Interesting experience regarding authentication at AD

[daOnlyBG]

So, I have a watch listed for sale elsewhere. Someone reached out and asked if we could meet at an authorized dealer to have it authenticated. I responded that I'd have no issues with that at all. If the watch is legit, buyer pays- if anything is wrong, I pay, etc.

I called up CD Peacock in the greater Chicagoland area. Last year, I had them authenticate a Rolex Day-Date for no more than $100. They even printed a receipt.

When I called on Friday to confirm their watchmaker's hours, he said "$500." I paused. $500? That swings a buyer's budget tremendously and jeopardizes a deal. I mentioned that $500 was far more than I paid last year, but he shrugged and said "company policy."

OK. I decided to call a different CD Peacock location 20 minutes away. "$400. Sorry, but that's strict company policy." Sure, very strict.

A different Rolex AD in the area told me "We cannot officially authenticate a watch, but we can give the watch to our expert Rolex-trained watchmakers who will give you a verbal opinion."

"How much?"

"Free. Takes about half hour."



Has anyone else noticed a price shock at some ADs?

[schoolboy]

What!?

I called last year to an AD and they charged $200

[TurboTim14]

That's probably just their way of telling you they don't want to do it.

[goodolejr]

Wherever you go, make sure there is some kind of security measure in place that will prevent a prospective "buyer" from grabbing it and dashing out the door.

There have been stories here recently about thieves posing as buyers wanting a face-to-face transaction and running out to a getaway car or just being an exceptionally fast runner to evade anyone chasing him.

[Tavli3]

Originally Posted by turbotim14

that's probably just their way of telling you they don't want to do it.

+1

[ChipotleBanana]

The fact that AD's ask any amount of money to authenticate is preposterous. My AD here in Utah has never once charge myself or any of my friends to authenticate any watches. Any competent Rolex staff should be able to tell you immediately. $70-$100 for an appraisal already seems more than adequate.

[watchmaker]

Originally Posted by TurboTim14

That's probably just their way of telling you they don't want to do it.

That's precisely what it is.

ADs and watchmakers have nothing to gain and everything to lose by 'authenticating' watches. That's why it's increasingly difficult to find people to do it at all, never mind for free.

First and foremost, that is not our job. Can't stress that enough.

Secondly, if anything turns out to be wrong down the line there's a liability issue that can bite us in the ass. Everyone is friendly until someone loses money off the back of a 'favour', then things get legal.

The way that the second problem is mitigated is most authentications will be done with a caveat to the effect of stating that any advice given is just an opinion (albeit an informed opinion) and cannot be relied on as definitive proof of authenticity. This makes the whole thing a somewhat redundant.

[superstarmar]

Originally Posted by turbotim14

that's probably just their way of telling you they don't want to do it.

Originally Posted by tavli3

+1

x2....

[watchmaker]

Originally Posted by ChipotleBanana

The fact that AD's ask any amount of money to authenticate is preposterous. My AD here in Utah has never once charge myself or any of my friends to authenticate any watches. Any competent Rolex staff should be able to tell you immediately. $70-$100 for an appraisal already seems more than adequate.

Expecting someone to donate their time and skill for free to allow you to buy or sell a watch is preposterous. Charging for professional consultation is perfectly justified and normal behaviour.

Regarding how much people charge to do a job (and this is true in any industry); you weigh up how much you value your time versus how much you do/don't want to do the job.

[train-time]

The last time I called a local AD regarding authenticating a watch for sale and meeting a perspective buyer at their location, they said that they would not do any authentication of the watch and would not allow a transfer or sale to take place on their premises.

[DoxaDavid]

Originally Posted by watchmaker

Expecting someone to donate their time and skill for free to allow you to buy or sell a watch is preposterous. Charging for professional consultation is perfectly justified and normal behaviour.

Regarding how much people charge to do a job (and this is true in any industry); you weigh up how much you value your time versus how much you do/don't want to do the job.

Totally agree with you Scott. Their time and knowledge have value and they should charge for it.

$500 for that service is egregious in my opinion and would look elsewhere. To merely authenticate a watch should be at most a 15 min proposition. $100-150 seems reasonable. $500 is clearly announcing they don’t want to do that kind of thing which is their prerogative.

[037]

Originally Posted by watchmaker

Expecting someone to donate their time and skill for free to allow you to buy or sell a watch is preposterous. Charging for professional consultation is perfectly justified and normal behaviour.

Regarding how much people charge to do a job (and this is true in any industry); you weigh up how much you value your time versus how much you do/don't want to do the job.

