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

[THC]

This is weird to me, lol, because of the timing. My DD fits only slightly loose, but during the summer the heat makes it fine. I am going to my local jeweler tomorrow to take out a link for the winter. He will not charge me, but I agree, 20 beans is simply a tip for job well done

[vette boy 52]

My experience is that most AD's are more than glad to size your Rolex for you even if you didn't buy it from them. I Singapore no problem

[zama]

Poor form if you are a regular buyer

[sco]

Originally Posted by 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.

Did you tell them you didn't know about the charge and that you weren't happy? How did they handle that? That is what I would base my return business on personally.

[stil]

Originally Posted by guelerct

$20 seems like tip money relative to the watch price

For sure. I tipped my watchmaker $20 for checking out a new watch I picked up. Took him 20 min...and although it's only $20 it's more than nothing.

[Btdd05]

I feel your pain ! purchased 2 tudors from my local AD and then i take my sub into have links taken out , and since it wasn't purchased there $25 . But i tell ya what won't buy anymore watches from them i would rather buy here and save a shit load of money and then $25 is worth it .

[Tri-Tip]

$20 sounds very fair to me, as long as they can do it without leaving any tool marks.

[Abdullah71601]

Sizing a bracelet here is complimentary. You are a Rolex customer and they are servicing their brand. Nickel and diming you for services that don't cost them anything doesn't draw your loyalty to their store.

A Rolex boutique in Abu Dhabi donated a link to a colleague to make his bracelet right (no he didn't buy it there). Contrast that with the Seiko store that charged my father in law to set the date on his new watch just purchased at their store.

I might be spoiled by the service here, but I think a luxury brand's in-store service should be a step above the kiosk at the mall. (I haven't been offered a Coke, but they sized the bracelet on my TRF acquired 16600 for free )

[Chad072]

Originally Posted by 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.

If it were me and they wanted to charge me to install a link I just paid them for, I would have asked for my money back and went to another AD. The AD I bought my Omega from made sure it fit me how I liked it before I walked out, which meant there were a couple of fittings before I was comfortable with it. I went back about a year later and they removed the bracelet for me so I could put on a maratac strap...I was too impatient to wait on my tool to arrive. Didn't get charged for any of it.

[charger]

Originally Posted by TonyTheGreat

I agree

Me too.

[Shopguy]

So you spent thousands of dollars at another business, but you want this business, from whom you have bought nothing, to give you a free service?
Talk is cheap - you think you might purchase something from them in future if they are nice to you?
Your expectations are demeaning to them.
I sized my Sub, but I took my GMT to a local watch place and happily paid the $15.00, just to meet them, and establish a relationship with them. Nice people. They'll remember me. And I'm not in their debt, or vice versa. It's business.

[redmess]

Originally Posted by Shopguy

So you spent thousands of dollars at another business, but you want this business, from whom you have bought nothing, to give you a free service?
Talk is cheap - you think you might purchase something from them in future if they are nice to you?
Your expectations are demeaning to them.
I sized my Sub, but I took my GMT to a local watch place and happily paid the $15.00, just to meet them, and establish a relationship with them. Nice people. They'll remember me. And I'm not in their debt, or vice versa. It's business.

As I said I bought 4 watches from them in the past. Do you still think I should be charged? Just curious if this changes your opinion.

[hbombkid]

10-20 bucks is fair, but your situation that's should be free of charge. You bought 4 watches do they even know your name when you come in the store? Of course it's a business but little things go a long way. I have two jewelry stores next to each other. Both are high end. One has great customer service and one is poor.

[Mr. K]

All about building relationships. I bought a watch, non-Rolex, but one I wanted for awhile. Bought it used and it had dust under the crystal. Took it to my watch person, they cleaned it out for me. FREE OF CHARGE. I did not buy it from them.

Ended up walking next door and bought a little Starbucks gift card and gave it to them. They appreciated the gesture. All about building relationships.

[scombs263]

Everyone needs a piece.

[Ritch99]

Originally Posted by cht

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

I agree...from the looks of this thread, not many know or care to use the proper tools for the job; correct size hollow ground screw driver, loc tite, sizing block and counter mat. I shudder to think what their screw head slots look like. Thats one of the things I look at in a pre owned watch now...too many know it alls that do not take the time to learn the correct procedure, which is really quite simple. Staggering...

