I once was of the mind that I would only purchase a watch through an authorized dealer. I didn't want to risk the hassle of having to worry about some kind of online shop's warranty in getting my watch repaired. I worried that any watch I purchased from Jomashop or AuthenticWatches would be a replica watch or, in some way, not be authentic. So, I purchased a Tag Heuer Aquaracer from an AD. I received good service and got a good deal - paid a similar price to what I would have paid at either one of the online dealers I mentioned above. I was a happy camper. The warranty that came with the watch specified that if I wanted it serviced under warranty I would have to send it back to Tag Heuer. Not a problem. It was a quartz Aquaracer and I figured that I wouldn't need the watch to be serviced frequently so I didn't worry about it. Then, as I frequented the WUS Tag Heuer forum, I came to the realization that repairs completed by Tag Heuer often took awhile and weren't always fool proof. I never got to the point where I needed service on the watch because I sold it after owning it for about a year and a half. Likely, the warranty would have expired before I would have needed any repairs anyway. In addition, most manufacturers warranties are limited and do not cover anything and everything that could happen to the watch.
At the time I sold my Tag I purchased a second hand Sinn UX. Sinns are sold exclusively by WatchBuys and the UX absolutely must be returned to Frankfurt, Germany, for servicing. The length of time for servicing a UX is quite lengthy and you had better have another watch in the meantime. Great watch and great warranty but you will, at some point, be without your watch and you will pay for that return trip to Germany because, for the most part, the warranty will have expired before you have to get the 7 year lithium battery replaced. I sold that watch earlier this year.
Then I had the opportunity to purchase a pre-loved Oris Aquis from a fellow WUS member that was originally purchase from AuthenticWatches. Great watch and absolutely original. Yes, it was out of warranty but a recent positive experience with The WatchMaker watch repair shop has given me the confidence that any watch I own can be services with relative ease. This Oris from AuthenticWatches has also helped me realize that it is more likely, than not, that any watch I may purchase from Jomashop or AuthenticWatches will be serviced at some location within the United States reducing both the cost of shipping and the time I will be without my watch. I am confident in purchasing from either Jomashop or AuthenticWatches.
Lastly, I appreciate authentic dealers and do not begrudge their effort to pay rent or a mortgage on a brick and mortar store and pay salaries to their employees. I applaud them for that. But, in the end, the bottom line is the overall impact to the financial well being of my family and not to contributing to the financial well being of some authentic dealer. I can safely say that the economic well being of my family will be improved if I purchase another Oris from Jomashop than it would be if I purchased another Oris from an authentic dealer (i.e. the prices for Oris watches at Jomashop blows away anything I have seen offered by an authentic dealer).
The fact of the matter is this - once the purchase has been made, unless something goes horribly wrong with the watch, your contact with the authentic dealer or the online dealer is minimal to none. And, the odds that you will have to have service work completed within the period of the warranty is pretty minimal as well. Warranties don't last forever and are often very specific in what they cover so it is almost as important to find a great watch repair center as it is to find a great authentic dealer or a great deal on whatever watch you purchase.