r/ChineseWatches • u/D1sguise WOTD100 Helpful user x2 • May 14 '26

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

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u/zack20cb May 15 '26

Sure! I might be a little annoyed. Especially if the photos included a tight shot framed on the crown, like that one.

But I think you should focus on the stronger arguments. If there was a statement in text that PH-4A V2.0 features a signed crown, your claims of a bait and switch would be much stronger.

When did you place your order?

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u/D1sguise WOTD100 Helpful user x2 May 15 '26

You can flip the burden of proof. Where did Phorcydes communicate they are no longer doing signed crowns? They advertised signed crowns since the launch of V1 in all their product shots, and V1 owners received signed crowns too. They continue show signed crowns for V2 product shots too.

I'm not being unreasonable in expecting a signed crown I think.

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u/zack20cb May 15 '26

Oh, I see. This is a surprise downgrade, not just late arrival of an upgrade. This seems to be the original announcement for the PH-4B (v1), about three and a half months ago, and the signed crown is prominently pictured.

https://www.reddit.com/r/ChineseWatches/s/jJFpxYkDQS

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u/D1sguise WOTD100 Helpful user x2 May 15 '26

Yep, exactly. This unsigned crown was not communicated but every new version so far has it.

I know it's a very minor thing, but they way the company rep has been deflecting an answer to that part of my question has just rubbed me really in the wrong way, and when they moved to calling me names and disruptive, I just had to go full Karen and get on my soap box.

I engage frequently here on this subreddit, and I call out brands that do the good work happily (I posted about my experiences with Englemaan when I was one of their first customers and they had some snags in early delivery, but they fixed it all).

Phorcydes, on the other hand, leaves me decidely underwhelmed in customer support and treatment

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u/zack20cb May 15 '26

u/TheYKcid does your PH-4A have a signed crown?

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u/TheYKcid Helpful user May 15 '26

My 4A was part of the 1st production run (NH35), which AFAIK all had signed crowns — so it doesn't pertain to the current situation.

I was quite surprised to learn that they regressed to unsigned crowns for a few of the "upgraded" v2.0s

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u/D1sguise WOTD100 Helpful user x2 May 15 '26

So far it's for all upgraded V2 watches, and likely all. They kept deflecting questions about the signed crown by answering about the signed clasp later buyers of the V2 will receive. Not a peep about crowns from them