Rolex sticker wars.....

[kauffee]

Originally Posted by teb1013

I don't get it, were the gods of Rolex going to materialize and revoke their AD agreement then and there if they slipped you the watch, with the stickers still in place? Does Rolex send fake buyers around to see if they can get dealers to violate the rules and then revoke their agreements? This, and the shocking instances when they want to engrave your watch would make me a grey market buyer in a moment. Buying from an AD is supposed to give you security and to make you feel like a special customer, not to make you feel like they are doing you a favor for allowing you to buy the watch. The only thing I can imagine that is worse are the dealers who say things like "that watch is only for our premium buyers..."


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Well said. It's pretty shocking to me that this AD was willing to give you an expensive winder just for you to allow them to remove the stickers. And then to give up the sale and have to deal with the hassle of probably needing Rolex to send a new warranty card? That's pretty wild.

[rootbeer7]

Here's the flip side. Stickers are removed and a scratch is noted immediately by AD. You have a choice; take it or leave it, perhaps with discount. Take watch with stickers, get home remove them, notice the scratch and then fight with the AD. All hypothetical of course. For me, let the AD unwrap and size.
Anyone driven home in a car with covers on that it arrived off the transporter in?

[Cerachrom12]

Originally Posted by rootbeer7

Here's the flip side. Stickers are removed and a scratch is noted immediately by AD. You have a choice; take it or leave it, perhaps with discount. Take watch with stickers, get home remove them, notice the scratch and then fight with the AD. All hypothetical of course. For me, let the AD unwrap and size.
Anyone driven home in a car with covers on that it arrived off the transporter in?

The stickers are see through and a scratch would be pretty obvious on a new piece.

[indy16zo6]

I agree 100%. Once I pay for it I can do whatever I like. I just can't fathom that bad of customer service. I have a retail business and If one of my employees treated a paying or non paying customer like that, they would not be my employee anymore.

[ernie2]

I would have kept the wolf winder and take the watch.

[AJM914]

Glad you taught them a lesson

[zaydans]

That's BS. I bought an AK from Fraser Hart in London just two weeks ago and they left all the stickers on. Wasn't even a question of removing them in store. They were more concerned about the warranty details.

[thesharkfactor]

I agree that removing stickers SHOULD be standard practice...afterall, a guy spends £$XX,XXX on a luxury item and they size it up, they can't let him walk out the store with the stickers on it.
You don't check into a 5star hotel, get to your room and find it unprepared..

It will be part of Rolex service. Size it, remove the stickers, put it on the buyers wrist, smile, cheerio..

However, I think it should be an option. If you want them them on there should be no question about it.

..then there is engraving.. jeez.. if an AD insists that I get my new watch engraved..if they point blank insist and will not budge, I'll have them engrave "KEEP IT" on the rear, then cancel the card payment.

[Steve36Efc]

The same happened when I picked up a Daytona C about a month ago, the sales lady said it was not allowed to leave the shop with stickers intact. I hadn't paid at this point, nor did I stand my ground I had no intention of leaving without it.

[faimag]

I have had the stickers removed in a bunch of Rolexes bought from UK ADs. But I agree that since you paid, the watch is yours and you can do whatever you want with it.

[kauffee]

Yes, clearly "the Rolex way" should be for ADs to size the watch and remove the stickers. 99% of Rolex buyers will want that service and I assume many would be upset to find that the dealer didn't remove the crazy number of stickers hidden all over the watch. But obviously when dealing with luxury goods, especially watches, there are going to be many eclectic enthusiasts (like us) who are very particular in a less than rational way. I don't see why the AD indulging this small minority is such a big issue for them.

[SC11]

Originally Posted by thesharkfactor

I agree that removing stickers SHOULD be standard practice...afterall, a guy spends £$XX,XXX on a luxury item and they size it up, they can't let him walk out the store with the stickers on it.
You don't check into a 5star hotel, get to your room and find it unprepared..

It will be part of Rolex service. Size it, remove the stickers, put it on the buyers wrist, smile, cheerio..

However, I think it should be an option. If you want them them on there should be no question about it.

..then there is engraving.. jeez.. if an AD insists that I get my new watch engraved..if they point blank insist and will not budge, I'll have them engrave "KEEP IT" on the rear, then cancel the card payment.

