Rolex Warranty Card and Stickers on Watch

[californiadreamn]

Hi,

Yesterday I was about to purchase my grandson his 1st Rolex as a graduation gift from a local AD here in Texas. I do not think it's one of the hard to find, in high demand hot ones or anything like that, it's simply a new 41mm DateJust with a blue dial. The AD wanted to either take all the stickers off OR keep the warranty card in the store until after my grandson decided he really liked the configuration.

The other part is, even after my grandson sees it and decides he likes everything, the store rep said he still MUST take all the stickers off before the watch can leave the store. But he would register the watch and put the warranty card in the box at that time.

I decided not to purchase it there and left the store.

Is this the new norm, what am I missing?

If I purchase something I assume I will receive all the paperwork that goes with it and that I (or the person you are giving it to) would have the opportunity (and maybe even a little excitement) of peeling off the stickers and looking at everything one piece at a time.

It was absolutely clear that if I had it sized or engraved that it was not returnable. Why the restriction on the stickers and warranty card?

[beshannon]

Originally Posted by californiadreamn

Why the restriction on the stickers and warranty card?

To prevent someone from walking out the door and immediately selling the watch.

If you really want it I do not see the problem.

[ckwong]

I think the new DJ 41mm with blue dial is one of the hard to find models so to prevent someone from flipping it.

[037]

There's no issue here.

Rolex's new policy is that stickers must be removed from watches that are sold. The AD wants to retain the warranty card only until your grandson decides that he likes the watch and wants to keep it.

If he doesn't like it and wants to return it then a watch with a swiped card and stickers removed cannot be returned.

Your AD is looking out for you, your grandson and himself.

If you're 100% confident that you're keeping the watch then the stickers can come off and the card can go home with you. But, in this case I'd probably take the option of leaving the stickers and letting the AD keep the card until you know that this is what your grandson wants for sure.

If this is a gift for your grandson then I don't know why you would want to be the one who peels off stickers anyway.

[californiadreamn]

Thanks for the replies.

It's been several years (almost 10 years I think) since I bought my last Rolex and everything was in the box when I purchased it back then. I really appreciated the presentation when I opened the box.

My typing is not that great! No, I do NOT what to peel the stickers off myself, I wanted everything in place so that he could have the enjoyment of taking them off when he wanted to.

I did not realize that things had changed so much, and that flipping was such a problem.

Yes, in this case, I think I will let the AD hold on to the WC until my grandson is good with everything.

Thanks again!

[tyler1980]

if he was not happy im assuming there is a return policy. Its generous of them to let you leave the store with the stickers as if they were off then its not a brand new watch anymore and the return wouldn't be possible most likely. Its reasonable to say to come back in if you like the watch, we will take the stickers off, and then give you the card.

It seems they want to hold the card to ensure you return to get the stickers removed. It is policy to remove them so they need a way to ensure you return.

[Moggo]

What happens when shops have a 7 day return policy?

My AD said that if he takes the stickers off I can’t return it.


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[californiadreamn]

This AD's normal return policy is 90 days to return it for a full refund or exchange. The only restriction (other than the WC sticker thing) is that it can not be worn, resized or engraved.

Thanks!

[037]

Originally Posted by californiadreamn

Yes, in this case, I think I will let the AD hold on to the WC until my grandson is good with everything.

Sounds like a great plan and a great gift to your grandson.

[californiadreamn]

Originally Posted by Moggo

What happens when shops have a 7 day return policy?

My AD said that if he takes the stickers off I can’t return it.


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7 days would make me feel a little rushed. However, some places I called said they do NOT allow refunds at all but they will allow exchanges only. And other places seemed extremely restrictive also.

Perhaps as I go forward and I build up more of a relationship with a AD, things my not be so difficult.

[tottallyoff]

I think its up to individual dealers. Here in London, I dealt with bucherer, who give everything to you with stickers. They say that its against the law to actually retain the warranty, but I guess if they are stating the terms straight away, you are not in the position to say you didn't know.

[californiadreamn]

Originally Posted by 037

Sounds like a great plan and a great gift to your grandson.

