Man, I'm angry.
I bought a slighly used 6263 MK IV bezel as final part for my V726 powered 6265 franken recently (by no means cheap). Unfortunately when I tried to install it on my watch, it didn't fit correctly . It was a little bit loose so a slight knock would push it off the watch. Off to my trusty AD I went. The watchmaker there told me that this was a common problem with these bezels and was due to someone else removing it without enough care and that it most probably had been distorted that way. No other option than to get a new one (in exchange for my old one) from Rolex. Unfortunately he was afraid he wasn't able to order one for me with my 6265 serial, unauthorized reference change nothing he could do blablabla.
Well, off to the next AD I ran. I was able to get him to order my bezel, again in exchange of course, I won't disclose how. The watchmaker there told me that last year these bezels had cost 150€ in exchange, but Rolex had raised prices recently (of course). He didn't think they had doubled the prices, so I ordered one (no other option anyways if I was ever to install it). Well the bezel arrived and guess what it is today? SEVEN HUNDRED F***ING EUROS!!!
That's just outrageous, nothing else! I'm done with this brand, honestly, that's ridiculous. They have doubled and tripled their bracelet prices earlier this year (a 91350 is around 1500€ new from an AD, a 78350 more than 1000€) and now other spare parts have become almost FIVE times more expensive?! Everybody here who has handled genuine Rolex parts will know, that especially the vintage stuff DOES NOT justify spending that kind of money. I was going to invest in a birthyear sub or even a 116520 in the near future, but won't because of this. How does this company expect customers to buy their stuff, when they keep rising their servicing costs and spare parts prices every three months by at least 20-30%? I know it may sound silly that I am complaining about part prices for a franken, but you all know that these things are only the gateway drug for a gen collection (if not yet present) and that even gen owners will have to pay these ridicoulous fees as well (I am regarded a gen owner by my ADs). I won't start what the guys at VRF are charging for their parts, because they are even more ridiculous.
I will be building an ETA-powered MBW milsub franken with a gen crown, tube and crystal and that's it for me. After that I'm done with Rolex and will be sticking to gen Omegas and Zeniths! At least these companies have quality to show for their prices!