Timertom
430
Hope for the best!
I've laid out the facts as best as I could, and thank this forum for providing me this opportunity.
I do hope this informs future Patek buyers in India of what to expect 20 years after they buy their PP watches (which are so well made, they will last 200 yrs when properly looked after). I hope Patek does show some responsibility and puts in an honest effort to change the service situation Indian customers are facing. I have written to the company over the last two years voicing these concerns, as well as spoken to and met the AD in India (as well as in other countries) putting across these views. But, the fact is I am yet to receive any proper response, and I am still required and expected to travel outside the country each time I need to have my watch tended to.
I remain amused with people that feel its my responsibility to find out, present or resolve the customs (or whatever) problems that prevent Patek from providing proper service in India. I would have understood this point of view were Patek not officially present and selling watches in India, or in the event that Patek did not have an authorized service agent in India (which they do). The truth of the matter is Patek needs to first acknowledge there is a problem, then step in to macro manage their problem without putting their customers through unfair hardship, and provide a solution that allows owners to receive good service in India.
Yes, India has Draconian rules and corruption is rampant, but addressing such a crucial issue is not totally impossible, as is proven by a similar company like Omega facing no service issues within this same country.
I, along with many Indians do love and admire what Patek makes and gives us, and sincerely hope they find a way to bring their service and spare parts backup here properly, because I do wish to keep my PP watches for many more years, and I do wish to purchase and own more Pateks as well.
Vintage Patek service issues
Its a sad fact that Patek's limited service capability and network for vintage pieces is making it extremely inconvenient and difficult to own vintage Pateks if you live outside Geneva. Owning and looking after vintage Patek watches has become inconvenien...
What is the Main Point to this Post?
its not PPs fault that your customs have issues or are difficult , how about sending your watch to the closest AD in the nearest country then travel wouldnt be that bad for you, the perils of vintage watches )
PointToBeNotedIs----
I agree, Its not Patek's fault that India has customs issues, but this is not the fault of the Patek buyer here either. Besides, the onus should lie with Patek (not Patek clients) to work around local problems existing in a market they sell watches to, to...
One point
Hi, One point I agree is that Patek Philippe's representative in India should IMO take the responsability to send watches back to Switzerland, but at the expense of the watch owner if it's out of warranty. Is the representative owned by patek Philippe or ...
NotPatekOwned
The Patek representative is not to the best of my knowledge owned by Patek. Yes, you are absolutely right. I would have absolutely no complaints if the Patek AD in India were at least able to take my watch in and sent it from here to Geneva (certainly and...
STOP WHINGING
As you said yourself, it was CUSTOMS having an issue with PP which prevented the watch being shipped in/out of the country. Furthermore, i definitely understand why their PP watchmaker in India would not be allowed to open the watch. It is for your own be...
ServiceIsAMust
Cerainly, I understand my delicate timepiece needs to be handled by only a suitably trained and skilled watchmaker. But Patek is not the only company selling precious objects in India. Several other companies sell precious objects here, and provide all th...
Just enjoy it now!
What i'm saying is that for a vintage piece, i'm sure they have their reasons for wanting to ensure only the right watchmaker handles it. If you do own a vintage bugatti from the 80s, i'm sure your local bugatti dealer would not have the spare parts or th...
PatekIsAtFault
You are mistaken, Patek is at fault, having sold watches for decades to customers in a market where they are now unable (for whatever reason) to provide thorough and proper service and spares backup. Its easy for you to say move on with life, because its ...
WalkInThePark?
Furthermore, the casual manner in which Lobo says Indians need to drop vintage Pateks off at Patek dealers in nearby countries suggests this is just as simple and convenient as taking a stroll in the park located just around the block. To justify travelli...
India Customs
What i'm saying is the current issues between patek and indian customs has to be sorted out. In the meantime, all you could do is find the next best solution rather than complaining about the inefficiencies. I'm sure there are many reasons why the CUSTOMS...
YouMissTheWholePoint
My friend, You're missing my whole point- - which is, that it needs to be Patek that works around/ tackles or addresses the problem whatever it is, and not me as an owner (which is today the case). Patek should be able to do whatever it takes, to find a w...
you can voice your protest by....
boycotting PP in India and selling all your Patek's. If they are not taking care of your needs, they are likely not taking care of other customers also so if you feel strongly about this matter, protest and boycott PP. Buy Omega, Rolex or whatever brand p...
PpItIs
Hi Wilson, 'voice my protest' has me smiling. I do own a few other brands, but would simply hate to sell my Pateks, of which I instead hope to buy more! I admire and love Patek's beautiful watches, and so hope to urge the company to work towards bringing ...
