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

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thanks archer, that is helpful. I do understand the point and can make use of your feedback to make for a useful dialog with a watchmaker. With a minor edit, I can make this sound like more of a dialog about scope of work, as you suggest.
 
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thanks archer, that is helpful. I do understand the point and can make use of your feedback to make for a useful dialog with a watchmaker. With a minor edit, I can make this sound like more of a dialog about scope of work, as you suggest.
It's not hard - just ask them what is included in a standard service. If they don't respond with the details you want, either ask them to expand on it, or move on to another watchmaker.

I reply with a scope of service when people ask me if I can service their watches - I don't wait for them to ask me what's included, that will be my first reply once I know what watch they are asking me to work on. Here's my standard reply, which can vary slightly depending on where the customer is located and what the specific watch is:

I first list the price of service...then add the scope...

I always replace the mainspring in each watch that I service, and for the Cal. XXXX in your watch, the new spring is $XX.

Service includes the following:

- Complete disassembly of the movement

- Cleaning of the movement parts

- Inspection of all wear parts for damage

- Reassembly of the movement

- Lubrication

- Adjustment of the movement

- Testing of the movement

- Recasing the movement

- Testing of the assembled watch

- Water resistance testing appropriate to the rating and construction of the watch up to 10 Bar (100 m)*

* - Watches requiring higher pressure tests are subject to an additional $XX fee – optional.

With every watch I service I take photos of the servicing, and provide you with a document that details all the steps taken.

Shipping back to you and applicable taxes are not included in the above prices. Refinishing of cases/bracelets is available on request for an additional fee.

So please review the information above and let me know if you have any questions.


Now will every watchmaker give you this? IMO they should, but if they don't maybe that's someone you don't want to work with. I do get customers that are very specific in their requirements in the very first email they send me, and that's fine. They only want the movement serviced and not refinishing of the case - that's very common. Some have other requirements for things that they specifically do or do not want done, and those are fine. But no one sends me a note telling me how long it should take me to clean and lubricate a balance.
 
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The reality here is this is a commodidized service. We as a group are probably prepared to pay a premium to mitigate against risk. Truth is good guys get to choose their customers, they are certainly not going to bid for work. The old adage of Quick, Good Quality, Cheap - pick 2, is true here. Reality is the good guys are fair, and that's really what we are looking for. Reasonable Quality, in a reasonable time frame for a reasonable price. You get that trifecta you hit the jackpot.

The question you should be asking us is can we recommend someone to service your watch. After that trying to get a slot where they can work on your watch.

I'd expect to pay between 400 and 700. My advice is pay more for someone wirh a solid recommendation
 
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But no one sends me a note telling me how long it should take me to clean and lubricate a balance.
Not just a note, but an AI generated one. I'd be quite insulted.

I think OP is a lost cause, or a masterful troll. There is a huge disconnect here in viewpoints that I cannot see being resolved.
 
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Banned, padders? If this sincere dialog is to get me banned, so be it. Ban away
Wow...First week here, and you are already making friends....
 
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Thanks Redzer and Archer, I have not sent this to any watchmakers, so certainly don't want to offend. I like Archer's approach. Can you all recommend a watchmaker in the US and I will ask for service along the lines of Archer's approach (no need for the AI details after all, I do se how this might be offensive) and certainly willing to pay in the range Redzer suggests.
 
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Thanks Redzer and Archer, I have not sent this to any watchmakers, so certainly don't want to offend. I like Archer's approach. Can you all recommend a watchmaker in the US and I will ask for service along the lines of Archer's approach (no need for the AI details after all, I do se how this might be offensive) and certainly willing to pay in the range Redzer suggests.
Woah, reasonable! I stand corrected, apologies.
 
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I'm in the Austin/Houston area but seems customary to mail it anywhere in US.
 
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Woah, reasonable! I stand corrected, apologies.
Still not someone that I'd inflict on someone I like and want to maintain a good relationship with. Not unless they'd done something similar and you owe them a spot of revenge.
 
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Wow...First week here, and you are already making friends....
Yeah probably could have started off differently lol.
 
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Thanks Redzer and Archer, I have not sent this to any watchmakers, so certainly don't want to offend. I like Archer's approach. Can you all recommend a watchmaker in the US and I will ask for service along the lines of Archer's approach (no need for the AI details after all, I do se how this might be offensive) and certainly willing to pay in the range Redzer suggests.
I do commend you for wanting to get a scope defined ahead of the service. It's just the approach that needed some tweaking...
 
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Archer, I'm fine for all the watchmakers who don't need another customer. I only need one who wants my money and future relationship. But yeah I could rewrite it to soften a bit before sending.
This isn't about wanting money or not. If I got an email like this it would just quickly let me know that this is a very difficult and ignorant potential customer and even if I was on the verge of being homeless I still would refuse to even reply to this email. You're not paying for the actual work done, but all the training that gets the watchmaker to the point you hire them. Super offensive to try to rip them off like this.
 
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Here's a thought -- tell the watchmakers on your distro you are willing to pay for a total of 4.5 hours of their time, and to stop the work and reassemble/ package/ send back within that limit. And let you know what they were not able to do within that time limit, so you can send it off to someone else to finish.
 
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Can you all recommend a watchmaker in the US
Absolutely not. I would not wish you on my worst enemy.
 
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Here is the watch. Yeah I'll not send that email it is a bit extra. But thanks to all for feedback I think I have better idea now of how to find the right relationship to get the watch serviced for the rest of the watch useful life. View attachment 3048106
 
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Here's a thought -- tell the watchmakers on your distro you are willing to pay for a total of 4.5 hours of their time, and to stop the work and reassemble/ package/ send back within that limit. And let you know what they were not able to do within that time limit, so you can send it off to someone else to finish.
It was a time estimate, not a limit. Feedback here is that the service takes a few hours effort to perform (not duration). In any case the idea is to pay fixed price for a scope (like the one mentioned here by archer works well) so counting minutes is not so important. I think archer and redzer got me sorted out here. Thanks!!
 
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I can see this being a serious post. First, the above is correct, you don't want to send this request to anyone.

First, you don't actually know what parts need cleaning, which need what oil, and which need replacing. Or how long it takes. If you did, you could do it yourself.

I do a lot of my own work on cars, and I run into similar things. I will run into an issue, be fairly sure I know what it is, but not enough experience to really know. If I were to go to a mechanic and tell him exactly what to do, how much time it should take, which tools to use, he would laugh at me, and tell me to do it myself. Truth is, if I don't feel confident doing it, I need to let the mechanic run his own check list, repair what he thinks is the issue, and not get in the way.

So basically, you are telling someone how to do their job, and they are going to think that even if they do a perfect job, it might not have been done exactly like you said, and now they have a bad review, and who knows what that costs them. After all, if they do the work, they have agreed to your schedule. You'd have a legal case that they did not provide the service agreed to.

Too much hassle.

TLDR; either do it yourself or let someone else do it their way.
 
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Cool watch, if it were mine I would just send it to Omega and let them do it. Prices are on their website. Just be prepared to wait a couple months to get it back. But it will have a 2 year warranty afterwards also.
 
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Cool watch, if it were mine I would just send it to Omega and let them do it. Prices are on their website. Just be prepared to wait a couple months to get it back. But it will have a 2 year warranty afterwards also.
I agree. It’s not a vintage piece where service parts will diminish the value. Send it to Omega and don’t get all tied up in knots over it.
 
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bsowers - thanks for the feedback. I think I got what you experts are saying: shut up and pay the watch makers, let them do what they normally do, even if it is a bit vague.
Since you feel qualified to tell the watchmaker how to do his work, why don’t you just do the job yourself?