Trusted Sellers

[Mabcpa17]

Hi,

I joined TRF about one month ago and appreciate everyone's input. The information sharing amongst the TRF community is exceptional and top notch.

I see seen in quite a few threads, references made to use of "trusted sellers", many of whom are listed in the Rolex for sale section of this forum. Many report positive experiences with these sellers and I am considering using one for my first Rolex purchase.

TSs list several categories of watches for sale, pre-owned, "NIB" (which I believe is New in Box), and "BNIB" (which I believe is Brand New in Box). Assuming I have this correct, then there is really no difference between NIB and BNIB.

I have been looking at several NIBs for sale, but I am puzzled as to where these watches come from. The TSs are indicating (at least many of them) that they are not ADs, so how do they acquire these watches and how can they offer "blank" Rolex warranty cards that will be put in the name of the purchaser?

I am certainly not looking to imply anything here and perhaps my question is simply naïve, but was wondering if anyone else here has asked the same question before? Just looking to understand what I may be getting assuming I go the route of a TS.

Thanks

[hitman23]

From what I gather, these sellers have connections with AD's. They buy from the AD at bulk discount and then sell here. Basically, the typical middle man.

[FTX I]

Originally Posted by Mabcpa17

but was wondering if anyone else here has asked the same question before?

Yes, very common question. They buy from authorized dealers with a large discount and sell here with a nice discount.

[mike]

Moved to the trusted sellers sub-form.

[AK797]

They buy from ADs at good discounts with whom they have good relationships, and resell them on to us.

[Laszlo]

Sometimes the warranty card already has someone else's name on it - but that really doesn't matter because the warranty follows the watch, not the owner. And you should ask how much time is left on the warranty if it's not noted in the ad. In most cases the warranty is only a month or so old. Also, there are some opportunities that a BNIB has a warranty card with the AD stamp but no owner's name (open), and when you purchase it from a TS, you get your name on the card. I've purchased five or six pieces from Trusted Sellers and never had an issue.

[Tools]

Nobody should be fooling themselves; you do not know who wrote your name on a blank warranty card. If you choose to think that a kindly AD, somehow, was given your info and wrote it on the card, then shuffled it out the back door at a substantial discount, to a third party re-seller, good for you !!

When you choose to bypass the legitimate Distribution Network, you must be willing to accept the illusion and not dwell on the facts of the transaction..

[Syed117]

Originally Posted by Tools

Nobody should be fooling themselves; you do not know who wrote your name on a blank warranty card. If you choose to think that a kindly AD, somehow, was given your info and wrote it on the card, then shuffled it out the back door at a substantial discount, to a third party re-seller, good for you !!

When you choose to bypass the legitimate Distribution Network, you must be willing to accept the illusion and not dwell on the facts of the transaction..

I haven't bought from a "trusted seller" yet, but I always assumed that you have to be very specific in what you are asking for.

Obviously the watches that they have already bought that have come stamped with authorized dealers will not have your name written by the AD. Or maybe they will after the fact. I've heard of some ADs keeping the warranty for a short amount of time and the sending it out later.

It shouldn't matter as long as the warranty is honored. I've never read of anyone who bought from a trusted seller and had an issue with Rolex honoring the warranty that was legitimately stamped by an AD.

I don't know if this is correct, but this is the way I've always thought of it. Seems like the most logical answer.

The trusted sellers have relationships with ADs. Relationships that the average person could never hope to have. So they have much more power when it comes to discounts. I think we all have friends who have relationships with dealers of many kinds goods. I've definitely had friends every now and then buy something for me because they had an existing relationship with someone that I didn't.

So I don't really understand why the whole trusted seller concept is so hard to understand. It seems really simple to me.

So you want a brand new watch from an AD with your name officially on the warranty? Not difficult. Just contact a seller and tell him exactly what you want and how you want it. They go to the ADs that they have close relationships and basically buy a watch for you. The same as any other person that you might ask to buy something for you.

I honestly don't understand the confusion when it on comes to this stuff. It would be one thing if there was a long history of trusted seller watches having issues with warranties not being honored, but that's simply not the case.

[Mabcpa17]

OK, thanks all for your input. I figured the TSs leverage volume purchases for discounts, but just wanted to confirm. Since I don't see rampant postings on TRF saying that TS purchases turned out to be not what they expected, etc, I guess it all makes sense.

[RollieVerde]

Originally Posted by Tools

Nobody should be fooling themselves; you do not know who wrote your name on a blank warranty card. If you choose to think that a kindly AD, somehow, was given your info and wrote it on the card, then shuffled it out the back door at a substantial discount, to a third party re-seller, good for you !!

When you choose to bypass the legitimate Distribution Network, you must be willing to accept the illusion and not dwell on the facts of the transaction..

I agree 100%.

[RichM]

I'm new to TRF. I bought mine from Alan Furman. Had I had the courage to buy from one of the FTS, I'd have another $500 in my pocket.

Rest assured my next purchase will be from here.

I say go for it.

[Langnam]

Originally Posted by Tools

Nobody should be fooling themselves; you do not know who wrote your name on a blank warranty card. If you choose to think that a kindly AD, somehow, was given your info and wrote it on the card, then shuffled it out the back door at a substantial discount, to a third party re-seller, good for you !!

When you choose to bypass the legitimate Distribution Network, you must be willing to accept the illusion and not dwell on the facts of the transaction..

x2

One reason a suggested retail price exists from an AD is to reflect the cost of supporting a warranty. Go outside of the AD network with the substantial discount from a trusted seller, one should expect the warranty to be null. If it's valid, consider yourself lucky.

It's the price you pay for a discount. Personally, I don't mind as, more often than not, I've never have a problem within two years.