Sending Watches via post for service

[L1OFF]

I'm having 2 of my watches serviced by a well respected indi, but I will obviously need to post them. One is an Omega Speedy and a Rolex GMT 2, I'm proposing to send separately due to combined (replacement) value (Omega 2.5K and the Rolex GMT2 8K), what the best way to cover for loss \ damage?

[bristolbaron]

Where are they going? There’s a Bristol indi that may be close enough to drop off?

[L1OFF]

too far to deliver really. Best Post Office one I can find is "Special Delivery Guaranteed" but compensation is 2.5K.

[Mr Pointy]

It's not easy. RMSD only covers up to £2500 so you probably need to use a courier like DHL or UPS but they aren't cheap. It's a topic that comes up regularly over on TZ-UK:
https://forum.tz-uk.com/showthread.php?193107-RMSD...

Note that ParcelPro is no longer an option unless you are a business. Maybe you could take a trip & deliver your watches by hand.

[L1OFF]

I'll probably just send the Omega, I don't really want the risk with the Rolex and I don't want to use an AD as Rolex have a nasty habit of making watches look like new. Time poor so hand delivering is not really an option.

[bristolbaron]

I’ve just checked with Bristol indi (not naming as relatives)
Their standard advice is drop the watch in and they’ll post it back insured. They cover an additional £2500 as standard, so £5000 total, but can cover any additional amount if the customer is happy to pay the premium.
If delivery to them is not an option (they’ve had customers fly down from Scotland!) then you’d have to check with your house insurers if they’d cover the risk.

HTH!

[thebraketester]

Ill courier them for you..... wont be cheap but they wont get lost :-)

There must be a market for couriering watches and hi-end jewellery. Hmmmm.

[So]

Mr Pointy said:

Maybe you could take a trip & deliver your watches by hand.

I did this not so long ago with an exclusive and not inexpensive Swiss watch. I wish I hadn't.

The "dedicated London-based service centre" turned out to be the front room of a bloke in a Commuter town some distance from London and whilst he received the watch from me it turned out he wasn't actually trained to repair. He had to send it to Switzerland.

It sort of shattered the illusion and my faith in the brand.

[RichB]

bristolbaron said:

Where are they going? There’s a Bristol indi that may be close enough to drop off?

Please don't use him, he's already had my Omega for 4 1/2 months so rather I get the impression he's overloaded with work at the moment. Must be good !

[Mr Pointy]

bristolbaron said:

I’ve just checked with Bristol indi (not naming as relatives)
Their standard advice is drop the watch in and they’ll post it back insured. They cover an additional £2500 as standard, so £5000 total, but can cover any additional amount if the customer is happy to pay the premium.
If delivery to them is not an option (they’ve had customers fly down from Scotland!) then you’d have to check with your house insurers if they’d cover the risk.

I'm not sure how that works as if an item is worth more than £2500 it is not covered at all by the RMSD insurance. They'd have to either insure it for the full value or get creative if they had to make a claim.

[bristolbaron]

RichB said:

Please don't use him, he's already had my Omega for 4 1/2 months so rather I get the impression he's overloaded with work at the moment. Must be good !

I’m not sure we’re talking about the same place, mine doesn’t tend to keep things on site for more than two weeks. You book in advance and then post when it’s your turn in the queue. PM me to confirm if you like!

[bristolbaron]

Mr Pointy said:

I'm not sure how that works as if an item is worth more than £2500 it is not covered at all by the RMSD insurance. They'd have to either insure it for the full value or get creative if they had to make a claim.

Apologies, that wasn’t very clear, under £2500 is covered by RM, between £2500-£5000 is covered to full value by insurers as standard. Above that needs specified cover.

[Mr Pointy]

bristolbaron said:

Mr Pointy said:

I'm not sure how that works as if an item is worth more than £2500 it is not covered at all by the RMSD insurance. They'd have to either insure it for the full value or get creative if they had to make a claim.

Apologies, that wasn’t very clear, under £2500 is covered by RM, between £2500-£5000 is covered to full value by insurers as standard. Above that needs specified cover.

Ah I see. It's a real pain finding ways to ship watches now that ParcelPro won't deal with non-commercial entities.

[RichB]

bristolbaron said:

PM me to confirm if you like!

Did you get my PM/eMail? BB

[bristolbaron]

Mr Pointy said:

Ah I see. It's a real pain finding ways to ship watches now that ParcelPro won't deal with non-commercial entities.

I’m pretty sure FedEx/DHL/UPS won’t cover watches now either, so it’s getting very difficult for private individuals! If anyone happens upon the thread in the future with an answer let us know!

OP - also worth mentioning Bristol place can provide bespoke services on Rolexes as they have permission from Rolex UK to leave things that are ‘cosmetic only’ eg not polish the watch or leave a faded dial without the need to replace.

[bristolbaron]

RichB said:

Did you get my PM/eMail? BB

I didn’t! I’ve checked spam boxes etc and nothing through. You could use my username at hotmail or gmail (both dot com) to send direct though..

I’ve checked with the watchmaker who confirmed they don’t have an Omega on their premises at present. Although they’re also accredited with Omega/Breitling, as Rolex specialists they prioritise these and generally only have watches on site for 2-3 weeks.

[traffman]

Ive traded and sold various Rolex watches over to Sweden. Allways used DHL . Thing is when you send a higher value item it requires a hefty fee.
Usually insured for 5 grand plus it is around 75 pounds.

[endo]

L1OFF said:

I don't really want the risk with the Rolex and I don't want to use an AD as Rolex have a nasty habit of making watches look like new.

I wouldn't say a nasty habit,it's part of the service, but that's a seperate story


Assuming you have a decent local AD (and don't want to risk an un-insured GMT)
You can have them tell Rolex to perform a movement service only, and specify (in writing) that you do not want the case/bracelet polished, bezel changed, datewheel/dials change/ hands changed etc.

Despite what the internet says, Rolex will follow your requests unless it would siginifcantly hamper performance (ie keeping a leaky old tropic crystal), and generally will ask first before changing things.
This of course requires a decent AD that will relay such info back from Rolex, and seek approval before okaying work to be done.

I've sent several vintage subs/gmts etc to RSC for servicing and never had a problem, but they've always been sent off with a TODO/NOT TODO list, of what to change, and which ones shouldnt be polished.

[L1OFF]

endo said:

I wouldn't say a nasty habit,it's part of the service, but that's a seperate story


Assuming you have a decent local AD (and don't want to risk an un-insured GMT)
You can have them tell Rolex to perform a movement service only, and specify (in writing) that you do not want the case/bracelet polished, bezel changed, datewheel/dials change/ hands changed etc.

Despite what the internet says, Rolex will follow your requests unless it would siginifcantly hamper performance (ie keeping a leaky old tropic crystal), and generally will ask first before changing things.
This of course requires a decent AD that will relay such info back from Rolex, and seek approval before okaying work to be done.

I've sent several vintage subs/gmts etc to RSC for servicing and never had a problem, but they've always been sent off with a TODO/NOT TODO list, of what to change, and which ones shouldnt be polished.

Thanks for the info, sent via my local AD in the end and did discuss no cosmetic work only a service.

Alan