[Suboc]

Originally Posted by Ritch99

I agree...from the looks of this thread, not many know or care to use the proper tools for the job; correct size hollow ground screw driver, loc tite, sizing block and counter mat. I shudder to think what their screw head slots look like. Thats one of the things I look at in a pre owned watch now...too many know it alls that do not take the time to learn the correct procedure, which is really quite simple. Staggering...

[ZeKe]

Seems fair to me. They are preforming a service.
Honestly, to me the only free sizing should be on the day you made the purchase from the shop. Other than that I will always ask "how much do I owe".

Thanks for the heads up though. And if you feel like they are being petty with you by charging, I recommend you let them know tactfully. I think you have a right to voice your opinion.

[bmpwatch]

its very easy to size a bracelet, and good skill to acquire :)....just make sure you do it over a contained or soft area!

[DCgator]

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.

The AD I go to in near my area Never ever charges me for strap/bracelet changes or adjustments. I have never bought a watch from them. Even the very first time I came into the store in 2009 to have a bracelet adjusted on my Thunderbird they would not charge me for the labor. I remembered their kindness and attitude so I always went there for this or that related to Rolex. I also make it a point to always bring them goodies from a French bakery. I always ask what do I owe and they wave me away and thank me for the pastries. AD is a family owned business and have the greatest employees who'd have been working at the store for decades, I think they started there in their late teens. Just wonderful people all around.

I agree OP should not have charged as it is part of relationship building and that OP has previously bought four watches from their store. Perhaps find another store if possible.

[GB-man]

Originally Posted by 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!

Ditto, bought one myslef and now I can throw a link on or off in 5 mins, although my local AD takes care of me free of charge and I've never bought from them for lack of price agreement.

Originally Posted by redmess

As I said I bought 4 watches from them in the past. Do you still think I should be charged? Just curious if this changes your opinion.

They should be taking care of you for free. It's good business as it costs them very little. That said, not everyone has the same position on the matter and if I walk into my local AD (not the one I buy from) asking for a service, I come ready to pay in full.

If you weren't a customer I would say $20 is a good price. Having bought 4 watches I wouod say they are fleecing you a bit.

[cdbeaver66]

Unless it was a boutique of the brand you purchased or a franchise of the retailer, I would expect to pay a small amount.

[Copasetic]

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.

If I didn't buy it there I would gladly pay the $20.

If I had bought four watches there, however, I wouldn't expect to pay, BUT, I wouldn't call. I'd go in, re-introduce myself if necessary, mention my past purchases, and ask them what they would charge (or just have them do it at that point and take my chances).

[Foxglove]

spend the $20 to get a screwdriver and do it yourself. What's the big deal.

[Shopguy]

Originally Posted by redmess

As I said I bought 4 watches from them in the past. Do you still think I should be charged? Just curious if this changes your opinion.

That depends on when you made it clear to them that you had purchased four watches from them previously.
I do "considerations" for previous customers all the time, but I extend the offer. And if your dealer was aware of your past patronage, then yes they probably should have offered. If they chose not to do so even in light of your purchases, then you have learned something about them.

[Gasoil4ever]

So you bought a 10.000$ watch and paying 20$ to get it adjusted is too much ?

[Andad]

Originally Posted by robbonds

easy..most eye glass screw drivers work perfectly

Sorry, most don't.

[Andad]

Originally Posted by 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.

1.4mm for which model bracelet????

[Andad]

When a watchmaker accepts the simple job of removing a Rolex link screw he accepts the responsibility for any damage that he does.......

I doubt if anyone who has posted on this thread so far would do it for $20 far less for free.

As for the misinformation so far - any eyeglass screwdriver - 1.4mm etc....

We now have 150000 members and >800 have read this thread .

Are they all running off right now to stuff up their screws with a 1.4mm eyeglass screwdriver?

Time to lift the game?

[Rashid.bk]

Gosh. What's the issue, pay the man. If it was the same watch you bought there, then you'd have a case.

My watchmaker does things for free but then again I bring him coffee and give him dinner certificates, we're mega cool now. Get more bees with honey....