Shame on goldsmiths

[Leahorsfall]

Apparently ADs ate now told by Rolex not to verify the authenticity of watches

Right couple of Charlies in goldsmiths nottingham (steer clear)

My friend has recently bought a 1992 yachtmaster yellow gold online and with no crown on the glass and less than 2.5% mag on the date window we took a trip in to ask their opinion!

Empty shop
No sports models on offer

We told the woman in there that it had been bought online and wondered if they wouldn’t mind having a look at it....

met with the ARROGANCE of a MANU fan from the late 1990s

“You should NEVER buy on line because the ONLY way to 100% verify is to send to rolex....even companies like watchfinder can’t verify watches properly . Only buy from an AD....

She took out an eyeglass and looked at it in a ‘id just LOVE to tell you it’s fake’ kinda way and said that it’s against rolex policy to tell if it’s real or not
Bloke said there was no way of verifying without sending off....

I said “so you’re telling me that if I came in here with my sub to sell it to you that you’d have to send it off first?” To which he just seemed a bit lost for an answer

I pointed out that I’d love to buy a sports model from her but that she didn’t have any and that I dare say she wouldn’t put me on a list unless I bought a DJ....she confirmed this so I told her that seeing as I neither want a DJ nor a lengthy weight I generally buy grey.....she said that stock numbers isn’t goldsmiths fault to which I said “I guess your poor customer service and lack of manners isn’t Rolex fault”

I’m in a suit with a yellow gold sub on!!

Blooming idiots!!

Went down the road to berry’s and the guy spent half an hour with us discussing watches

Great experience


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[beshannon]

How would/could Rolex SA tell any dealer not to verify a watch?

That is just an AD choosing to be rude.

[Trek737]

Sorry to hear of your bad experience... But hey you made me laugh with your comments and giving it right back to her with both barrels.

[bravetony]

+1 It's the AD not Rolex.

Originally Posted by beshannon

How would/could Rolex SA tell any dealer not to verify a watch?

That is just an AD choosing to be rude.

[Raypep]

This is fantastic! I'm glad you stood up for yourself. Why support a 'crappy' business.

[mjclark32]

Wasn't the first time and I'm sure it won't be the last.

I still remember when I brought my 16610 to a local AD to have a link taken out. I was happy to pay... They couldn't have been more rude. Went to lowes and took matter into my own hands.

I get AD's trying to keep the business, but good service (usually) pays dividends at some point... A bad attitude just steers people from every walking back in the doors.

[No SUBctitute]

Originally Posted by mjclark32

I still remember when I brought my 16610 to a local AD to have a link taken out. I was happy to pay... They couldn't have been more rude.

Why would and AD care if you bought your watch from another AD? Maybe you are new to the area or bought one on vacay. That behavior just seems bizarre. I would think they would be nice since you have proven your ability to buy Rolex and might buy one in the future. Bizarre.

[mjclark32]

Originally Posted by No SUBctitute

Why would and AD care if you bought your watch from another AD? Maybe you are new to the area or bought one on vacay. That behavior just seems bizarre. I would think they would be nice since you have proven your ability to buy Rolex and might buy one in the future. Bizarre.

Agreed. Never been back there

[Curt941]

Post pictures here, we'll verify it

[Well:Timed]

Nottingham Goldsmiths Rolex... utter shite! In fact I'd never go near them for one. Told me a load of crap a few years ago about availability and wanted 20%... nice try!

One call to DMR in London and I was sorted.

Out of interest did she have short blonde/cropped hair or brown? Both are up their own arses tbh... crap customer care... you should have taken to Berrys on the corner!

[Leahorsfall]

Originally Posted by Well:Timed

Nottingham Goldsmiths Rolex... utter shite! In fact I'd never go near them for one. Told me a load of crap a few years ago about availability and wanted 20%... nice try!

One call to DMR in London and I was sorted.

Out of interest did she have short blonde/cropped hair or brown? Both are up their own arses tbh... crap customer care... you should have taken to Berrys on the corner!

