Independents

I just came across this on SJX. Any insights? ...  

Any link?

He updated the text as follows: "Based on my knowledge of a significant number of clients not receiving watches according to schedule, as well as a lack of communication or refunds after non-delivery, I do not endorse Hajime Asaoka-branded watches in any ... 

Indicating that it is extremely difficult to communicate with him. Often no response etc. To make it clear, not based on personal experience! Br, Dirk

And i spoke to someone who’s lives close by the brand and told me the same as this email . What if there is a issue in the future with your watch and you can’t communicate with him about it !!! I think he has got some pr people working for him now and may... 

I believe I also posted on here before that I wrote e-mails and never got a reply. I even wrote him in Japanese. No response.

Obviously he had either a bad experience or some argument with him. Hard to comment since we don’t have a clue about what happened...

for a journalist to endorse, or "not endorse," any commercial product.

Actually, Asaoka's website still has the link to SJX's article on the chrono done in 2017 which has now been replaced with the "notice". Not sure if he is aware or no one maintains the website on regularly.

Most sites out there, unless it is just a personal blog, are all commercial sites.

watchesbysjx.com

There is a reason I frequent the SJX blog/site more frequently than the others, save for perhaps Quill & Pad - and that is due to the personal anecdotes injected into the articles. SJX has no problem breaking down auction previews, new releases and in... 

No message body

thanks for clarifying.

And I think it's clear that a person can be a gifted watchmaker while not understanding how to handle the personal side very well.

It mentions the issues a number of people have had.

What an odd thing to say if you're not going to give any further information. I do know from someone who has or had a pending order that there have been delays over the past year or so, bad batch of dials I think. And he is a hard man to get a hold of, no... 

Paid a deposit with the AD of Hajime in Singapore after the launch event which Hajime himself attended. Since then I have been in regular touch with my AD on delivery. It is definitely taking a long time but to be fair, my AD has been regularly checking i...  

It’s good to balance off the hearsay of this thread.

Fingers crossed I can get my delivery in 2020

Great to hear this as I don’t believe all these bad experiences are on purpose.

Or something specific happened which may not apply to all customers of Hajime Happy to share my personal experience Cheers Robin

So, here's the lastest update from SJX (in addition to an earlier update, below the Hajime Asaoka's Website pic/caption). I am a fan of SJX's publication, period. There's no denying that. I read and prefer his presentation than most other holorogy related...  

FYI for those who are wondering. Below link will bring you to one of the post of my personal and direct experience. Read also my other posts on the same thread. That said, all the shopping means some risk. If the watch you love is worth the risk, it's yo... 

I think that going through AD, if any, may be the better idea to deal with this type of brands, who apparently prefer AD to end-customers (understandably, those independents tend to have less resource). So, maybe, just maybe, those who ordered through AD ... 

Mike

.. to be bullied here any more, so I will be quiet and short, ONLY when I feel I have to say something. I got enough PTSD When are you coming back to Tokyo? Are you and your wife all right over there? Give my best regards to her, please. Ken

. . . long gone. 😌 Best, Art PS - please send an e-mail to my personal e-mail account. I'm changing it soon and have lost track of your e-mail address.

Yup, I know. But PTSD still stays in my head. Their friends are still here, I believe, who have been made to believe that I am a bad guy.

you have no need to hide from them. Come back here and post. I don't visit as often as I want but I always love hearing your view on things.

We’ve talked about this issue before, and your experience was valuable. I think you may be correct in distinguishing the AD route from direct. The AD covers all communication, can perhaps better manage expectations and address disappointments. In addition... 

Just so happened that Yang told me about this thread, and I thought people need to know my direct experience about it. I am not saying THIS situation is same as mine, but may give all some clue. And, umn, I don't understand the last sentence. I am Japanes... 

Unfortunately my plans to spend a month in Tokyo this summer got derailed, along with the Olympics! Now unlikely I will be there in the fall either. Hopefully sooner rather than later but I can’t see any travel occurring this year. Stay well, and healthy.... 

For sure, independents should respect ADs more since they carry the weight (threat?) of losing the independent more business than some arbitrary end consumer; however, my experience is that it's only so helpful. I had one issue with an independent where t... 

Communication and mutual understanding are both extremely important when dealing with independents, unless you have a very trustworthy intermediary or middlemen. But that cannot be known until you actually try. So, that is where this type or "forum" gives... 

And I fully agree with your statement

Stay safe, stay healthy, I hope.

Hope we can meet again in the near future 🤗

Amsterdam has become our favorite city, so we will surely visit again!

Speaking as someone else whose posting has become less frequent, it is encouraging to see that you are still visiting the forum and maintaining your interest. Those who are too ‘new’ to recognise you should know that there is a very knowledgeable collecto... 

.. it is nice to see an old familiar face here. You, too, my friend. I was being bullied by then-fellow mods and their friends (I am sure they are still here), and in the end, for a different unreasonable reason, banned. After more than a year, unbanned f... 

KIH is top notch gentleman.

Ken has really gone out of his way in the past to act in a manner which is consistent with the unselfish brotherhood for which this platform was known. If only there were more people like Ken! Cheers, pplater.