Buying gray BNIB and getting your name on the warranty, possible?

[crbrown]

If you buy secondhand BNIB with an empty warranty card can you have your name put on the card or does it remain blank?

[marc2828]

Originally Posted by crbrown

If you buy secondhand BNIB with an empty warranty card can you have your name put on the card or does it remain blank?

When I just bought my SD43 from an AD they typed all my info into a Rolex website, then swiped a credit card style warranty card. So, I think the answer to your question is no, but maybe call Rolex main number and ask. Please post the outcome.

[77T]

An AD won’t add a name to a blank card unless they were the one who sells the watch. So in this case, no.

If the card is stamped with an AD’s name, the “secondhand” BNIB watch’s card was likely swiped into the card reader at that AD upon sale. Adding your name wouldn’t accomplish anything with respect to the warranty - but if you want it on there for posterity you could write it in.


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[crbrown]

Originally Posted by 77T

but if you want it on there for posterity you could write it in.

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Thank you both! That’s probably the thing to do and the reason.

[CoveWatch]

The answer is typically no as mentioned, however I have heard of instances where a grey seller has put the buyers name on the warranty card that they had to source from the AD.. so I would assume it depends on the grey’s relationship with the AD they get their watches from.

[CoveWatch]

To add to it, perhaps it’s only possible if they are sourcing a watch they currently do not have in stock? And since they are getting it fresh from the AD, they can add your name if it’s convenient for both parties

[nikesupremedunk]

I bought BNIB from a grey and it came with my name on the card. However, I could tell it was probably sold with just the date filled in with a blank name and the grey dealer just filled it in when they sold to me.

[bobby81]

Originally Posted by crbrown

If you buy secondhand BNIB with an empty warranty card can you have your name put on the card or does it remain blank?

I have purchased three new Rolexes from a Grey Dealer in the north of England the first two were in other people’s names because they were in stock items but the last Rolex I purchased they had to source from a Rolex AD. The Grey Dealer contacted me to ask what name the AD should put on the warranty card. I gave my name & when I travelled to the UK in May of this year to collect the Watch the warranty card was filled in fully with the AD’s stamp the date the Watch was purchased & most of all with my name. So if you are buying off a Grey Dealer you can get a warranty card in your name


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[Tools]

Originally Posted by crbrown

If you buy secondhand BNIB with an empty warranty card can you have your name put on the card or does it remain blank?

You can never buy a secondhand watch and have an authorized Dealer put a name on the warranty card..

However, they just write it there.... some "grey" sellers or re-sellers will write in your name and many will, somehow, believe that this is official.

[Chadridv]

I've bought numerous watches from trusted sellers that had my name on the cards. However, I think those days might be over, depending on the watch.

[glamorama]

Why do you want your name on the card? Doesn't the warranty apply anyways?

[sensui]

Almost all new watches I bought from grey have the name blank for Rolex (from the major greys on this forum)....but I think it's increasingly difficult now that ADs are being forced to fill out those cards upon sale.

[joli160]

Well, since Rolex does not keep track of ownership. There is no database in Geneva linked to any names. You can perfectly buy a BNIB grey watch with your name.
I have several of those, only the AD who sold the watch to the grey dealer had to swipe the card to activate, which they do of course.

[bobby81]

Originally Posted by Tools

You can never buy a secondhand watch and have an authorized Dealer put a name on the warranty card..



However, they just write it there.... some "grey" sellers or re-sellers will write in your name and many will, somehow, believe that this is official.

All new Watches come from AD’s, so if a Grey Dealer is sourcing a Watch for you it should come with your name on the warranty card as mine did. Once the AD’s stamp is on the warranty card it will have been swiped at point of sale to activate the warranty. I have put this to the test in the case of my Rolexes. I have brought them over to the only Rolex AD in the City where I live & was assured that should anything happen to the Watches’s that would be covered by the warranty they would have no hesitation in honouring the warranty


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[Calatrava r]

Originally Posted by joli160

Well, since Rolex does not keep track of ownership. There is no database in Geneva linked to any names. You can perfectly buy a BNIB grey watch with your name.
I have several of those, only the AD who sold the watch to the grey dealer had to swipe the card to activate, which they do of course.

I tend to think this is right. Rolex only knows the watch is sold when the warranty card is run through their remote machine at the AD. Having bought some new Rolexes of late no one has ever told me my name was being sent to Rolex.

[Yobber76]

I wonder if there are grey sellers out there who advertise watches as their own inventory, but in reality act as a broker/salesman for the AD. When a buyer buys the watch the AD puts it through as new sale, and pays the broker a percentage. In that case, maybe it's possible to have your name on the warranty card.

[Easy E]

I bought a BNIB DJ41 from a TS mentioned often here and my name was on the warranty card. In the course of that transaction it was detailed to me that the only component of “The Swipe” that matters are the model and serial number. So, the warranty was technically started about 2 months before I took ownership. FWIW.

[tudorbaja27]

My Tudor came with name on card and full warranty. Bought from a TS seller here. My guess is he deals with certain ADs, he made the call, they shipped me the watch. Works for me

[2nastie]

In reality it doesn't matter what's on the card cause it is swiped and the details: purchaser (name), address, watch, serial number etc. is entered in one way or another.

You won't know what goes in unless you are physically buying the watch from the AD and watching them input it in. My guess even greys sometimes don't know. They can request it, but they really don't know for sure. You can probably call RSC to find out for sure.

If your name on your papers is important, perhaps it is worth it to spend an extra few bucks or wait for thewatch you want and buy it at an AD.

