sent in for service. We left off our watch at the Florence dealer and they sent in the piece for us. Fast forward a ~8 weeks the watch is ready and the Florence dealer has informed us they are ready to ship the watch back to us.

The service I knew was going to be expensive (1750 Euro) but the shipping costs from Florence back to California seems over the top @ 1150 Euro.

Is it just me? Or am I missing something?

Thanks for your input

I'm sorry to hear that.

This is one huge reason to purchase through a boutique, as they really take care of everything with white glove service in the event of an issue.

[philster]

This is the AP boutique in Florence — we only dropped off the watch in this boutique because we were on holiday for another 2 weeks. I didn’t think this was going to be an issue — but if I knew ahead of time, I could of easily waited to come back to the US and sent it to my local AP boutique.

Originally Posted by imperio

Mind boggling ridiculous. You could probably fly over to pick it up for cheaper

Originally Posted by bruinmd

I'm sorry to hear that.

This is one huge reason to purchase through a boutique, as they really take care of everything with white glove service in the event of an issue.

[lx384]

Will they allow you to provide your own shipping label? UPS and Fedex is prob 1/5 of the price.

[bruinmd]

Originally Posted by philster

This is the AP boutique in Florence — we only dropped off the watch in this boutique because we were on holiday for another 2 weeks. I didn’t think this was going to be an issue — but if I knew ahead of time, I could of easily waited to come back to the US and sent it to my local AP boutique.

Got it.

I just meant that when you purchase through an AP boutique (at least in the U.S.) they take care of everything if something goes wrong with the watch.

The boutique in Italy should have been up front with you about shipping costs. That was really screwed up.

[systematic.entropy]

Dealing direct with APSC Clearwater, they sent shipping "kit", and are returning gratis. A+ for APSC Clearwater.

[HK Islandboy]

Originally Posted by lx384

Will they allow you to provide your own shipping label? UPS and Fedex is prob 1/5 of the price.

They won’t insure anything above (I recall) around 5k.

Better to use ParcelPro and send a shipping label

[bondtoys]

Agree with using Parcel Pro and send them a shipping label.

But make sure that the watch is packed according PP guidelines , particularly double boxed.

I‘ve had something lost and PP tried to get out of their dues by claiming that it was not double boxed.
I could prove with pics that it was and have received the refund after a long back and forth.

[lx384]

Originally Posted by HK Islandboy

They won’t insure anything above (I recall) around 5k.

Better to use ParcelPro and send a shipping label

Yes, missed out the parcel pro part. UPS or Fedex with Parcel Pro.

[watchucallit]

I purchased a new watch from one of the AP boutiques (Las Vegas) and they charged me 450 dollars to ship to me.. I purchased a different but new watch from the AP boutique in the Hamptons and there was no shipping charges added.

[V25V]

Was this serviced by APSC or by another one of these "authorized" service centers?

[mav3rick]

Should have waited till u were back home before sending it in. Its not like they can fix the watch in florence within a day right?

[Malren]

Is the boutique in Florence that vey tiny one on the bridge??
Im pretty sure the guy there told me that it isn’t “really” an official boutique owned by AP. I can’t recall exactly the wording he chose but I remember him saying something like that.

[philster]

Thanks for the idea - I will see if they are willing to do this.

Originally Posted by lx384

Yes, missed out the parcel pro part. UPS or Fedex with Parcel Pro.

[philster]

Hindsight is 20/20 - I thought I would just get the process started since we were going to be on the road another two weeks....

Originally Posted by mav3rick

Should have waited till u were back home before sending it in. Its not like they can fix the watch in florence within a day right?

[philster]

Yes, that is the one - when I look up AP boutiques on the AP website - it comes up.

Originally Posted by Malren

Is the boutique in Florence that vey tiny one on the bridge??
Im pretty sure the guy there told me that it isn’t “really” an official boutique owned by AP. I can’t recall exactly the wording he chose but I remember him saying something like that.

[subtona]

3rd party international shipper?


i got hit pretty good for cartier from monaco recently.

[benlee]

Originally Posted by philster

The service I knew was going to be expensive (1750 Euro) but the shipping costs from Florence back to California seems over the top @ 1150 Euro.

Is it just me? Or am I missing something?

Thanks for your input

Sound like a rip-off