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Support independent Watchmakers!

Northernman
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500 responses any minute and counting.馃憤馃憤馃憤
Spread the word, and spend a fraction of your online time on something meaningful other than tracking down more vintage watches!!馃槈

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/swiss_watches

No idea if we will accomplish anything, but it sure won't hurt a very important cause.
 
Buck2466
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Done..... I'd like to be known as the one who broke the camel's back!
 
U
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Wetworks Wetworks
My commentary from the survey:

"As most Swiss-made watches maintain their dependability well beyond the typical warranty period, a buyer should have the option to have their watch serviced by a professional of their choosing. As with automobiles, most owners will cease visiting the dealership once the warranty is over and will instead frequent their local mechanic, whom they trust. Such mechanics (as well as DIYers) have multiple avenues to obtain OEM parts and there is no reason the same shouldn't be true of watch owners."

The problem is that while US automakers and any other country's brands will subscribe to this, the Swiss are of a totally different mindset. If you told them that American watch owners wanted to do DIY services on their timepieces, they'd either faint or laugh - and then consider other ways to make it even harder for us backyard mechanics to get our greasy, grubby mitts on parts of any kind.

Do you guys realize the Swiss think they're superior in mind and skills to every other nation's workforce on the planet? I don't think you grasp the elitism.
 
ELV web
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U ulackfocus
The problem is that while US automakers and any other country's brands will subscribe to this, the Swiss are of a totally different mindset. If you told them that American watch owners wanted to do DIY services on their timepieces, they'd either faint or laugh - and then consider other ways to make it even harder for us backyard mechanics to get our greasy, grubby mitts on parts of any kind.

Do you guys realize the Swiss think they're superior in mind and skills to every other nation's workforce on the planet? I don't think you grasp the elitism.
I think American car makers also had similar mindset until something changed it. Of course I am comparing apple to orange, but you know, doesn't hurt to try.
Edited:
 
STANDY
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If you want to compare Apple to the Swiss instead of oranges that wont take long.....
 
WatchGuyUK
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523 surveys submitted, and the results have been pretty stable since we hit 100 surveys. Satisfaction levels are far higher with independent watch repairers, and so is the trust level.
I will let it run for a week or so, and then send the results to the FH for comment.
Thank you, everyone, for your support!
 
gatorcpa
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U ulackfocus
Do you guys realize the Swiss think they're superior in mind and skills to every other nation's workforce on the planet? I don't think you grasp the elitism.
If anything, the results of this survey will only encourage more restrictions as they confirm the truth. That the manufacturers' service centers have a long way to go to come close to the quality of local independent watchmakers. One way for manufacturers to even the playing field is to drive the independents out of business. This is what the Swiss are looking for, at least with respect to modern watches. They certainly didn't invent this tactic. Go try to find parts for a 30 or 40 years old Seiko. Good luck with that.

The only thing, and I mean the only thing that can save the independent watchmaking business 20 years into the future would be government regulations requiring the sale of current model watch parts to independents. This exists in the automobile industry (at least in the US) and is why you have a choice once your car is out of warranty to go where you want.

Given that nationwide about 95% of the population own automobiles, while maybe 0.1% own mechanical watches, lobbying for this type of legislation for watch parts would be a non-starter politically.

http://iipdigital.usembassy.gov/st/english/pamphlet/2012/05/201205165791.html

Not to be a Debbie Downer, but I find the poll a waste of time. IMO it will only serve to strengthen the Swiss watch companies' case for exclusivity.
gatorcpa
 
U
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gatorcpa gatorcpa
If anything, the results of this survey will only encourage more restrictions as they confirm the truth. That the manufacturers' service centers have a long way to go to come close to the quality of local independent watchmakers. One way for manufacturers to even the playing field is to drive the independents out of business. This is what the Swiss are looking for, at least with respect to modern watches. They certainly didn't invent this tactic. Go try to find parts for a 30 or 40 years old Seiko. Good luck with that.

The only thing, and I mean the only thing that can save the independent watchmaking business 20 years into the future would be government regulations requiring the sale of current model watch parts to independents. This exists in the automobile industry (at least in the US) and is why you have a choice once your car is out of warranty to go where you want.