I did and there was a French (I think) fella in there who was really great!

It was the bald fella and the blonde haired woman!

I said “You’re telling me that I should only buy from an AD but I came in 6 months ago and wouldn’t even put me on a waiting list”....




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[Leahorsfall]

Now.....the AD In Lichfield is REALLY helpful!!


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[jaySL350]

Nice one LF,,,,
glad you gave a bit back,,,
one things for sure,,
customers are getting very,,very peeved with ads behaviour and not just in
the UK,,,,,

[tyler1980]

Goldsmiths/ M&W/WoS .... none of them will even give an insurance valuation if you buy a watch from them and at the time of purchase nor will they authenticate. Im talking brand new watches here, and they will not give you a document with replacement value in the format UK insurance companies require. They have a partnership with a 3rd party company somewhere in the middle of the UK and they will send the watch to them to authenticate or issue a valuation. It takes several weeks.... and you pay for it.

I won't buy a watch from an AD that won't issue a valuation Period.

[Devildog]

Originally Posted by tyler1980

Goldsmiths/ M&W/WoS .... none of them will even give an insurance valuation if you buy a watch from them and at the time of purchase nor will they authenticate. Im talking brand new watches here, and they will not give you a document with replacement value in the format UK insurance companies require. They have a partnership with a 3rd party company somewhere in the middle of the UK and they will send the watch to them to authenticate or issue a valuation. It takes several weeks.... and you pay for it.

I won't buy a watch from an AD that won't issue a valuation Period.

My local WoS is excellent Never had to ask for a valuation or a replacement value doc mind you as my insurance simply reqiires basic evidence of ownership.

Seems somewhat unfair to criticise an entire group based on the experience of a few bad ones.

I’ve also got a local grey dealer who will authenticate and provide me with whatever confirmation of value so it wouldn’t be an issue if I did need to provide anything.

[tyler1980]

Originally Posted by Devildog

My local WoS is excellent Never had to ask for a valuation or a replacement value doc mind you as my insurance simply reqiires basic evidence of ownership.

Seems somewhat unfair to criticise an entire group based on the experience of a few bad ones.

I’ve also got a local grey dealer who will authenticate and provide me with whatever confirmation of value so it wouldn’t be an issue if I did need to provide anything.

i went to their corporate office with my complaint. They stated it was company policy.

For my purposes, If it isnt a Rolex (since they seem to be well aware of replacement value) my insurance company requires a document with my name, the replacement value, the serial number. WoS would not supply it without going through their valuation company they are affiliated with which required them to ship my watch away for several weeks.

They dont even give a receipt with your name on it, just a till receipt. My insurance company rejected it and getting a valuation was a huge hassle. A receipt without a name isnt proof that i own the watch, just that i have a receipt. A valuation links ownership (name) to a serial number, to a value. It different with Rolex, as a warranty card has your name and a serial number so that proves ownership and they know the replacement value since thats the vast majority of the watches they insure .

I did ask at the time of purchase for a valuation, they said no. Shouldn't have gone ahead and bought the watch, but i did. Flagship store, regent street BTW.

Just sharing that it is in fact policy to not do valuations or authentications. How they apply or interpret the policy obviously depends on the store. But it is a policy.

[tlbarrs]

Originally Posted by Leahorsfall

Now.....the AD In Lichfield is REALLY helpful!!


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I emailed them 3 weeks back regarding stock availablity still not had a reply.

[Watchflair]

Really is amazing isn't it ? Seeing that arrogance of some ADs. Some are so great and gracious and others are just terrible.

This in my opinion is a problem. Rolex shouldn't just offer technical training on their watches but they should offer customer service training as well. Treat others as you would like to be treated when making such a purchase.

[Likestheshiny]

I wouldn't trust an AD to authenticate anyway. Unless they actually have a watchmaker back there who will open the watch and poke around, they're not doing anything you couldn't do yourself (and they likely know less about the watch). And if they do have a watchmaker to open it up, then there's no reason they should be providing that kind of expert service for free.

