Seller will not take Rolex to authorized dealer before purchase

[Steiner689]

I am interested in purchasing a Rolex locally but seller will not take Rolex to authorized Rolex dealer prior to sale for verification. This is suspicious to me as I am only looking for assurance that the watch is authentic Rolex. I even offered to give deposit first but seller wants everything upfront but is giving a three day authentication period and says he will refund full amount if not all Rolex. Please advise. Is this common practice or are my suspicions valid.

[GoingPlaces]

Walk.

[Snake Oil]

Run

[cop414]

I'd steer clear, check out some of the sellers here. As said above, buy the seller then the watch.

[superstarmar]

Originally Posted by Snake Oil

Run

As fast as you can ....

[RichM]

Run Forest Run

[GradyPhilpott]

Originally Posted by GoingPlaces

Walk.

[nyc2la]

You'll hear it a lot, and for good reason: Buy the seller first and foremost.

Walk if you don't feel comfortable.

[Timesurfer]

These boots are made for walki'n

Back in the day we used to take a car to our trusted mechanic before we bought it, I always found it to be a very good practice, if he signed up on it I was good to go.... Always a bad sign if the seller refused...

[Boothroyd]

If you have any doubt, which you do, walk away now.

[jatco]

Originally Posted by Boothroyd

If you have any doubt, which you do, walk away now.

x2..to all above.
I'd trust these guys, before that seller, for sure.!!

[TheRolexKingofLV]

Don't walk...run!

[GB-man]

Originally Posted by TheRolexKingofLV

Don't walk...run!

This doesn't even warrant an ask. No offense.

[southcarolina1801]

Originally Posted by GB-man

This doesn't even warrant an ask. No offense.

Agreed, maybe you should just buy at an AD.

[japenney]

The seller should be doing everything in his power within reason to make you feel comfortable with your purchase. I agree with the others. Do not buy this watch.

[Steiner689]

It is a seller on here

[jatco]

Originally Posted by Steiner689

It is a seller on here

Oh ho....!! Really...!
...Did he/she say why..??

[sleddog]

Originally Posted by Steiner689

It is a seller on here

Just because it's a seller that is a member here, does not automatically mean the transaction is 'safe'.

Do your homework, buy the seller first, then the watch.. TRF has no role in the private sales transacted. We are merely a forum of enthusiasts who offer a place of trade to its members. It is by no means responsible if a deal goes south that was initiated from this site...

My thoughts is you should walk away, and that's based on the vague first post of this thread.....and, if it's to good to be true, it's just that, bad!
Perhaps if you named the seller, then better guidance can be offered.

[Porsche]

Originally Posted by Steiner689

It is a seller on here

There are just over 160,000 members on this website (congrats to TRF )

Joining is FREE, and there are no barriers to join other than a valid email address...

[tudorluv]

it's a good idea, not just to verify authenticity but to also check if it's been reported as stolen

[TheRolexKingofLV]

Pics of watch?

[Mr Kram]

does he/she have good references? it could be inconvenient for that person and they may incur some additional cost. walk away if you're not comfortable.

[Rolex king 68]

Run run as fast as you can.

[Sidmind]

The Rolex authorized dealer in my area will not do anything unless you pay for a service, they will not even authenticate without paying for a service and here is why according to them, If they do a free authorization or perhaps a cheap $50 one it is more trouble than it is worth due to court issues, example they authenticate a watch that turns into a legal issue/law suit and they have to send their salesperson/watchtech to spend a day in court as a witness. They don't mind doing this if someone pays $600+ for a service but never for a free authentication.
/don't kill the messenger
//thats what they told me.

[japenney]

Originally Posted by Sidmind

The Rolex authorized dealer in my area will not do anything unless you pay for a service, they will not even authenticate without paying for a service and here is why according to them, If they do a free authorization or perhaps a cheap $50 one it is more trouble than it is worth due to court issues, example they authenticate a watch that turns into a legal issue/law suit and they have to send their salesperson/watchtech to spend a day in court as a witness. They don't mind doing this if someone pays $600+ for a service but never for a free authentication.
/don't kill the messenger
//thats what they told me.

Your AD would not be legally responsible for incorrectly "authenticating" a rolex if they were upfront about the fact that they cannot provide authentication. Every reasonable AD I have asked for a 50$ appraisal and asked them to look under the hood of the watch to see if it looks appropriate has done so. If it is a fake a watchmaker can spot it immediately 99/100 times just by glancing at the movement.

[xQx]

Originally Posted by Sidmind

The Rolex authorized dealer in my area will not do anything unless you pay for a service, they will not even authenticate without paying for a service and here is why according to them, If they do a free authorization or perhaps a cheap $50 one it is more trouble than it is worth due to court issues, example they authenticate a watch that turns into a legal issue/law suit and they have to send their salesperson/watchtech to spend a day in court as a witness. They don't mind doing this if someone pays $600+ for a service but never for a free authentication.
/don't kill the messenger
//thats what they told me.

Worth calling ahead then!

I know others on this forum may disagree, but I wouldn't hesitate to just get it authenticated by an independent watchmaker. It's likely to cost about $25 and come with a 'this is my best judgement, don't hold me responsible if I'm wrong' disclaimer - but an established watchmaker is likely to have seen hundreds of rolex's, and their fair share of fakes. I hear the Chinese copies have got very good now, but I doubt they're that good.

If you get the seller to consent to a pre-purchase inspection by an AD, you know they believe it's genuine, then if you take it to an indi and they tell you it all looks legit, that'd be enough for me.

Bottom line is if the seller won't consent to an inspection by an AD, you know it's damaged, fake, stolen or custom. It'd be like buying a second hand car from someone who flat-out refuses to let you have it looked over by a mechanic prior to purchase.

You just wouldn't do it.

[AK797]

Originally Posted by Sidmind

The Rolex authorized dealer in my area will not do anything unless you pay for a service, they will not even authenticate without paying for a service and here is why according to them, If they do a free authorization or perhaps a cheap $50 one it is more trouble than it is worth due to court issues, example they authenticate a watch that turns into a legal issue/law suit and they have to send their salesperson/watchtech to spend a day in court as a witness. They don't mind doing this if someone pays $600+ for a service but never for a free authentication.
/don't kill the messenger
//thats what they told me.

I'm not surprised really, just not worth their time and money to verify items bought elsewhere, it is the same with Hermes, Cartier and most luxury makers on their products, with items being brought in from ebay they would spend half their day on this.

[hornchurch]

walk away son.

[WAK4]

Is this an in person sale where you'd meet at the AD? Or are you asking him to take it and obtain something from the AD stating it's all good?

Odd that the seller would refuse, even with a deposit offered. Worst case, it costs a few bucks from the AD, and if you kill the deal, he can send back the differential.

Based on what you've said so far, I'd pass on the purchase.. doesn't smell right.

[TheRolexKingofLV]

I'm sure I'm not the only member that would like to see some pics of the piece in question. Maybe an expert here can look at the pics, and give you a better reason why the seller seems "suspect".