New watch as gift - warranty card not in your name = issue?

[AK797]

Originally Posted by Grahamcombat

How does/would Rolex know who a VIP is? There’s no database of VIP’s. Rolex doesn’t give two sh!ts about the “status” that an AD has put on someone.

In your example above we’re supposed to think/believe Rolex knows the names of buyers, and their status? It doesn’t make sense for Rolex to care. They make a million watches a year: are they maintaining a database of millions of buyers? Doubtful.

Like has been said before: the warranty follows the watch. The buyer, ultimately, is a “John” - like with a prostitute - and is only there to give the money.

I recently bought a BLNR, over email, with a wire transfer, as a gift, from out-of-state, from an AD, without once ever “talking” to them, and they shipped, to a third state, the watch, with warranty card filled out in the recipients name. The driver of this whole market is money, not people. If the numbers match Rolex doesn’t care whose name is on the card.


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Have you been living in a cave? Rolex are launching a major offensive on curbing the grey market so they want to know everything! If Rolex find a watch at a greys they can trace the sale back to the AD who will then tell them we sold to a VIP we know well, who has spent £100K etc with us so we trusted him and Rolex will be cool with that, altho there have been cases before where Rolex even ripped these unsuspecting ADs a new one. But if the sale was to Joe Bloggs then the AD is in trouble for not vetting the customer and contributing to the grey problem.

Warranty flows the watch as always, just the initial purchaser and name on warranty must match, and ought to be explainable by an AD to a suspicious Rolex.

[airpeace]

i understand most people would tell you not to worry. but if it was for me, i would want it to be under my name. just my 2c

[lowmandfl]

I'd say go for it if you like the watch. You shouldn't have any issues, but also, if the VIP is a good friend, you've always got a direct line to him. If there ever was an issue with your name not being on the card, he'd be able to handle that no problem. Again, unlikely there's ever going to be a need to use the warranty card in the first place. Go for it!

[Devildog]

Originally Posted by MonBK

Oh believe me I've read it hundreds of times.

Here's what it says.

In plain English this means that if Mickey Mouse bought the watch (his name on the card) and I Donald Duck now own the watch the warranty will be honored when I bring it in for warranty work.

I think you’re misreading me. What I’ve said up until now agrees with what you’ve just posted above. In even plainer English

[MonBK]

Originally Posted by Devildog

I think you’re misreading me. What I’ve said up until now agrees with what you’ve just posted above. In even plainer English

Yes I was and I see it now.

[Devildog]

Originally Posted by MonBK

Yes I was and I see it now.

[Valle de Joux]

Originally Posted by Roger Lococco

Short version. I have the opportunity to buy a new SD43 from an AD. They are saving it for VIPs only. One of my friends is a VIP at that AD. The AD is insisting that he purchase the watch with his credit card and "gift" it to me. In turn, they are also insisting that the warranty card be written up in his name.

Something about having a new high end watch with papers in someone else's name is grating on my nerves. Am I being too picky here?

The name on the card does not affect the warranty.

[Grahamcombat]

Originally Posted by AK797

Have you been living in a cave? Rolex are launching a major offensive on curbing the grey market so they want to know everything! If Rolex find a watch at a greys they can trace the sale back to the AD who will then tell them we sold to a VIP we know well, who has spent £100K etc with us so we trusted him and Rolex will be cool with that, altho there have been cases before where Rolex even ripped these unsuspecting ADs a new one. But if the sale was to Joe Bloggs then the AD is in trouble for not vetting the customer and contributing to the grey problem.



Warranty flows the watch as always, just the initial purchaser and name on warranty must match, and ought to be explainable by an AD to a suspicious Rolex.

“Vetting the customer”. That’s cute. How do AD’s “vet” customers? Because all of my experience is their vetting process is 1) take money and 2) hand watch.




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[AK797]

Originally Posted by Grahamcombat

“Vetting the customer”. That’s cute. How do AD’s “vet” customers? Because all of my experience is their vetting process is 1) take money and 2) hand watch.




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Lots of threads on this but simply put if they don't know you well then you are a presumed flipper and the AD will not sell to you on pain of death from Rolex's axe. In some parts of the world where things still move slow this may not be happening but in most large cities this is the norm, and has been in some countries since 2016, just so you know.