Thank you!

[Chewbacca]

Stickers are for transport and pre-sale handling protection, not for the end-user.

When someone opens a Rolex box as a gift, 99% won’t care about stickers and would never know how the sausage looks before in the bun.

The warranty card is bs however.

[normalboywatches]

Yes, normal for AD's (at least in UK) to now keep warranty card for one year and to remove stickers at point of sale, in an attempt to stop people immediately selling the watch. You should really have no problem with that if you are a genuine buyer.

[ostatedchi]

So here's what I'd do. Purchase the watch; leave the protective stickers on, don't have the AD swipe the warranty card; and have the AD keep it in the safe for you. Then bring in your grandson and have him presented the watch in the AD shop. If he prefers another one over that, just let the AD keep that one and move on to the newly preferred watch.

That way the watch can still be sold for new from the AD later and the clock doesn't start ticking on the warranty.

[rodo]

Originally Posted by beshannon

To prevent someone from walking out the door and immediately selling the watch.

If you really want it I do not see the problem.

This is the problem. What does the AD/Rolex care what you do with it. If you buy it, and pay in full, its yours. Not theirs.

[skiahh]

Originally Posted by ostatedchi

So here's what I'd do. Purchase the watch; leave the protective stickers on, don't have the AD swipe the warranty card; and have the AD keep it in the safe for you. Then bring in your grandson and have him presented the watch in the AD shop. If he prefers another one over that, just let the AD keep that one and move on to the newly preferred watch.

That way the watch can still be sold for new from the AD later and the clock doesn't start ticking on the warranty.

I'm guessing you may not be the best at gift giving.

Congratulations, son. I don't have a gift for you today, but once the excitement of your day wears off I'll take you someplace where you can browse for something and then I'll buy it for you. Very special. May as well just put a gift card in an envelops.

He wants his grandson to have it there as part of his day, I bet. HE wants to present the watch to his grandson, not some sterile retail shop. I would. Makes it more special, because it shows you though about what they would like, what they would use and who they are.

As for stickers and card, I typically agree it's total BS, but in this case, if the dealer is telling him he can return it, then it's not that big a deal. If the grandson likes it, he simply retrieves the fully scanned warranty card and all is good. If the kid doesn't like it, they bring the watch back in with stickers in place, dealer puts it all back in the box and it never happened. I see this arrangement as a good one, personally.

[normalboywatches]

Originally Posted by rodo

This is the problem. What does the AD/Rolex care what you do with it. If you buy it, and pay in full, its yours. Not theirs.

Of course they care. Rolex doesn't want all their watches on the grey market, having been bought the day before at an AD and now on some website selling for 30% more than retail, with the initial customer having made a huge profit. Thats not good for brand image. And the AD cares because if they have a high proportion of people "flipping" watches from them Rolex then stops sending them so many watches, so its in their interest to sell to genuine buyers. And YOU should care because the process of flipping stops genuine watch lovers from being able to buy watches at retail prices. Everyone loses.

My AD told me recently that Rolex "rewards" them for removing stickers and keeping the warranty card for one year. What they meant by "rewards" was that they send him a far higher proportion of hard to get SS sports watches than they should, considering the size of the relatively small store.

Case in point- I went in a few weeks ago asking for a new sky dweller, I will have it within 2 months.

[billee]

I have a good relationship with my AD and he allows me to take the watch. He knows that is part of my process. He also advised me that Rolex is watching them(AD). Rolex is not happy about AD’s selling directly or indirectly to grey market.

[Ravager135]

This is the new nonsense norm. ADs are doing this to prevent people from reselling watches. We can debate all day about that particular aspect of the watch market. I am of the belief that once you buy something, you are entitled to do with it whatever you like the moment you pay for it.

[larsr]

Wow, so my EXP II 3185 that still has its sticker on the back is as rare as... well, a Rolex with a sticker. Oh my...

[037]

This isn't that.

Many are assuming this is an AD purposely trying to retain the warranty card. They aren't. They're giving the option of leaving open the possibility of a return in case the gift isn't wanted.

