My first Rolex experience...

[chris242]

probably why they let me fill my name in on my latest warrant card myself!
same thing here with the white hang tag, however, i’m not buying a piece of plastic.. but a beautiful timepiece... so it didn’t bother me.
as far as the scratch is concerned.. that’s very frustrating seeing as it’s brand new. if it got scratched while “removing stickers”, what kind of tools are they using to do this!?


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[Rori]

Welcome onboard Valerio,
You should not feel bad about the experience even though it happened with a couple of glitches.
Those are minor thing really especially the name on the card. "My name on one of my credit cards is completely misspelled with 4 letters off"
Regarding the scratch, well, this is something not rare at all since many have said here on this forum that their watches had been scratched while bracelet is resized.
I understand that a scratch hurts a bit on a new watch but I don't think Rolex Spain won't be able to buff it out.
Hope you got your watch very soon and start enjoying it.

Originally Posted by Valerio72

Hello everyone,

This is my first post (after the introductory one) on this Forum so excuse me in advance if I say something incorrect. I would like to share with you my first Rolex purchase experience because I have been reading your posts on a regular basis over the last couple of years.

I am an Italian national living in Spain. I have been in contact with the local Rolex AD for the last 3 or 4 years and I have to say that it was impossible to buy any Rolex steel professional model. They told me that even Datejust and Oyster Perpetual were impossible to obtain in steel. So I decided to ask other AD's in Spain and came through the Rolex AD in Ibiza where one of their SA was very kind and open to send photos of their available models to me. The last time I got her photos, I decided to pull the trigger for a Rolex Explorer (which would be impossible to get from my local AD!). However, due to the current COVID situation, I asked them the favor of shipping the watch to their branch in Valencia so that I could go and pick up my timepiece there, basically avoiding taking a plane to Ibiza.
Finally, yesterday I went to pick up my watch in Valencia and when the SA was adjusting the bracelet I noticed that my surname was misspelled on the warranty card. So I refused to collect the watch until that problem was solved. I was told that, in order to correct the card, they had to send both the watch and the card to Madrid where their general HQ is located. I was obviously not pleased but I wanted to have my correct surname on the card (even though it was only one additional letter). After that I realized a couple of other things that I did not like. The watch presented a light scratch on the bezel. Even though it was quite small, it was still visible under the light of their desk so I asked how they wanted to proceed and they told me that they would repair/polish the scratch when they would send it to Madrid. Their justification was that the mirror polished parts are getting scratches very easily even when someone is removing the plastic protection from the case. I don't know which is your opinion on this but, for me, it's like buying a new car and the car, still at the dealer, presents a scratch on one of its doors...
Finally, I noticed that they would not include the white tag with the price and the serial number in the box. I was quite surprised about that because I have watched many unboxing videos on Youtube and almost all of them show the white tag as part of the box. The director of the shop told me that Rolex Spain is obliging them to retain the white tag for the usual problem of flippers. Hence, my question is: how is the situation in other countries? Is there any other forum member from Europe that has recently bought a Rolex and can tell me about the white tag policy in his/her country?

Sorry for the very long post but I wanted to share with you the whole experience: so far, not really good considering that I haven't got my watch yet....!

Thanks for your patience and attention!
Valerio

[OG1982]

The watch is scratched, this is not acceptable for a new luxury timepiece. Those saying it will scratch anyway are correct but this is not the point! Would you accept a brand new luxury car with a dent or a scratch on one panel? No, I didn't think so.

[JChips]

Originally Posted by Ollie1982

The watch is scratched, this is not acceptable for a new luxury timepiece. Those saying it will scratch anyway are correct but this is not the point! Would you accept a brand new luxury car with a dent or a scratch on one panel? No, I didn't think so.

I don’t view a tool watch like a “luxury car”. More like a work truck, which gets dirty and scratched pretty quickly as well.


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[OG1982]

Originally Posted by JChips

I don’t view a tool watch like a “luxury car”. More like a work truck, which gets dirty and scratched pretty quickly as well.


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I agree to a certain extent with your analogy, but even that work truck that is going to be filthy and probably dented a few weeks after it leaves the showroom deserves to be given to its new owner in a new unused condition.

[JChips]

Originally Posted by Ollie1982

I agree to a certain extent with your analogy, but even that work truck that is going to be filthy and probably dented a few weeks after it leaves the showroom deserves to be given to its new owner in a new unused condition.

Yeah, that’s true.


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[sgwatchguy]

OP, hope your watch comes back all nice and shiny and scratch free. I wouldn’t have sent it back, but your watch and your rules.

Hope they don’t gift you a couple of extra scratches in return cos it wouldn’t be the first time.

I’d love to see pics of your Adamantium GP

[m56]

I'm sorry OP for the sad turn out but frankly though, it's impossible or close to impossible for the watch to remain without a scratch... So I say you take it and I'm sure you'll love it... besides you don't know how long it will take for it to get back, it might be a long and frustrating wait.

[RyanJ]

It is not unreasonable at all for someone buying a new watch from an AD to have their name spelled correctly on the warranty card and receive a scratch free watch.

[HJZS2K]

Originally Posted by RyanJ

It is not unreasonable at all for someone buying a new watch from an AD to have their name spelled correctly on the warranty card and receive a scratch free watch.

This. As long as you're happy after all of that is said and done, then that's all that matters. I am the same way with scratches. I don't want anything that I just paid for in anything but new condition. If I put it on and scratch it in the process, I'm alright with that, but as long as it wasn't handed to me already that way.

Having said that, I was so very careful with my YM's polished bracelet. Guess what? It doesn't matter. I looked at it hard the other day and it got 2 more scratches on it.

[Valerio72]

Once again, thanks for your opinion on my issue!

I still think that something new that costs more than 6000€ should be handed over in its immaculate condition. Then, another thing is if I scratch it after 5 minutes: once it's mine, it is my problem...

Anyhow I can reassure you that my GP does not have one scratch on the case. The bezel and the front case are also mirror polished (like the bezel of the Explorer). I don't live in a bubble but I have been careful with it as it is a limited edition (only 50 pieces) for the "Club Italia" (an association of Italian entrepreneurs) and I have just serviced it but it has never been polished.

I would upload the photos of my watch but it seems that I need to get to 10 posts before I am enabled to do that.

[Valerio72]

In case you are still interested to check my GP, I am now able to upload a couple of photos. I cannot insert more as there is a problem with the maximum size. Maybe I will have to use an additional reply...

[Valerio72]

Anyhow, yesterday I got my Explorer by express courier from the AD.
The card has been replaced with a new one with my name printed on it and the scratch has been wiped out like magic.

I must say that this watch is a pleasure to see and wear (sorry for my bad pics)!!!

Furthermore, let me give some credit to the AD as I got some nice gifts from them (two caps from the shop and a Rolex green velvet case)