Buying a new Rolex in the UK - in mint condition

[KentDweller]

My apologies if this has been covered before.

Yesterday, I spoke to someone in a Goldsmiths store about the availability of a Rolex 116610LV, and was told about their waiting list - approximately one year.

If I end up buying one I'd like it to be 100% mint and boxed, as I'd probably keep it as an investment. I wear a Sub C and Omega models day to day.

I was told that should I buy one, it would have its plastic protective films removed, therefore in my opinion, would no longer be 100% guaranteed mint condition. To me, this means that it could have been used as a window display watch, or have been tried on by many other customers before being re-boxed for me to take away.

Speaking as a prospective customer, I queried this and was told that they MUST remove the protective films prior to sale. This sounds like a yarn to me.

Does anyone have experience of this, or was I being spun a line by the dealership?

[mato123]

From what I read it happens all the time.

[tommy91]

Some dealers insist stickers are removed some don't.

[tyler1980]

most dealers in london do this, to prevent flipping. IMO its not the best investment anyway as what kind of return are you actually expecting? Its not going to beat an investment in the financial market.

Keep it, wear it, and in the future you will get most of your money back. Value retention is good, investment return is not.

[HK Islandboy]

Originally Posted by tyler1980

most dealers in london do this, to prevent flipping. IMO its not the best investment anyway as what kind of return are you actually expecting? Its not going to beat an investment in the financial market.

Keep it, wear it, and in the future you will get most of your money back. Value retention is good, investment return is not.

Sage guidance, this.

[artschool]

their shop their rules. if you dont like it take your business elsewhere.

[jpjsavage]

My skydweller had the stickers removed and kept. Not a problem for me. Wear it and enjoy it. It will still appreciate over time.


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[SC11]

OP
They don’t remove the stickers and put it in the window!

It’s if you buy it they then remove them before you leave the store!

And TBH if you are on a list for one it will never hit the window anyway.

[Montybaber]

Originally Posted by SC11

OP
They don’t remove the stickers and put it in the window!

It’s if you buy it they then remove them before you leave the store!

And TBH if you are on a list for one it will never hit the window anyway.

I think they did with mine, time was set (although a minute out) and stickers removed before I got there to pick it up (LV) I assumed it was to deter from me flipping it

I later saw they had two DaytonaC's in the window (stickers removed etc) and these were waiting to be collected

Didnt bother me because I intend to ruin it not sell it, dont really get the investment thing with new watches, if it increases in value it stoll will with a few scratches

[AK797]

Originally Posted by SC11

OP
They don’t remove the stickers and put it in the window!

It’s if you buy it they then remove them before you leave the store!

And TBH if you are on a list for one it will never hit the window anyway.

Yes they should remove it in front of you. If it is without stickers it is a return. They are the only BLNRs and LVcs you see in windows now.

[Watchgeek5000]

Originally Posted by SC11

OP
They don’t remove the stickers and put it in the window!

It’s if you buy it they then remove them before you leave the store!

And TBH if you are on a list for one it will never hit the window anyway.

This!

[zeeww]

it depends on stores. They removed my DJII but never remove stickers on my LV and GMT LN!

[travisb]

It's up to the AD.

[jpjsavage]

Yes, there is no specific demands made by Rolex but ADs male their own decisions re this.


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[A.I.]

Unneccessary twaddle in my opinion. AD's and 1st world problems.

Take your business elsewhere if you are not happy.

[DuncanInLeeds]

Personally, I don't get this "leave the stickers on" thing. If I buy anything I prefer the seller to take off and dispose of all the superfluous packaging, whether it's furniture or a watch.

But then again I buy stuff 'cos I actually want to use it. I mean, why buy a new Aston Martin (insert your dream vehicle of choice) and then not drive it?

Same goes for watches, they're to be worn and used. There can't be many - if any - who would buy a Rolex and consider it a good investment. Even the tulip bubble burst eventually..