But the same could be said about an expensive phone or laptop, could you imagine at the till at an Apple Store and after paying they unwrap your newly released phone and hand it too you so you don't sell it for more on EBay.
The choice should be down to the buyer.

I never have a watch sized at an AD I do it myself when I get home, experienced and seen a few mishaps at AD's.

[colin46]

I picked up my BLNR from my local AD last Monday and the manager asked me if I wanted the stickers removed or would I like to do it later.

I said I will do it, he resized it for me, put it in the box stickers intact and gift wrapped the box and handed me it.

I will by buying a bluesy from him soon.

[tufty]

When I purchased my date just 11, it was ordered by the AD as they didn't have the blue dial in stock, I was asked if i wanted him (the son) to remove the stickers, I replied yes. It was going to be my first and last expensive (for me) watch.
I've since brought the explorer11 polar from the same AD that also was ordered as they only had the black dial, this time I wasn't asked by the father (its a family AD) he just started taking them off....did it bother me? not really, but after being on this great forum, realise that maybe it would of been nice to of been asked... I still would of had him remove them as it is my watch, don't intend on trading it etc etc, so having very very short finger nails, this is the best option for me, all so like some one else said if it did have a mark on it would be there fault.
Hhhmmmm now what will happen when the sub LVc arrives??

[Mick P]

Chaps

Removing stickers is in everybody's interest and strictly speaking, the ADs should do it regardless.

This forum is stuffed to the gunnels with people complaining that some chancer goes into the AD. buys a SS model, keeps the stickers on and a week later it is on sale at some inflated price as brand new. If the stickers are removed, it is no longer brand new and the rip off price will not be as high.

Also how is the issue of a scratch resolved if the watch is returned with the stickers still on.

My view is simple, if you want to buy a Rolex watch, abide by Rolex principles and rules and if you don't like those rules, buy another make. When I buy a new Rolex, I expect to be the first owner and I also accept that the stickers come off, that is the system, live with it.

Regards

Mick

[SC11]

Originally Posted by colin46

I picked up my BLNR from my local AD last Monday and the manager asked me if I wanted the stickers removed or would I like to do it later.

I said I will do it, he resized it for me, put it in the box stickers intact and gift wrapped the box and handed me it.

I will by buying a bluesy from him soon.

That's how it should be the buyer gets the choice!

My AD delivered me my Daytona still in the coffin so it was perfect for flipping but it's still with me and worn regularly, Rolex are the makers of thier own doing they have clearly restricted supply to generate hype and now trying to stop profit making from this hype!

I can understand comments about you shouldnt worry about having stickers removed etc if you planning on wearing the watch, but to me it's more about the treatment and experience we as the buyer should feel appreciated as we are what pays the AD and Rolex we shouldn't have to feel like we have to thank them for being honoured in allowing us to buy

To be honest if this happened to me I'd take my business elsewhere even if it meant away from Rolex, for me a 10k watch purchase is special and I want it to feel that way.

[Dirt]

Originally Posted by j-watch

Look, I don't mean to ruffle any feathers here, but really what's the big deal? Let me explain:

If this watch was to be a gift as stated, I'll assume you're giving it to someone that likes watches but perhaps "isn't" your typical WIS? What I'm driving at is, would the person really have cared if the stickers were removed or not? Wouldn't the recipient now simply have to peel all (and there's a ton) of the stickers off and perhaps be a bit nervous about nicking /scratching their brand new Rolex, attempting to get all the tiny bits from here and there? Wouldn't they have appreciated the watch is ready to wear aside from sizing, which might force them / you back into a dealer / watchmaker anyway?

If you weren't planning on flipping the watch as you state, why wouldn't you want the service of sticker removal to be preformed by someone that will have to accept responsibility should they scratch the watch during the removal?


I've removed a lot of stickers off a lot of Rolex's over the years, and to be honest, it's a bit overrated. Not sure what the big deal is.

Having said this, I'm located in the US, and having purchased many pieces over the years (several Daytona's included) the only watch that I was "told" had to have the stickers removed during the delivery was the DaytonaC I bought last year. They basically stated that they had to remove the stickers from this piece in an effort to keep them from being "flipped". I had no problem agreeing to this and suggested that even though I didn't intend to "flip this piece" that I didn't think it would restrict the ability to sell it even if that was my attention. The store owner agreed, but said Rolex was requesting they do this for the Daytona. I asked if this was their policy on all their pieces, and he stated "no".

