Is buying from an AD worth it?

So I bought a #seiko Aplinist SBP121J1 in Jan 2023 to celebrate my 15th anniversary. I have 2 Seikos (my 1st automatic and a mod) and the reason I chose this one was for looks and 36mm. So both me and my wife can wear it๐Ÿ˜œ.

We enjoyed it for a week and then I realized that its not holding power as promised by specs. It worked when I wore it, meaning the automatic winding worked but if I kept it in watchbox for couple of days the power was gone (no 70 hours๐Ÿ™„). I tried manual winding it, the gears would not engage.

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So I took it back to AD and he graciously kept it with him to test it himself and then confirmed my suspicion. So the watch goes for repair after only 2 weeks on the wrist. Comes back after month and half from Seiko.. This time the crown that rotates the direction arrows would not engage๐Ÿ˜ . There it goes back to the AD and this time and didn't say a word to the dealer. He took it and apologized and send it back.

Today I get a call, that he has got me a brand new watch. I am all excited. We remove it from package, this time I test it to see rather than taking it on its face value. The screw down crown doesn't seal. We try few times and its a hit or a miss. In my mind I am ready to loose it๐Ÿคฏ. But my upbringing, education and experience has taught me that anger will only take you down a path that you cannot return from.

The AD also happens to be my dealer for Omega... So instead of returning the watch, I told him to give bargain on the Seaweed Omega Seamaster 300m (hard to get, let alone a bargain). It's been ordered at a negotiated cost.

Will miss the Seiko Alpinist and remember the 2 weeks of fun we had.. now awaiting my green seamaster...

My take..always buy it from AD...

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ยท

Sorry you had that experience with the Seiko, thatโ€™s disappointing.

I have generally bought online, but I realize I may be screwed if I have problems. Itโ€™s basically a gamble, but has worked so far.

ยท

Yep, I try to buy from an AD even if itโ€™s an online only transaction (not all watches I want are at local ADs). Barring that, I prefer watches that have a strong paper trail, which is how I got my limited edition Alpinist. So far so good.

ยท

I usually buy from the AD but have bought from a long time established watch shop only because the watches were older models,as the saying goes buy the seller not the watch

ยท

Grey market for me but Iโ€™m not spending thousands of dollars. If I was I would prefer AD. Honestly I would prefer trying on a timepiece first before making a huge purchase decision.

ยท
FlashF1R3

Grey market for me but Iโ€™m not spending thousands of dollars. If I was I would prefer AD. Honestly I would prefer trying on a timepiece first before making a huge purchase decision.

In my collection, I have mix of grey market and AD. But for the more expensive ones I am leaning on AD for warranty and the relationship to get my next one with over paying the grey market rate.. though I have scored good one in grey market on out of production piece