First Rolex - Sticker issue

[JP Chestnut]

Originally Posted by 77T

Gift or not, the ADs are delivering the watch "ready to wear". If they remove the stickers, and they have an "X" days free return policy, then not a problem with the stickers being off.

You shouldn't expect a Ferrari to come with all it's protective plastic on the interior and exterior would you?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

There are plenty of car guys who like to have their own person do new car prep upon delivery, rather than the dealer's guy.

A shop that insists on removing stickers AND letting other people try on a sold watch is asking for trouble.

[RRGHOST1]

PM sent.

[travisb]

Congrats on a great watch! Like others have said - to prevent resale or returns is likely the reason. Enjoy!!

[Chadridv]

I've been down this road before on the forums but I'll say it again. I personally don't buy watches to store and collect, but there are plenty of people who do, including my dad who has a bunch of new condition watches from 15-20+ years ago.

I don't see eye to eye with my dad about how to "enjoy" our watches but none the less I respect his ways of collecting. I know it makes him happy to buy watches, put them in a safe and know they will remain in absolutely perfect condition.

If Rolex wants to make some type of global policy to remove the stickers immediately Upon a sale, that's one thing. Rules are rules, but to have some ADs enforce this and others not is BS. Especially if they are only enforcing this for some watches and not others.

There are a handful of reasons why you should be able to walk out of an AD with the stickers on the watch. For most of us it makes no difference, but unless Rolex officially states that the stickers are property of Rolex and not a buyer, I can't see how this is right.

Side story: I bought a D-Blue a couple months back. I removed a few stickers mostly off the clasp, and wore the watch around the house primarily for about a week. It only took me a few days to realize the watch just wasn't for me. The size, the height, the weight, etc. point is, I sold the watch, quite easily, and not for a profit but got my money back. I told the buyer, aside from the clasp and bracelet which is in like new condition, the watch itself is in mint condition, and there's no doubt in my mind the watch was in mint condition. I can guarantee the watch wouldn't have sold as easily or for as much if I removed all those stickers. So in just the past two months I'm personally thankful for the AD to have left the stickers on.

[mapalfa]

Originally Posted by Chadridv

If Rolex wants to make some type of global policy to remove the stickers immediately Upon a sale, that's one thing. Rules are rules, but to have some ADs enforce this and others not is BS. Especially if they are only enforcing this for some watches and not others.

If there's no comeback on the AD if they're seen to have a number of watches selling on the grey market then I'd agree with you, but I've read rumours that suggest Rolex can be pretty tough with an AD if too many warranties activated by them end up being sold as BNIB outside the retail network.



As an aside, every AD I've been near I've gone into and asked if they have a Daytona C available, just in case they've just had a delivery for someone who's dropped out. I know the odds are 1000s to 1, but it's worth a try. Yes, I'd flip it for a profit on C24 or the bay. I know that's not a popular sentiment here, but if given the chance of that potential level of profit I'd be stupid not to. At the very least I know I could wear it for a while and still get my money back. If I win the D500 lottery I'd do my best to have the stickers left on, but had already decided that stickers off wouldn't be a deal breaker for me.

The only issue would be the huge temptation to keep it

[ARTISAN]

In all the years I have been buying rolex..... all the watches I have left the AD with have been left with the stickers on,,,,,,,,,,,,,,i have watches from 2011 that just sit in the save unworn,,,,, as they will be left to my grand children,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,so I would object to buying a watch with out the stickers left on.
buyers choice.

[Watch This]

Removing the stickers does little if anything to deter resale. For those of you waiting for a Daytona 500, and you could get one BNIB sans stickers, would you pass? I thought the gift example was excellent. The thought of spending my money and then being told what to do with the product does not sit well with me.

Rolex knows the age old concept of brick and mortar AD's is a dinosaur. They cant stop the grey market dealers however they may try. Maybe it is karma for pulling the line from many a long established mom and pop AD as they have with many examples to be sure. I do not subscribe to the "Rolex can do no wrong" mentality.

Keep the bottled water. Keep the diet Coke. Keep the phony compliments. Keep the stickers. I choose to buy smart.

[Dirt]

All this talk about stickers and the palaver associated with them.

It reminds me of the days when the only stickers on a new Rolex watch, were on the Case back with a hologram on it and one on the bracelet where it would potentially chafe on the clasp.
Before that it was the green sticker on the Case back.

