ADs now charge $20 to remove links for watches not bought from them?

[redmess]

Called two ADs and both said there is a $20 charge to size a bracelet if I didn't buy it there. Has anyone else experienced this? It makes me not want to ever buy a watch from them.

[beer]

i think its fair enough

the fact that you need a watch sized suggests you have recently purchased it probably not going to buy another in the near future

(i know not the case for people here but generally would be a fair assumption)

[Tools]

Originally Posted by redmess

Called two ADs and both said there is a $20 charge to size a bracelet if I didn't buy it there. Has anyone else experienced this? It makes me not want to ever buy a watch from them.

So.. You want a company to perform free labor services for you..

I know that the Dealer that I usually frequent will steam clean and size most anything I bring in because I have spent plenty there... but I would not expect to call an AD and have them offer work for free..

[redmess]

Originally Posted by Tools

So.. You want a company to perform free labor services for you..

I know that the Dealer that I usually frequent will steam clean and size most anything I bring in because I have spend plenty there... but I would not expect to call an AD and have them offer work for free..

I bought 4 watches in the past from one of the dealers but that didn't seem to matter. That's what upset me the most.

[beer]

you didnt mention that yes i would be upset by that too!

[qman]

Same thing happen to my wife and I. She neeed hers sized and we bought from a trusted seller. I called the AD beforehand and thy said it would be $20. I was more than ok with paying it. We went to a local AD, chatted with the sales person for a while. She like my wife's date just and my Blro. When it was all done I asked where we pay, the lady laughed and said no charge. I'm sure they would rather try to win a new customer than have $20.

[Suboc]

Originally Posted by redmess

Called two ADs and both said there is a $20 charge to size a bracelet if I didn't buy it there. Has anyone else experienced this? It makes me not want to ever buy a watch from them.

Purchase the correct hollow ground screw driver and do it yourself. There are way too many horror stories of jewelers damaging screw heads and scratching bracelets for me to allow anyone to size my watches but myself. I'm sure there are many competent AD out there, I'm just not willing to take the risk.

[robbonds]

easy..most eye glass screw drivers work perfectly

[Tools]

Originally Posted by redmess

I bought 4 watches in the past from one of the dealers but that didn't seem to matter. That's what upset me the most.

Dealers are trained to talk retail on the phone.. I would suspect that if you went in to the sales staff you have worked with in the past a simple sizing would be complementary.

Some dealers are no longer eager to do sizing as customers who frequent forums are forever complaining about screws actually being scratched while being worked on...

[1AP]

Originally Posted by redmess

I bought 4 watches in the past from one of the dealers but that didn't seem to matter. That's what upset me the most.

You left out the most important part

In that case yes,

[Chad072]

The AD near me sized my Rolex and a Seiko (which they don't sell) for me for a grand total of $0.

[Suboc]

Originally Posted by robbonds

easy..most eye glass screw drivers work perfectly

Until you have a screw that doesn't want to back out easily. Suddenly that cheap tapered blade screwdriver buggers up the inside edges of the slot. It might work but the end result might not be so pretty.

[ecdc]

Why not just buy a 1.4mm screwdriver and do it yourself? I used the screwdriver of that size that came with my Panerai, and it took all of 30 seconds to do it.

[stil]

After all...business are in business to, well...make money.

[GasMD]

I just bought a GMT from a trusted seller here. I took it to the AD to have it checked for authenticity and also have the bracelet sized. They charged me nothing to check it for authenticity (watchmaker in back looked it over, inspected movement, etc) and charged me $25 for sizing the bracelet.

[TonyTheGreat]

This is why I love my submariner I just hide the unused links within the clasp (I'll probably never use the divers extension) The bracelet feels nice and heavy this way too

[guelerct]

$20 seems like tip money relative to the watch price

[TonyTheGreat]

Originally Posted by guelerct

$20 seems like tip money relative to the watch price

I agree

[simongpaez]

Nothing wrong I have paid 30

[Laszlo]

Kind of like a car dealership providing a rental instead of a loaner because you didn't purchase the car from that dealership originally? That's so wrong.

[FTX I]

No big deal

[melrob1]

No they should not charge you because their Rent, Lights, Employee Paychecks, etc dont cost them a thing. Come on really? It's a slap in the face for a dealer. You should not expect it for free. Writing this took you more time then 20.00 would cost you. People kill me sometimes!

[theken]

A few months ago, a Rolex AD sold me a link for a 116300 Datejust II for list price and charged me $35 to install it in the bracelet.
If I had been aware of their "service charge", I would have installed it myself.
Previously I purchased several watches from this Rolex AD. I doubt that I will ever do business with them again.

[s14roller]

Originally Posted by robbonds

easy..most eye glass screw drivers work perfectly

This and some painters tape never failed me with any bracelet or strap change.

[subtona]

I would get a proper screwdriver and some Loctite and do it myself.

[cht]

Originally Posted by redmess

Called two ADs and both said there is a $20 charge to size a bracelet if I didn't buy it there. Has anyone else experienced this? It makes me not want to ever buy a watch from them.

Just consider it a tax for not being able to figure out how to use a small screw driver.

[RichM]

Yes they do sometimes charge. I once paid $32 to have my watch sized at an AD after I bought the watch here from a TS. I now have my own sizing tools.

[cedargrove]

Originally Posted by guelerct

$20 seems like tip money relative to the watch price

Yup.

[Sublover2166]

Spend 20 dollars and buy a Bergeon 1.6mm screwdriver and size it yourself. Very easy DIY job. I did mine and no scratches or messed up screw slots. Now if I relied on the AD, and they damaged my watch I would be pissed to no end!

[HogwldFLTR]

With the AD I use, first time they did it for free, second time they charged me $20 (different watch), third time they did it for free but asked me to make a donation to the collection jar for Make A Wish; I put in $20. They will do extra readjustments for free however. The jeweler I use in town charges $15 once he saw I collected Rolex; he used to do it for free for me on other watches. I mean we're talking about $5K and up watches; if one can afford one then they should be able to pay to have them sized appropriately.