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A long and strange RFP based approach to requesting a service on a watch

howdy
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I plan to send out this request for proposal to three US based watchmakers. Any feedback from the Omega community on this scope? The idea is to define a basic and functional lube service at a price. The watch seems to work fine, I want it lubed and assessed. Here is Perplexity AI's draft RFP
Request for Proposal: Omega Speedmaster 3211.30 Lubrication and Assessment Watch Specifications:
  • Model: Omega Speedmaster 3211.30.00
  • Movement: Automatic self-winding chronograph, Caliber 1164
  • Serial Number: 8583xxxx (2013 production)
  • Watch has never been serviced. It has been in use regularly and seems to work well, but also seems it could use some attention. Current Performance:
    • Time loss: 1-2 minutes per week
    • Power reserve: Keeps time for 36 hours after full wind
Scope of Work:
  1. Disassembly and Lubrication of Key Areas:
a) Balance Staff
  • Estimated time: 30 minutes
  • Steps: Remove balance wheel, clean pivots, apply Moebius 9010 to upper and lower jewels
b) Escape Wheel
  • Estimated time: 45 minutes
  • Steps: Remove escape wheel, clean thoroughly, apply Moebius 9010 to pivots
c) Mainspring Barrel
  • Estimated time: 60 minutes
  • Steps: Disassemble barrel, clean mainspring, apply Moebius HP 1300 to barrel arbor
d) Automatic Winding Mechanism
  • Estimated time: 45 minutes
  • Steps: Disassemble rotor, clean reversing wheels, apply Moebius HP 1300 to gear teeth and pivots
  1. Assessment and Documentation:
  • Estimated time: 30 minutes
  • Perform a thorough examination of all movement components
  • Provide a written report detailing:
    • Condition of gear teeth, pivots, and jewels
    • State of mainspring
    • Any signs of wear or damage to chronograph components
    • Recommendations for additional servicing or parts replacement, if necessary
  1. Reassembly and Testing:
  • Estimated time: 60 minutes
  • Carefully reassemble the movement
  • Conduct timing tests and adjust as needed
  • Verify power reserve and chronograph functions
Total Estimated Technician Time: 4.5 hours Please provide a fixed price quote for the entire scope of work as outlined above. Your quote should include all labor, materials, and any additional fees. While we have provided time estimates, we understand that actual time may vary based on your professional assessment. We kindly request that you confirm your status as an Omega-qualified watchmaker in your response. Please also indicate your earliest availability to perform this service and an estimated turnaround time.Thank you for your consideration. We look forward to your quote and any additional insights you may have regarding the limited scope servicing of this treasured Omega Speedmaster.
 
dsio
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That’s one of the oddest approaches to getting a watch serviced I’ve seen. I’d guess most watchmakers would consider it spam and delete it as there’s zero money to be made off someone who sends you something like that.
 
howdy
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dsio dsio
That’s one of the oddest approaches to getting a watch serviced I’ve seen. I’d guess most watchmakers would consider it spam and delete it as there’s zero money to be made off someone who sends you something like that.
Thank for the feedback. I'd pay what he asks.
 
502 to right
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howdy howdy
I plan to send out this request for proposal to three US based watchmakers.
Howdy!

This isn't how it watchmakers work. This isn't a million dollar government contract. There's no need for this level of detail.

Just ask the watchmaker how much they charge for a full service and if parts are included.
Edited:
 
howdy
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Thanks for the feedback. He won't know what parts are needed so how would he quote a blind price? Seems to me there are about four things to lube, on a watch that currently works fine. Just looking for a guy in the US who will do this work.
 
502 to right
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howdy howdy
Thanks for the feedback. He won't know what parts are needed so how would he quote a blind price? Seems to me there are about four things to lube, on a watch that currently works fine. Just looking for a guy in the US who will do this work.
He won't know what parts are needed, if any, until the watch is disassembled and inspected. Unless you have the watch serviced by an Omega Service Center, parts are not normally included. With Omega the price would be $700, assuming you are in the USA, and this includes any movement parts that need to be replaced.
 
