Rolex International Warranty Issues

[MonBK]

Originally Posted by Tools

Apples and oranges... You are talking about a reseller who is, essentially, selling a used watch which likely has a valid warranty.

Jomashops, Alan Furman, Costco, and a host of others, import their watches from other-market distributors, not legitimate purchases from an AD. They will tell you up-front, "no Rolex warranty" (as will many other Dealers who carry Gray Market products along-side Warrantied products). There are many of these watches being re-sold by folks who got them cheap and claim that they have a valid warranty.....they do not.

Thanks Larry.

[nobbylon]

Originally Posted by Tools

Apples and oranges... You are talking about a reseller who is, essentially, selling a used watch which likely has a valid warranty.

Jomashops, Alan Furman, Costco, and a host of others, import their watches from other-market distributors, not legitimate purchases from an AD. They will tell you up-front, "no Rolex warranty" (as will many other Dealers who carry Gray Market products along-side Warrantied products). There are many of these watches being re-sold by folks who got them cheap and claim that they have a valid warranty.....they do not.

If it has a card and it's filled in with an AD address etc it has a warranty. It's that simple. If a grey dealer doesn't provide a card then I agree as per my other criteria that it has no warranty.
The OP states this has a card. Simple.

[RichM]

The OP has the card but he said they told him they want to see a bill of sale because the card is filled out in Chinese. What makes the RSC think if he had the bill of sale, that that wouldn't be written in Chinese too. So I'm not sure what the bill of sale would prove that isn't already on the card. English or otherwise.

[TempoKing]

I don't know much about paperwork, but if you can buy
this fine watch and save 20k (?)...I would not worry too much
about the warranty

[nobbylon]

tbh I'd wait until I had an imaginary problem before I lost sleep over it. Better to enjoy the watch and lets face it, it's a very small percentage that need warranty work anyway.

[droptopman]

A lot of threads on warranty work. Not trying to be strange, but I would be curious as to the percentage of Rolex that actually need warranty work in the time frame they are covered. Not talking about a service but actual warranty work. In 30 years and many watches I have never once used a warranty on a Rolex.
I thought it was nice they went to five years on the warranty but still doubt I will ever use.

[Sublover2166]

Originally Posted by nobbylon

tbh I'd wait until I had an imaginary problem before I lost sleep over it. Better to enjoy the watch and lets face it, it's a very small percentage that need warranty work anyway.

Exactly. Folks get so hung up on the "warranty thing". Most watches do not have manufacturing defects, and therefore never need warranty work.
But what if your Grey Market watch without warranty goes awry? What is the worst case scenario? You send the watch to RSC or an Indy CW21 and pay $600 for a service. It comes back to you like new, and with a current warranty on the service. Simple. Certainly not the end of the world by any means!

[77T]

Originally Posted by nobbylon

If it has a card and it's filled in with an AD address etc it has a warranty. It's that simple. If a grey dealer doesn't provide a card then I agree as per my other criteria that it has no warranty.
The OP states this has a card. Simple.

You may not know - and if you do, I'm not crossing swords here - but a grey marketed watch that is sourced through the distributor may have a card but it won't be stamped by an AD since it was never shipped to one.

Now I do agree with you that a fully dated, stamped and named card should be sufficient in all fairness. But the manufacturer can place limits on documentation in its sole discretion (here in US at least).

[Tools]

Originally Posted by 77T

You may not know - and if you do, I'm not crossing swords here - but a grey marketed watch that is sourced through the distributor may have a card but it won't be stamped by an AD since it was never shipped to one.

Now I do agree with you that a fully dated, stamped and named card should be sufficient in all fairness. But the manufacturer can place limits on documentation in its sole discretion (here in US at least).

Exactly..

However, some sellers do, in fact, write in this information because buyers like to see their own names on things. That does not make them valid.

[Monsta]

https://blog.toolwatch.io/watch-tips...olicy-updated/

Wtf

[cloudplay]

Originally Posted by 77T

You may not know - and if you do, I'm not crossing swords here - but a grey marketed watch that is sourced through the distributor may have a card but it won't be stamped by an AD since it was never shipped to one.

Not sure which "distributor" that would be? Is there a non-Rolex-controlled entity between the Geneva mothership and the ADs? To me, ADs seem the most like source of any leakage to the grey market, stamped card or not.

[Bigsykedaddy]

Originally Posted by cloudplay

Not sure which "distributor" that would be? Is there a non-Rolex-controlled entity between the Geneva mothership and the ADs? To me, ADs seem the most like source of any leakage to the grey market, stamped card or not.

I wasn't aware that some watches come with no AD stamp on them. Wouldn't that mean that the watch was acquired from less than honorable means?

[77T]

Originally Posted by cloudplay

Not sure which "distributor" that would be? Is there a non-Rolex-controlled entity between the Geneva mothership and the ADs? To me, ADs seem the most like source of any leakage to the grey market, stamped card or not.

