Palo alto watches: Rolexandtudor

[foil_guy]

Hi all, i am a newbie to this site, and am enquiring if any of you have bought a watch, or a part from rolexandtudor (www.com). they are based in palo alto California. I am interested in purchasing one of their watches, but it seems that international buyers can only pay using Western union; though they use paypal, any transaction over $200 is not included in this service. Obviously i do not know the company, and am reluctant to just wire over several Hundred pounds. Their site looks professional, and i can see no bad feedback when i type their name on an internet search. I believe they are a chinese run firm, as they are in a chinese directory. They also do repairs according to their site, but cannot find them in the local directory. Any help would be appreciated.

[Tools]

I don't know anything about them, but let me offer this..

If they are in a Chinese directory, and are a Chinese run firm, then their address in Palo Alto may be little more than a management or internet office. It is likely that whatever you buy through them will be shipped from a location not in California..

[pwrslider]

hmmmmmmm..Highly suspect!

Been all around the south bay..and never heard of them. Just checked with a couple of my reliable jewelers...and they never heard either.

THe address is in a industrial area...not a retail area...

I'd go elsewhere for now!

[diggity]

Originally Posted by foil_guy

Hi all, i am a newbie to this site, and am enquiring if any of you have bought a watch, or a part from rolexandtudor (www.com). they are based in palo alto California. I am interested in purchasing one of their watches, but it seems that international buyers can only pay using Western union; though they use paypal, any transaction over $200 is not included in this service. Obviously i do not know the company, and am reluctant to just wire over several Hundred pounds. Their site looks professional, and i can see no bad feedback when i type their name on an internet search. I believe they are a chinese run firm, as they are in a chinese directory. They also do repairs according to their site, but cannot find them in the local directory. Any help would be appreciated.

Find out if they have an actual store....if they do or if they are really in Palo Alto, I wouldn't mind going to meet with them for you (I am about 15 minutes away from Palo Alto). Let me know.

[pwrslider]

Originally Posted by diggity

Find out if they have an actual store....if they do or if they are really in Palo Alto, I wouldn't mind going to meet with them for you (I am about 15 minutes away from Palo Alto). Let me know.

4074 Fabian Way #7 Palo Alto Ca

[ratae1950]

These guys are a bit short on info on what they are selling let alone not having references/feedback. Seeing the the various watch parts you will never know what bits are in what you might buy.

To paraphrase the the fayre burgers of Nottingham these fellows probably rob the poor to give to the rich.

[pwrslider]

Originally Posted by ratae1950

These guys are a bit short on info on what they are selling let alone not having references/feedback. Seeing the the various watch parts you will never know what bits are in what you might buy.

To paraphrase the the fayre burgers of Nottingham these fellows probably rob the poor to give to the rich.

my thoughts exactly....says they've been in business since 1985....don't you think we'd have heard of them...or from them....

[ratae1950]

Welcome by the way! I think you should kick these guys into touch.

[Mrdi]

Western Union means R U N.
Need a Rolex...?
Go to the adds here on the forum.
Find something you like, then ask about the seller.
You'll be fine.

[Z-Sub]

Originally Posted by Mrdi

Western Union means R U N.
Need a Rolex...?
Go to the adds here on the forum.
Find something you like, then ask about the seller.
You'll be fine.

that will be my opinion as well if they specify Western Union.

[scottschoe]

I live closeby, but have never heard of the place. I could stop by on the weekend if I have some free time.

[diggity]

You are super close Scott. Let me know if you need any backup.

[Trurolexer]

WELCOME TO TRF BTW!!!

[DSJ]

Let's get to the bottom of this one! The only ones that should be selling Rolex in Palo Alto are Shreve, and Gleim, as far as I can recall.

[foil_guy]

Hi all, i'm overwhelmed by the response, most of the other watch forums i belong to are not so friendly, (maybe it's military watch types, i tend to frequent them), so i salute you all; i only have a modest late 60's French issue Military Tudor to my name, but there's hope yet; i once passed up the offer of a British issue Military Rolex Sub for £1500, several years back, and i think actually burst out crying when i saw one sell at bonhams recently for £67,000.

To cut a along story short i spotted a watch within the 'Rolexandtudor' site, 4074 Fabian Way #7 Palo Alto Ca, it's not a rolex, in fact it's not even a particularly expensive watch.......around $400. But one that i'd been looking for, for ages at agreeable money. I was perplexed why only part of the site was paypal. And not particularly eager to purchase using WESTERN UNION!!!!........for just the reasons you all have mentioned. In fact i would rather slip $50 to someone local to the area; Scottschoe Is that offer still good sir? to case the joint, and if cosha pay them the watch cost through paypal. I guess the place could be alright, and just don't want it to be the watch that got away. ha ha Honestly any help would be most welcome. Thanks again for the warm welcome.

Paul

[diggity]

Originally Posted by DSJ

Let's get to the bottom of this one! The only ones that should be selling Rolex in Palo Alto are Shreve, and Gleim, as far as I can recall.

You are right. I will swing by their location this evening on my way home from work. I will let you guys know later!

