Rolex Explorer II on Ebay

[Glpstandard]

I just won this auction, and before I paid, I wanted to ask the advice of someone who knows a thing or two if there is any cause for concern? I have no reason to suspect this watch is fake, just wanted to make sure before I sent the seller $4000.00

http://www.ebay.com/itm/271196504838...84.m1497.l2649

Thanks for the advice

[Glpstandard]

Any input is appreciated...another member had some concerns about the watch from my other thread. Id like to either pay for this thing or move on to something new, so Im highly interested in what people have to say about this watch

[Gaijin]

Looks fine, but I would like to see a warranty paper with the serial number of the watch. Or a hang tag. The box is age appropriate. The price is neither good nor bad. Maybe a little on the high side. Expect that it is going to need a service if it has not had one since it was bought. If it has not had one then it is way overdue for a complete overhaul service. Expect to pay about $500 + for that.

[Glpstandard]

I sent the seller an email asking for more pics, and asked if it has the warranty card and asked about when the last service was done. All he said was he doesnt have the warranty card and a trip to a Rolex dealer will clear up any questions/concerns. I wish he was more receptive to my concerns and questions. I tend to feel vagueness and avoiding questions like he is doing means you have something to hide, but maybe he is just lazy and can't type fast? Who knows.

Should I have my wife meet up with him at an AD and have it checked out, or walk and find another deal? I dont doubt its real, Im just a little disappointed the warranty card isn't with the watch and im concerned about service history and how the watch was taken care of. It definitely looks as though it needs a good polishing in the pics

[hkpsp]

Perhaps you should have asked questions before bidding and ultimately winning this auction. Any questions or concerns should have been addressed prior to purchase. If I were the seller here I would be upset that you are considering not paying and moving on. The seller will have wasted his time and effort and might not find a buyer soon or even worse sell the item for less than your winning bid. Do the right thing by paying for your new watch. Having it serviced will clear up any authenticity concerns and you will then establish a service history. It will come back all polished and new looking as well. It is a nice watch btw.

[Grissom]

I agree with hkpsp above.....unfortunately, it's a bit late to be asking these questions AFTER you have made an offer that has been ACCEPTED by the seller. You saw the pictures of what you were getting, so if you were wondering where the warranty paper was, once again, yu should have clarified BEFORE making your offer (unless you added a caveat to your offer stating that the offer was only valid if the warranty paperwork was included). The seller most likely thought the "papers" he referred to were the booklets. As you are both near each other, if you are at all worried about authenticity, meet him at a convenient AD to have the watch checked out before you pay.

Again, if I were the seller and you backed out for the reasons you stated above, I would not be happy, and most likely would report you as a non paying bidder.

I think you need to complete the transaction, absent an AD telling you it is not authentic. Next time do your "Due Diligence" before bidding or making offer.....

Hope it works out in a way that satisfies you.....

Just my worth......

[Glpstandard]

Please don't misunderstand my intentions...Ive only not paid for an item I bought on Ebay once, and thats because I found out the item wasn't what I needed, and I believed it was misrepresented and the ad was intentionally misleading. Ive been buying on Ebay for over 11 years, and been buying and selling on the internet in general for just as long. Im not the type of person to rip someone off, or not follow through with my purchases. I stated I was disappointed about the warranty paperwork and service history and asked if I should walk from the deal. I can see where this would reflect badly on me, but it was a misunderstanding.

My thought process was this: if hes misleading and secretive about paperwork (he said it includes box and paperwork, to me brochures aren't paperwork and this is a bit misleading) and he ignored the question about service history, what else is he hiding? Is the watch authentic? Has it had major issues and been through repairs by non authorized service centers using non Rolex parts? These are reasons I would walk, not for lack of service history and paperwork...


Regarding the warranty paperwork/not knowing when it was last serviced, Im a little disappointed because I had wanted my first Rolex purchase to include all original paperwork and have a verifiable service history (even if it was due for a service) but as stated above it's not a deal breaker for me and not a reason I would refuse to pay.

I think Ill just take a chance and skip having my wife take a look at it and have it shipped here, then Ill take it to an AD and have it checked out on my own time. No one here seems to have any concerns regarding its authenticity and that was my major concern.

He has a 14 day money back gaurantee, so if its not up to snuff for whatever reason, Ill return it. If it turns out to be fake or have fake parts, thats what Paypal and Ebay buyer protection is for.

Does anyone know about how much a Rolex AD would charge to give the watch a good once over, verify its authenticity and maybe give the case a quick polishing?

[Spunga]

Give it to Rolex.

They won't service it if its not authentic so they do that check for you for free.

They will issue you a quote for service and repair based upon what they discover. You can then choose what you want them to do.

[Gaijin]

For what you are paying plus the cost of a service the watch you bought needs OCRolexguy has a nice black dial F for sale here. I get that you have won the bid so that should be honored unless you really have a valid issue with authenticity.

[Glpstandard]

Originally Posted by Gaijin

For what you are paying plus the cost of a service the watch you bought needs OCRolexguy has a nice black dial F for sale here. I get that you have won the bid so that should be honored unless you really have a valid issue with authenticity.

Unforunately I already paid. I figure if it turns out to be a fake I can get my money back.