I enjoyed and wanted that "whole experience" so I bought new at an AD. I know they do enter certain personal data upon swiping the card. I also helped a couple friends purchase (on a one-off basis) a watch they wanted but they used my profile at the AD. Warranty doesn't change, but the watch in electronic system may be under my name.

[deluzion]

I bought mine in Japan, from grey dealer. The store attendant put stamp on the card, where there had already stamp on the card (i believe it was the original buyer from AD). So now there are 2 stamps on top of each other.
Will it void my warranty?

[bobby81]

Originally Posted by deluzion

I bought mine in Japan, from grey dealer. The store attendant put stamp on the card, where there had already stamp on the card (i believe it was the original buyer from AD). So now there are 2 stamps on top of each other.
Will it void my warranty?

To answer your question yes it will make the warranty void. I really don’t know why the Grey Dealer would want to put a stamp over the AD’s stamp. Once the warranty card has been tampered with I believe that your warranty won’t be honoured


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[peterpl]

Rolex will only swipe the serial number of the watch to activate the warranty - there is no name associated with it.

I've bought many many watches from large ADs that leave the name blank on the warranty card - my last was a DD40 only bought a few months ago. Warranty card is only dated NOT named and they specifically said they wouldnt name it.

[hai.tranhr]

I bought DJ2 at AD, It has my name or warranty card. But later, I sell it then buy a Batman from grey market, it exists others name on the warranty card? Any trouble if I make my Rolex service?

[padi56]

Originally Posted by hai.tranhr

I bought DJ2 at AD, It has my name or warranty card. But later, I sell it then buy a Batman from grey market, it exists others name on the warranty card? Any trouble if I make my Rolex service?

Rolex will not need to know or care whatever name is on the warranty, or where it was bought for normal routine 5-8 year service. As they will quite happily take your money to service any modern day Rolex watch.But when bought from the grey market in general watches do not have a valid Rolex warranty unless activated by a official Rolex AD.

[bobby81]

Originally Posted by padi56

Rolex will not need to know or care whatever name is on the warranty, or where it was bought for normal routine 5-8 year service. As they will quite happily take your money to service any modern day Rolex watch.But when bought from the grey market in general watches do not have a valid Rolex warranty unless activated by a official Rolex AD.

All new Rolex Watches that come on to the Grey market originate from the Rolex AD’s. So if your purchasing a Rolex from the Grey Market more than likely the warranty card has been swiped by the Rolex AD before it leaves the shop for the Grey Market. As has happened to me if you are looking for a certain model Rolex & it’s not an in stock model most Grey Dealers will have the contacts to get the model you are looking for. In my case I was looking for a T/T Daytona (New Model) 116503 with White MOP 8 Diamonds Dial. It took the Grey Dealer I always use three weeks to source this Model & when it arrived everything was above board the warranty card was stamped & dated & my name was on the warranty card. I took the time to check the validity of the warranty card in the local Rolex AD where I live & they said that they would have no problem with the warranty. It is nice to have your name on the warranty card especially if you will be handing it down to children but it is not vital that your name should be on the card. As they say the card follows the Watch


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[Jagsie]

Apart from your name, has anyone been asked to provide ID (passport etc) when purchasing from an AD with a debit card. I was and assumed it may be an anti money laundering measure.


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[captainron62]

A colleague of mine phoned Rolex last Friday and asked a question similar to what is posted here. As some others said Rolex does not track ownership by name, they only track warranty by the watch. They told us (I listened in) that it didn't matter to them who had current possession of the watch as the warrant would begin when it was sold and where the watch went from there did not affect the warranty. The lady even gave the example of an eBay purchase, she said even if you purchase on eBay they would honor the warranty. It doesn't matter what the card says it seems, that the card has become ornamental more than a necessary document as it has been often portrayed.

[actionkwj]

Originally Posted by Easy E

I bought a BNIB DJ41 from a TS mentioned often here and my name was on the warranty card. In the course of that transaction it was detailed to me that the only component of “The Swipe” that matters are the model and serial number. So, the warranty was technically started about 2 months before I took ownership. FWIW.

Yep this is the way it works So if you buy grey you might lose a month or two of warranty but that’s typically a good trade off for the $$$ saved!


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[peterpl]

Originally Posted by captainron62

A colleague of mine phoned Rolex last Friday and asked a question similar to what is posted here. As some others said Rolex does not track ownership by name, they only track warranty by the watch. They told us (I listened in) that it didn't matter to them who had current possession of the watch as the warrant would begin when it was sold and where the watch went from there did not affect the warranty. The lady even gave the example of an eBay purchase, she said even if you purchase on eBay they would honor the warranty. It doesn't matter what the card says it seems, that the card has become ornamental more than a necessary document as it has been often portrayed.

What RSC told you is exactly correct. The watch when swiped only activates the warranty. It has no record on the system or anything of the purchasers name - they dont care nor should they.

Warranty of any Rolex will start on the day the serial is swiped thats all that matters. Its a "Nice to have" thing to have your own name on the warranty card but seriously unless its a present who cares?

[904VT]

Originally Posted by joli160

Well, since Rolex does not keep track of ownership. There is no database in Geneva linked to any names. You can perfectly buy a BNIB grey watch with your name.
I have several of those, only the AD who sold the watch to the grey dealer had to swipe the card to activate, which they do of course.

I have a feeling this could change with Rolex USA as the test market...we'll see if there's a mass rollout. But one thing for sure, this allows Rolex a database of customers for potential direct sales in the future (more than likely, wholly-owned boutiques). I think they've had enough of secondary sellers and ADs controlling the profits. Just my guess wink