[bobby81]

I have purchased two new Rolexes in the past year & half from a Grey Dealer in the North of England & all protective seals were intact. These Watches came from a Rolex AD in Spain. All were genuine, stamped, signed & dated the only difference was they had another name on the Warranty Card & to clear up this issue about Warranty Cards I have taken the Watches to the only Rolex AD in my City & on asking I was told that the Warranty would be honoured ,that as long as the Warranty Card was filled out correctly & has been swiped by the AD that they originated from they would honour the Warranty. I think the Rolex ADs take it upon themselves whether to remove these protective seals, I don't think it has anything to do with Rolex. Rolex may advise that these seals are removed but I can't see them knowing if these seals are removed from every Rolex that is sold

[BLNR Nairobi]

Why would the AD be concerned about flipping? As long as they’ve sold the watch, why should they care what the buyer does with it? And if it is to avoid Rolex sending a mystery shopper to find what AD is selling pieces that end up on ChronoWatch, then the question gets bumped one level higher - why should Rolex be concerned with that?

[MrWhy]

When I bought my BLNR a couple of weeks ago the dealer showed me the watch (stickers on) to make sure I was happy with it, took the payment and then took the stickers off. The AD said this is what they are asked to by Rolex, which I don't have a problem with.

[bobby81]

Originally Posted by MrWhy

When I bought my BLNR a couple of weeks ago the dealer showed me the watch (stickers on) to make sure I was happy with it, took the payment and then took the stickers off. The AD said this is what they are asked to by Rolex, which I don't have a problem with.

They may be advised to remove the stickers but how could Rolex implement this. Ask the AD to account for all the stickers. I will say again it's all down to the individual involved

[AK797]

Originally Posted by bobby81

They may be advised to remove the stickers but how could Rolex implement this. Ask the AD to account for all the stickers. I will say again it's all down to the individual involved

Rolex are very proactive now, they can trace a sale back from WF and other big dealers, which they have done using secret shoppers, and then they put the fear of God into all ADs so now they all pretty much conform if they have any doubt about the buyer's intentions. Just no point losing their franchise and many have been severely warned this year, as these watches will sell easily any way without stickers.

AD's service has deteriorated hugely this year and thus so has the brand's image, but then Rolex are bullying them so they are just paying it forward, seems like a very unpleasant time all round. I don't think greys selling these at premiums is enough compensation so maybe they have halted production and are having a strategy rethink. Rolex do not exist to squeeze every last penny and I think the brand image is more important to them so hopefully we will see a less antagonistic strategy employed next year. Brexit really caught them out.

[A.I.]

AD's getting clients to sign bits of paper promising not to flip in the first 3 years and retaining the warranty card for 12mo is a very poor show IMO. What a way to take the shine right off what should be a great experience. Rolex and SOME AD's should be thoroughly ashamed.

I'm seriously tempted to spend my hard earned on an AP next time - unless I find a Sky-Dweller first

[KentDweller]

Thanks for the replies gents.

It's a buyers market, and I would certainly travel elsewhere if I felt unhappy about the level of service I received from any dealer. Should I purchase another Rolex, it's unlikely to be worn as I rotate through a small collection of various brands, and wear a Sub C as my main watch already.

In terms of using a new Rolex to be cared for as a financial investment, it would be speculation, as some other more traditional investments are also.

At Rolex recommended prices, my Sub C is now sold at £545 more than I paid for it four years ago. How much value it has retained to date is another matter, what with it's scuffs and scratches!

[tyler1980]

Originally Posted by AK797

Rolex are very proactive now, they can trace a sale back from WF and other big dealers, which they have done using secret shoppers, and then they put the fear of God into all ADs so now they all pretty much conform if they have any doubt about the buyer's intentions. Just no point losing their franchise and many have been severely warned this year, as these watches will sell easily any way without stickers.

AD's service has deteriorated hugely this year and thus so has the brand's image, but then Rolex are bullying them so they are just paying it forward, seems like a very unpleasant time all round. I don't think greys selling these at premiums is enough compensation so maybe they have halted production and are having a strategy rethink. Rolex do not exist to squeeze every last penny and I think the brand image is more important to them so hopefully we will see a less antagonistic strategy employed next year. Brexit really caught them out.