I spoke to the seller on the phone last night, and he said the watch was serviced about 2 years ago, and keeps perfect time. So, if it keeps time okay when I get it, I probably wont get it serviced for a few more years. I will probably get it pressure tested, but unless an AD recommends getting it serviced, Ill trust his word.

I asked him for the serial number, and he said he didnt know where to look, so I told him where, and he said he would look when he got home and call me back later with it. I dont expect to hear back from him, but it is what it is.

[zschaefer]

I paid 4500 for a NEW red hand Explorer II from a AD about two years ago, so the price seems a little high to me...

[Glpstandard]

Originally Posted by zschaefer

I paid 4500 for a NEW red hand Explorer II from a AD about two years ago, so the price seems a little high to me...

While you may have gotten a great deal, that was 2 years ago, and it seems prices have gone up a bit in just the passed few months, let alone 2 years. I know nothing about Rolex, and wont pretend to. This is my first, so for what my opinion is worth, I think I got an okay price. Not necessarily great, but not bad either. Id say right in the middle, maybe a little on the lower side of the middle range.

Heres my logic:

I looked for a week every day at what was available on Ebay (yes, Im going off of Ebay, there were just no black dial Exp IIs available on here post 2000 within my price range, or I would have certainly bought on here) and what I found was 1994-1997 models going for around $4000-$4100 without box and papers. Maybe one or two with box and papers for a couple hundred more. 2000-2003 models were going for around $4400+ with box and papers. Anything newer than 2005 couldnt be touched for under $4800. Early 2000's were going for around $4100 without box and papers. I specifically wanted a post 2000 watch with box and papers, and my price cap was $4100.00, so really I feel I got the best deal I could have based on what was available right now.

I know I didnt need to type this, and Im a newbie, so my opinion means nothing. Thats just my take on the price I purchased my watch for. Id say for my first, assuming everything turns out to be as advertised and expected with the watch, I did alright, even without papers.

[Gaijin]

Enjoy your watch. Nice job!

[77T]

Originally Posted by Glpstandard

I specifically wanted a post 2000 watch with box and papers, and my price cap was $4100.00, so really I feel I got the best deal I could have based on what was available right now.

A P serial number watch could be 1999 but not a worry. A year here or there won't change its value. After the service, you'll be at $4600-ish...

The main thing is you broke the ice and now can start hunting another Rolex

[Tony1]

Watch looks good, but the price is a bit high.
Enjoy it!

[T. Ferguson]

In the OP's defense, the offering did say "Mint with box and papers".

I'd say most of us would agree that this should include the warranty card. Every trusted seller here would have the warranty card on an offering listed this way. I'd also suggest the watch should not need a polish if it's mint.

[Gaijin]

I am just curious why he says "May not ship to Japan."

[Glpstandard]

Originally Posted by Gaijin

I am just curious why he says "May not ship to Japan."

Im curious about a lot of things. He definitely seems a bit on the sketchy side, with his misleading ad title and ignoring the question about the serial number and playing dumb about where to find it when I called him. But this may just be how he does business. Maybe he is lazy and doesnt feel like he has to answer a ton of questions and give every single detail to make a sale. Maybe he just doesnt care that much if it sells or not? I know if it were me, I would provide a dozen detailed pics (that made the watch look good), give every detail in the ad, and answer every question the potential buyer had. Then again, maybe I should've asked these questions before I paid, like stated. He already had the watch sold at that point, why did he care if I had my questions answered? Ill take fault for that one.

The thing is, the guy owns a business selling car parts on Ebay. I gathered this from the large amount of Mercedes parts he sells on there, and his Ebay and Paypal usernames (something Auto something or the other). He has good feedback, and a lot of it, otherwise I wouldn't have touched this deal with a 10 foot pole.

Ebay strictly forbids selling fake Rolex's, and if it turns out to be fake, I'm protected by Ebay because I paid with Paypal, so I can get a 100% refund and he can lose his Ebay business. He also gave his cell number in the ad, and seemed to be 100% okay with meeting at a Rolex AD to have the watch checked out, and assured me "a trip to an AD would answer all my questions and concerns about the watch".

Im still a little nervous/anxious to see what this thing actually is, and what kind of shape its in, but Im probably worrying for nothing. I can live without the papers I guess, and I can even live with having paid a little bit too much, but if it isnt 100% genuine, or has any major issues, or looks beat to hell, Im returning it and going with something else.

Should be here Friday, so as soon as I get it Im going to pull out the DSLR and see if I can get some detailed closeup pics, and I will let you all take a gander, so keep an eye out for my pic thread.

[Spunga]

If your really that concerned, get a timed receipt on delivery, take it straight to Rolex and get a timed receipt from them to prove you had no time to change/modify the watch.

Rolex will prove its authenticity before seeking your authority to service or pressure test it. If its fake they will hand it back. If they don't, say because its real but stolen for example, you should have enough proof for any claim.

Leave the window of opportunity open to long between receiving and making any statement about its authenticity will cause you problems later.

BTW, box and papers can mean anything. It may come in a BOX, and the paper could be say a docket/receipt from some back alley watch repairer. Unless you check exactly what it means you should expect to get exactly what is described, which may or may not be what you expected.