First world problems

[Gaijin]

Simply put they just are concerned that you are going to resell it. It's a rather desirable model.

[RolexZen]

When I bought my BLNR in April, the AD shipped the watch to me out of state to avoid sales tax, fully stickered and in the shipping coffin (I left the AD with the rest of the Rolex packaging). A few days later, I returned to the AD with the watch and had them size and unsticker it.

If they ever told me the watch would have to be unstickered upon sale, I think that would be fine. If it was a gift, I guess I'd have to be sure about the purchase, so maybe I'd have to bring the recipient in to see the watch.

Heck, even if I were purchasing for resale or to be a safe queen, I'd just handle it with microfiber gloves and put it away if unstickered. You could document and market it as unstickered from the AD by policy, untouched and unworn.

[regnant]

Some stickers are hard to notice, Rolex never omits stixking them all around the watches.I was surprised when my AD removed them no sooner than a few seconds while we were talking about other Rolex releases. Normally, when I do this,it would take a while to spot and remove them

[outtatime]

I'm sorry, but if I've paid for a Rolex there it belongs to me-stickers and all. if they told me I can't leave the store with the stickers on (and I'd already paid) I'd either demand my money back or call the police and tell them someone is refusing to hand over my property.

[The Libertine]

Originally Posted by outtatime

I'm sorry, but if I've paid for a Rolex there it belongs to me-stickers and all. if they told me I can't leave the store with the stickers on (and I'd already paid) I'd either demand my money back or call the police and tell them someone is refusing to hand over my property.

Sorry, but the line between the reasonable and the ridiculous has been crossed.

We're not talking about a box, or a booklet, or a polishing cloth or a bezel protector, or a tag - these are stickers.

Here you are - making a transaction for thousands of dollars, and quibbling over stickers. Do you not see how foolish this looks?

[Chadridv]

Originally Posted by The Libertine

Sorry, but the line between the reasonable and the ridiculous has been crossed.

We're not talking about a box, or a booklet, or a polishing cloth or a bezel protector, or a tag - these are stickers.

Here you are - making a transaction for thousands of dollars, and quibbling over stickers. Do you not see how foolish this looks?

I agree with you about calling the police and all that being ridiculous, but this line in bold could go either way and you have to understand that.

I have a friend and business colleague that I often have to negotiate pricing with. Doesn't matter how much money it is but we have this ongoing joke (for about 15 years now), when we're trying to come up with a price for something, one of us would say, "I don't think we should sit here and haggle over $10!". Then we both politely agree and awckwardly stare at each other. Then we laugh. Then we keep negotiating the price.

Point is, if the stickers aren't that big a deal, then they shouldn't be that big a deal to Rolex either. Who does it actually affect more?

[Racerdj]

I have not experienced this yet and hope not to do so!

[nektar]

Can you return the watch with the stickers removed??

[Chadridv]

Originally Posted by nektarios

Can you return the watch with the stickers removed??

I'd guess it depends on the return policy which varies AD to AD. Most that offer a return period state that the item must be returned in the same condition as when it was sold. If they sell it to you with the stickers off that should be how it can be returned. If they sell it to you and then demand to remove the stickers, they're screwing around with your property. Either way, I'm not on board with ADs removing the stickers.

You'd be surprised how much sales people, service reps and watch techs can really mess up a watch. I've experienced it now many times.

[nektar]

Originally Posted by Chadridv

I'd guess it depends on the return policy which varies AD to AD. Most that offer a return period state that the item must be returned in the same condition as when it was sold. If they sell it to you with the stickers off that should be how it can be returned. If they sell it to you and then demand to remove the stickers, they're screwing around with your property. Either way, I'm not on board with ADs removing the stickers.

You'd be surprised how much sales people, service reps and watch techs can really mess up a watch. I've experienced it now many times.

We are on the same boat... A friend of mine has recently bought a Rolex from an AD and they demanded to peel the stickers off.. I was not go to oblige, but she did.

[douglasf13]

If they didn't give me the stickers, shipping box, and original freight pallet, I'd return it.

[RolexZen]

Was just at my Rolex AD, after posting this morning. My guy says it's not just Rolex, but all of the Swiss brands they carry want the stickers off and the time set when the watch is given to the customer. But some brands are more adamant, and some ADs are bigger sticklers on enforcement. Some factors that might come into play are customer relationship, demand for the particular watch (they really don't care if you walk because of stickers on a DaytonaC, for example, but would not want you to walk on a BLRO), whether or not they have recently been slapped on the wrist by Rolex, etc.

