Rolex sticker wars.....

[cda555]

Originally Posted by Thuilln

Pics of the stickers or it didn't happen.
Seriously, that part when you consider bringing in your father makes me think of one of either two things: you're just a kid, or you're inventing this whole story. Either way, I'm not interested.

Or he wanted to resell it. The sticker issue was enough to cancel the sale, yet he wanted his dad to go buy the stickerless watch later? I could be wrong (it's been known to happen). Who knows... maybe it isn't that strange that a 26 year old was buying it as a gift for someone.

[mikeyyn]

This will keep it safe on your way home.

[00Seven]

That's idiotic. Glad you stuck to your guns.

[doubles08]

Serviced my Datejust at a RSC, and it came back with stickers removed.

[Starwalker]

I would have stood my ground on this. OUT of PRINCIPLE. The AD has no right to peel of a single sticker! I have never ever once had a rolex sold to me without stickers, especially from an AD! Peeling of the stickers...is a VERY private affair! I love removing the stickers at my own pace, sometimes all at once. Other times, I like taking a few stickera off slowly and let a couple start to peel off on their own before completely removing them. It's like horological foreplay. Under no circumstances should an AD...touch another man's/woman's stickers!

[encarter13]

This entire thread gives me a chuckle. I have never thought much about the stickers. However, it must be pretty common in the USA to leave the AD with sticker still on. If not, we would not have all the threads about removing stickers and not wearing the watch around with the stickers as "protection"

For the OP, I am glad you stood your ground. I don't care if you wanted to gift it, flip it, make it a safe queen, or wear it everyday, it should be your choice to have the stickers left on. I am glad you stuck to your guns.

[diverdoug]

My AD asks if I want the stickers removed, and they offered me extra coffin boxes for storage or travel purposes.

[jaySL350]

Well done OP,,,,
its a matter of principle and us Brits wont have the " micky" taken out of us,,,
i would have walked as well,,,,
total bloody cheek,,,,jay

[cylchris]

Glad u stood your ground.
it's not the most ridiculous story about peeling off the stickers I heard.
in Japan, nowadays AD will put the buyer's name on the
warranty card after paid. It is so embarrassing the gift owner have a watch but the card under your name forever.
Sticker off won't kill the grey market, AD can still sell the watch without sticker
in high price like daytona c.

[greatmattsby]

I don't mind people having their opinions, but for me, I don't get it. The only fuss I've had about stickers recently was with my two year old niece playing with her children's books.

I would have taken the winder....out the door.

[toxicavenger]

Originally Posted by greatmattsby

I don't mind people having their opinions, but for me, I don't get it. The only fuss I've had about stickers recently was with my two year old niece playing with her children's books.

I would have taken the winder....out the door.

Same here. They are just stickers.

[TK-710]

I'm of the opinion once you paid for it it is yours. I was given the option and requested they remove the stickers. I still found stickers on the watch over the next few days anyway. I believe I'm a man of principle but apparently I can be bought with a watch winder as I would have agreed to that.

To the OPs conclusion I would disagree. I hardly see grey market/trusted sellers as the solution to this problem but rather the cause.

[SilverBack_]

You did the right thing. Your money will work somewhere else.

[Clasper]

To be honest I don't have a problem with them taking the stickers off, surely the person receiving the watch would never knew it had stickers on to start with.
My AD took the stickers off when I bought my last one, I didn't have a problem with this the other rule they have is that they have to sell at retail and as it was a Daytona C I have no problem with this as when I see a lot of comments on here there are many AD's selling well above retail price, so an AD selling retail and removing stickers, well thats fine with me, they are only stickers.

[CLTRolex]

So did anyone ever answer the question on what the AD is to do about the warranty card?

[Wcdhtwn]

Originally Posted by Nairn1980

I totally agree with you.....however I have an AD and I know the owner well. It's independent.

He confirmed to me that part of the selling process and "Rolex way" is that the watch is fitted and stickers are removed. He says some ADs may not stick to this rule but Rolex actually DO request that stickers are removed as part of the sales/sizing process. This particular AD insist on sticker removal as it is part of the Rolex way. He said I'm welcome to read the guide when next in the AD. I totally believe him on this and if ever there I'll take a photo of it if allowed. This is all to prevent "unworn" stock ending up on the grey market.

However I bought my Air-King from another AD (as the AD I know well didn't have one at the time). This other AD let me take it with stickers on.

Saying that, I'm not sure whether the person you bought the gift for would notice or appreciate the stickers....certainly if I bought a family member or friend a Rolex they wouldn't even expect stickers to be on it. With this in mind it's a shame you walked away from a great watch over stickers. A new Air-King with a free watch winder is a great deal and you may regret walking away from it....but who knows lol

If the AD is sizing the watch I can understand taking the stickers off somewhat. It has to be sized correctly, not that the stickers would negatively impact that process.

OP has the right to get a refund... it was his watch and should have been handed over to him, in his desired condition, as soon as his card cleared.

[texasmade]

Must be a US thing and property rights where everyone in the US agrees with the OP including me. OP paid for the watch and now the AD is trying to attach some condition to the sale after the fact. I would've did the same thing and either demanded a refund or told the AD to $%*! off unless it was Daytona C.

If it were me and the AD told me beforehand that stickers had to come off I probably wouldn't have thought too much of it but after payment is a totally different story.