[Grahamcombat]

Originally Posted by AK797

Lots of threads on this but simply put if they don't know you well then you are a presumed flipper and the AD will not sell to you on pain of death from Rolex's axe. In some parts of the world where things still move slow this may not be happening but in most large cities this is the norm, and has been in some countries since 2016, just so you know.

Cool. Apparently not happening at AD’s in Los Angeles, Washington DC, or New York, all places in which I’ve bought new watches without so much as stating my name for the warranty card and handing them money.

My contesting still remains: Rolex doesn’t care who AD’s sell watches to. There is no tracking, vetting, or award system kept by Rolex. They sell watches - millions of them - at cost. Every year. What happens to the watches after Rolex gets their cut they don’t give a sh!t about: if the watch comes back with a warranty card that matches the serial number of the watch it satisfies the warranty requirements.

Rolex doesn’t care who Bob in Hurley, Iowa is. It’s just too big. If the numbers match is all they’re concerned about. Not who bought the numbers: they already got theirs.


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[Grahamcombat]

Originally Posted by AK797

Lots of threads on this but simply put if they don't know you well then you are a presumed flipper and the AD will not sell to you on pain of death from Rolex's axe. In some parts of the world where things still move slow this may not be happening but in most large cities this is the norm, and has been in some countries since 2016, just so you know.

Cool. Apparently not happening at AD’s in Los Angeles, Washington DC, or New York, all places in which I’ve bought new watches without so much as stating my name for the warranty card and handing them money.

My contesting still remains: Rolex doesn’t care who AD’s sell watches to. There is no tracking, vetting, or award system kept by Rolex. They sell watches - millions of them - at cost. Every year. What happens to the watches after Rolex gets their cut they don’t give a sh!t about: if the watch comes back with a warranty card that matches the serial number of the watch it satisfies the warranty requirements.

Rolex doesn’t care who Bob in Hurley, Iowa is. It’s just too big. If the numbers match is all they’re concerned about. Not who bought the numbers: they already got theirs.


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[Grahamcombat]

Originally Posted by AK797

Lots of threads on this but simply put if they don't know you well then you are a presumed flipper and the AD will not sell to you on pain of death from Rolex's axe. In some parts of the world where things still move slow this may not be happening but in most large cities this is the norm, and has been in some countries since 2016, just so you know.

Cool. Apparently not happening at AD’s in Los Angeles, Washington DC, or New York, all places in which I’ve bought new watches without more than stating my name for the warranty card and handing them money. And I flipped them all, other than the one that was a gift which I bought over the phone, because it’s an absolute sellers market right now.

My contesting still remains: Rolex doesn’t care who AD’s sell watches to. There is no tracking, vetting, or award system kept by Rolex. There are hundreds of AD’s in North America. They sell watches - millions of them - at cost. Every year. What happens to the watches after Rolex gets their cut they don’t give a sh!t about: if the watch comes back with a warranty card that matches the serial number of the watch it satisfies the warranty requirements.

The grey market doesn’t do a thing to hurt Rolex: Rolex already sold the watch. It’s the same as buying used cars: BMW isn’t fighting the used car market. Sales for Rolex are never down as markets keep emerging: China’s middle class is larger than the population of the United States - by an order of 1/3.

Rolex doesn’t care who Bob in Hurley, Iowa is, and it has no reasonable means to track him. It’s just too big. If the numbers match is all they’re concerned about. Not who bought the numbers: they already got theirs.


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[AK797]

Originally Posted by Grahamcombat

Cool. Apparently not happening at AD’s in Los Angeles, Washington DC, or New York, all places in which I’ve bought new watches without so much as stating my name for the warranty card and handing them money.

My contesting still remains: Rolex doesn’t care who AD’s sell watches to. There is no tracking, vetting, or award system kept by Rolex. They sell watches - millions of them - at cost. Every year. What happens to the watches after Rolex gets their cut they don’t give a sh!t about: if the watch comes back with a warranty card that matches the serial number of the watch it satisfies the warranty requirements.

Rolex doesn’t care who Bob in Hurley, Iowa is. It’s just too big. If the numbers match is all they’re concerned about. Not who bought the numbers: they already got theirs.


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Your single experience means nothing, like I said there are plenty of threads on how Rolex are operating now around the world, so spend some time and get yourself up to date instead of talking like you're still in 2016.

[Grahamcombat]

Originally Posted by AK797

Your single experience means nothing, like I said there are plenty of threads on how Rolex are operating now around the world, so spend some time and get yourself up to date instead of talking like you're still in 2016.

