Why won't RSC do a S/N check?

[crazyfingers]

I got my watch verified from the RSC in Singapore for $75 SGD. It took less than 30 mins.

[general]

Meet the seller at a watchsmith and pay a few bucks to have it inspected. ADs are used to making huge profit margins so they would not do anything for free.

[tattooedfagin]

i'll hold my hands up here & say that i bought my sub date off ebay....BUT, rather than rush in with blind desire i only searched 'nearest first' so i could buy locally & even then i only wanted one with all paperwork. i ended up getting a great deal from a guy 6 miles away, all paperwork & a local watchmaker verified it for me prior to handing over any cash....added bonus being that the original AD who supplied my watch then did me a great deal on a BNIB DSSD. any doubts & i'd wait...but good luck whatever you decide to do

[Rock]

It would be great to be able to negotiate a transaction in person at a RSC however for those who do not live in a large city this is not an option if you wish to purchase a pre-owned Rolex. I have looked at used watches in ADs in the city but they are invariably 50% more than on ebay or TRF and of course, the range is limited. There are obviously reputable sellers who advertise on ebay and the challenge is working out who they are.
Long distance transactions are always a bit risky regardless of who you buy from. I would not know a reputable TRF seller from a disreputable one and a recent complaint from a buyer of a green Sub suggests that it is not as simple as some would suggest.
Ultimately a long-distance purchaser just has to do whatever checks are possible and then trust his judgement.

[Clogger]

IMHO I think it's rather a poor show on Rolex not to do a simple serial check over the phone.

Of course they want you to buy new from an AD,that's fair enough, but again this shows they seem to care little for the collector.

[PeteNYC13]

Originally Posted by general

Meet the seller at a watchsmith and pay a few bucks to have it inspected. ADs are used to making huge profit margins so they would not do anything for free.

__________________________________________________ _______________

"Huge" GP doesn't always equal HUGE profit... don't forget the cost of running a brick and mortar store, paying salary, advertising, TAXES, health benefits, cleaning, water, electric etc...
Restaurants make a "HUGE" mark up on liquor and wine, can you just walk in off the street and ask for a glass - since they sell it for so much?

I don't know what you do for a living and it doesn't matter...but how much do you work for free for someone that has no intention of ever becoming a customer or a client? Not counting charity etc, that will start an entire thread on it's own.

It's funny, these threads have always gotten to me since I joined here last year. I guess it's just the "huge profit" comments and the animosity towards the AD's and their profit. Not everyone "needs" a Rolex, it's a luxury item and if you can afford it, you get your best deal, if you can't, you don't.

The whole trying to get something for nothing is what leads to all the fakes, all the threads of people being scammed, not getting what they thougth etc. It's bad for the "trusted sellers" but it's life. As long as someone wants a "deal", there will be folks eager to rip them off.
I understand the collector market and vintage purchases...but if you are going to be a collector of high end watches, wouldn't you pay the $100 to an AD with a watchmaker, not the salesperson to varify the watch and movement?
And let's be honest, Rolex may make money on parts and service of these watches but most of the collectors either self service or "have a guy"... Rolex is out to make money and they do that on the sale of NEW watches, I don't think in this economy they will set up a system or hire people to answer phones and give a "watchfax" (I just made that up) report for people looking to buy outside of "their network".

Thanks,
-Pete

[Ebruner]

Originally Posted by PeteNYC13

__________________________________________________ _______________

"Huge" GP doesn't always equal HUGE profit... don't forget the cost of running a brick and mortar store, paying salary, advertising, TAXES, health benefits, cleaning, water, electric etc...
Restaurants make a "HUGE" mark up on liquor and wine, can you just walk in off the street and ask for a glass - since they sell it for so much?

I don't know what you do for a living and it doesn't matter...but how much do you work for free for someone that has no intention of ever becoming a customer or a client? Not counting charity etc, that will start an entire thread on it's own.

It's funny, these threads have always gotten to me since I joined here last year. I guess it's just the "huge profit" comments and the animosity towards the AD's and their profit. Not everyone "needs" a Rolex, it's a luxury item and if you can afford it, you get your best deal, if you can't, you don't.

