If it’s got a price is it for sale?

[Sharkhandler]

Hi all,

So for the last year all Rolex watches at the goldsmiths in Reading UK have had the standard ‘for exhibition only not for sale’ tab.

Two weeks ago I went past and saw they had an explorer 2 in black with a price on it. There were loads of pm Rolexes with prices also.

So, without thinking I asked to buy it, and was given the standard ‘name down, 2 year wait blah blah’ sales pitch from 2022. I then asked to buy that specific one as it had a price tag, but was told ‘oh this is because rolex said we had to list watches with prices’.

There were still plenty of watches with the ‘exhibition only’ tag.

UK people, does anyone know what the consumer law is? If an item is in a shop window with a price tag, can you buy that item or can you legally be refused like I was.

Just curious

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Sharkhandler

Hi all,

So for the last year all Rolex watches at the goldsmiths in Reading UK have had the standard ‘for exhibition only not for sale’ tab.

Two weeks ago I went past and saw they had an explorer 2 in black with a price on it. There were loads of pm Rolexes with prices also.

So, without thinking I asked to buy it, and was given the standard ‘name down, 2 year wait blah blah’ sales pitch from 2022. I then asked to buy that specific one as it had a price tag, but was told ‘oh this is because rolex said we had to list watches with prices’.

There were still plenty of watches with the ‘exhibition only’ tag.

UK people, does anyone know what the consumer law is? If an item is in a shop window with a price tag, can you buy that item or can you legally be refused like I was.

Just curious

Any retail shop that has a price sticker on is only a invitation to buy,but any retail store can refuse to sell anything.

[slus]

Interesting thought.

All the "exhibition" watches I have tried on had the normal white hang tags with price. I assume they were held as demos for some period of time, maybe until another one came in, and then sold.

[Calatrava r]

All exhibition watches at this point are for sale. The only requirement now is ADs maintain a certain minimum level of watches in their cases to show in the store. As new watches come in, any watch can be sold.

[enjoythemusic]

We've had a thread about this previously... the prices are for information only. Ferrari UK posts prices of their cars, but it doesn't mean you'll get allocated one. Perhaps try the Bugatti or Pagani UK dealer, and see what they have to say.

[njlam]

Originally Posted by Sharkhandler

Hi all,



UK people, does anyone know what the consumer law is? If an item is in a shop window with a price tag, can you buy that item or can you legally be refused like I was.

Just curious

Too bad you are not in the States. You could try to play the race/gender discrimination card and threaten to go on social media....You might get your watch asap.

[Harry-57]

There is no legal requirement to sell a watch if it is displayed with its price. A seller can choose who they sell to, just as you could if you were selling something.

My AD uses an unambiguous model: If the watch is displayed with its price it is for sale. If not, it isn't. Whether or not this policy applies equally to every single person who walks through the door is unknown.

[Nairn1980]

They are under no obligation to sell. Their store, their property.

[kkqd1337]

Unfortunately WOS have a significant stranglehold on the UK Rolex market and their behaviour and attitude reflects that

[Space1970]

All the Goldsmiths I know of display prices next to each Rolex they have on display

If they have 4 display windows typically one of them might actually have watches for sale in it and wont have the little 'for display only' sign

Currently this would likely be filled with PM SD's Submariners and DD's or other £35k+ watches

I think they would sell one of these to anyone that wanted to make a purchase

[dba]

Originally Posted by Harry-57

There is no legal requirement to sell a watch if it is displayed with its price. A seller can choose who they sell to, just as you could if you were selling something.

Originally Posted by Nairn1980

They are under no obligation to sell. Their store, their property.

Then why are they in business?

[enjoythemusic]

Originally Posted by dba

Then why are they in business?

It fills their day, as not everyone can work at home. Some like social interaction, as there's nothing more enjoyable than helping others when you can. Don't you agree?

[Tools]

Originally Posted by Sharkhandler

. . .
UK people, does anyone know what the consumer law is? If an item is in a shop window with a price tag, can you buy that item or can you legally be refused like I was.

Just curious

I expect that there are plenty of products with prices on them so that you know what that particular product would cost. Pretty unlikely that a law would exist where you had to be sold that very product, although they would be held to that price if they had one actually for sale.

[kopi-c]

Originally Posted by Sharkhandler

Hi all,

So for the last year all Rolex watches at the goldsmiths in Reading UK have had the standard ‘for exhibition only not for sale’ tab.

Two weeks ago I went past and saw they had an explorer 2 in black with a price on it. There were loads of pm Rolexes with prices also.

So, without thinking I asked to buy it, and was given the standard ‘name down, 2 year wait blah blah’ sales pitch from 2022. I then asked to buy that specific one as it had a price tag, but was told ‘oh this is because rolex said we had to list watches with prices’.

There were still plenty of watches with the ‘exhibition only’ tag.

UK people, does anyone know what the consumer law is? If an item is in a shop window with a price tag, can you buy that item or can you legally be refused like I was.

Just curious

Each Rolex AD operates differently.

I was offered a Dj41 and declined. It did not have a price tag.

Whether or not the watch is listed with a price means nothing because if it is your turn, it will be sold to you.

[Dave455]

Under British law, any sale is initiated by the purchaser.

Displaying goods with a price, constitutes no more than an “Invitation to Treat”

On seeing that invitation, a prospective purchaser can make an offer to purchase.

The vendor can choose accept the offer, refuse the offer, or suggest an offer that might be acceptable.

The only country that I’m aware of where a vendor was obliged to sell goods displayed with a price was France, and that was some years ago. I suspect that things have chsnged now.

[77T]

There are some exceptions if the AD discriminates in a manner that is non-compliant with your country’s statutes or constitution.

For example, here in US, refusal to treat on racial or grounds based on sexual status is actionable.

Courts have rejected the invitation to treat discrimination based on acts as separate from discrimination based on status.

But this is slim pickings.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[rootbeer7]

Many years ago (34 in fact) I started a banking degree of which law was part of it. I believe there’s something in law called ‘invitation to treat’. A price tag is exactly that. It forms no contract and the price shown isn’t necessarily the price you’ll pay.

[Harry-57]

Originally Posted by dba

Then why are they in business?

My Rolex AD is Mallory Bath. I can't answer that question on their behalf but you can ring them and ask them.

[fsprow]

Dealers Choice. Let’s not promote more laws to “protect us”.