Again, not trying to ruffle any feathers as previously stated. Just trying to understand that if it's done in your presence at the time of sale, what's the big deal?

Engraving is a whole additional topic, and is complete BS as far as I'm concerned, but that's not what the topic here was. Likewise, I've heard of AD's keeping the warranty cards as to render the package "incomplete" and discourage flipping, but I've never been asked to do either of these practices.

Hope it works out well for you moving forward.

Good luck,

Joe

I totally agree.
And I know I'll probably get flamed for it, but here goes.
All this business about stickers and human rights violations is just symptomatic of a modern culture that is based on an overinflated sense of empowerment in an "age of entitlement".
It's all gone way too far and gained a ridiculous amount of momentum as far as I'm concerned.
I also note it's far more evident on this particular forum than anywhere else.
Hense my use of the word "culture" above.
Now it's got to the point where people are kicking up a stink and refusing an item based solely on whether the thing has its stickers on, which for all intents and purposes are virtually redundant after sale whether it be a gift as claimed or for personal use.

Really, what did people whinge about and aim criticism on the forum before Rolex put protective stickers on the watches.
Oh that's right, it was people not ripping those darned holgram stickers off the Casebacks.
Before that it was to a lesser extent the original green sticker Rolex used to use.

One does not see this issue with other watch brands and it reflects poorly on a very small minority of Rolex customers who gather together on the internet cheering each other on and slapping each other on the back on a ridiculous matter of principal.

So this is what the age of entitlement looks like
First world problems.

[cda555]

I've never bought from an AD, but if I did I think I would want to remove one sticker just to get it out of my system... then I would ask them to take the rest off because that looks like a PITA.

In terms of the OP, the watch was paid for so he had every right to keep the stickers. I think the AD learned a lesson. Tell the customer about the sticker removal policy before the sale.

[peterpl]

Yep - well done. I would have done exactly the same thing. Screw them you paid for it so its your property to do what you want.

[Dirt]

Originally Posted by SC11

That's how it should be the buyer gets the choice!

My AD delivered me my Daytona still in the coffin so it was perfect for flipping but it's still with me and worn regularly, Rolex are the makers of thier own doing they have clearly restricted supply to generate hype and now trying to stop profit making from this hype!

I can understand comments about you shouldnt worry about having stickers removed etc if you planning on wearing the watch, but to me it's more about the treatment and experience we as the buyer should feel appreciated as we are what pays the AD and Rolex we shouldn't have to feel like we have to thank them for being honoured in allowing us to buy

To be honest if this happened to me I'd take my business elsewhere even if it meant away from Rolex, for me a 10k watch purchase is special and I want it to feel that way.

Agreed.
But it's all about how one choose to feel about it as well.

I think if the watch was a gift an I weren't a member of a very small and insignificant minority gathering together in some small corner of the internet.
Then I would appreciate recieving the said gift all nice and shiney and ready to wear regardless of whether it needed to be sized correctly or not.
Just like the old days, when one graciously recieved a gift.

Honestly, would one refuse new car because it didn't have the protective stickers removed from the panel work during the PD just prior to taking delivery.

[SC11]

Originally Posted by Dirt

Agreed.
But it's all about how one choose to feel about it as well.

I think if the watch was a gift an I weren't a member of a very small and insignificant minority gathering together in some small corner of the internet.
Then I would appreciate recieving the said gift all nice and shiney and ready to wear regardless of whether it needed to be sized correctly or not.
Just like the old days, when one graciously recieved a gift.

Honestly, would one refuse new car because it didn't have the protective stickers removed from the panel work during the PD just prior to taking delivery.

But to me it's not so much the sticker removal is more the method of it, in this case once the OP the buyer said no I'd like the stickers to be left on as it's a gift the AD reply should of been certainly sir.

The issue is being forced to do something and the manner in which they deal with it.

[rootbeer7]

Originally Posted by Mick P

Chaps

Removing stickers is in everybody's interest and strictly speaking, the ADs should do it regardless.

