Warranty.

[rwleigh]

I bought my Sub from an eBay seller, it was brand new with all the stickers still on it and had never been worn. It is what I believe to be a grey import as it was originally purchased from Tomasini Francia in Italy and has 170 on the warranty card. My AD told me yesterday that the warranty would not be valid on this watch, is this correct? I find this hard to believe as I have a warranty card stamped by Tomasini Francia as an AD in Italy and dated Gennaio (January) 2014. What if I happened to be on holiday in Italy or wherever else in the world and chose to buy a Rolex, would it not be under warranty?

[padi56]

As long as the warranty is stamped by a official AD then the warranty is international,just like if say watch was bought as a gift passed to you as a gift but you were not the original purchaser of the watch.

[rwleigh]

Originally Posted by padi56

As long as the warranty is stamped by a official AD then the warranty is international,just like if say watch was bought as a gift passed to you as a gift but you were not the original purchaser of the watch.

Thank you, that's what I was hoping someone would say. Why would my local AD say otherwise though? Are they bitter that I didn't purchase a watch from them?

[ltmgeller]

Originally Posted by rwleigh

Thank you, that's what I was hoping someone would say. Why would my local AD say otherwise though? Are they bitter that I didn't purchase a watch from them?

Yes

[SeaDweller50]

As per usual AD's sprouting wrong information. Take no notice and listen to the guys on this forum.

[Garethmjones1]

Yes they are bitter or very I'll informed.

If you ever need to approach an AD for warranty work I would tell them it was a gift. What are they going to do?

Rolex seem to keep a very tight rein over the dealer network in the UK and AD's cannot seem to give any discounts to SS sport models. If you have purchased one elsewhere they know they can't compete for your custom and likely want to unsettle you.

I suspect it's different to some degree in other parts if the globe. Due to the size of the country I would imagine it's much more difficult to police the dealer network in the USA.

[Tools]

Originally Posted by rwleigh

Thank you, that's what I was hoping someone would say. Why would my local AD say otherwise though? Are they bitter that I didn't purchase a watch from them?

You have two different issues.

If your watch is a Grey Market watch, the warranty is not valid. Any legitimate Grey Market Dealer will tell you that up-front. Grey Market watches are imported new watches, bypassing the authorized distributor/ consumer process.

If it was simply purchased properly at an Italian AD, it is not Grey Market, it is used regardless if it was ever worn or not. Valid warranties are recognized around the world.

[SC11]

Originally Posted by Tools

You have two different issues.

If your watch is a Grey Market watch, the warranty is not valid. Any legitimate Grey Market Dealer will tell you that up-front. Grey Market watches are imported new watches, bypassing the authorized distributor/ consumer process.

If it was simply purchased properly at an Italian AD, it is not Grey Market, it is used regardless if it was ever worn or not. Valid warranties are recognized around the world.

Larry,

A question thats been bugging me for a while, as Rolex won't supply to grey dealer nor is there any real distrubution network other then Rolex>AD all GM watches must be sourced out the back door so to speak from an AD how surely the AD has to account for the sale so how is an GM dealer any different then someone buying one with discount and selling on which if the card is stamped the warranty follows the watch?!

[Gaijin]

Originally Posted by Tools

You have two different issues.

If your watch is a Grey Market watch, the warranty is not valid. Any legitimate Grey Market Dealer will tell you that up-front. Grey Market watches are imported new watches, bypassing the authorized distributor/ consumer process.

If it was simply purchased properly at an Italian AD, it is not Grey Market, it is used regardless if it was ever worn or not. Valid warranties are recognized around the world.

Larry how do these watches bypass the AD/consumer process? Rolex is not sending their watches to anybody but an AD right?

[FTX I]

My idea of "traditional" gray market is a watch with "sellers warranty" and no Rolex warranty card named and dated. I believe as long as you have a rolex card with your name on it or not you must have the right to factory warranty.

[nickb732]

Usual AD nonsense..

[Tools]

Originally Posted by pitbull666

Larry,

A question thats been bugging me for a while, as Rolex won't supply to grey dealer nor is there any real distrubution network other then Rolex>AD all GM watches must be sourced out the back door so to speak from an AD how surely the AD has to account for the sale so how is an GM dealer any different then someone buying one with discount and selling on which if the card is stamped the warranty follows the watch?!

Originally Posted by Gaijin

Larry how do these watches bypass the AD/consumer process? Rolex is not sending their watches to anybody but an AD right?

Here is the definition of the Grey Market: (they are always imported)

"A Grey Market (also spelled gray market), or parallel market, is the trade of a commodity through distribution channels which, while legal, are unofficial, unauthorized, or unintended by the original manufacturer. The most common type of grey market is the sale of imported goods (brought by small import companies or individuals not authorized by the manufacturer) which would otherwise be more expensive in the country they are being imported to."

So, if an import/export company purchases bulk watches from a Hong Kong Distributor (for example), then imports those to the USA for sale as new, (say Joma Shop for example), they are not being sold by an authorized Dealer to a Consumer as is required by the manufacturer for a valid warranty.

[77T]

When you're needing any warranty service, the RSC will be best place to send it. They follow the policy to the letter. ADs sometimes talk through hat.

[rwleigh]

Originally Posted by 77T

When you're needing any warranty service, the RSC will be best place to send it. They follow the policy to the letter. ADs sometimes talk through hat.

Well hopfully i won't need any warranty service but if i do it's nice to know it's covered.

Thanks for all the good advice everybody.

[Welshwatchman]

Originally Posted by rwleigh

Well hopfully i won't need any warranty service but if i do it's nice to know it's covered.

Thanks for all the good advice everybody.

You're good to go.

If Rolex UK refused to honour warranty for an European-AD sourced Rolex they'd be in deep doo doo.

I've got an Italian, German and Spanish Rolex in my lot; the rest being UK.

[Sublover2166]

I was told as long as you have a warranty card that is properly filled out to go with the watch the warranty is valid anywhere in the world, period. Doesn't matter if it is your name or somebody elses. Country of origin is irrelevant also.

[springbar]

Originally Posted by Sublover2166

I was told as long as you have a warranty card that is properly filled out to go with the watch the warranty is valid anywhere in the world, period. Doesn't matter if it is your name or somebody elses. Country of origin is irrelevant also.

I believe this is correct but it's hardly obvious from Rolex's ambiguously-written warranty paperwork. ADs are not the only ones confused about it; RSCs don't even agree whether the warranty is transferrable.

The thing to remember is that RSCs don't ask to see your identification, they just want the warranty card. So there you go.

[Gaijin]

You are golden. Typical AD nonsense.

[Cc1966]

Card filled out? if so you are !

[rwleigh]

Originally Posted by Cc1966

Card filled out? if so you are !

Yep, I'm good to go if I need it.

Not expecting to though.