If you want a watch properly authenticated, take it to a watchmaker. And if there's a small charge, pay it.

[enjoythemusic]

While the AD might have mishandles things, esp asking you to buy XYZ to then maybe get ZYX Rolex, authentication can be tricky as fakes are getting better by the passing day. Frankly, you need someone to remove the back (at a minimum) and have a look. Odds are you might also need a new gasket during this process, which am sure you'd gladly pay for plus pressure testing of course.

Again, perhaps an opportunity mishandled by the AD, yet authentication can be tricky.

[spoilsofwar01]

My experience was a very pushy and misinformed sales staff who was more interested in discussing finance on a Explorer that I just wanted to look at, she knew nothing about the seals or type of movement used, I sat back as I wanted to compare it with my 5513 and take a photo when I realised there was 2 other sales staff behind me ??? not sure if they though I was going to do a runner..... the conversation ended when I asked what she was wearing for a watch... Michael Kors MK5491....ummmmm Nice?

not good experience

[Well:Timed]

Originally Posted by spoilsofwar01

My experience was a very pushy and misinformed sales staff who was more interested in discussing finance on a Explorer

That is VERY misinformed... Goldsmith wont finance (0%) ANY steel sports.

[Xerxes77]

I can understand that an AD refuse to look on a watch who are buy from the grey market BUT arogance and this kind of treat a customer I think itks unacceptable! Shame on it...

[Nairn1980]

ADs often cannot tell fakes. Their staff are often not very knowledgeable.

As above, a watchmaker is a far better person.

[Sarosh]

what a bunch of very unpleasant people! I don't get it, do they just want customers not to return? What will you do, run back to Rolex and tell them that this AD gave you authenticity of their product?.....

[tyler1980]

Originally Posted by Sarosh

what a bunch of very unpleasant people! I don't get it, do they just want customers not to return? What will you do, run back to Rolex and tell them that this AD gave you authenticity of their product?.....

well, ive not returned.

The problem is that group controls like 70% of the UK watch market or some crazy percentage thats close to that. You have to work at avoiding them.

[Sarosh]

Originally Posted by tyler1980

well, ive not returned.

The problem is that group controls like 70% of the UK watch market or some crazy percentage thats close to that. You have to work at avoiding them.

One AD i enjoy frequenting is Wempe on Bond Street, very nice and hospitable staff, even if you just try a watch on they will sit and talk with you about it, not just dismiss you. Kai especially is very nice!

[Well:Timed]

DMR... the best AD I've had the experience with!

[GeeRam]

Originally Posted by Well:Timed

DMR... the best AD I've had the experience with!

Good to know, struggling to find a decent AD in London, and DMR is about the only one not yet tried.

Berry's in Windsor had been excellent in the past, but are not a AD anymore.

Heard good things about RL Austen down in Chichester but, that's not exactly around the corner!

[AK797]

Originally Posted by Likestheshiny

I wouldn't trust an AD to authenticate anyway. Unless they actually have a watchmaker back there who will open the watch and poke around, they're not doing anything you couldn't do yourself (and they likely know less about the watch). And if they do have a watchmaker to open it up, then there's no reason they should be providing that kind of expert service for free.

If you want a watch properly authenticated, take it to a watchmaker. And if there's a small charge, pay it.

Yes, an AD cannot tell from looking it has to be opened up and then I would rather use RSC than whomever happens to be behind the curtain. Rolex can't be happy that ADs are becoming arrogant and rude and ruining the brand's image, so I'd email Rolex with your complaints and link this thread so they see all the bad publicity, and the more they get, the more they will instruct ADs on a new code of conduct in this seller's market.

Originally Posted by Sarosh

One AD i enjoy frequenting is Wempe on Bond Street, very nice and hospitable staff, even if you just try a watch on they will sit and talk with you about it, not just dismiss you. Kai especially is very nice!

They love Tyler in there so none of us lot have a chance any more, he gets their one sale a year.