[foil_guy]

Great Diggity!!, quite fitting that you should be the 'knight-errant', for Nottingham Shire!!!.....unfortunately with my bald head, don't think i make much of a damsel in distress, and you wouldn't want to see me in a frock!!...seriously though

Cheers

[Timber Loftis]

About Us:


PALO ALTO WATCHES established at Palo Alto since 1985, 3 watch makers including Dr. Lee. We buy, sell, consignment, repair, service, making parts, searching hard to find item and appraise clock, watch and timepieces. We challenge any jobs.

We are not affiliated with any watch company.

Visitors by appointment only, please call to confirm in advance.

Email is the best contact method and welcomed to reach us.
Do not call for quotation, best is by email first.

If you can't trust someone to put proper Engrish on their website, you probably can't trust them to handle a luxury watch business. IMO.

[sea-dweller]

Any update on this ? I'm in San Diego until late Thursday night, or else I would cruise by and take a look...

[scottschoe]

Originally Posted by foil_guy

Hi all, i'm overwhelmed by the response, most of the other watch forums i belong to are not so friendly, (maybe it's military watch types, i tend to frequent them), so i salute you all; i only have a modest late 60's French issue Military Tudor to my name, but there's hope yet; i once passed up the offer of a British issue Military Rolex Sub for £1500, several years back, and i think actually burst out crying when i saw one sell at bonhams recently for £67,000.

To cut a along story short i spotted a watch within the 'Rolexandtudor' site, 4074 Fabian Way #7 Palo Alto Ca, it's not a rolex, in fact it's not even a particularly expensive watch.......around $400. But one that i'd been looking for, for ages at agreeable money. I was perplexed why only part of the site was paypal. And not particularly eager to purchase using WESTERN UNION!!!!........for just the reasons you all have mentioned. In fact i would rather slip $50 to someone local to the area; Scottschoe Is that offer still good sir? to case the joint, and if cosha pay them the watch cost through paypal. I guess the place could be alright, and just don't want it to be the watch that got away. ha ha Honestly any help would be most welcome. Thanks again for the warm welcome.

Paul

I should have some time to stop by this weekend - I suppose I'll call them to make an 'appointment'

EDIT: Just realized they're not open on weekends. I'll try to pop in on Friday.

EDIT #2: I just gave them a ring and the guy who picked up wasn't really friendly. There might have been some language barrier, but from what I understand, the watches are *not* in their actual location, even the ones on consignment. The place very rarely lets anyone in (because there's nothing to see). I asked where the store gets its parts for service and he said a "big supplier," and gave me a wishy-washy statement when I asked about a parts account. Not getting a great feel from these guys - they *could* be experienced watch people, but I'd need some customer reviews. If you want to see a watch, you have to contact them on their website and see if it's still available - not sure if you could even view it before purchase.

4074 Fabian Way #7
Palo Alto, California 94303
(650) 493-8209, (650) 493-8217

Open 10 am to 6 pm PST Mon-Fri

[foil_guy]

Hi scottschoe, Yes it does all sound a bit odd. His slightly offhand personality comes through on his emails to me too, again though i figured maybe just a language thing. Funny enough i've even got my girlfriend who is Taiwanese and currently there to send him a message in Mandarin, as you can access their site on a chinese link, apparently though it was not configured to accept the Chinese characters. Yu-LIn said she got a response in English which she said was S*@!!T.

What i can't figure out, is if it is a legit site, how do they expect people to want to buy their watch stock. I'd happily spend a 1K on it if i had the security of Paypal.

[ratae1950]

Originally Posted by foil_guy

Great Diggity!!, quite fitting that you should be the 'knight-errant', for Nottingham Shire!!!.....unfortunately with my bald head, don't think i make much of a damsel in distress, and you wouldn't want to see me in a frock!!...seriously though

Cheers

Don't be so sure on the frock! I looked at the address on Live Local and it appears to be an industrial/warehouse area.

[foil_guy]

Ha ha!!! take it you been to Nottingham?, ' Yunnoworameenmiduck', is as local as it gets!!!

Yes on second thoughts maybe a frock will not look so bad. I also looked on google maps and was staggered by the 3D vista aspect, i had no idea you could actually pan around and walk up and down the street, though couldn't quite see any signs saying Palo alto watches.

[diggity]

Originally Posted by ratae1950

Don't be so sure on the frock! I looked at the address on Live Local and it appears to be an industrial/warehouse area.

I know exactly where it is. There are some small businesses out there as well. Since they are open M-F 10-6, they shouldn't mind me stopping by this evening. I will even take a pic of their office on my phone and upload it tonight.

[foil_guy]

Diggity i propose depending on the final outcome of your 'recon mission', that i send an email to them tomorrow, saying 'no need for Western Union', i'll get a friend to pop round with the cash and purchase the watch direct'. Be interesting to see what response i get!!!

[diggity]

Well, here are the pictures. I am surprised the sign was there. Would I trust them? Hell no....the entrance door looks like a storage unit....

[scottschoe]

Interesting Did you knock?

[dsimon9]

Zowie, looks like Rolex is really cutting back the margin dealers make off a rolex. Poor guys.

[diggity]

Originally Posted by scottschoe

Interesting Did you knock?

Believe it or not, I did. I also gave the door a few good tugs

[pwrslider]

I gotta say...my initial instincts were good. If it smells like a fish...etc!