P.S. He also said, yes, if they take off the stickers, they allow a return period if the watch has only been tried on but not worn out. Obvious signs of being worn out would void the return.

[Muzz]

Sounds like an AD policy. My AD would never remove a sticker, tag, or anything else on any of my purchases. Why you may ask? I would not purchase from any AD that does this practice period and they are well aware of my preferences.

[razr01]

my ad left my sticker on, and i still have it on

im not trying to resell it or anything, i didnt notice it for a week

i was like "ah what the hell, i will just leave it there"

[Rocket_Man]

People pay a lot of money for their Rolex and they want to take it home in perfect condition. It is understandable and I want to do the same. With the exception of the Daytona C (and very few of these to be found) I don't see many people making money from flipping a watch they bought at MSRP from an AD.

Rolex keeps the supply of certain watch low (like the Daytona C) which creates a secondary market. It is their own doing. If they want to discourage this, make more watches, not silly policies like 'take the stickers off' which won't stop anyone from flipping the watch anyway.

I think ADs see this as a way to discourage returning the watch under their own return policy. If the stickers aren't on they can argue it is no longer in 'new' condition and wont accept it back. There was a thread on this not long ago.

[Mick P]

Rocketman

Rolex do not make up policies and rules for the sheer hell of it, they do it for a reason and that reason is to protect the brand and avoid distortion of the market.

Stickered watches can be put in a safe and resold as an "investment" say 20 years later. That could potentially and note I use the word potentially prevent a sale from the local AD and denying Rolex a sale and hence income.

The simple fact is that if you object to stickers being removed, Rolex have the right to refuse the sale and rightfully so.

The Rolex ethos is simple, buy a watch, use it and get it serviced and polished at a later date. If you don't like that ethos, buy another brand.

Regards

Mick

[Watch This]

Originally Posted by Mick P

Rocketman

Rolex do not make up policies and rules for the sheer hell of it, they do it for a reason and that reason is to protect the brand and avoid distortion of the market.

Stickered watches can be put in a safe and resold as an "investment" say 20 years later. That could potentially and note I use the word potentially prevent a sale from the local AD and denying Rolex a sale and hence income.

The simple fact is that if you object to stickers being removed, Rolex have the right to refuse the sale and rightfully so.

The Rolex ethos is simple, buy a watch, use it and get it serviced and polished at a later date. If you don't like that ethos, buy another brand.

Regards

Mick

Take your opinion.
State it as fact
Get nasty toward those who disagree.
Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

Yawn. Although I love the bit about the safe. Clearly well thought out.

[Mick P]

Originally Posted by Watch This

Take your opinion.
State it as fact
Get nasty toward those who disagree.
Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

Yawn. Although I love the bit about the safe. Clearly well thought out.

Not my opinion dear boy, but that of a Rolex rep who I once had dinner with in a club meeting in London.

Rolex are successful because they make good watches, look after their customers with good aftercare and also effectively control the market.

It's like I said - The Rolex ethos is simple, buy a watch, use it and get it serviced and polished at a later date. If you don't like that ethos, buy another brand.

Regards

Mick

[Watchgeek5000]

It's definitely so the watch cannot be resold as new. But also, it doesn't loo good for a high end store selling a high end watch to allow the customer to walk out with a new watch completely covered in stickers. It would be like buying a new car and going home with MSRP stickers still on your window.

[The Libertine]

It's the stores prerogative.

If you don't like the policy, move on or buy elsewhere.

[teeth man]

Various stories seem to either indicate they have to take the stickers off or they don't. To be honest everything said is conjecture due to each individual's experiences and hearsay.

I like to peel the stickers off myself. I think I still have my sub stickers shoved in the box which the watch came in.

I have recently bought a sub lv and a blnr both from different ADs both left fully stickered and the bracelets unadjusted. Neither AD had an issue with the watches going out of the shop as they arrived. I even asked one for a transport case for which they obliged. This in the uk where there is supposed to be an imminent price rise and for 2 fairly sought after watches.

[garlleret]

Congrats on the purchase. It seems to be a tactic ADs are using now, as said it is due to people reselling for profit.