This. Rolex can't stop the buyers from flipping but they can go after the AD's for facilitating it. AD's are very, very defensive with buyers and are removing stickers and selling to people they know etc.

[SC11]

All depends on relationship with the AD, my last two watches (Daytona & SD43) were handed over still in the coffin untouched.

[Quicksilver]

Why are you buying it for an investment in the first place? An investment it ain't. Its a watch - wear and enjoy it and most if not all its value will be retained and possibly still enhanced. I have heard most London AD's are told to remove the stickers by Rolex.

[NWCarver]

I bought a new 36mm OP from Goldsmiths on Friday - while doing this I asked about the 'sticker situation' and was told that they will not allow their sports model Rolex to leave the store with stickers, their policy is to remove them - if the customer does not like this then 'tough' they can go elsewhere...

Interestingly, this AD policy does not apply to other models not in the sports range - so my 36mm Op with blue 3,6,9 dial came with all the stickers and hang tags still on it - although no bezel protector nor Rolex cloth.

I did explain that, having worked/done some work for Rolex SA before, I know that this is not official Rolex policy - for the dealer to own up and say that this simply their managements policy to prevent customers selling on at a higher profit..

Must admit, all in all, their customer service was pretty poor - leaving a lot to be desired compared to other ADs that I have used - but it was the only place that I could get the watch I was after - and that was what counted for me.

[Ruud Van Driver]

If I buy a Rolex in the UK and the stickers have to come off, I'm ok with that. But it's me that takes the stickers off MY watch. If I have to do it at the AD, that's fine too. But I like peeling the stickers off and if I can't do it then I walk.

[tyler1980]

Originally Posted by NWCarver

Interestingly, this AD policy does not apply to other models not in the sports range - so my 36mm Op with blue 3,6,9 dial came with all the stickers and hang tags still on it - although no bezel protector nor Rolex cloth.

I did explain that, having worked/done some work for Rolex SA before, I know that this is not official Rolex policy - for the dealer to own up and say that this simply their managements policy to prevent customers selling on at a higher profit..

those models are not being flipped hence they don't care.

Read Neils post. He has said it many times before but Rolex in the UK is leaning on their dealers pretty hard regarding watches ending up on the secondary market. No one knows Rolex's official policies, but its safe to say the AD's are getting the message from Rolex none the less.

[NWCarver]

Originally Posted by tyler1980

those models are not being flipped hence they don't care.

Read Neils post. He has said it many times before but Rolex in the UK is leaning on their dealers pretty hard regarding watches ending up on the secondary market. No one knows Rolex's official policies, but its safe to say the AD's are getting the message from Rolex none the less.

Agreed, Rolex are leaning on them with regards to secondary market but 'stickers' off/on they are not - that is not Rolex official policy but is down to individual dealers implementing their 'own policy' alone to prevent the secondary market sales.

Having just been to Rolex, St James, it also appears that Goldsmiths are retaining the bezel protectors for OPs and not supplying them with the watch. I was told by them that Rolex do not supply these with the watch anymore when I picked mine up on Friday, despite me explaining to Goldsmiths that's incorrect...Something confirmed today by Rolex themselves, so while in Rolex, St James, I called the Goldsmiths AD direct and asked for his explanation in not supplying the bezel protector with my watch...to which I got a very sheepish and sullen reply that '...we have a lot in the drawers and don't bother giving them out, if you want one then come in' - totally backtracking on his earlier reply to myself....Needless to say, I simply accepted Rolex, St James, kind offer of a bezel protector and cloth and will not return to Goldsmiths again.

I know that such a thing is pretty minor really but when I pay a relatively large sum of money for something I do expect to actually get everything that is supposed to come with that purchase.

As I said previously, they have been one of the worst ADs that I have actually used, and if it wasn't for the fact that I had been unable to find the watch I was looking for elsewhere then I would not have used them.