Sure Omega doesn't like it -- they need their boutiques to be profitable. So they need a certain mark-up to sustain the level of service, etc. they want their boutiques to offer. The issue is that is a somewhat outdated business model for many consumers, and these customers do not wish to fund such operations. I bought Omegas because they are Omegas -- not because I hope they one day turn into Rolexes. To me Rolex does not have a cachet, although I am slowly starting to appreciate *some* of their watches. I had numerous jewelers advise against buying them years back because they were considered in many circles to be overpriced for what they offered, and mainly status symbols. And yes, many Rolex buyers bought them because, well, they were Rolexes and not because they actually knew anything about watches.
Omega boutiques and ADs are there for those who fear they will be buying a watch that will have issues during the 2-5 year warranty period, and are willing to pay a 25-30% premium because of their concern. GMDs are there for people who do not share such fears, and who also know the pluses and minuses. There is nothing magical about the technologies in the Omegas, and as others have said there are many watchmakers who can make repairs if needed. There are only so many parts that can break/ have issues. In the end, (to use a car analogy) it's all bolt-on stuff. There would likely be very, very few instances where a brand new Omega is a true lemon with so many things wrong that it cannot be repaired.
This thread appears to be a classic case of "a little knowledge is dangerous"...
First since this keeps being repeated, I'll keep clarifying it. Swatch has not cut off any independent repair shops with the new policy. They have cut off 3rd party resellers of parts, so the only people who can't get parts are those who never bought them directly from Swatch in the first place.
If a watchmaker wants to become an approved shop there is a path to do so, so parts are still available to those who have gone through or will go through that process.
Second, the only time Omega is not going to service a watch is if it is a complete fake, or if it's so old they no longer have the parts to repair it. They do not refuse to service watches that were bought through the grey market, or that have aftermarket parts in them, etc. You will have to pay for the service and pay for any incorrect parts to be replaced, but they do not refuse watches because of these things. To suggest otherwise is just fear mongering. A member here has a pretty obvious agenda. Don't buy into his rhetoric.
Third, I'm not sure where you read that regulating a co-axial requires a special machine only available from Omega, but this is completely false. You appear to be mixing 2 issues together...one is that a wrench is required to adjust the timing screws on the balance wheel, and that is a special tool available from Omega. However aftermarket versions exist, and in a pinch even a Rolex Micro Stella tool (or an aftermarket version of that tool) will work. This tool is not a machine by most people's definition:
The other is the timing machine has to be modern and of high enough quality to have a program specifically for co-axial escapements in order to read the balance amplitude correctly (timekeeping and beat error will be fine even without this program). A cheap Chinese made machine won't work well, but I don't know any really professional watchmakers who use such machines.
Cheers, Al
Great -- thanks! But if you respect it, why do you start so many threads unequivocally stating otherwise?
Pretty basic econ is examining how supply and demand curves intersect to determine best pricing. Monopolistic companies that inflate prices typically get undercut in the free market. It's not "cheap devalued discounted goods" as much as "overpriced, artificial price controls"[/QUOTE/
I have an opinion, you have yours. I purchase from the manufacturer and follow their advice after all I am buying their product.
Really? Why can't you seem to understand just because something is offered at a discount does not mean anyone is devaluing it. But I am sure glad the steak dinner I had was devalued, because it was good enough I would have paid full price. But why? If you don't need to. Just as an aside are you an Omega Company Man, or do you always act like a sanctimonious, self-righteous, condescending ass?
And that I will agree with you on !
At least we all had a good discussion. Final thought, all our Omegas are real and not fake. They can be serviced any way we want to varying levels of success as can any other brand. However, Omega will give us all the option of having it serviced with them if that is what we want and provide a warranty. Happy days.😀😀😀😀
Really? Why can't you seem to understand just because something is offered at a discount does not mean anyone is devaluing it. But I am sure glad the steak dinner I had was devalued, because it was good enough I would have paid full price. But why? If you don't need to. Just as an aside are you an Omega Company Man, or do you always act like a sanctimonious, self-righteous, condescending ass?
I feel so unclean now because I asked the AD for discount when I bought my SM 300 Master Co-Axial - it has devalued the Omega brand.
By the way, they were happy to reduce the price; as they were 3 years ago when I devalued the Breitling brand.
So here's an alternative. Forget the boutique - they can only give you freebies - and push the AD for as much discount as you can get (if you don't ask, you won't get) I won't disclose how far you can push my local AD but see how good you are. If you are not happy with the final price, you can always walk away.
I feel so unclean now because I asked the AD for discount when I bought my SM 300 Master Co-Axial
