Protective Stickers on brand new watch

[PhilK]

Hi all..... I've had a call come in from my AD saying a watch that I've been waiting on for a couple of years has come in with my name on it. This will be my first new Rolex in twelve years. Years ago, that AD permitted the customer to choose whether they took a new watch away with the factory protective stickers on it or for them to be taken off. For my last purchase, I kept the stickers on the watch for the first few months just in case I bumped or scratched it as I got used to the watch's size. When they got grubby, I then peeled them off. The AD is saying their new policy is all stickers have to be removed from the watch. Is this now common practice across all ADs or is something that Rolex insists on?

[GrantD]

Yep seems to be, they removed (most) of them from the last few I’ve had from the AD

[Pw92676]

Take the stickers off, enjoy the watch. Don’t read many of the replies that come afterwards…many here get riled up about stickers.

[EEpro]

Congrats!

A used watch is a used watch. Condition (within normal reasonable wear) won't affect future trade value should you part with it.

Enjoy it, it's yours!

[Mystro]

That “ sticker removal“ policy is legit and has been for the last year or two. I enjoy the process of removing all stickers when I get a new Rolex but it’s not like this new policy will probably take all the stickers off so you may find a few hidden to remove. It’s fun in a WIS sort of way.


There is a few stickers they always miss.

[PhilK]

To some degree, I find it frustrating if this is the policy. At the end of the day, the watch is mine and I, as the customer, ought to be able to choose whether or not I want the stickers taken off. I would be so frustrated if I get a scratch on the watch in the first few weeks which would otherwise have been protected by a sticker. It's a bit like a new car. It will always end up with some scratches / minor dings but you try and keep it unscathed for as long as possible!

[Tim Plains]

You won't even be allowed to hold the stickers after they have been removed. lol

It may frustrate you but resellers charge even more for watches still stickered, so I'm glad ADs do this.

[Marcjvr]

Stickers are worth more than the watch in a parallel universe

[Harry-57]

My AD takes off the stickers. They have always done this. The only exception occurred last December. I went in by arrangement to collect an Omega and they were unexpectedly behind and piled up with work and customers. I took the watch home unsized and fully stickered. It didn't stay that way for long.

[brandrea]

Personally I like that they remove them.

I usually find one or two that they miss anyway …

[Aman08]

When I got to my AD last week they were all off except for one on the back of the clasp. Wear and enjoy congratulations!

[tifosi]

I think they are implementing this to deter the flipping of brand new watches with stickers on.

[brucethemanlee]

Yes they remove as Rolex policy to deter flippers as much as possible

Just wear the the watch and enjoy

I always told AD to remove all the stickers on every Rolex I have purchased

Stickers are a breeding ground of bacteria, dead skin cells (gross), and accumulated dirt/grime

[Emery]

Mine was presented to me with stickers on, and after payment, when they brought it to the back for resizing, stickers were removed at the same time.

[diver2012]

My AD lets me take them all off but tells me the policy is not to let me leave with them in place.

Fine by me.

[Calatrava r]

I understand ADs must now remove all stickers before the watch can be sold. A watch which turns up on the "used market" with stickers intact is a huge problem for that selling AD if Rolex buys the watch. Goodby to the Rolex line.

[sj24k]

Please take off the protective plastic packing material before wearing your watch.

Pretty please.


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[messikens]

Originally Posted by PhilK

To some degree, I find it frustrating if this is the policy. At the end of the day, the watch is mine and I, as the customer, ought to be able to choose whether or not I want the stickers taken off. I would be so frustrated if I get a scratch on the watch in the first few weeks which would otherwise have been protected by a sticker. It's a bit like a new car. It will always end up with some scratches / minor dings but you try and keep it unscathed for as long as possible!

I suggest you don't buy the watch then if it's a deal breaker. Greys will gladly sell you a stickered example for 3x MSRP .

I have no issues for the AD to remove stickers. I'm going to wear my watches for me, so why would I need a sticker to become grubby within two weeks to then peel them off?