So you are a true PP Aficionado!
Then you need to spend some time writing the Sterns in Geneva and be the "squeaky wheel" describing your problem and asking them why Rolex and Omega are able to satisfy their customers and not PP, in India. It always takes one person to start the revoluti...
After reading your initial post and many of the replies,
I agree with you that PP should make every effort to bring all services, for modern or vintage watches, they promote on their website to the agent in India. If they cannot provide all the services to their Indian distributor, then maybe they shouldn't be ...
I would suggest....
that you voice your concerns directly with PP..... It might be a case of a bad AD.... If PP has an AD in your country, they should be able to resolve any custom problems, since you are willing to pay for the costs.... Good luck.... Cheers
AdIsGood
Hi PinkPanther, I have and continue to voice my concerns directly with Patek over some time, but am yet to get a satisfactory response. I believe this problem has more to do with Patek's inadequate commitment towards India, and lack of presence and will t...
Well....
If I would not be satisfied with a Manufacturer or an AD, then I would simply not give them my business.... Having said that, I have only dealt briefly with PP directly and have been very satisfied.... Good luck... Cheers
ProductNotTheProblem
Lets put it like so, I am more than satisfied with the product. Its common knowledge it would be hard to find mass produced watches that match what Patek gives us. However, its this same company's 'half-hearted' attitude towards this particular market, an...
Why can't the watch be shipped?
Can you explain this to the point where we can all understand why a watch cannot be shuipped from one country to another for repair?? Your entire problem seems based on this one problem. "neither are they allowed to accept the watch to send to PP due to c...
PP should explain this
Sorry, Yes, this is the problem. But I can't answer why, because I honestly know not why. This is something Patek will be better placed to answer. The reason I am told is the customs have unreasonable demands which PP cannot work with.
SurprisingResponses
Many of the responses to this post of mine have surprised me. Is it not clear that I am not asking for favours or freebies from Patek, but only that Patek delivers what they owe me as a paying customer after they are present, and sell watches in my market...
Responses
Rashid, The responses do not surprise me as an observer. I thought most of those responding were somewhat restrained. Your original post and many of your replies seem to be pointing the finger at Patek for systemic problems that arise in many Third World ...
More customs information
I have a hard time believing that Patek will not comply with customs demands from India. Patek does business world-wide and I have not seen any other countries that have issues with shipping items to Patek. Furthermore, I think your lone India-based Patek...
incompetent rep
Just my 2 cents worth If PP's competitors can do the level of service but PP cannot, definitely PP's rep in India is incompetent. You can write to PP and suggest that they review their rep in India, I am sure there are many other reps who are capable and ...
The blame does lie at Patek's end
Yes, I do clearly blame Patek, and no one else, not the AD, because the blame does finally lie with them as the parent company to resolve WHATEVER the problems involved are. Such matters should be looked after and taken care of within their internal syste...
In my opinion.....
Ivanclai is right.... Having said that PP cannot be responsible for an AD for their actions as ADs do not belong to them..... PP is responsible for their company and boutiques...... If an AD is not fulfilling their responsibilities then you should inform ...
Stop now please!
Hi, You wrote: " The logic where people claim Patek is free to sell me the watch, make money in India and then sit absolved, washing its hands of the case citing excuses like unique local reasons and problems is wrong logic. Patek Philippe is ultimately r...
Sorry to hear your problem.
You should lodge a formal complaint to the President of PP, state your problem and give your constructive suggestion and solution to the problem. You may want to give PP a chance to improve their after sale service. Have you heard of VC stationed a watchm...
This post is ridiculous. Stop whining.
The watch is vintage. It is not under warranty. While PP does service all its vintage pieces, this watch is not under warranty. Therefore it is the owner's responsibility to get the watch to PP for service. If PP will not accept the watch through its AD i...
This is India
I've done many a projects for Indian clients, private and government. Many things in India are very frustrating....you have of course only mentioned this one problem. And I might say, you of all people know how rediculas things can be in India, so you can...
Hope for the best!
I've laid out the facts as best as I could, and thank this forum for providing me this opportunity. I do hope this informs future Patek buyers in India of what to expect 20 years after they buy their PP watches (which are so well made, they will last 200 ...
Just a little reminder ...
Gentlemen, having read this thread, I thought it might be heplful to remind us all of the Discussion Board Code of Conduct. Nothing is to be said against a brisk discussion, but I sometimes (really just sometimes) felt liveliness was turning into personal...
Anaesdoc, hear, hear nicely timed....
I had the distinct feeling going by some comments made that the discussion was starting to go the wrong way. Which would be a shame.