Pawn Shops and Rolex

[anglykos]

Originally Posted by chriseskew24

I just contacted Tempoking which lives in my area..

Anastasios ('Tempoking') is not only a guarantee of a hard to beat deal but is also a true gentleman. Many TRF members have bought watches from him.

[Chris B]

Originally Posted by emmagee

If you do decide to buy it, I would suggest paying with a credit card. If an issue does arise with the watch you always have some protection withe the CC company.

[082013]

IMO, a guy who can't spell two, or who might think it is actually called TOW TONE, doesn't know enough to be selling Rolex's that you can be certain are genuine. Secondly, the box is wrong, and without papers I'd have to walk away.

[Alcan]

Originally Posted by chriseskew24

I am starting to wish i never started this thread.. Feeling like a real ediot

Not at all Christopher, best thing you've done is start this thread.

We're all here to help, nobody on TRF wants to see a fellow member take a loss on a counterfeit.

[gregdolley]

Originally Posted by chriseskew24

I really cant answer that. But if it is fake that would be criminal for him to sell it to me under the asumption that it is original Rolex wouldent it.

Remember, Chris, I'd _also_ be criminal for _you_ to buy it if it turns out to be fake.

Personally, I'd never buy a Rolex from a pawn shop. Who sells stuff to pawn shops? Mostly drug addicts needing quick cash to take to their dealer. So how does a drug addict get a real Rolex to sell? They most likely steal it from their parents.

Think about it - if you had a real Rolex that you needed to sell, why would you sell it to a pawn shop where you'd get the absolute _worst_ price anywhere? You could get more money selling it back to the AD.

So my thoughts are: either it's fake and you wouldn't want it anyway, or it's real but already reported stolen. So either way you're screwed.

If you really want to buy a used one, look through the ads on this forum and make sure you get any piece authenticated before you buy it. Or go to an AD that sells used ones and try to deal them down.

[WatchSmith]

Originally Posted by chriseskew24

What is the best way to make sure it is not a fake? At a glance? Date magnifacation font on dates? Bracelet weight?

This is not only the best way but the ONLY way to be sure it's authentic, and that is to remove the back and examine the movement. You CANNOT be sure by any other method if it's a high quality fake.

[Beaumont Miller II]

Chris, when in doubt: 1. Buy from an AD.
2. Put it on a credit card that gives you protection if it
turns out to be a fake. Make sure the receipt says
authentic Rolex. Not Rolex like...
3. Buy from someone on these forums that have a
history of happy customers.
4. Post pics of watch on this site and have us look at it.
5. Buy from a bricks and mortar store that has been in
business a long time. There are great deals at grey
market dealers.

[Brunotheboxer]

walk away. It sounds like you are uncomfortable so dont take the risk.

[wantonebad]

Yeah everything has been said and I don't have much to add other than to say you really are NOT and idiot for asking a very GOOD question. I like many here believe in saving money whenever possible but I wouldn't even consider buying from a pawn browker for one simple reason, they know what they are doing. Not one of them is in the dark about the reality of what they buy and what they sell, and if they are willing to sell on the cheap there is a reason. You are wise to be cautious and ask the board about it. Unless you are a real Rolex Vet and know the watches in and out then shop at a dealer or a well known grey dealer, JMHO

[gold4u2]

Just my 2 cents......

I have a very good friend who owns a Pawn Shop. He checks everything out before making any kind of offer on a Rolex watch. Those guys don't want to get stuck with a fake either! I know my buddy knows how to tell if it's real but I am not exactly sure he would know or catch aftermarket parts, like dials, bezels, and bracelets. A big ticket item should come with a short return policy if the watch is found to be not what it was sold under. I find most Pawn shop owners to be on the up and up!!

[ossodiseppia]

Originally Posted by chriseskew24

I am starting to wish i never started this thread.. Feeling like a real ediot

I think it's a great thread!

