patrick_y
[PuristSPro Moderator]
33546
Honestly, I'm not surprised...
Think about it this way... Watchfinder is just an aggregated source of watches; some good, some not so good, being offered for sale to indiscriminate buyers. You have to understand the business model. They want to get a bunch of watches to list. And they want to transact a bunch of watches. And make a small gross profit on each one. In the meanwhile, they want to have minimal overhead and fixed costs.
Thus, with this skeleton set up. It's obvious, if something goes wrong, nobody will care and with such a small crew, they'd be dealing with more cases than they can handle.
Will an employee who is paid a small salary care about your problem or his company's reputation? Especially if they don't have pride in their work nor equity in the company? They're probably already overworked and dealing with dozens of "cases" like yours.
These kinds of retailers are looking for newbie buyers who don't know what they're buying. And these retailers are getting inventory from sellers who don't otherwise want to sell the problematic timepiece, so they dump it on Watchfinder to sell or at auction. In general, a large percentage of the "bad" watches end up at a place like this.
I haven't dealt with Watchfinder personally. But I did envision a company with a similar business plan and I just realized that it would be too difficult to authenticate every watch en masse and verify every watch to a high standard. I wouldn't trust Real Real or anything else neither. I would even avoid auction houses.
Experience with Watchfinder?
Hi all, Hoping to tap into your wealth of knowledge. Does anyone here have experience with Watchfinder (a franchise owned by the Richemont group specialized in selling pre-owned watches)? My wife and I just got the worst service from them, and I am keen t...
I know that there are many in this group that will disagree but...
I purchased a new JLC Duoface from a JLC boutique and had an AWFUL experience with the watch and Richemont. I had to bring it back to the boutique 4 times!! After 4 attempts on a 13K brand new watch any honorable company would give me a full refund… But n...
Honestly, I'm not surprised...
Think about it this way... Watchfinder is just an aggregated source of watches; some good, some not so good, being offered for sale to indiscriminate buyers. You have to understand the business model. They want to get a bunch of watches to list. And they ...
Agree...
But I don’t think this issue is pertinent only to Watchfinder...this is also a Richemont issue.
I don't have enough data to comment with certainty, but I doubt it's a Richemont issue. All brands are awful.
Richemont basically bought Watchfinder somewhat recently to get a claim into the pre-owned watch space. Since they foresee control of the pre-owned watch market would help boost their existing brand's desirability since resale value is a big part of new w...
I had to send back 3 different watches.
Like I said I know that others will sing the praises of JLC but there were multiple problems with different units of exactly the same model. 1000 hours of scrutiny!?!? Really? And then with the defensive “you signed a binding no refund contract” ? This re...
That's an interesting take, and lots of truth to it.
If you don't mind the question, which are some of the brands do you trust when it comes to servicing?
It depends on your timepieces...
Avoid "service centers" where you never get to speak to the watchmaker. For instance I avoid Swatch Service center and Richemont Technical Center in Dallas, Texas and Rolex Dallas, Texas. You also have to understand that these service centers are organize...
Thanks for the detailed reply. Makes sense - it indeed helps a lot if you can meet the person who is doing the servicing, and even more if you find him/her competent and are able to develop a relationship.
I, too, always try to request to see a watchmaker to explain the service needs, or at least to talk in phone in case the watchmaker is at different premises. If all else fails (and there is no alternative authorized service available), I'd include written...
I think you're a much more informed than average consumer...
A lot of those written instructions do not get passed on. The watch at the service center is put on a plastic tray. Nothing else is on this tray, no written instructions, nothing. Plastic tray has a barcode. Watchmaker takes the tray and scans the barcode...
I suppose this is the system in large service centers? Enlightening.
I have only ever left watches for service at local authorized service points (basically brand-qualified watchmaker(s) working at a major local AD of the brand), or had the watches shipped back to the maison at Switzerland or Germany. No experience of thes...
Yes, definitely avoid large service centers!
Large service centers just have very streamlined processes. Lastly, the process is not heavily scrutinized. In other words; there's a lot of quality control at a factory, where something is new and should be close to perfect. On a used watch, an old watch...
Very true. And to think about all those Rolexes with closed case backs... You see the scratches on the case (or even on the dial) but may not ever see what has happened with the movement.
Which may actually be a blessing in terms of peace of mind, as long as it's only cosmetic. Haha!
service integrity
which brands service with integrity? this is something that is high on my priority list for purchasing but not enough information is out there about it. my patek service experience for a 5026 was a nightmare. 7 months! The dial had some oxidation but it w...
Depends on where you live...
But if you come to New York City often, own a Lange. Alkis, the servicer for Lange, is THE BEST. Instructions are well followed. Never a scratch on the movement plates.
My thinking is that it's okay to buy from anyone that isn't an obvious criminal if they have a proper inspection and return policy.
For instance I can say from experience that there is junk at the Real Real but they take returns no questions asked and even pay the shipping.
Watchfinder has changed IMHO.
Of course I can only speak from my own experience but when I dealt with Watchfinder prior to them being bought out by Richemont I felt they offered a better service then they do now being under their current ownership. As for anyone that believes that the...
Real Real is just an awful system. It's crap in, crap out.
And to think that it's a public company... good luck to their investors. That's one horse I'd be very cautious putting my money on. Then again, I could be wrong. But I don't think investors understand that a company like Real Real need a lot of integrity ...
Thank you for input
Hi all, thank you for input. My takeaway: Watchfinder is really a scam, and you should only buy pre-owned watches if you really trust the person selling you the watch. In my view it damages the “artisan storytelling” of all of the brands of Richemont that...