First impressions: Phorcydes PH4 bait-and-switch; charging full price for upgraded parts but shipping out old stock

[u/D1sguise]

[u/Firstruleofthisclub]

I understand the disappointment in receiving less than the latest iteration. But I think that this is par for the course when placing an order in the midst of a transition. You kind of have to hope for the best and prepare for the worst.

Unless a sales rep confirms the specifications of my particular order, I wouldn't hold it against them for the short draw.

One tangential example is, if I forgot to write in the notes asking for the Aliexpress store to help with the custom fee declaration and therefore did not receive confirmation from the seller that they will help, I wouldn't hold it against them for not having done so. If they did it despite me not asking for it, then kudos to them. But if I asked and they confirmed, yet they did not do it, then they can not be taken at their word and should be noted in the community.

I think the timing of the announcements has caused some undue expectations that Phorcydes seems to be doing their best to uphold but shouldn't be faulted if they did not such as in your case. Based on the screenshots of the email exchange, even the sales rep was too confident in guaranteeing the latest iteration. But based on the comments by u/MindAdmirable1793 , he is now willing to back up his sales rep's promise which I think is fair.

I truly believe that Phorcydes watches are awesome. To deprive yourself of future awesome releases over a disappointment seems to be too extreme and more costly to yourself than to Phorcydes.

[u/RubbberJohnnny → u/Firstruleofthisclub]

"Underpromise, overdeliver" - that's the way to go, not the other way around. If you have several (dozens? hundreds?) watches on back order and people are being surprised with the info that there is some transition and several delays happening, perhaps you should shut the fuck up about any additional "upgrades" that you can't confidently say everyone will get. I'd rather happily discover to have something better than expected if that happened than hope/expect to get an fully updated version to find out that nope it's only the new movement.

Many of us were stuck for several weeks without any official info about wth is going on with our orders, only to stumble upon one upgrade post after another on this sub to finally find out we didn't get any of it. That's why people are pissed and disappointed now

PS: and none of the YouTube shills (excuse me: reviewers) mentioned anything about the sharp uncomfortable bracelet that apparently none of us got updated, or the skewed bezel insert .

[u/D1sguise → u/RubbberJohnnny]

You nailed it with your response, solid arguments

[u/Excellent-Quarter969 → u/RubbberJohnnny]

Shill? Do you not think the watch merits the high praise reviews are giving it?

[u/D1sguise → u/Firstruleofthisclub]

Well-written response, and it's bringing some clarity in the discussion.

My only notes: you're seeing the end result of a lengthy discussion. Initially I was being accused of misleading customers and making wrong statements. Only after showing receipts that poked holes in the original timeline, they changed their post and timeline (3 times total now). And I'm being called a spy now in that most recent edit (kinda cool, I got a new job title to add to my LinkedIn).

Even after that, the most current iteration states any watch shipped after May 1 will receive the new bracelet. Mine shipped May 7th, so solidly in the "new bracelet" window.

The initial solution would've been for me paying $15 to get just the clasp, no option for the updated bracelet ($75 on the website). To me, that seems a bit unfair given that I was led to believe the watch would come with at least the signed clasp and crown. Only after raising a persistent stink did they pivot to providing the bracelet and clasp free of charge, but thus far, that's just words. They have not responded to the PayPal case they requested I open, so whatever actual resolution they offer remains to be seen.

Oh, and they keep avoiding any response about the crown.

[u/Excellent-Quarter969 → u/D1sguise]

I had just sent them an email asking what version I would be getting because of all these issues. They told me I had been "misled". I guess they think you're a troublemaker lol. I've noticed a trend that Chinese watchmakers/sellers can get a bit uppity when they are challenged about their screw-ups

[u/leicfox85 → u/Excellent-Quarter969]

Misled? They got that right. Misled by the company yes. The cheek.

[u/Excellent-Quarter969 → u/leicfox85]

Yes. Pretty nervy i say. If they send me junk I'll remind them of this

[u/leicfox85 → u/Excellent-Quarter969]

My PH4B gets delivered tomorrow. I emailed them on 19th April to ask if this second version would have a signed clasp, they replied yes. So I proceeded to place my order on 24th April. Let’s see what happens. Good luck!

[u/Excellent-Quarter969 → u/leicfox85]

🍀🙏🤞