I was pawn shopping for Rolexes a few weeks ago. I found a few GMTs and Subs. Every shop guaranteed the authenticity of their watch. If they are going to take one of these things in, they have to have it looked at by someone they trust. They need to protect themselves from being ripped off.

Many of the pawn shops are nationwide chains. Shops like EZ Pawn have reputations to uphold. Nationwide chains would more than likely be a better place to buy than a mom and pop type shop. A nationwide chain will also let you use a credit card. That should get you some buyer protection.

The only problem I have with buying from a pawn shop is their pricing. Every one that I went to had a computer. Each time the proprietor went to Ebay to check "current pricing". I would not have had a problem buying any of the watches I found at these shops, if they priced them a little more reasonably.

[postiff]

Only experience I have with a pawn shop. I brought my 1675 in before I decided to hold on to it. Asked what I could get for it. After taking the case back off and the bracelet and giving it a good look over he came back with “wow this is a really old watch, I’ll give you $225.00 for it. Kept it and kindly showed myself the door. I stopped by another one on my way home and he offered me 2500.00 but said that is not his final offer and went on and on about how nice of a piece it was. That is the moment that I realized what I had and began researching Rolex. Happy I kept it and now on number two with hopes for more one day.

I guess my point is both of these places had case back tools and had no problem opening them up. Maybe this place will be the same way?

As someone else pointed out could be HOT. We all look for the best deals possible when buying a Rolex. Maybe for this one you should stick to the Forums.

If the watch is HOT does Rolex keep a log of stolen watches? If so if you sent the watch in for service is it then compared to the stolen watch log and then you loose the watch you legitimately bought? Ouch that would really suck.

[TempoKing]

I was looking recently at a Rolex yachtmaster "platty", unfortunately the bracelet
was not authentic, a 4 year old watch for 6500 dollars (we can buy new for that)
...I wonder what they were smoking in the back...?

[brettpaul]

Originally Posted by chriseskew24

I just contacted Tempoking which lives in my area..

He'll surely be able to help you out!

[ossodiseppia]

Originally Posted by postiff

...As someone else pointed out could be HOT. We all look for the best deals possible when buying a Rolex. Maybe for this one you should stick to the Forums.

If the watch is HOT does Rolex keep a log of stolen watches? If so if you sent the watch in for service is it then compared to the stolen watch log and then you loose the watch you legitimately bought? Ouch that would really suck.

Most of the pawn shops that I visited deal with the local police departments when it comes to these types of watches.

[Dhiney]

You have some good advice here but I'd add some additional.

1. Buy with American Express if you can - They are great when it comes to disputes.

2. Check and make sure there is a return policy

3. I'd take the watch and RUN to an AD and have them check it. Even if they charge you $100 it's worth the varification. They last thing you want to do is get burned.

4. Try to negotiate with the Pawn Shop that if the watch is a fake they pay the fee charged by the AD.

Just a few suggestions.

[Dhiney]

Submariner, preowned, Original Rolex , Excellent Condition!

NO BOX OR PAPER

CORAL SPRINGS PAWN AND GUNS JEWELRY

1994 MODEL BLUE TOW TONE $ 4,000
2000 MODEL BLACK S/S $ 2,950
2000 MODEL DATE JUST TOW TONE $ 2,900

Never seen a Tow Tone - much less 2 of them.

[Brunotheboxer]

Originally Posted by Dhiney

Submariner, preowned, Original Rolex , Excellent Condition!

NO BOX OR PAPER

CORAL SPRINGS PAWN AND GUNS JEWELRY

1994 MODEL BLUE TOW TONE $ 4,000
2000 MODEL BLACK S/S $ 2,950
2000 MODEL DATE JUST TOW TONE $ 2,900

Never seen a Tow Tone - much less 2 of them.

Tow Tone is very popular in Toon Town as I have seen many.

[Parachrom]

Makle taking it to a Ad for verification part of the terms and conditions of the sale. Have him take it not you. otherwise he could claim you switched it out.

