The Panerai Source Forums

Hi,

Just want your opinion on a predicament I'm in...

About 5 weeks ago I negotiated a discount and agreed a price on a Pam 111. Was told that the AD is expecting the last of this years allocation in about a month or so. I paid a 10% deposit and received confirmation of the agreed price in the post. Fast forward to yesterdays date...I called AD for an update on my Pam 111, who then called Panerai UK to see what was happening. I get a call back from the AD who told me that Panerai UK are now no longer sending them the last of their allocation, and the next one available will be months away and at the increase price. I have also been told that it is unlikely that they will honour the price that was agreed over a month ago, even though I have it in writing and paid a deposit!! As you can imagine I am not happy...The salesperson I spoke to has to speak to the branch manager, who is away until Monday, as to whether they will honour our agreed price....but I'm not going to hold my breath!!

What do you guys think...I know Panerai can be unreliable with deliveries but no the only one going to be out of pocket is me as it is not likely that I'll be able to get a 111 before the price increase.

Sadly this isn't only seen in the UK. I ordered a watch which when received a year later (!) had gone up and I was expected to pay the difference.

Panerai do this knowingly, in my opinion. For the handful of people who refuse, there are hundreds waiting in line to get the few watches that get sent out each month, so why do they care?

I think this policy stinks, and from what I have learned here, the only way to avoid it is to pay the full amount when you order, and to have a good relation with your AD. I have never paid anything to 'seal' an order, and in this way I got screwed. It won't happen again...

I think this attitude is wrong - why should I pay the whole price up front, given that the watch might take a year to arrive?

What makes me laugh is the situation over on .com - Sgr Bonati has asked for peoples 'opinions' and 'wishes' for the future etc. in exchange for a keyring??? I think I'd much rather have a confirmed delivery date...and a confirmed price.

As to your situation in the UK - can't you take this up with trading standards? I'm sure they'd have something to say given the deposit you've already paid.

/rant off

_________________
Own: 219, 253, 270, 308
On order: 28 Selling: 164 OOR
Past loves: 000,176,199,240,250,251,252,288

Have a already called trading standards and even though I paid a deposit, agreed a price and have it in writing the contract is not binding if there are clauses in their terms and conditions which allow them to change the price. As a consumer it is my responsibity to ask for these t & c's when agreeing the price. If I fully paid then I would have been in a stronger position. I'm just pi$$ed at the whole situation...still want a panerai though. The AD have offered me a 112 which they have in stock with a sizable discount off the current price, which I may take them up on.

Not a good situation and being cynical, i think we all question selling policies of this nature. I think the dealer relationship is therefore pivotal.

I bought a 240 last year and paid over the phone to my preferred dealer and the watch arrived next day. Imagine my surprise when i noticed the pre Sept 08 increase price tag still attached to the watch . After some negotiations i had a prompt refund of the difference as the watch was 'old stock' held for a buyer who never collected it.

In your case i would suggest the dealer assists you in the purchase, but do i get the impression this may be a WOS branch with rules that can't be broken? I've always found dealing with a non multiple AD more rewarding and beneficial in just about every way.

In my business Price ruling at date of despatch is the deal and well known. If deliveries get extended and prices increase along the way, then you simply pay more. I never leave a deposit unless the deal is cast iron, but it's easy to be wise after the event.