Disappointing Rolex experience with a "grey" dealer

[SMD]

Originally Posted by AK797

The terms are a bit confusing but we mostly mean re-sellers, like davidsw, not pure grey dealers, who avoid tax etc, so if your watch comes with an AD's stamp then the warranty is for 2 years.

This. Grey is being used incorrectly. Most "trusted sellers" are resellers not grey dealers.

[locutus49]

Just curious, what is the difference between a grey and a trusted seller? Don't both offer their own warrantees?

Thanks in advance for any info. This has always been confusing to me.

Originally Posted by SMD

This. Grey is being used incorrectly. Most "trusted sellers" are resellers not grey dealers.

[breitlings]

Originally Posted by locutus49

Just curious, what is the difference between a grey and a trusted seller? Don't both offer their own warrantees?

Thanks in advance for any info. This has always been confusing to me.

good question, its one of those that sounds simple but isn't...

For example would a reseller be somehow excluded from changing the movement incorrectly, or do all resellers sell USA code watches?

[Mfrankel2]

"Grey" dealers are selling you a watch that was brought into a country other than the one it was originally intended to be sold in thru "non official" channels (you could say smuggled it in).

Trusted sellers typically purchase the watches from dealers in the country they are in at a discount and re-sell the watch after tacking on a small profit

[Swaggy P]

Originally Posted by joli160

This is true, whenever I buy Grey I accept warranty issues or other problems to be on my own expense. In return I pay a lot less initially.

And there's absolutely nothing wrong with that approach... It's these people who go grey market, and then want to cry foul later who drive me up a wall!?

[SMD]

Originally Posted by locutus49

Just curious, what is the difference between a grey and a trusted seller? Don't both offer their own warrantees?

Thanks in advance for any info. This has always been confusing to me.

I learned the technical difference from Tools (one of his many posts on this topic here http://www.rolexforums.com/showpost....56&postcount=4)

As for "trusted sellers", I have used a few of the big named ones and each time I got the watch it had a proper warranty (either from Rolex or AP) properly stamped by a US AD and dated the date of my purchase. Not all are from US ADs (Italy seems to be a big one) but BNIB from one of the big name trusted sellers almost always come with a valid manufacturers warranty. The reason I believe is that most of these watches are being sold out the back door by ADs for cash flow purposes.

[Mfrankel2]

Grey, trusted seller, AD, your father-in-law it's the same regardless who you're buying your watch (or any other big ticket item). Buy the seller! There are some AD's I'd not buy a watch from regardless the price, certain trusted sellers that I'd only buy BNIB with papers from (I trust them to be honest about where the watch came from but not to evaluate a vintage piece properly) and the rare few (like DavidSW) that get first shot at anything I'm looking for due to their track record and reputation. Key is to know what you're dealing with & who you're getting it from.

[locutus49]

Thanks for that clear, concise explanation.

Originally Posted by Mfrankel2

"Grey" dealers are selling you a watch that was brought into a country other than the one it was originally intended to be sold in thru "non official" channels (you could say smuggled it in).

Trusted sellers typically purchase the watches from dealers in the country they are in at a discount and re-sell the watch after tacking on a small profit

[NKflyer]

I say enough of this game of semantics. Call it what you want... grey market, trusted seller, whatever. IF the seller was aware that the watch was customized and did not disclose this to buyer(s), that is not ethical. Has the original poster contacted the seller and if so, what was their response?

[landroverking]

Originally Posted by NKflyer

I say enough of this game of semantics. Call it what you want... grey market, trusted seller, whatever. IF the seller was aware that the watch was customized and did not disclose this to buyer(s), that is not ethical. Has the original poster contacted the seller and if so, what was their response?

Is that the question or did the buyer ask for a dial change and got the movement changed at the same time, unknown at the time to the buyer.

[Sublover2166]

Originally Posted by SMD

I learned the technical difference from Tools (one of his many posts on this topic here http://www.rolexforums.com/showpost....56&postcount=4)

As for "trusted sellers", I have used a few of the big named ones and each time I got the watch it had a proper warranty (either from Rolex or AP) properly stamped by a US AD and dated the date of my purchase. Not all are from US ADs (Italy seems to be a big one) but BNIB from one of the big name trusted sellers almost always come with a valid manufacturers warranty. The reason I believe is that most of these watches are being sold out the back door by ADs for cash flow purposes.

Typically you can request that the trusted seller obtain your watch from a U.S. AD which is what I did. Since I will never sell the watch I wanted a US warranty card and booklets in English and this is what I bought. Conversely, some folks don't mind if their watch originated from a AD in another country.

[Air Tzar]

Who is the dealer? Naming them would be the real service to the forum.

[NKflyer]

Originally Posted by landroverking

Is that the question or did the buyer ask for a dial change and got the movement changed at the same time, unknown at the time to the buyer.

Either way is not a great situation. At best, the buyer knew in advance that he was getting a dial change but had the entire movement swapped instead, which nobody realized was linked to the case serial number. At worst, the buyer thought he was purchasing a watch that was factory equipped with his desired dial and got the frankenwatch instead. The only way that the seller comes out squeaky clean is if the swap was done at an authorized dealer unbeknownst to the seller before the seller took possession of the watch. Who knows?