[wantonebad]

Originally Posted by Parachrom

Makle taking it to a Ad for verification part of the terms and conditions of the sale. Have him take it not you. otherwise he could claim you switched it out.

I would still be concerned about whether it was a stollen watch, that's actually my biggest issue. Good chance its real, but it could have been plucked too

[housemad]

Can you buy the watch with a credit card???
Most credit cards comes with an insurance agains the lost or damage of you purchase!
Its also inclued a protection agains frauds!!!
If you buy the watch with a credit cards with such protection...if your watch is a fake your credit card bank will send you a refund if you claim it as fake!
(Sorry bad english)

[Saxon007]

oops, nm

[AIKO]

Originally Posted by chriseskew24

I am starting to wish i never started this thread.. Feeling like a real ediot

I can assure you 99.9% of the people on this forum have been tempted to do a deal that was unfavorable for one reason or another. Some have been burned for a lot of money. Better to ask than get a shady deal. No worries.

[ippon20]

I will say this...I wouldn't buy a Rolex from my only uncle who owns a pawn shop in Tampa. Not because I don't trust my uncle, but because people get fooled everyday...you made a good choice going with Tempo.

[xjeeunitx]

I would stay away from pawn shops unless it comes with the original box, papers, manuals. I just really have a negative view on pawn shops. Drug addicts and thieves go to pawn shops to sell their items quickly for a fraction of the actual cost of the item. Just think about that, just my 0.02 cents!

[WJGESQ]

Originally Posted by Dhiney

You have some good advice here but I'd add some additional.

1. Buy with American Express if you can - They are great when it comes to disputes.

2. Check and make sure there is a return policy

3. I'd take the watch and RUN to an AD and have them check it. Even if they charge you $100 it's worth the varification. They last thing you want to do is get burned.

4. Try to negotiate with the Pawn Shop that if the watch is a fake they pay the fee charged by the AD.

Just a few suggestions.

All of the above is great.

In addition, I would make sure that you get a bill of sale that clearly evidences that you are purchasing a bona fide Rolex with a description of the make and model.

Personally, it would have to be one hell of a deal to make it worthy of taking a chance. The inverse of that is that, if it is one hell of deal, its probably no deal at all. Taking to an AD seems like the only safe way to insure your purchase.

[emmagee]

I know very little about how the pawn business works, but I would assume that *most* pawn shops would want no part of a stolen watch, or anything else, for that matter, that can be traced with a serial number. I think most state require the pawnshop to get an ID of the pawner/seller, (is pawner even a word??) if the item is over $50 or so. I will occasionally stop into a pawn shop to see if they have any decent guns for sale, although I haven't done it in several years as usually they only have overpriced junk and haven't ever looked at watches. I imagine a lot of the tools, ladders, CD's/DVD's they have may very well be stolen, but they are probably pretty cautious about guns, expensive watches, etc. I think some of the big pawn chains are even publicly traded, so I'm sure they try to avoid negative publicity of stolen goods.

Again, I would buy a Rolex from a pawn shop, but I would immediately have it verified and would also only pay with a credit card.

[tommypit]

Hi
For $2800 you can probably buy a pre-owned sub at reputable jewler. Why would you take a chance.

[Gaijin]

Originally Posted by ossodiseppia

Most of the pawn shops that I visited deal with the local police departments when it comes to these types of watches.

I worked in a major metropolitan police department with over 1,000 sworn officers. Of those officers we had only 2 full time detectives assigned to the pawn shop detail. They had literally hundreds of pawn shops to deal with. When they checked these shops they VERY often found stolen murchandise including watches.

[Chozn1]

I went into a pawn shop this past week and they had an old GMT in there that I asked about. They wanted 4k, and I asked to see it up close. The band was aftermarket and the guy either played stupid or had no idea. When I asked about the age, he said it had to be pretty new because it had an oyster band that Rolex just came out with. Keep in mind this was also just a GMT, not a GMT II. His watch was handed back with a quickness and a hearty laugh.