These distributors I mentioned are controlled by Rolex and are not in US. I agree ADs are the source of BNIB grey marketed product with a US Country Code on the card whether or not the AD line is unstamped.

Those with unstamped cards many times get here through the distribution channel that is legal in the non-US Country Code marketplace, but were unintended for sale here.

[smym18]

Originally Posted by Sublover2166

Exactly. Folks get so hung up on the "warranty thing". Most watches do not have manufacturing defects, and therefore never need warranty work.
But what if your Grey Market watch without warranty goes awry? What is the worst case scenario? You send the watch to RSC or an Indy CW21 and pay $600 for a service. It comes back to you like new, and with a current warranty on the service. Simple. Certainly not the end of the world by any means!

My Yacht-Master has an international warranty card dated July 2017 - say the warranty period runs out - would it make more sense to send it in for service without the warranty card to avoid any issues? Or will they just look the serial number up and see that it was from overseas anyway, and then get mad that I'm not technically the original owner since it came from a grey?

(this is hypothetical since my YM runs perfectly, just trying to learn more)

[RichM]

Originally Posted by smym18

My Yacht-Master has an international warranty card dated July 2017 - say the warranty period runs out - would it make more sense to send it in for service without the warranty card to avoid any issues? Or will they just look the serial number up and see that it was from overseas anyway, and then get mad that I'm not technically the original owner since it came from a grey?

(this is hypothetical since my YM runs perfectly, just trying to learn more)

If the warranty has expired, there is no need to send it in. It would only be needed for warranty work.

[tudorbaja27]

Originally Posted by Rich Mickol

The OP has the card but he said they told him they want to see a bill of sale because the card is filled out in Chinese. What makes the RSC think if he had the bill of sale, that that wouldn't be written in Chinese too. So I'm not sure what the bill of sale would prove that isn't already on the card. English or otherwise.

Best response

[R!$]

Is it the gold or TT Sky-D?
Irrelevant but i'm just curious

[Pol1]

On the invoice of my last purchase in Monaco, they even put a photo of the watch next two its ref. number.
I think the sales rules are much more severe since a couple of months and that's a good thing imho.

[milgauss1349]

Originally Posted by swish77

The RSC in NYC tried to pull that nonsense about the original receipt with me a couple of years ago when I took in a Sea-Dweller for service under warranty (running fast). I responded, with attitude, that the watch was a gift from a good business partner and that I of course did not have the receipt, only the warranty card. The customer service rep went away in a snit for a couple of minutes but returned with a smile .... and took my watch in for service without any other questions.

Just wanted to say thanks for sharing your experience; I will use the advice to good effect. Thanks!


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[2-reef]

I just received my 116660 DEEPSEA D-Blue back on Friday from Rolex Toronto. It was losing 5-6 seconds per day. I called Rolex Toronto and they said if I dropped it off , I could wait while the adjustment was done.

However when I got there, I am the second owner and my name was not on the warranty card. The nice receptionist said this calls for another way to get the watch repaired. She said you have to leave it here, we will investigate if the watch is stolen and will keep it for 10 days before we start the repair.

I said no issue proceed. She said do you want a full service, I said no the watch is only 2 years old. She said mhhh not sure we would call this under warranty you are not the original owner, but let me check. She came back and said there should be no issue.

So after 10 days plus 5 they say the watch is ready but I have to pay for "the Authentication" which is $176.99 , so no problem from me.

The watch came is a nice Rolex Travel pouch, with Rolex micro fibre cloth, the clasp had been slightly polished to remove minor scratches.

I was very pleased, also had a letter of authenticity saying the watch was valued at $14,400 was examined and watch and bracelet are confirmed authentic.

So overall I am happy as the second owner that Rolex fixed the watch under warranty.

[mr_gray]

my experience is that no sales receipt is required. just the warranty card. this was the case for me in Australia when i took my wife's watch into rolex repair here at sydney. i bought it from a grey in america.

common sense tells us that whilst Rolex might prefer to see a sales receipt (because they hate the grey market) clearly they cannot require a sales receipt as sometimes watches are given as gifts.

[turborolex]

I can confirm that RSC NYC will NOT service your watch with an international warranty during your warranty period UNLESS you have an original bill of sale.

This has been going on sporadically since 2005, maybe 2006 and now it’s their policy.

You can argue, say it’s a gift, give whatever excuse or argument you can think of, and the answer is always no.

Now, sometimes you can ask for the service desk manager and she night make an exception, but that’s rare and not the rule.

The above applies to when you go as a walk-in to the service desk, if you send by mail, you may get lucky (I have a couple of times)

I state the above from first hand experience with my watches that I have bought over the past 15 years.

Never had an issue with Dallas!


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[kingSubTT]

From my experience with Dallas RSC. Warranty card was written in italian. Just had to send the card and the watch. Everything was taken care under warranty.

You are not support to ask RSC. You tell them to fix it (period)