100%

[214270Explorer]

AD's have better things to do instead of authenticating watches all day. Plus it involves them in potential other issues they neither need nor want. Issues already mentioned, and others.

Would I authenticate watches were I an AD?

No frakkin way in H-E double hockeysticks.

[Giangos]

If I was an AD I would not want this practice in my store.
Their purpose is to sell new watches and promote the brand. This does neither IMO.




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[MTdweller]

Sounds like these watchmakers have plenty of work. The opportunity cost of authenticating watches must be higher than it used to be.

[Sulla]

Whenever I have queried the authenticity of a Rolex I have taken it into a RSC for a quote. It costs nothing, but takes about a week. If the watch is genuine and they can work on it you will receive a quote on what it will cost to bring it up to Rolex standards. If it is non-genuine the quote will confirm that fact. I don't understand why Rolex sellers don't go down that path, have the work done and offer the new buyer a two year guarantee on the RSC work done.

[Speed]

Originally Posted by TurboTim14

That's probably just their way of telling you they don't want to do it.

This.

The $400 / $500 charges were not so subtle code for “go away”

Not much in it for an AD to “authenticate” - except for headaches and risk.

[Pantheon]

I'm surprised the ADs will even allow a sale to happen in their store. They're a private business not public like a library. They have nothing to gain from such an event and if something goes wrong then the cops are at their door disrupting business.

[air_king]

If I owned an AD I would not want any part of such a transaction. Lots of liability with little to nothing to be gained.

[Marcjvr]

I would think ADs would regard any and every customer who walks through their door as a potential sale now and for life hopefully..

If I ran an AD I would gladly offer an authentication service, and invite the seller and buyer to look around in my store while they wait for my watchmaker to check it out.

Customers are more valuable than water people and can dry up just as quick.

[brandrea]

It sounds like it would be less expensive to ship to RSC in Dallas or NY to authenticate and with RSC, you get written documentation

[ltmgeller]

In the past I've brought watches in to AD's that sell preowned watches and asked what they'd give me for my watch. If they make an offer, the watch is real. Free authentication.

[m3tek44]

Depending on year and make of the watch, I prefer to take watch to somewhere reputable (ie. rolliworks). In general AD have little knowledge of the watch whereas service center sees and deals with so many different types of watches and find it useful. Not to mentioned they sure don't charge $400 or $500 bucks to verify authentic of the watch.

[cdubg21]

Originally Posted by ltmgeller

In the past I've brought watches in to AD's that sell preowned watches and asked what they'd give me for my watch. If they make an offer, the watch is real. Free authentication.

Brilliant lol

[037]

Originally Posted by ltmgeller

In the past I've brought watches in to AD's that sell preowned watches and asked what they'd give me for my watch. If they make an offer, the watch is real. Free authentication.

Smart.

Only issue with that is if it has any aftermarket parts inside. That's harder to catch without disassembly of the movement. This may or may not explain part of the $400/$500 being quoted above.

[SPMN]

I was considering a watch awhile back and asked my AD before seeing it what the cost would be to authenticate. I was told $150, but she then winked and told me to ask them to make me an offer. If they make an offer, it's genuine, if it isn't genuine, they'll let me know.

[t65tampa]

Originally Posted by TurboTim14

That's probably just their way of telling you they don't want to do it.

Agree with that. The dealer takes all the liability for very little compensation, relatively. Have you seen all the posts on this forum from folks that have watches scratched when links or straps/bracelets are swapped out? Imagine if the watch got a scratch or ding when the movement would be inspected - who's watch is it then and who is going to pay to make it as pristine as it was? Rolex ADs are there to sell watches and keep their clients happy. They aren't interested in facilitating after market sales from third parties.

If it means that much to you, I'd just pay the few hundred bucks and ask for an insurance appraisal at the same time.

[kieselguhr]

Originally Posted by TurboTim14

That's probably just their way of telling you they don't want to do it.

This is likely the case. There is no benefit to them in authenticating a watch, if anything it predisposes them to liability (think about all the OCD complaints on this forum). Especially if the watchmaker is swamped with work orders, I am pretty sure they were hoping you would walk the other way.

Edit: lol I see I am about 42 minutes too late as I just regurgitated what Tampa said without having read prior posts

[42itus]

I think as a business an AD would be foolish to offer authentication services. So little to gain and so much to lose. Maybe the only exception would be for a VIP customer that’s done plenty of business with them. Otherwise the customer who is buying and selling in the secondary market is not their target customer.


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[cerendigit]

ADs are not in the business of authenticating watches. They probably don't know how to do it. They get their watches from Rolex, they never have to worry about that.

Their job is to sell watches, not buy watches of the street.