I feel this review deserves extra attention to detail, since Sam and Daniel from Dealer Clocks so professionally provided me the same level of service. First, the quick facts. I'll then dive into a more detailed review of the entire process and the watch itself (my glorious brand spanking new AP 26400au in forged carbon and ceramic)! It's my first time reviewing here, so be gentle. Hope it helps!
The quick facts:
Order and payment date: July 29, 2019 via Western Union (with discount!)
Payment received by Dealer Clocks: August 1st, 2019
QC Photos (initial piece was QC'd and rejected by Dealer Clocks themselves due to a minor oil stain. This was, to me, a positive experience. I've never had a dealer do a proper QC themselves and actually reject and send back to factory, till now): August 1st, 2019
QC Photos, Part II: August 4, 2019 (complete with ATM3 pressure test (waterproofing test) results and timing test results)
Shipping Tracking Number issue date: August 5, 2019 via EMS
Australian Customs check (yes... the most dreadful part of any order... they opened it): August 11, 2019
Watch arrived: August 12, 2019
Total time from purchase to arrival: 14 days (that's including getting a complete brand new replacement from the factory! Outstanding!)
Service quality: Easy 10/10
Communication: Practically instant. It's like they were sleeping with an alarm on their email.
Packaging: So good and secure, customs had to inspect it!
Likelihood to purchase again: 10/10
Likelihood to recommend: I'm writing this aren't I? Absolutely! RWI, promote these guys to fully fledged trusted dealers please and give them more business!
Watch: OMG. Never felt love like this for a watch before!
Okay, so that's the quick and dirty. Here's the full review... (If you don't want to read my "novel", feel free to scroll past the text and check out some photos)
Having purchased from a number of the other trusted dealers on RWI (most of them have been good btw... Just not THIS good), I was on the hunt for an AP Ginza 7 (unfortunately, a discontinued model now, hence why I went for the AP26400au, which I do not regret in the slightest. Amazing piece!). Most of the dealers I contacted took a few hours to days to respond to me... Often in not the friendliest or most helpful manner. Some even mentioned that the Ginza 7 was in stock (which, of course, it wasn't when it came to payment time). Lots of jerking around.
And then I stumbled across a recommendation on RWI to try out Dealer Clocks. (I apologise, but I can't remember which thread put me onto them). Anyway, long story short, I contacted them for the Ginza 7, which they quickly (and I mean QUICKLY... Like within 10 minutes of sending my email) responded to and informed me had been discontinued. Based on their surprisingly quick and friendly response, I decided to look through their website for other options, just in case something else caught my eye. To my great delight, I found the AP26400au and emailed them with an inquiry. Again! Near instant response. This time the watch was in stock! I placed the order, and was given instructions on how to pay by Western Union for a discount. I left my office, walked over to the bank, cashed out, and made the payment via the nearest WU office.
Three days later, Dealer Clocks emailed that they had received payment and that the watch was already processing (ie. going through their various tests and inspections. Later that day, I received the bad news that they had QC'd the watch and found it to be unsatisfactory by their standards, and were having it replaced by the factory. The watch had an oil stain on the rotor.
Three days later (and after a bunch of emails exchanged just keeping me posted on their progress) I received 5 QC photos of the new piece they had acquired for me. They informed me that they were conducting pressure tests, timing, and power reserve tests before shipping the watch out to me, pending my approval, which I gave. They had earned my trust completely through their constant updates and informative little tidbits regarding maintenance and use limits for my new AP. (Basically, it passed the waterproofing to 3 ATM (which is quite a lot), but still did not advise swimming with it, just to be on the safe side.
After two weeks from the day I placed the order I've got my watch and couldn't be happier! Both from the watch, and the outstanding service provided by the gentlemen at Dealer Clocks. I cannot recommend them highly enough!
Many thanks Sam and Daniel. I'll be back for more!
The quick facts:
Order and payment date: July 29, 2019 via Western Union (with discount!)
Payment received by Dealer Clocks: August 1st, 2019
QC Photos (initial piece was QC'd and rejected by Dealer Clocks themselves due to a minor oil stain. This was, to me, a positive experience. I've never had a dealer do a proper QC themselves and actually reject and send back to factory, till now): August 1st, 2019
QC Photos, Part II: August 4, 2019 (complete with ATM3 pressure test (waterproofing test) results and timing test results)
Shipping Tracking Number issue date: August 5, 2019 via EMS
Australian Customs check (yes... the most dreadful part of any order... they opened it): August 11, 2019
Watch arrived: August 12, 2019
Total time from purchase to arrival: 14 days (that's including getting a complete brand new replacement from the factory! Outstanding!)
Service quality: Easy 10/10
Communication: Practically instant. It's like they were sleeping with an alarm on their email.
Packaging: So good and secure, customs had to inspect it!
Likelihood to purchase again: 10/10
Likelihood to recommend: I'm writing this aren't I? Absolutely! RWI, promote these guys to fully fledged trusted dealers please and give them more business!
Watch: OMG. Never felt love like this for a watch before!
Okay, so that's the quick and dirty. Here's the full review... (If you don't want to read my "novel", feel free to scroll past the text and check out some photos)
Having purchased from a number of the other trusted dealers on RWI (most of them have been good btw... Just not THIS good), I was on the hunt for an AP Ginza 7 (unfortunately, a discontinued model now, hence why I went for the AP26400au, which I do not regret in the slightest. Amazing piece!). Most of the dealers I contacted took a few hours to days to respond to me... Often in not the friendliest or most helpful manner. Some even mentioned that the Ginza 7 was in stock (which, of course, it wasn't when it came to payment time). Lots of jerking around.
And then I stumbled across a recommendation on RWI to try out Dealer Clocks. (I apologise, but I can't remember which thread put me onto them). Anyway, long story short, I contacted them for the Ginza 7, which they quickly (and I mean QUICKLY... Like within 10 minutes of sending my email) responded to and informed me had been discontinued. Based on their surprisingly quick and friendly response, I decided to look through their website for other options, just in case something else caught my eye. To my great delight, I found the AP26400au and emailed them with an inquiry. Again! Near instant response. This time the watch was in stock! I placed the order, and was given instructions on how to pay by Western Union for a discount. I left my office, walked over to the bank, cashed out, and made the payment via the nearest WU office.
Three days later, Dealer Clocks emailed that they had received payment and that the watch was already processing (ie. going through their various tests and inspections. Later that day, I received the bad news that they had QC'd the watch and found it to be unsatisfactory by their standards, and were having it replaced by the factory. The watch had an oil stain on the rotor.
Three days later (and after a bunch of emails exchanged just keeping me posted on their progress) I received 5 QC photos of the new piece they had acquired for me. They informed me that they were conducting pressure tests, timing, and power reserve tests before shipping the watch out to me, pending my approval, which I gave. They had earned my trust completely through their constant updates and informative little tidbits regarding maintenance and use limits for my new AP. (Basically, it passed the waterproofing to 3 ATM (which is quite a lot), but still did not advise swimming with it, just to be on the safe side.
After two weeks from the day I placed the order I've got my watch and couldn't be happier! Both from the watch, and the outstanding service provided by the gentlemen at Dealer Clocks. I cannot recommend them highly enough!
Many thanks Sam and Daniel. I'll be back for more!