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Old 27 November 2024, 01:28 PM   #1
Cshull
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Sad (but kinda funny) noob experience

I was visiting a young friend in Phoenix this weekend. He noticed my DJ and told me that he had won the opportunity to buy a Rolex because he exceeded his sales goals at work. He then told me that it didn't work and he called the dealer and they told him to bring it in to have the battery changed! I asked if he had tried winding it and he said he tried to manipulate the stem but it seemed like he would break it if he pulled too hard.

I immediately thought the worst and started asking more questions. He described going down to the AD in Scottsdale and being told that there was nothing new for sale but was shown the case of used watches, from which he selected one. At this point I asked if he would bring the watch downstairs to take a look at it.

He brings down a Rolex certified pre-owned box which contained a white leatherette Rolex case and then produced a very nice stainless smooth-bezel DJ with blue dial and roman indices on an Oyster bracelet. I showed him that you have to unscrew the crown to wind it, then showed him how to set the time and date. I explained that whoever told him over the phone to bring it in for a battery must have been teasing him. He was very relieved and then told me that another saleman that got a watch at the same time also had a "non-working" watch and was told to bring it in for a battery.

It really breaks my heart to think that he and his friend both have had these nice watches for almost a year and weren't taught how to set them at the dealer. He said he had been wearing it occasionally without setting the time because it was cool. It is almost unbelievable to think they were told over the phone to bring them in for a battery change, but if that is true and he wasn't just trying to cover his ignorance, that is even sadder.

In any event, he is now very happy to have a working watch and I told him to wear it everywhere rather than save it for special occasions and to plan on handing it down to his 2-year old son someday. To which his wife said "I think we should sell it"
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Old 27 November 2024, 01:31 PM   #2
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Since a thread without pics is worthless, this is the watch


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Old 27 November 2024, 03:01 PM   #3
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This reminds me of the time I was at an AD looking at IWC, and a gentleman approached the SA who was showing me some pieces. He asked if she could replace the battery in his Breitling. The SA took the watch, wound it, and as she handed it back, explained what an automatic watch is and how it works. My jaw nearly hit the floor
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Old 27 November 2024, 09:51 PM   #4
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That’s why I paid the AD an extra $1,000 for the super long lasting battery when I bought my Rolex.

I also paid the $500 for the water proof coating
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Old 27 November 2024, 10:01 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cshull View Post
I was visiting a young friend in Phoenix this weekend. He noticed my DJ and told me that he had won the opportunity to buy a Rolex because he exceeded his sales goals at work. He then told me that it didn't work and he called the dealer and they told him to bring it in to have the battery changed! I asked if he had tried winding it and he said he tried to manipulate the stem but it seemed like he would break it if he pulled too hard.

I immediately thought the worst and started asking more questions. He described going down to the AD in Scottsdale and being told that there was nothing new for sale but was shown the case of used watches, from which he selected one. At this point I asked if he would bring the watch downstairs to take a look at it.

He brings down a Rolex certified pre-owned box which contained a white leatherette Rolex case and then produced a very nice stainless smooth-bezel DJ with blue dial and roman indices on an Oyster bracelet. I showed him that you have to unscrew the crown to wind it, then showed him how to set the time and date. I explained that whoever told him over the phone to bring it in for a battery must have been teasing him. He was very relieved and then told me that another saleman that got a watch at the same time also had a "non-working" watch and was told to bring it in for a battery.

It really breaks my heart to think that he and his friend both have had these nice watches for almost a year and weren't taught how to set them at the dealer. He said he had been wearing it occasionally without setting the time because it was cool. It is almost unbelievable to think they were told over the phone to bring them in for a battery change, but if that is true and he wasn't just trying to cover his ignorance, that is even sadder.

In any event, he is now very happy to have a working watch and I told him to wear it everywhere rather than save it for special occasions and to plan on handing it down to his 2-year old son someday. To which his wife said "I think we should sell it"
Thanks for sharing. It's ok not everyone is into watches and you did the right thing by not judging him. We all know Rolex SA's are snobby and judgmental. Your friend probably knows other things so well that others won't have a clue about.
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Old 27 November 2024, 11:12 PM   #6
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Originally Posted by mpkRolex View Post
Thanks for sharing. It's ok not everyone is into watches and you did the right thing by not judging him. We all know Rolex SA's are snobby and judgmental. Your friend probably knows other things so well that others won't have a clue about.
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Old 28 November 2024, 01:49 AM   #7
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Originally Posted by Marcjvr View Post
That’s why I paid the AD an extra $1,000 for the super long lasting battery when I bought my Rolex.

I also paid the $500 for the water proof coating
Don't forget to order the rust proofing!
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Old 28 November 2024, 02:30 AM   #8
Bxtek
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That is a nice piece! You can never go wrong with a blue dial, and I personally love the Romans. Sounds like your friend isn't a real bit watch person. Hopefully he takes your advice and will use it. Maybe over time he will warm up to it more and become more interested in watches too. Would be nice if he does eventually hand it down to his son instead of just selling it.

In any case, Congrats to your friend on exceeding his sales goals!
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Old 28 November 2024, 03:23 AM   #9
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Friend of a co-worker has a Daytona that had been sitting in a box unworn because the battery had died and he didn't care to take it in for a replacement (at the time). Eventually forgot about it.
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Old 28 November 2024, 09:11 AM   #10
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When I bought my Sub Date they insisted on showing me how to set it even though I explained how I was familiar with automatic watches already. But it felt like part of the “experience” so I was happy to listen.

Same thing at the Omega Boutique with Planet Ocean….


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Old 28 November 2024, 09:26 AM   #11
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When my daughter was training to be a Midwife I gave her my late mother's Bulova fob watch. It never occured to me to tell her that it was a mechanical watch. My daughter later reported that the watch had broken. She didn't know that it needed to be wound. Given that she had never owned a mechanical watch it was an understandable mistake, but it did make me laugh.
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Old 28 November 2024, 09:32 AM   #12
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Wow, that's quite a story, At least now your friend can enjoy his working timepiece properly.
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Old 29 November 2024, 03:59 AM   #13
Cshull
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mpkRolex;[emoji[emoji638
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Yeah he is a super nice kid. Not into watches at all but his company knows that everyone knows that Rolex is something fancy so it made great marketing for them with their sales force. He has won a Tesla, [emoji[emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6]]]] rounds of golf at Pebble Beach (even though he isn’t much of a golfer) and many Mexican vacations. Who knew selling solar systems was so lucrative!


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Old 29 November 2024, 10:09 PM   #14
EverCloserUnion
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Great story - glad your pal can finally enjoy his watch.

Reminds me of the time I gave my teenage niece a lift in my 50-year-old Citroen.

"How do I wind the windows down?", she asked.
I pointed to the winder on the door panel.
She jabbed it repeatedly with her finger and declared it didn't work.

Easy to mock, but how would you know otherwise if you've never encountered old fashioned tech?
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