JimInOz
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howdy howdy
I plan to send out this request for proposal to three US based watchmakers. Any feedback from the Omega community on this scope? The idea is to define a basic and functional lube service at a price. The watch seems to work fine, I want it lubed and assessed. Here is Perplexity AI's draft RFP
Request for Proposal: Omega Speedmaster 3211.30 Lubrication and Assessment Watch Specifications:
  • Model: Omega Speedmaster 3211.30.00
  • Movement: Automatic self-winding chronograph, Caliber 1164
  • Serial Number: 8583xxxx (2013 production)
  • Watch has never been serviced. It has been in use regularly and seems to work well, but also seems it could use some attention. Current Performance:
    • Time loss: 1-2 minutes per week
    • Power reserve: Keeps time for 36 hours after full wind
Scope of Work:
  1. Disassembly and Lubrication of Key Areas:
a) Balance Staff
  • Estimated time: 30 minutes
  • Steps: Remove balance wheel, clean pivots, apply Moebius 9010 to upper and lower jewels
b) Escape Wheel
  • Estimated time: 45 minutes
  • Steps: Remove escape wheel, clean thoroughly, apply Moebius 9010 to pivots
c) Mainspring Barrel
  • Estimated time: 60 minutes
  • Steps: Disassemble barrel, clean mainspring, apply Moebius HP 1300 to barrel arbor
d) Automatic Winding Mechanism
  • Estimated time: 45 minutes
  • Steps: Disassemble rotor, clean reversing wheels, apply Moebius HP 1300 to gear teeth and pivots
  1. Assessment and Documentation:
  • Estimated time: 30 minutes
  • Perform a thorough examination of all movement components
  • Provide a written report detailing:
    • Condition of gear teeth, pivots, and jewels
    • State of mainspring
    • Any signs of wear or damage to chronograph components
    • Recommendations for additional servicing or parts replacement, if necessary
  1. Reassembly and Testing:
  • Estimated time: 60 minutes
  • Carefully reassemble the movement
  • Conduct timing tests and adjust as needed
  • Verify power reserve and chronograph functions
Total Estimated Technician Time: 4.5 hours Please provide a fixed price quote for the entire scope of work as outlined above. Your quote should include all labor, materials, and any additional fees. While we have provided time estimates, we understand that actual time may vary based on your professional assessment. We kindly request that you confirm your status as an Omega-qualified watchmaker in your response. Please also indicate your earliest availability to perform this service and an estimated turnaround time.Thank you for your consideration. We look forward to your quote and any additional insights you may have regarding the limited scope servicing of this treasured Omega Speedmaster.

Also plan to receive three replies you may not like.

Can't wait to see what @Archer thinks.

::stirthepot::
 
Peemacgee
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@howdy the problem with compiling an RFP ( for anything) is that YOU have to know what you’re talking about otherwise you leave yourself open to criticism and liable for any omissions in your RFP.

The timings quoted for some sections are quite ludicrous.
Take the last two sections as examples.

Assessment and documentation- 30 mins.
Could you assess and write a report on every bit of a watch in 30 minutes?

Reassembly and testing - 60 mins.
Could you reassemble and test a watch in an hour?
Hint: watches are tested for days not minutes.

Like the others - I think you’re pissing into the wind with this approach.
Edited:
 
YY77
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Omega certified/qualified watchmakers are trained to know what they should do by Omega, good luck on telling them what you expect them to do.::facepalm1::
 
JimInOz
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I'd also add that a watchmaker rarely devotes his complete/uninterrupted time to a single watch, so accounting for "time spent on your watch" will be a bit like costing from a lawyer, and would be just as expensive.

Many watchmakers have a number of jobs in the pipeline and don't have time to record the minutes and seconds they handle your actual watch or part thereof.

That's why they have set prices for servicing various movements. Some may take more time than expected and cost the watchmaker a bit more, some may go very smoothly and come in "under budget" (but not by much).
 
Omarrye
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I’m genuinely curious—do you do the same when trying to fix your car?
 
Jakeys
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Request for Time Back: Forum Post About Omega Speedmaster Contract

Post Specifications:
Forum: Omega Forums
Thread: “RFP to Lube Omega Speedmaster"
Post Length: 392 words (of substance: 0 words)
Time wasted: 5 minutes
Mental fatigue: Medium-high

Scope of Work:
Please provide a fixed rate of compensation for time spent reading this thread. Compensation can be offset against benefit of amusement at considering if someone would seriously send this to a business and expect anything other than bemusement at best. We kindly request that you confirm your status as an Omega owner in your response. Please also indicate your earliest availability to PayPal the compensation funds, and an estimated turnaround time.Thank you for your consideration. We look forward to your bright future on the forum and any additional insights you may have regarding your strange outlook on how to interact with businesses as a random customer off the street.
 
Dan S
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Clearly we are being trolled. Nobody could truly be that much of a jackass.
 
rbob99
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Dan S Dan S
Clearly we are being trolled. Nobody could truly be that much of a jackass.
I'm not so sure.
 
Jakeys
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Dan S Dan S
Clearly we are being trolled. Nobody could truly be that much of a jackass.
Maybe, but honestly maybe not. I'm not sure if everyone caught it but this is just an "AI" generated response, OP didn't write any of it and likely has absolutely no idea what to expect or why it's absurd. This is a thing people are increasingly doing with the rise of LLMs. You cannot just parrot their word salad verbatim or you get this hilarity.
 
Dan S
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I did see that the text was AI-generated. But nobody could seriously think that someone would respond to an RFP for a routine job that takes a few hours of their time. Just the fact that he called it an RFP is absurd, like he's putting a big project out for bids. He's just toying with the forum.
 
Jakeys
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Dan S Dan S
I did see that the text was AI-generated. But nobody could seriously think that someone would respond to an RFP for a routine job that takes a few hours of their time. Just the fact that he called it an RFP is absurd, like he's putting a big project out for bids. He's just toying with the forum.
It's a pretty good troll if so heh. I enjoyed seeing it. I'm honestly 50/50.
 
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