AD charging me to take link out

[Yodel]

Hi guys, my local AD (who I didn’t buy my watch from) is wanting to charge me to remove a link from my GMT bracelet. Is this normal or shall I go elsewhere? Would you take this to any old jeweller or want it to be a Rolex AD?
Thanks

[Roger Lococco]

About 50 / 50 will ask you to pay a nominal fee from my own experience. Usually $20. It may be a chain policy in some cases, but usually more at chains than at mom and pop Rolex ADs.

[Rogdogg]

I have only ever had it done at the AD where I bought my watches so they have never charged me.

[Sarosh]

Originally Posted by Yodel

Hi guys, my local AD (who I didn’t buy my watch from) is wanting to charge me to remove a link from my GMT bracelet. Is this normal or shall I go elsewhere? Would you take this to any old jeweller or want it to be a Rolex AD?
Thanks

Personally I’d do it myself. All you need is the right tool and loctite 222. Takes less than 5 minutes after a few YouTube videos. Lol

[tyler1980]

if a watchmaker is doing it i would be more OK with it than if it was a sales associate. Im not paying for an amateur to size my watch.

Who is doing it is the more important detail.

[ECLS18]

I would view it as the ADs failed attempt to win your loyalty for future purchases.

Unless it’s urgent I would go somewhere else.


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[chickennho]

Ad in Vietnam always do it for free if your watch isn’t fake, they don’t care where do you buy your watch.

[WatchOut4It]

You are asking them to perform a service. There’s really no reason to expect it for free since you didn’t buy the watch from them. As was said above, consider investing in the right tools so you can do it yourself; it’s a bit nerve wracking the first time, but worth the effort.

[watchbowl]

Not sure why you would expect them to do it for free if you didn’t buy the watch from them. If you want it done for free by someone and not invest in some tools then RSC is an option

[meganfox17]

✓My Rolex grey dealers would resized the oyster bracelets or switch to Rubber B for free...Everytime ! I don't "kowtow" to ADs but then again I haven't purchased a Rolex from any boutiques or ADs before
✓My Omega watches : Free Service and some free stuff at any Omega boutiques. Ok. I'm a VIP customer so that explains it , although I make it a point to always reward the attending boutique sales assistant with a small token of my appreciation
✓Non Omega/ Non Rolex watches : local well respected watchmakers called Sifus ( Old Masters ) who have been in the business for decades. A nominal fee, sometimes it's free but I will always insist on paying them at least 5-10 bucks. Come 0n, it's their livelihood and only proper for me to show my respects and pay them for their services and a job well done

[wytrader]

Any previous history whatsoever?

Have never paid for the service but understand with the amount of watches now being bought on the grey market that certain shops have no incentive to perform the service for free.

tyler1980's point is key, can you see watchmakers at work at this shop?

[tyler1980]

Originally Posted by Simon040289

Not sure why you would expect them to do it for free if you didn’t buy the watch from them.

my thought too

My AD would never charge me. However i have been in there before when other people get charged. im 99% sure they didn't buy the watch there but the service is on offer to both customers and non customers. Its priced accordingly.

[BadBoyR]

I was charged by an AD whom I never bought the watch from, cost me £15. I now do all my watches myself.

[Rolex.c6]

Went back three times to resize at the same AD (Gassan Amsterdam) never charged nor did they ask were the watch was bought.

[oldman2005]

Pretty simple that you can do it yourself and less chance of someone screw up your watch

[Caduceus]

It's an easy process. Search the web for the how to's and tool needed.

You will likely enjoy it!

[Angelis]

First AD initially wanted to charge £25 to add a link in my Daytona, but as I was friendly with one of the other salesman, they did it for free.

Second AD charged £25 to add a link in my GMT2, but did it so quickly that he decided not to charge me.

Neither would put me on the wait list for a SubC though

[Rocket_Man]

Didn't buy it from them? I think you can expect a nominal fee, sometimes it would be free. But if they botch they job you get what you paid for.

As others have said, get the proper tools and do it yourself. No one will care as much for your watch as you do.

[watchmework]

Ive never been charged to take a link out and I don’t have a go to AD.

[1William]

I have never been charged but would have no issue paying a small fee for a job well done.

[brandrea]

I’d expect to pay if I didn’t buy the watch at the store.

[Dirt]

Surely it's not unreasonable to pay to have it done if one didn't purchase the watch from the AD originally.

After all, they do carry a risk of repercussions for them if it goes wrong for some reason.
And none of us would expect to have to perform work requiring our expertise and or tools for nothing.

We can't be like grotty yachties that believe that simply because the wind is free, everything else should be as well

[Dirt]

Originally Posted by Rocket_Man

Didn't buy it from them? I think you can expect a nominal fee, sometimes it would be free. But if they botch they job you get what you paid for.

As others have said, get the proper tools and do it yourself. No one will care as much for your watch as you do.

That is entirely dependant upon having the skills, experience and confidence to carry out the work yourself.
Some people can't change a tap washer let alone carry out a tap re-seating job.

[Roy_S]

Tag shop at Lakeside shopping centre removed links from my partner's Carrera (purchased elsewhere) for free & I got a beer.

[JR16]

I would have no problem paying an AD with whom I have no relationship a nominal fee to change a link- if anything goes wrong, you’ve paid for a service and are owed restitution. Not sure if the same could be said if no cash changes hands. Also, as it is a service they are providing , I do not think it unfair for an AD to charge you a small service fee. With that said, even though my AD would resize for free, after the initial purchase I have done all resizing on my own- as others have said, it is super easy with the right tools.


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[tyler1980]

Originally Posted by JR16

I would have no problem paying an AD with whom I have no relationship a nominal fee to change a link- if anything goes wrong, you’ve paid for a service and are owed restitution. Not sure if the same could be said if no cash changes hands. Also, as it is a service they are providing , I do not think it unfair for an AD to charge you a small service fee. With that said, even though my AD would resize for free, after the initial purchase I have done all resizing on my own- as others have said, it is super easy with the right tools.


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IMO they might as well charge a service fee for showrooming. Want to try on a watch you are going to buy elsewhere?... $25 please. AD's already have a good idea of these customers when they first walk in too because they have never seen them before.

In truth it would actually keep people who dont use AD's anyway out of the AD. Non AD users are the biggest AD complainers when they cant get a watch at retail their grey dealer is charging a premium for and they also cant get as good of a discount from the AD as their grey dealer for un popular watches. Either way they dont buy there anyway but still want to use the services.

BTW im only being halfway serious.

[77T]

The best chance of collecting a scratch, or worse a damaged link screw head, is at an AD. That’s because you don’t always know who is working on the watch in the back.

I agree with watchmakers charging for the service if the watch was purchased elsewhere.

The safest route (outside of DIY) is an independent watchmaker or experienced bench jeweler. Usually you can see the work being done by the actual expert. They will likely charge you, too. But all incoming visitors to their shop are potential customers so you also have a chance to get the bracelet work done gratis.


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[beshannon]

People do not work for free.

If I did not buy something from a store I should expect to pay for their service.

[samson66]

Went to the same AD three times, one time it was $20, the other two times it was free. Go figure

[samson66]

...I should point out none of the three watches they sized were purchased there.