I would like to share my documented on-going experience with the DFW Panerai Service Center (PSC). My goal is to try and present the facts vs. adding my own opinion or thoughts on the matter in hopes that it'll help some of you down the road, but I’m sure I’ll fail at the latter.
Background:
I was able to score a PAM 579 with the help of a trusted seller from a Panerai Boutique this past April. Ref. 579 was a 2014 LE production Ti 47mm 8-days 1950 Destro Monopulsante with brown dial and gold hands. However, the day I received it, I noticed the chrono function was not working correctly. The chrono seconds counter would not reset to zero, e.g. 12 o’clock position, and the chrono minute counter would not count past the 10 min mark or zero.
Sending the watch back wasn’t an option because the boutique was overseas and the associated shipping/customs cost would have been prohibitive. With that said, I wore it for a few days knowing that it had been sitting for the last 4 years, in hopes that wearing it would warm up the 4 year old lubricant somehow….wishful thinking, I know.
Good news is, even though it was a 2014 production, since it was a Boutique find, it came with the 2-year warranty.
Service Center:
I’ve heard all the horror stories about the PSC, even the NYC one back in the day, and although I’ve tried to take the criticisms with a grain of salt, I couldn’t help but be a little apprehensive. On top of that, I’d never sent any watch of any brand back for service, although many are due for it, so I was a little lost.
For you first timers, here’s what I’ve learned from the United States PSC so far:
To send it in:
- Call the DFW PSC and you’ll speak with a “Panerai Ambassador” (Rep)
- The Rep will take notes on your issue, take down your contact info, and email you a form where you’ll describe in more detail what the issue(s) is and how to package/return the watch.
- PSC will communicate when they receivethe watch
- When the Panerai Technical Service person has gone over your watch, you’ll receive a work order which you will have to accept, and if applicable, payment by calling the PSC.
- My form stated that from the time I approve the work, it would take approximately 3-4 weeks.
Current:
Sounds good right…doesn’t sound too bad, except after almost 2 weeks, lI’m currently at Step 4 (PSC has received the watch). Here is my timeline of events.
- Monday, April 30: I sent my watch to the PSC (FedEx 2-day).
- Wednesday, May 02: FedEx tracking states it has arrived
- Thursday, May 03: Technical Service goes over the watch and writes up a work order which was sent via USPS First Class mail (I don’t know this at the time)
- Wednesday, May 09: I haven’t heard anything from the PSC and I’ve been patient but figure a week is long enough time for them to look at my watch, so I call.
- Rep tells me the work order was emailed to me on the 3rd. I tell her I had not received it. She tries to send it to me again…nothing. So I ask her to read it to me.
I find out I’m being charged for the repair. I advise her that although it’s a 2014 model it was purchased new just a week ago. She asked if I included the warranty booklet with the piece, which I did. The Rep stated they would send the Tech guys a message to verify and that sometimes they respond quickly, e.g. a few minutes. She tells me that she will call me back when she gets an update, most likely within the hour 3rd time emailing works and I finally get some documentation.
- Thursday, May 10: I call the PSC and speak to a different Rep, who states that if it is a warranty issue, Technical Service has up to 72 hours to re-evaluate my watch to ensure it meets the warranty criteria (i.e. No unauthorized work done previously, impacts, other abuse, etc…). Great, so I'm talking to her on a Thurs, which means I won’t know anything till Monday (14th). She assures me someone is monitoring my issue and will call with an update.
- Friday, May 11: Work order arrives by USPS First Class mail.
- Monday, May 14: No call, so I call them. Rep tells me the technicians must have higher than normal volume and she will send them a message letting them know it’s been over 72 hours. She says they will call me ASAP with an update.
- I receive a FedEx shipping notification from Panerai to me!!!
- I call and find out that the Techs have mailed back my warranty booklet…apparently because they’re satisfied it was purchased recently from the Boutique, but they’re still going over the watch to make sure it was tampered with or damaged by me.
- Wednesday, May 16: Yesterday I call back again, and happen to speak with a Rep I spoke with before….you know it’s a great time, when you start recognizing names and voices…..
- She tells me the original work order has been rescinded, however the writer forgot to remove the charge from the new version so it will have to be amended before they can forward it to me. She places me on hold and when she returns tells me that the tech guys promised they would have a work order back to me by COB that day. As you can probably guess by now, that didn't happen. Nothing today as well.
I apologize for the long winded write-up, but I wanted to be as accurate as possible. I’ve also tried my best to refrain from adding my own frustrated language, but I’m sure you all can tell it has not been a pleasure.
I’m going to end up calling them again today, and hope that typing this all out reduces my temptation to lose my patients with Panerai. To be clear, my frustration comes from the fact that I have followed the process that was required of me, but Panerai has yet to follow through on ANY
of it’s own processes, promises, deadlines, or communications with me. They have not initiated a conversation once, yet each time I have called there has been an update. Their errors are causing the delays, starting with assuming a 2014 Ref number was automatically out of warranty even though I clearly stated the date of purchase on the form they provided + included the warranty booklet which was stamped/dated for April 2018. And rather than trying to correct their error immediately, it’s almost like I went back into the 72 hr que with everyone else, except now it’s been 6 days/144 hrs
Without getting ahead of myself, I really hope they don’t screw up the work they’re eventually going to perform on my watch. I so wish I had an ETA movement in my watch right about now
Thanks for reading and will keep this post updated as the situation changes
BTW: If anyone has any hooks at the PSC or higher OP and/or any advice that would help ensure a positive outcome, I sure would appreciate it.