Given that nationwide about 95% of the population own automobiles, while maybe 0.1% own mechanical watches, lobbying for this type of legislation for watch parts would be a non-starter politically.

http://iipdigital.usembassy.gov/st/english/pamphlet/2012/05/201205165791.html

Not to be a Debbie Downer, but I find the poll a waste of time. IMO it will only serve to strengthen the Swiss watch companies' case for exclusivity.
gatorcpa

Well, at least I have company while bash.gif trying to get through to this group. You guys really think you're being altruistic and fighting that good fight in the name of the independent watchmaker..... but you didn't stop to realize your actions could backfire. 馃う Independents have ALREADY tried similar paths, even won a US Supreme Court case, and all it did was irritate the Swiss into toying with them and finding loopholes to make it even harder to maintain a parts account. Nobody, abso-friggin-lootely NOBODY, is going to tell the Swiss how to run their business.

They blow their noses at independent watchmakers. They fart in their general direction. Now go away before they taunt watchmakers a second time.
 
U
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Northernman Northernman
500 responses any minute and counting.馃憤馃憤馃憤

Wow, a whole 500? The Swiss sell more watches in an hour than that. 馃檮 This whole thing reminds me of the grade school kid who makes campaign promises to the entire student body to get a soda machine in the school cafeteria whilst the teachers and principal smirk, knowing it won't happen, and that the district is going in the complete opposite direction by changing pizza day to salad & tofu day.
 
Northernman
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U ulackfocus
Wow, a whole 500? The Swiss sell more watches in an hour than that. 馃檮 This whole thing reminds me of the grade school kid who makes campaign promises to the entire student body to get a soda machine in the school cafeteria whilst the teachers and principal smirk, knowing it won't happen, and that the district is going in the complete opposite direction by changing pizza day to salad & tofu day.
Dennis. Grow up or go play some other place馃憥.
 
gatorcpa
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Northernman Northernman
Dennis. Grow up or go play some other place馃憥.
I'm backing Dennis on this. Understand that...they just don't care!

You seem to have a notion that business should be run as a democracy, listening to and serving the public whenever possible. That's a nice thought, but it doesn't happen that way in the real world.

I see this as more like when your child screams and throws a temper tantrum because you won't buy her a pony. Never mind that you live in an apartment building in the middle of the city, miles from the nearest stable. She just wants that pony.

Y'all are compiling a bunch of data that actually makes the watch companies' business case for them, with the idea that it's going to change their minds?

I can't imagine a more useless exercise.馃槵
gatorcpa
 
U
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Northernman Northernman
Dennis. Grow up or go play some other place馃憥.

Actually, if you could see the watch industry even partially as it really is you'd realize you need to reverse that statement. As I said before, you have a teenage "I'm gonna change the world!" naivety about this whole situation.

..... but don't worry, I'm done trying to open your eyes to the truth. Keep on tilting at that confounded windmill Don! The only one who's gonna get "set straight" is you - and the other watch owners - when the Swiss tire of these proletarian dalliances.
 
Northernman
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gatorcpa gatorcpa
I'm backing Dennis on this. Understand that...they just don't care!

You seem to have a notion that business should be run as a democracy, listening to and serving the public whenever possible. That's a nice thought, but it doesn't happen that way in the real world.

I see this as more like when your child screams and throws a temper tantrum because you won't buy her a pony. Never mind that you live in an apartment building in the middle of the city, miles from the nearest stable. She just wants that pony.

Y'all are compiling a bunch of data that actually makes the watch companies' business case for them, with the idea that it's going to change their minds?

I can't imagine a more useless exercise.馃槵
gatorcpa
We disagree on the matter, but you are making a clear argument for your case.
I respect that.
The previous posts by certain members have however reach a level I normally do not expect other than on WUS and similar fora.
It may well be a difference in culture, both community and business that makes us see the issue differently from here in Europe.
There is also a background history to this poll that brings with it another layer which in my case made me actually see some sense in it.
馃憤
 
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