Mark in Paris
[Purist]
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Patrick has brought an element of answer
and I think the volumes are also an important criteria to take into account. The higher the volumes, the more difficult it is to face the wide potential returns: how many are back for servicing? 60% 65% 40% ? On the volumes Patek makes a single 1% has a huge impact in terms of means to be planned.
If you add the fast growth of sales in the last 20 years, it is quite easy to understand that the brand has to face a big challenge in adapting its facilities and workforce.
I think the new 500M€ project is aiming at facing this issue.
And I see on the net troubles with other brands too by the way.
However, I'm very cautious with extrapolating on a few posts about people facing a problem. We hear when people complain but not so much when they are happy (in every fields, not only watchmaking).
They have work to do but I don't think we can say they don't care.
Cheers, Mark
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What was your service turn around time for your watch recently ?
I think it will be useful to have a mini poll of service turn around times in view of the recent postings on the site. Could you please post your PP watch model and the months you had to wait to have the service completed ? Please also add the year the se...
My last one was quick
Patek 5205G serviced in 2013 at the Hong Kong Patek Service Centre. No time commitment up front, but returned in 7 weeks.
Hmm I don't think the sample will be relevant IMHO
Hi Jim, There are different elements which are involved and Thierry Stern acknowledged already that there are some servicing time issues which can be improved. And furthermore, he stated in the past that not solving it can be a real problem for brands in ...
I agree but not fully....
A mechanical watch is a highly precise miniaturized "machine" and servicing such requires skill and precision it takes some months to do. This is true! But your car, The train you take to work or the plane you fly also require servicing and nobody "cries"...
Well, I think that car and watches have nothing in common in that field
First, servicing a car requires much less skill; thus, the problem of trained workforce. The garages network and servicing capabilities are much higher than the places able to perform a servicing on a high-end watch. How many Porsche, BMW or Renault garag...
Can't entirely agree with this
Although your points are logical and quite valid, they apply universally to any of the high end watch manufactures that produce complicated timepieces. Vacheron, Lange, and JLC, to name just a few, seem to be able to service and return customer watches in...
Patrick has brought an element of answer
and I think the volumes are also an important criteria to take into account. The higher the volumes, the more difficult it is to face the wide potential returns: how many are back for servicing? 60% 65% 40% ? On the volumes Patek makes a single 1% has a h...
Mark gave a very comprehensive reply!
FWIW; my annual calendar 5125 has been gone since July 2015; latest update indicated another 2 to 3 months. If I do get it back in that time frame, it will be a total of 8 to 9 months. In all fairness, they did quote me about 30 weeks turnaround time. Bes...
Patek 5712G
Full service including polishing out scratches. 9 months. And no I'm not at all happy with that turnaround time. i think it's unacceptable. By contrast my Lange 1 pt took just under 3 months.
patek 5065
I submitted the watch for service last year. If my wife also found out that she was pregnant at the same time, I would have been a daddy when I got my watch back. That's how long it took.
service time
Model- 3970 date sent - Feb 2013 date rec'd - August 2013 Shipped with wrong hands, flew to NY and dropped off, rec'd back within 4 weeks Watch is running perfectly as I wear it daily. Stunning performance. Servicing we handle for clients currently averag...
Wrong hands
My 3970 is a second series piece and the proper hands for that model are leaf hands which were on the watch when sent in, got it back with straight pointed hands found on third series pieces. They were surprised, maybe even stunned, at the mistake but cor...
Maybe something good is going on...
Just received back from service today a 5115G. It was received by me on 10-7-2015. Had to go to Geneva for full service, crystal and crown via HSWA. That was a surprise for me as I was expecting another 2 months or so.
Hope you are right.
I find it interesting that the participants choose not to report any service time results. I guess most people are taking the fifth. Kind of disappointing, but life must go on. Best Jim.
I prefer quality over quantity
If it takes a longer time to service it well instead of fast than I prefer to be patient. Of course in time I expect improvement of the servicing time. For example: I bought a vintage Patek (1994) in december 2015 that was serviced last august at a Patek ...
no good news from me
5170j - Case Valet only - no service (!) - Sent for service Geneva. Sept 2014 - Returned in February 2015 (had I wanted it serviced they were quoting June 2015). So Case Valet=something like 5 months.
Patek 3940G First Series
Dropped off at HSWA late August 2014 for a full service. Needed to be sent back to Geneva because it needed the leap year modification. Returned December 9, 2014... on the birth of my second son... got the call in the hospital! Ironically, when i picked i...
My wife's 4936G
Took in for service in August, told November, in November told January, in January told May. I brought a 5970R and 3970J in in November and was told 29 weeks so we shall see. I had a 4947G on order for my wife and a 5370 for me. I cancelled both. I'm tire...
5970 3970
Hi Bipper, that is frustrating for sure. For your 5970/3970 was the 29 weeks quotes for a standard service? Do you know if these have to go to Geneva or can this calibre be overhauled in NY? Best regards
I have had enough
This brand is abusing their customers. For the prices they are charging in the year 2016 they should go out and hire/train more watchmakers. It is unfair to charge the premiums over other brands that they do and receive this kind of service. I'm weary of ...
That's what they are doing bipper
If you take a look at my previous answers you'll see what the issue is concerning training/hiring watchmakers : not enough trained watchmakers on the market, thus the decision to create their own internal training "school". However, if you're not satisfie...
I think the resurgence and continued interest in mechanical watches took the industry by surprise..
and takes the industry a long time to build back up the skilled labour force.
Surprise?
This ramp up of production did not happen overnight. The manufacturers saw it coming and all beefed up production to meet the demand as best possible. The only question was, where was the guy who was supposed to stand up and say "we need to be prepared fo...
This is the question indeed
You're well placed to comment whit but are you sure they could really plan such a success during the 2000/2010 period especially? I wonder if they were not also "cought" by the wave too.
For Patek,
I believe the heightened level of interest began to show itself at the Habsburg Feldman 150th anniversary sale and increased thereafter. I don't for a minute think they planned for the success, I doubt if anyone could, but the signs were everywhere. Recor...
Very interesting to have this kind of point a view
I understand from your posts that you have a good knowledge of the brand and this field, that's why I was very interested in reading your opinion. I know that you do it in a very respectful and honest way (and accurately) and that's what makes it so valua...
In my line of business I have seen it both ways....
at the moment we have very serious long term investors who understand the value of exceptional customer service. As we ramped up sales and production (let us say the equivalent of more marketing, more boutiques etc) we have always also ramped up our post-...
This is perfectly understandable
In the meantime, I think there are also 2 specific elements to take into account regarding Patek and watch brands: the workforce availability but also the number of direct competitors on the market. Concerning the latter, if they have the same "performanc...
These service times are scaring me off...
I have a 5711A, and have been contemplating on the 5170G. The crazy long wait times are making me reconsider.
More watches are being produced each year with little increase in the service back up
I believe PP produces around 45000 - 50000 watches a year. You can imagine that in 5 years time at least the same number of watches (likely more) will have to go back for service. I doubt very much they have the facility or the personnel to deal with such...
Do not worry Poky....
they will be around They will outlive you and I , but I like the point on decreased production. I genuinely believe they should double or triple their prices! After all this is the most luxurious watch in the world. Best Regards. Edward
I think we can close the thread here now.
I personally think that the interest of such thread would be to make a kind of rough estimate? However, on a statistical standpoint, there will never be a sample wide enough to do so. Hence, what's the point? People may say it is for sharing experience bu...