3KF Aquanaut: How long have been waiting for your watch after payment?

[rongxike]

So I have an order in for a 3KF Aquanaut with Zack at DrTime. NOTE: Zack is not a TD here, but is someone I've ordered from him the past.

• On Jan 10th I placed the order.
• On Jan 21st I received QC. However, I RL'd that QC due to issues with the dial on that model. Zack said he would be able to swap the watch for another one after CNY.
• On Feb 16th, I followed up with Zack and he said that he was still waiting for 3KF to get a new watch to him, and that "Now all the factories are packed and slow with giving the watches".
• On Feb 20th, Zack said "3KF just told me that the new watch will need to wait for 2-3 weeks for the stocks."
• On Mar 16th I followed up and Zack said "Don't worry. It is just that 3KF is very slow right now because they don't have sufficient movement parts."
• On Mar 22nd, I received QC for another watch I'd ordered from Zack (a ZF AP 15400)...

My guess is that there's some kind of bottleneck in the supply chain in China over the 3130 clone movements for the Aquanaut reps. It sucks to have to wait, but I'm pretty sure there's nothing nefarious going on. I've ordered from Andrew at TT in the past and he came through for me.

You're a lucky man. I wonder if anyone else here placed order with Andrew or any other TD recently and facing issues like my case and yours?

 

[UmpaHimself]

I just got an update from my TD with QC for one watch from PPF for my 5711 but says he is still waiting to hear from ZF for my 15202. So one month to get the watch from the factory for PPF and he said he will refund me for the 15202 if he doesn't get it by Friday. Seems like it's the factory, not him, but still horrendous communication as to be expected. I guess the bad communication is easier to swallow when they get back to you in 1-2 weeks with QC instead of silent for a month.

 

[dogwood]

So I have an order in for a 3KF Aquanaut with Zack at DrTime. NOTE: Zack is not a TD here, but is someone I've ordered from him the past.

• On Jan 10th I placed the order.
• On Jan 21st I received QC. However, I RL'd that QC due to issues with the dial on that model. Zack said he would be able to swap the watch for another one after CNY.
• On Feb 16th, I followed up with Zack and he said that he was still waiting for 3KF to get a new watch to him, and that "Now all the factories are packed and slow with giving the watches".
• On Feb 20th, Zack said "3KF just told me that the new watch will need to wait for 2-3 weeks for the stocks."
• On Mar 16th I followed up and Zack said "Don't worry. It is just that 3KF is very slow right now because they don't have sufficient movement parts."
• On Mar 22nd, I received QC for another watch I'd ordered from Zack (a ZF AP 15400)...

My guess is that there's some kind of bottleneck in the supply chain in China over the 3130 clone movements for the Aquanaut reps. It sucks to have to wait, but I'm pretty sure there's nothing nefarious going on. I've ordered from Andrew at TT in the past and he came through for me.

Update:

• On April 2nd, Zack said "The Aquanaut is still not available yet. 3KF is taking a very long time."

A quick search over on r/reptimeQC for "3KF" shows that there have only been 6 QC posts for 3KF reps over over the last 3 months (i.e. since I posted my QC back in January), and none of those posts have been for Aquanauts. There's also been a rumor that 3KF is the same as "Better Factory" or BTF... and since BTF just launched their 4130 Daytona, I guess it's possible that they're completely swamped with production since the demand for Daytonas is WAY higher than for replica movement Aquanauts.

 

[dashindark]

Update:

• On April 2nd, Zack said "The Aquanaut is still not available yet. 3KF is taking a very long time."

A quick search over on r/reptimeQC for "3KF" shows that there have only been 6 QC posts for 3KF reps over over the last 3 months (i.e. since I posted my QC back in January), and none of those posts have been for Aquanauts. There's also been a rumor that 3KF is the same as "Better Factory" or BTF... and since BTF just launched their 4130 Daytona, I guess it's possible that they're completely swamped with production since the demand for Daytonas is WAY higher than for replica movement Aquanauts.

No. There might be a silent update on the movement. Just wait and see if there will be differences. There are differences among the different batches.

 

[dogwood]

No. There might be a silent update on the movement. Just wait and see if there will be differences. There are differences among the different batches.

