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Patek Philippe

NEW Directives from Patek

 

Saw this post from another forum regarding new Patek timepieces sold by ADs...maybe this forum has stirred up some change with Patek after all!

Post from a member on another forum regarding Patek:

"Earlier on today I was having a chat with an AD and they informed me that yesterday (23rd June 2017) they received an email from Patek Philippe which had a letter attached to it. Below are details of what the actual email said, not the letter.

Dear Owners, Directors and Managers of Patek Philippe Retailers in the UK and Ireland,

Please find attached a letter with a new directive from Patek Philippe Geneva.

The brown shipping boxes which protect our watches must now be opened and destroyed before any Patek Philippe watch leaves the store. These boxes are for shipping from the factory to the point of sale only and from now, must not be given to the customer. In addition, the plastic seal around the watch must be opened.

Please will you ensure that all staff in your store(s) are informed about this new procedure which is mandatory for every Patek Philippe watch sale and confirm back to me in writing that this has been implemented.

Many thanks for your support in enforcing this this new procedure immediately.
Best regards,


At the request of the dealer, I have removed details of the person who signed and sent the letter.

There was further mention that this policy was to be implemented immediately and certainly by the 1st of July. And that any watches found in the brown box after this date would be viewed as a "Fault"
I take it from this that any Patek Philippe watch found for sale double sealed, such as on Chrono24, would result in action being taken against the AD who initially sold the watch

The letter mentioned why this measure was to be implemented, saying that, Patek Philippe goal was for their clients to purchase their timepieces. And that they always strived to prevent the grey market activities, which completes unfairly with their Authorised Dealers

I am personally all for it and hopefully it will help towards stopping the grey dealers charging such high prices. Though I appreciate that this will only go a small way to preventing the high prices that we see. As most of the watches that we see are already pre owned. But at least it is a start.

I can imagine that this new policy may place some AD's in a difficult position, when dealing with their large customers, who insist on having their new timepieces double sealed, so that they can be placed in the safes/bank vaults with all the other unopened Patek Philippe boxes."

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