It was two weeks ago. But, again, I’m certain you’re the internet expert.


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[AK797]

Originally Posted by Grahamcombat

It was two weeks ago. But, again, I’m certain you’re the internet expert.


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First thing you've got right.

[edyu]

If it bothered you that much to ask on the forum I think you can just pass it. If it’s not the amount of money that you can be nonchalant about it, you want to be 100% happy about spending that much money. :) I’m sure you know what to do if you are honest with yourself. :) gl with your decision in any case.

[Dusko.Popov]

If you’re like me, it would constantly annoy you and the watch would feel at least marginally “less yours” to have someone else’s name on the card. Trust me, that feeling doesn’t go away no matter what people tell you about putting the paperwork in the safe, etc.

Your ownership will never feel vested and scenarios impacting the sanctity and security of your ownership, because authenticating documents have another’s name on it, will bother the shit out of you.

Call it an anxiety or a particularity or whatever, but some of us are just wired that way.

Buy it with your name on it or don’t buy it.

[Old Geezer]

Originally Posted by Roger Lococco

Short version. I have the opportunity to buy a new SD43 from an AD. They are saving it for VIPs only. One of my friends is a VIP at that AD. The AD is insisting that he purchase the watch with his credit card and "gift" it to me. In turn, they are also insisting that the warranty card be written up in his name.

Something about having a new high end watch with papers in someone else's name is grating on my nerves. Am I being too picky here?

No big deal if that is the only way to get one and you really want it.

[77T]

Originally Posted by Roger Lococco

Short version. I have the opportunity to buy a new SD43 from an AD. They are saving it for VIPs only. One of my friends is a VIP at that AD. The AD is insisting that he purchase the watch with his credit card and "gift" it to me. In turn, they are also insisting that the warranty card be written up in his name.



Something about having a new high end watch with papers in someone else's name is grating on my nerves. Am I being too picky here?

That AD has the Rolex procedure twisted around.

A gift is not registered to the buyer by Rolex - it is supposed to be the owner. This is why ADs keep the warranty cards for gifts until the recipient comes in for bracelet sizing. It’s at that time the card gets swiped and named.

Forgetting all the VIP stuff, just ask “if I buy this other Rolex for my daughter and gift it to her, you know Rolex expects the name to be the owner, not the buyer, right?”

Flaky sales rep methinks.


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[HogwldFLTR]

This is truly absurd, I wonder what percentage of Rolex watches are given as gifts. I can't imagine Rolex would willingly give up the gift segment of their business.

[DoctorA]

It shouldn’t be a problem to my knowledge! The warranty follows the watch not the name!

Having said that, I recently bought a watch for my brother in law and the AD put his name on the card
Some ADs make stuff up and say “that’s what Rolex told us to do”!

[tng11]

Sounds like a really petty fight by the AD. In most cases I wouldn't care if the name on the card isn't mine, but some RSCs have been tricky in honouring the warranty (e.g NYC) when the person presenting the watch is not the same person as on the card.

In your case though, if it's the deciding factor between a hard to get watch and no watch at all, I'd let it go.

So far none of the Rolexes I bought from any Canadian AD, including in the last quarter of 2017 and 2018 (including my SD43 purchase today) have had my name written on the card. No need to remove stickers either. These "rules" in other markets are starting to look a little unwieldy.

[Roger Lococco]

A few thoughts...

First, thank you for all the insightful comments. This forum is absolutely awesome.

Executive version - I'm going to take the watch. I'm excited :). I'm a big guy at 2.00 meters, so hopefully the watch will be a great fit. It is a strikingly beautiful watch in the pictures.

Additional context. In the past year or so, I've bought 2 new Vacherons and 2 new Rolexes. Part of my frame of reference had to do with the Vacheron 'card'. It's essentially a full sized, multi-page international passport book. Looks and feels exactly the same as the passport that you travel with. When your Vacheron has any service, the book gets stamped. It's an impressive book for what it is. If you're a new buyer, you would definitely want your name in the book.

I'm assuming that the Rolex warranty is still just a plastic card. If that's the case, having someone else's name on it is less an issue than with the Vacherons. In fact, it's just a utilitarian piece of plastic at that point that allows you to get the watch serviced under warranty. Again, different from the Vacheron presentation. Not better or worse, but definitely different.