That’s good news. I’m happy to wait if that’s the case. It would be great if the update included a quick date change! Where did you read about the silent update?

 

[lugnuts]

I also placed an order for a 3kf watch. Paid in full Feb 18 still no QC pics. Waiting............ and waiting............

 

[dogwood]

Just heard an update from Zack: "I have heard that 3KF is the same factory as Better Factory too. I am guessing they have spent more money on other areas and maybe that is why the movements for their Patek Philippe are so few and slow right now. I believe the problem will be resolved soon, but I am not sure when it will be yet. I will try asking the factory again. I saw that they did release a few models to other dealers but not the Aquanaut yet."

 

[michaelle1193]

It’s true. 3kf is not available atm. Don’t know why. That’s why I’m ordering a ppf white dial. I have been waiting for two weeks. Also it’s hard for shipping right now because of the virus in China

 

[rongxike]

I also placed an order for a 3kf watch. Paid in full Feb 18 still no QC pics. Waiting............ and waiting............

Good luck, my friend

 

[Deadpool]

2 months. Ordered from TD here. Still waiting, was told QC should be in a few days when I last prompted.

 

[dogwood]

UPDATE: I received QC today... unfortunately it wasn't a good example. I've asked for a high resolution image of the dial because I'm pretty sure the 1s of the 11 o'clock marker aren't properly aligned with each other, but it might be a JPEG artifact given the low resolution of the QC image. But at least there's been progress and 3KF appears to be delivering watches to TDs.

 

[rongxike]

UPDATE: I received QC today... unfortunately it wasn't a good example. I've asked for a high resolution image of the dial because I'm pretty sure the 1s of the 11 o'clock marker aren't properly aligned with each other, but it might be a JPEG artifact given the low resolution of the QC image. But at least there's been progress and 3KF appears to be delivering watches to TDs.

Congratulations!

I can see the lume getting much better. However, the markers kill me, their placement looks inconsistent, the distance between large markers and thin makers look bad. The size also look inconsistent. I am not sure the lighting made them look bad?

 

[TESLA760]

Congratulations!

I can see the lume getting much better. However, the markers kill me, their placement looks inconsistent, the distance between large markers and thin makers look bad. The size also look inconsistent. I am not sure the lighting made them look bad?

Sounds like you need a gen, which also has poor lume, and many times crooked markers

 

[lugnuts]

Still waiting over here, the dealers are not very good at responding to emails. It usually takes a few days for the one I've chosen to get back to me. Currently I am coming up on 3 months since full payment was sent for 3kf 5711. All I hear are crickets in the backround

 

[dogwood]

Still waiting over here, the dealers are not very good at responding to emails. It usually takes a few days for the one I've chosen to get back to me. Currently I am coming up on 3 months since full payment was sent for 3kf 5711. All I hear are crickets in the backround

Same here. I received and RL'd my last QC on April 12th (~3 weeks ago). I haven't heard anything since. I suspect it's a slow down due to the lockdowns in China over the Omi-Rona.

 

[lugnuts]

I've been waiting for 3kf 5711 V2 for 90 days now

 

[dogwood]

Update: I received QC today and GL’d it. Looking forward to having this on my wrist.

 

[rongxike]

Update: I received QC today and GL’d it. Looking forward to having this on my wrist.

It's beautiful

 

[lugnuts]

At what point in the "waiting game" do i try to get moderators from here involved with a "trusted dealer" ? It's been 90 days and nothing. They're not even responding to email questions anymore.

 

[dogwood]

At what point in the "waiting game" do i try to get moderators from here involved with a "trusted dealer" ? It's been 90 days and nothing. They're not even responding to email questions anymore.

If it’s been 90 days with no replies to email / WhatsApp that’s an issue worth involving the mods on.

I’ve never had a TD ghost me, but I’m also careful not to spam them with messages. If I’m waiting for QC I’ll never send a “nudge” message more than once a week. And if the TD told me it’ll be 3 weeks before an update, I won’t message them for 4 weeks — three weeks, then one week of grace.

I’m sure there are some buyers who absolutely spam the TDs for updates (I’m not suggesting this is you), and TDs are only human. At a certain point I’m sure even TDs will ignore messages if there’s no update to report.