This forum is stuffed to the gunnels with people complaining that some chancer goes into the AD. buys a SS model, keeps the stickers on and a week later it is on sale at some inflated price as brand new. If the stickers are removed, it is no longer brand new and the rip off price will not be as high.

Also how is the issue of a scratch resolved if the watch is returned with the stickers still on.

My view is simple, if you want to buy a Rolex watch, abide by Rolex principles and rules and if you don't like those rules, buy another make. When I buy a new Rolex, I expect to be the first owner and I also accept that the stickers come off, that is the system, live with it.

Regards

Mick

Spot on! Anyway how's Italy?

[Lemieux66]

It's the underhandedness of the AD's behaviour that gets me. They knew they were trying to do something to the watch without the new owner's consent, but continued anyway.

And what's this I read about ADs engraving watches? Never heard of that before. Anyone have any anecdotes about this practice?

[Dirt]

Originally Posted by cda555

I've never bought from an AD, but if I did I think I would want to remove one sticker just to get it out of my system... then I would ask them to take the rest off because that looks like a PITA.

In terms of the OP, the watch was paid for so he had every right to keep the stickers. I think the AD learned a lesson. Tell the customer about the sticker removal policy before the sale.

Yes that sounds fair enough but the issue (on the balance of probability) would only aply to a very small minority of consumers they would encounter and only to a vocal and indignant few that gather in an obscure corner of the internet.

To most consumers the issue would seem ridiculous and it would be difficult to broach the subject with an unknown customer.
It is after all a Rolex policy put in place to protect the brand and the dealer network.

Perhaps Rolex is to blame at the end of the day because they have created a monster where a couple of models have become overly commoditized.
I sometimes wonder if the brand would be held in such high esteem if supply was the epuivalent of other commonly available brands.
After all Rolex watches are good, but they are not deserving of god like status.
IMO, it's the high standard of their readily accessable globalised service network that truely sets them apart, along with timeless designs and overall rubustness.

[Dirt]

Originally Posted by SC11

But to me it's not so much the sticker removal is more the method of it, in this case once the OP the buyer said no I'd like the stickers to be left on as it's a gift the AD reply should of been certainly sir.

The issue is being forced to do something and the manner in which they deal with it.

Yes it certainly needs to be refined.
Perhaps Rolex needs to take a more proactive roll and help the dealers with training the consumer.
Again we here on this forum are a very small and insignificant minority in the grand scheme of things.

Frankly I would hate to work in retail and I respect their position.

[vladamir15]

Good job, they got what they deserved. They have no right

[-Ally-]

Why didn't you just take it off him and proceed out the door, it was your property the minute you paid.

[Jsanders1985]

You sound like a little kid who didn't get his way...so he took his ball and went home. It's stickers...who cares??

[datejustrms]

Originally Posted by SC11

Funny thing I was looking at a watch and this subject came up and the AD said the same thing, apparently the removal of stickers was a Rolex rule since Basel 16 and the Daytona release.

I showed them a picture of how the AD gave me my Daytona still untouched in its coffin, the branch manager said if Rolex found out they would lose their AD status.

To which I said ok then did they want to let Rolex know as it was another one of thier branches

That's perfect!

[Cerachrom12]

Originally Posted by Mick P

Chaps

Removing stickers is in everybody's interest and strictly speaking, the ADs should do it regardless.

This forum is stuffed to the gunnels with people complaining that some chancer goes into the AD. buys a SS model, keeps the stickers on and a week later it is on sale at some inflated price as brand new. If the stickers are removed, it is no longer brand new and the rip off price will not be as high.

Also how is the issue of a scratch resolved if the watch is returned with the stickers still on.

My view is simple, if you want to buy a Rolex watch, abide by Rolex principles and rules and if you don't like those rules, buy another make. When I buy a new Rolex, I expect to be the first owner and I also accept that the stickers come off, that is the system, live with it.

Regards

Mick

While I respect your opinion, I have to disagree. In this particular instance, the OP was NOT notified of any Rolex policy regarding the removal of stickers prior to purchase.
He had purchased the watch, and it was his property. The dealer was out of line the way they handled this situation. If it were me, I would have been hostile in a matter of seconds and demanded the watch back into my hands or things would have been ugly. I have been into retail business many years prior to retirement. This is rule;
1. The customer is always right.
2. If the customer is ever wrong, re-read rule #1