[CoveWatch]

Congrats on the gift to your grandson, and yes that is pretty normal these days for a lot of AD's

[beshannon]

Originally Posted by rodo

This is the problem. What does the AD/Rolex care what you do with it. If you buy it, and pay in full, its yours. Not theirs.

I do not disagree was merely explaining.

Perhaps you should ask Rolex why they care? None of this matters to me as I buy to own not to flip.

[037]

Originally Posted by beshannon

Perhaps you should ask Rolex why they care? None of this matters to me as I buy to own not to flip.

Same with many of us. But, CJ summed up the reason perfectly.

Originally Posted by Chewbacca

Stickers are for transport and pre-sale handling protection, not for the end-user.

100% agreed. No other luxury good is sold with stickers in place for the end-user to remove themselves. Even Patek ADs aren't supposed to sell watches with them. But, for some reason it's a massive debate with Rolex buyers. It's odd.

In the case of the OP, I fully understand why the stickers are being left and the card retained. But, once the sale is fully committed, the AD wants them off so they can rest assured they're following policy suggestions.

[Bigblu10]

Originally Posted by californiadreamn

Hi,

Yesterday I was about to purchase my grandson his 1st Rolex as a graduation gift from a local AD here in Texas. I do not think it's one of the hard to find, in high demand hot ones or anything like that, it's simply a new 41mm DateJust with a blue dial. The AD wanted to either take all the stickers off OR keep the warranty card in the store until after my grandson decided he really liked the configuration.

The other part is, even after my grandson sees it and decides he likes everything, the store rep said he still MUST take all the stickers off before the watch can leave the store. But he would register the watch and put the warranty card in the box at that time.

I decided not to purchase it there and left the store.

Is this the new norm, what am I missing?

If I purchase something I assume I will receive all the paperwork that goes with it and that I (or the person you are giving it to) would have the opportunity (and maybe even a little excitement) of peeling off the stickers and looking at everything one piece at a time.

It was absolutely clear that if I had it sized or engraved that it was not returnable. Why the restriction on the stickers and warranty card?

These are the new draconian policies you have to endure when buying a new Rolex. This is due to the secondary market and folks who buy new watches just to flip them for profit. You sound like you don't fall into this category of buyer, and the situation is just asinine. I would bring your grandson into the dealer and if he is positive about wanting the watch, he can watch them remove the protective stickers and you can both walk out happy.

[tyler1980]

Originally Posted by Bigblu10

These are the new draconian policies you have to endure when buying a new Rolex. This is due to the secondary market and folks who buy new watches just to flip them for profit. You sound like you don't fall into this category of buyer, and the situation is just asinine. I would bring your grandson into the dealer and if he is positive about wanting the watch, he can watch them remove the protective stickers and you can both walk out happy.

Plenty of AD’s have retained the card until after the return period has passed that is nothing new. This situation seems more along those lines with making sure the watch is what he wants vs preventing a flip


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[rodo]

Originally Posted by beshannon

I do not disagree was merely explaining.

Perhaps you should ask Rolex why they care? None of this matters to me as I buy to own not to flip.

I wouldn’t know. I bought a ss datejust from my ad this week, took it all home, including card and stickers in place

[Bigblu10]

Originally Posted by tyler1980

Plenty of AD’s have retained the card until after the return period has passed that is nothing new. This situation seems more along those lines with making sure the watch is what he wants vs preventing a flip


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This happens much more in the UK. It is still not the norm for USA AD's. Some, yes. Most, no. It is a DJ after all, not a steel sports model.

[tyler1980]

Originally Posted by Bigblu10

This happens much more in the UK. It is still not the norm for USA AD's. Some, yes. Most, no. It is a DJ after all, not a steel sports model.

thats not what i am saying at all... rewind two years and forget about now.

A lot of US AD's would send you home with a stickered watch and not the warranty card as you could return it. 7 days or 30 days or whatever. During that time you could return the new and stickered watch for an exchange or refund. Now its policy to remove stickers but if the stickers are off you cant return it so they offered to let the watch leave with the stickers but its still returnable so no warranty card, as then the AD would have to sell it as used if it was activated.