On the AD. I don't know this, but I suspect that having the VIP physically pay for the watch has to do with him not getting caught by the store 'laundering' an allocated piece through a VIP member to a non-VIP. That's simply avoiding problems with the store policy. If so, I get it and I tip the hat to the poster who said they're doing me a favor on some level.

As noted in the thread, it appears that the purchaser (i.e. the person who pays for the watch physically) is the name on the warranty card. That is Rolex policy I gather.

Finally, I found 1 AD here in Asia who thought they could get an SD43 reasonably soon - but quoted $15k. Disappointing, as I thought that ADs had to stick to the MRSP.

Thanks again for all the responses. As an introduction to the forum, I am impressed with how thoughtful, insightful, and collegial the responses have been.

[jeffgo888]

I understand how you feel, something about having the "Complete" purchase experience, but if your friend pays for it, then it's his.
Personally, I dont understand why they wont sell to you right there...oh well

[Jcy90]

Name on papers is meaningless

[zaratsu]

Originally Posted by Roger Lococco

A few thoughts...

First, thank you for all the insightful comments. This forum is absolutely awesome.

Executive version - I'm going to take the watch. I'm excited :). I'm a big guy at 2.00 meters, so hopefully the watch will be a great fit. It is a strikingly beautiful watch in the pictures.

Additional context. In the past year or so, I've bought 2 new Vacherons and 2 new Rolexes. Part of my frame of reference had to do with the Vacheron 'card'. It's essentially a full sized, multi-page international passport book. Looks and feels exactly the same as the passport that you travel with. When your Vacheron has any service, the book gets stamped. It's an impressive book for what it is. If you're a new buyer, you would definitely want your name in the book.

I'm assuming that the Rolex warranty is still just a plastic card. If that's the case, having someone else's name on it is less an issue than with the Vacherons. In fact, it's just a utilitarian piece of plastic at that point that allows you to get the watch serviced under warranty. Again, different from the Vacheron presentation. Not better or worse, but definitely different.

On the AD. I don't know this, but I suspect that having the VIP physically pay for the watch has to do with him not getting caught by the store 'laundering' an allocated piece through a VIP member to a non-VIP. That's simply avoiding problems with the store policy. If so, I get it and I tip the hat to the poster who said they're doing me a favor on some level.

As noted in the thread, it appears that the purchaser (i.e. the person who pays for the watch physically) is the name on the warranty card. That is Rolex policy I gather.

Finally, I found 1 AD here in Asia who thought they could get an SD43 reasonably soon - but quoted $15k. Disappointing, as I thought that ADs had to stick to the MRSP.

Thanks again for all the responses. As an introduction to the forum, I am impressed with how thoughtful, insightful, and collegial the responses have been.

Good rational decision
Congratulations and I hope you love the new watch!

Some people on here going on about a plastic warranty card like it's their wife's virginity. I'm surprised they aren't pissing on their watch to mark their territory.

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[Dirt]

Originally Posted by Roger Lococco

Short version. I have the opportunity to buy a new SD43 from an AD. They are saving it for VIPs only. One of my friends is a VIP at that AD. The AD is insisting that he purchase the watch with his credit card and "gift" it to me. In turn, they are also insisting that the warranty card be written up in his name.

Something about having a new high end watch with papers in someone else's name is grating on my nerves. Am I being too picky here?

If it's your first Rolex, you need to consider the fact that you have to start somewhere. This watch will put you "on the map" in the best way possible.
My first Rolex was actually a second hand watch bought back in the days when it was possible to get a highly sought after Rolex from a Grey for a price that was a little less than the recommended price at the ADs and despite being on the eternal list at the AD.

[fskywalker]

Originally Posted by Max16013

You are being too picky, in my opinion.

This!

[Andad]

Originally Posted by Dirt

If it's your first Rolex, you need to consider the fact that you have to start somewhere. This watch will put you "on the map" in the best way possible.
My first Rolex was actually a second hand watch bought back in the days when it was possible to get a highly sought after Rolex from a Grey for a price that was a little less than the recommended price at the ADs and despite being on the eternal list at the AD.

RTT.

In the past year or so, I've bought 2 new Vacherons and 2 new Rolexes

[Roger Lococco]

Epilogue. My friend picked up the watch this week. The AD did not put a name on the warranty card.

About a month before I make it back to the U.S. Can't wait :)

I was so, so close to buying an AP diver. Very happy I waited for the SD43, as I like the reference better and I think it will be a more durable watch.