"Refurbished" ???

[DDG]

You don't see the word "refurbished" used much on this forum. When we see or hear that word, or see it printed on the orange sticker at the store, we tend to avoid that item, whatever it is, or expect to buy it dirt cheap. But, a 15 year old, high mileage Rolex that doesn't even run, gets shipped to the RSC, gets repaired, gets a new crystal, gets cleaned, oiled, serviced and polished (refinished). It comes back "serviced and polished", and looks like a new item again. And all this is considered a considered a selling point. Isn't all this work what others would call "Refurbished"?

[moviefreak]

I think of refurbished when something is broken and gets fixed....
A Rolex does not need to be broken to be serviced and brought to life again.. Kind of like a plastic surgery.. when it comes back, it looks like when it was younger...

[Tools]

"Refurbished" is a marketing tool for manufacturers..

In the US you cannot sell the same product twice as "new", so if an item is broken or returned, some manufacturers will go through and rebuild their product, and market it as "refurbished".

Rolex does not re-market any products as "refurbished". It's either new, or it's not.

However, enthusiasts do like to purchase serviced (or refurbished) watches. They're just not ever going to come from Rolex in a box with a "refurbished" sticker on the side at a reduced price.

[petesjag]

I guess its like the word 'restored' is used when talking cars..
Old cars are sold as restored, not fixed...

[cajunron]

Rolex would destroy a watch and toss it before they would sell it as 'second rate'.

[Jason71]

I prefer my Rolex watches "pre-owned", refurbished, or whatever you wish to call it. My favorite Rolex is a never polished original vintage piece that has had a movement service, but nothing else.

[bigwatchman]

Originally Posted by Jason71

I prefer my Rolex watches "pre-owned", refurbished, or whatever you wish to call it. My favorite Rolex is a never polished original vintage piece that has had a movement service, but nothing else.

Its funny but I have also come to this. I had my DJ polished up last year and it wasn't the same. I know it was fine, but the small lugs looked all that much smaller. I ended up resenting what I had done so I ended up flipping it for my sub. It was very lightly polished, sides only, but 90% of original character is still there. Nicks, scratches and all its glory. I may send to RSC in the future, but I don't know it would even want it polished up new looking.

[Rolexpilot]

Refurbished is a marketing ploy.

The VAST majority of consumer goods sold as "refurbished" are in actuality, brand new. It is just another way of selling. Comes in a plain box with 90 warranty.