[locutus49]

Man, the UK has a shortage of SS watches and they pull that stunt????

[Dirt]

Originally Posted by haberdashery

Respect to the OP for doing that.

I bought a watch a couple of weeks ago at a UK AD. Was a bit surprised to get the call so raced down there. Shook their hand ready to walk out after paying and downing as much free Coke as I could, but they said not so fast, and removed the stickers.

Then they insisted on resizing it for me - took me 20 mins to convince them I didn't want them to. Last time someone from this chain did, they rounded off one of the bracelet screws and scratched up the side of two links.

Apparently it's company policy to remove stickers and resize. Load of BS, because I've bought six other watches from this chain, three of which were handed to me still sealed in the coffin. No stickers were removed on any.

I was a bit annoyed, but I bought the watch to wear anyway so it's not the end of the world. Fair play to the OP though for doing what he did, there's no way they should be removing the stickers after he's paid. That I let it happen to me just makes me a pussy, I guess!

So explain to me just when they should remove the stickers.

Should it be before one pays?

[Dirt]

Originally Posted by sahcivan

Does this satisfy you?
I was the proud owner for 9 mins
Put that in your pipe and smoke it!

Does 26 make me a kid? That's a matter of opinion?

So there you have it.
This post explains it all.

[Dirt]

Originally Posted by j-watch

Clearly the poster you are referring to was a bit harsh, but I'm still of the firm belief that you should have taken the watch (stickers removed) along with the freebee winder. Rational being that you chaps in the UK have a hard enough time buying SS sport models (availability) on top of getting anything such as a discount (thrown in winder was worth approx. how much???, and only added to your "gift" for sure). It sounded like a win / win to me. To each his own I guess.

Good luck to you!

Joe

No way that was going to happen.
Old mate's a baller and got to show who's da boss so there was only one way it was going to play out once he saw his opportunity to be the big man and his attitude came out.

As I said before, I think the AD probably breathed a sigh of relief when he walked out the door hoping he will never ever come back.
There's plenty of other more appreciative people who will buy that watch if it already hasn't been sold yet.

Personally I would've held the door open for him as he went out if I were the dealer principal and wished him a good day.

[HogwldFLTR]

I was hoping for another type of sticker war with price stickers being discounted. If the prices were discounted they could keep as many of the protective stickers as they wanted.

[Dirt]

Originally Posted by CLTRolex

So did anyone ever answer the question on what the AD is to do about the warranty card?

I should imagine it doesn't matter now as they own it to do as they please.
They will be able to get a new one to replace it after it's destroyed and returned to Rolex.

[Lark]

[QUOTE=Dirt;7558649]I should imagine it doesn't matter now as they own it to do as they please.
They will be able to get a new one to replace it after it's destroyed and returned to Rolex.[/QUOTE

The sticker wars have worn me out so I went to an AD today to look at Rolex's. None of the damn things had stickers!

[Mick P]

Originally Posted by texasmade

Must be a US thing and property rights where everyone in the US agrees with the OP including me. OP paid for the watch and now the AD is trying to attach some condition to the sale after the fact. I would've did the same thing and either demanded a refund or told the AD to $%*! off unless it was Daytona C.

If it were me and the AD told me beforehand that stickers had to come off I probably wouldn't have thought too much of it but after payment is a totally different story.

Chaps

This paragraph is the perfect summation.

Rolex HQ have to take the blame for this because they make rules, enforce them one day and ignore when it suits them.

It has to be one way or the other, not both because it causes too many instances like the OP's.

My own view, is that it should be made plain the moment you ask to see the Rolex, that the stickers come off and no exceptions. If you don't like it, go elsewhere, but it should be made 100% clear in advance. Also any AD found leaving the stickers on when reselling to a grey dealer gets one warning and after that they lose the franchise, no exceptions and no excuses.

Regards

Mick

[sahcivan]

Originally Posted by Dirt

So there you have it.
This post explains it all.

???

[sahcivan]

Originally Posted by Dirt

No way that was going to happen.
Old mate's a baller and got to show who's da boss so there was only one way it was going to play out once he saw his opportunity to be the big man and his attitude came out.

As I said before, I think the AD probably breathed a sigh of relief when he walked out the door hoping he will never ever come back.
There's plenty of other more appreciative people who will buy that watch if it already hasn't been sold yet.

Personally I would've held the door open for him as he went out if I were the dealer principal and wished him a good day.

Mr 'Dirt'

I think you are missing the whole point of this thread. The thread was started in disbelief of the AD's actions POST payment. If his intentions had been stated PRE payment then I'd have politely passed on the timepiece.

In my opinion, and we're all entitled to one, I'd want to gift the watch with the stickers on, and until he started peeling them off that's what I believed I was going to be able to do.

The attitude came from the AD, a lot of hugging and puffing once I'd declined his 'compensation' of a watch winder. Seeing as you A: where not present B: you don't know me C: you have never met me. I don't see how you think you are in a position to make assumptions about my thought process or behaviour on that day/any other day.

I've bought and flipped around about 20 Rolex, not with any intention of profit, but as my collection has grown/shrunk/diversified. Some I have brought brand new from AD, even with stickers removed with my consent. Some preowned that still had stickers. With papers, some without... all sorts of different scenarios. BUT every time I've bought a watch I've been happy, on this occasion I wasn't so I walked away, simple as that really.

Have a good day Mr Dirt.