Totally share your thoughts...

However, I do not believe that you will find too many supporters of your frustration with the long service times.

A while back, I wrote in the Patek forum the following comments after reading another year long wait for service by a forum member. Guess what ? I was almost crucified by the moderator and some forum participants for daring to criticize Patek and the watch industry in general, and was told to "accept the industry standards". Suddenly I realized that this is basically a "love fest" forum to share only good experiences and praises of the watches. Since most forum members are resellers, I understand that they dont want to blemish a brand as this may undermine future profitability - makes perfect sense to me and I would do the same if I was a reseller. After this event, I just read the forum and make comments very seldom and only when I see opinions similar to mine. Here is the piece I wrote:

I waited for some time to see the reaction of this community to this thread. But I must state that I am very shocked by the responses.

First of all how can PP have the audacity to keep your watch for 12 months to repair/service??

This clearly shows PP has only respect to money, and not to their clients.

I would have expected PP to offer you the option for a replacement of the movement if it takes longer than 2-3 months to fix it. Of course for a reasonable price.

I am sure PP have tens (if not hundreds) of the same movement on their shelves preparing them for new cases. If PP had the after-sales committment, they would have done something to make you happy first before they move on to the next client.

However, I am equally shocked by the responses in this forum. There is so much "PP Lovefest" going on here that, people are almost blinded from seeing glaring service problems. In fact, people even rationalize poor/slow service as a sign of quality control !!.

To me time is very valuable - as late Steve Jobs said well, I am trying to live my life as if I am going to die tomorrow. If I cannot have my beloved watch repaired/serviced fast, I will not use it. I will not wait 12 months for a repair/service.

Please do not misunderstand me. I love Patek watches and have several of them and wear my favorite 5140G daily. However, after spending nearly $100K for a watch, I want fast service when I need it.

Cheers Jim

Repair of Lange Watch takes more then a year

By: Casiboy : May 11th, 2013-07:17

I have sent in a Lange und Söhne for new hands a year ago. Since November they tell me it will come next month. It was sent in last June and is in the factory now. I ask myself do others have the same expirience. What can I do in such a case?

My experience with Lange

By: radone : May 11th, 2013-08:14

I don't know about repairs, but it took them almost 9 months to make a complete revision, case and movement, of my Grosse Langematik. Best, R

Many Lange repairs done in Germany have been taking a VERY long time lately...

By: CR : May 11th, 2013-08:20

I'm sorry to hear this! A year to change hands (or for any repair) is extraordinary, even if we assume that Lange is doing more than just changing the hands on your watch (because they've found other parts of the movement that need replacement, etc.). And...

Totally unacceptable

By: chintu : May 12th, 2013-10:24

Let us not brush this under the carpet and accept that it would take six months or more to get a watch reparied by a top manufature. We pay serious money to get high end watches from reputed houses based on two things. 1.Expectation of superlative workman...