The whole trying to get something for nothing is what leads to all the fakes, all the threads of people being scammed, not getting what they thougth etc. It's bad for the "trusted sellers" but it's life. As long as someone wants a "deal", there will be folks eager to rip them off.
I understand the collector market and vintage purchases...but if you are going to be a collector of high end watches, wouldn't you pay the $100 to an AD with a watchmaker, not the salesperson to varify the watch and movement?
And let's be honest, Rolex may make money on parts and service of these watches but most of the collectors either self service or "have a guy"... Rolex is out to make money and they do that on the sale of NEW watches, I don't think in this economy they will set up a system or hire people to answer phones and give a "watchfax" (I just made that up) report for people looking to buy outside of "their network".

Thanks,
-Pete

Well Said!!

I feel the same as you. As an owner/operator of a Brick and Mortar Rare Coin and Jewelry store, I am about sick of hearing what it costs on the internet and how much money I must be making.

-Eddie

[Zirotti]

I'm really not sure how this denegrated into a pro vs con of AD. I don't recall anywhere in this thread where someone said an AD should do anything for free.

[mfer]

Originally Posted by Zirotti

That's what the plan is. I was skeptical because when I sold my Deepsea last week, I met the buyer at an AD in Chicago. All this chick did was pick it up, look at it for two seconds and tell the buyer "yeah, it looks good to me". There was no way she would have known if it wasn't legit.

Either way, all is good and I appreciate the feedback.

Originally Posted by Zirotti

Like I said, explain to me how I can get a guaruntee of authenticity PRIOR to purchase? Rolex said to send the watch in to them. How am I supposed to send a watch in I don't own? Does the burden lie on the buyer or seller?

And Tools, chill. It's just a watch forum :)

Didn't you make this post.


http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=115806

Karma...

[Zirotti]

Originally Posted by mfer

Didn't you make this post.


http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=115806

Karma...

Again, check Tools signature, which says "Chill, it's just a watch forum", which I sarcastically quoted.

And thanks for the constructive post!

[PeteNYC13]

Originally Posted by general

Meet the seller at a watchsmith and pay a few bucks to have it inspected. ADs are used to making huge profit margins so they would not do anything for free.

__________________________________________________ ______________
From this post, I interpreted it as the AD should authenticate for free or that it was wrong of them to charge a "few bucks" to have it inspected, maybe I read into it.

I don't think I did...I think it was read exactly as it was meant. I know this wasn't the OP's comment but that was where the free comment came from.

Also, the OP seemed to me to have the expectation that the "chick" from the AD would authenticate and varify the watch for him. Most AD's will authenticate and give an appraisal for a fee (unless you buy it from them).



-Pete

[PeteNYC13]

[QUOTE=Zirotti;1671908]

I could see if I am asking for something for free but all I want them to do was verify a serial number. I am going to meet the seller at an AD but I will be honest, I don't trust the judgement of 90% of the salespeople at an AD.

QUOTE]

__________________________________________________ _______________
What would a service like this be worth to you or any other collector? Carfax isn't a free service...but it's worth the $50 I paid when I bought a used Acura.

As for how it turned into a AD pro and con... look at your last line, tell me how that is not a shot at 90% of the AD's?
How many have you personally dealt with? What is your sampling size to make such a blanket statement?

There are two AD's within a 1/4 mile of each other near my house, one I would happily buy from, the other wouldn't get my money if they gave me 30% off - I just dont' trust them. But, I can seperate the good from the bad and not lump all of them together.

-Pete

[TheBluePrince]

There's a UK vintage dealer who claims that all his Rolex come with a fax from Rolex UK stating they've been checked against the lost and stolen register. When i've enquired before i've also been told that i need to send the watch to the RSC though.

[newmedia]

OMG!
any time one buys from gray market dealer, used watch sellers , watch forum sellers , your taking a chance that watch may not have Rolex warranty, watch could be fake, watch could have undisclosed problems, and watch could have been stolen.

more you try to save, more chance you take.

AD and Rolex are not in bossiness selling used watches or protecting your money spent outside of their B&M retail stores.

[snow_rocks]

Originally Posted by Zirotti

I never had any expectation that Rolex or an AD would inspect, service or appraise the watch for free. I simply wanted to know if a serial number was legit or not.

Jason, even if Rolex verified the serial # over the phone, that doesn't verify the watch. Counterfeiters steal serial #s and put it on the fakes. That is why most people block out the last digits of the serial #.

So, unless Rolex has it in their hands, not the AD, at the service dept., there is no way to know if the actual watch you have is faked with a legit serial #,

unless you know the seller to be highly reputable.

About ADs, my AD never seen an acrylic crystal before I bought in my 16750, so unless an AD is a true WIS, they will not know every single watch Rolex made.

I hope this helps.

[LMP]

Good point Rick.