Besides, it's Rolex policy (and AP for that matter) and should discourage SOME flipping. I'm all for it

[burnthesehills]

Originally Posted by PhilK

To some degree, I find it frustrating if this is the policy. At the end of the day, the watch is mine and I, as the customer, ought to be able to choose whether or not I want the stickers taken off. I would be so frustrated if I get a scratch on the watch in the first few weeks which would otherwise have been protected by a sticker. It's a bit like a new car. It will always end up with some scratches / minor dings but you try and keep it unscathed for as long as possible!

This is party done to prevent watch flippers, but probably started as more of a convenience/service to the customers. Considering the current state of the Rolex market, customers are not necessarily in a position to demand anything when buying a model at MSRP. Further, while true that the watch is yours once purchased, Rolex does have the right to dictate the terms of the sale which currently involves removal of stickers.

[Seddyspaghetti]

Common practice

[OG1982]

I like the thought of removing my own stickers, until you actually have to remove them all.

[Auto16610]

When I bought my Honda Accord I asked to keep the white plastic that all cars are shipped with on. I wanted to drive it like that for the first year in case I got a scratch. They looked at me funny and said no. I also keep plastic on my couches like my great grant parents did. Go figure.

[diver2012]

The worst is when people don't remove stickers...then over time dirt gets under the edges of the stickers and you just know it will be scratching the watch.

[Robf52]

Originally Posted by Auto16610

When I bought my Honda Accord I asked to keep the white plastic that all cars are shipped with on. I wanted to drive it like that for the first year in case I got a scratch. They looked at me funny and said no. I also keep plastic on my couches like my great grant parents did. Go figure.

[Devildog]

Originally Posted by PhilK

To some degree, I find it frustrating if this is the policy. At the end of the day, the watch is mine and I, as the customer, ought to be able to choose whether or not I want the stickers taken off. I would be so frustrated if I get a scratch on the watch in the first few weeks which would otherwise have been protected by a sticker. It's a bit like a new car. It will always end up with some scratches / minor dings but you try and keep it unscathed for as long as possible!

I do understand the frustration (although I would never keep the stickers on and wear the watch personally). Its just one of the various tactics employed by all ADs now (I believe at the request of Rolex SA) to dissuade flipping.

Much like the bezel protector, the stickers are there to protect the watch from damage from completion of assembly through transport to the AD (and any any subsequent handling up to the point of sale) to ensure that when you leave the AD the watch is pristine. They are not there to prevent damage after purchase and although ADs used to leave them on if asked, they were supposed to remove them at purchase, much like a car dealership removes protective transport plastics before delivery.

The watch is mine argument doesn't really wash I'm afraid. The watch is only yours after you've paid for it, and if you wish to be given the opportunity to pay for it, the stickers must come off. Its a condition of sale in the crazy world where we are now made to feel privileged to be offered the opportunity to purchase a Rolex.

If you are worried about damage, there are various sticker kits available which are more fit for that purpose

[1259]

Unless you're a flipper why would you want those stickers on it?

[PhilK]

Originally Posted by 1259

Unless you're a flipper why would you want those stickers on it?

I know some collectors that want NOS watches in their collection alongside watches they wear on a day to day basis. A bit like people who collect old whiskies but will never open the bottle or concours cars that are driven around on trailers. Defeats the original core purpose of having them in the first place but no different to wanting a NOS watch that's never been worn.

[omar-rye]

Originally Posted by Tim Plains

It may frustrate you but resellers charge even more for watches still stickered, so I'm glad ADs do this.

Grey's charge more because it's become "rare" for a new watch to have stickers on it. If Rolex had left the stickers on every watch they sold then it wouldn't be so "rare" and there wouldn't be a premium

[WilsdorfNDavis]

Originally Posted by PhilK

It's a bit like a new car. It will always end up with some scratches / minor dings but you try and keep it unscathed for as long as possible!

Poor analogy because there are SO MANY stickers/protective films that come on a new vehicle that are taken off before delivery.


Unless you take delivery of the vehicle right off the delivery truck from the factory, which I have done several times, you'll never see them.

[H25B]

I don’t care, but I think it’s a silly policy and there are other measures they could easily take if they were really serious about minimizing the flippers.