Upcoming Purchase: AD v Grey Dealer

[OneRolex]

Hey all,

I am about to purchase my first Rolex, a GMT - 116710LN, from a grey dealer. I trust the seller, as I purchased an engagement ring from him in the past, but I was wondering what do I need to be aware of when purchasing with regards to the warranty card matching the watch?

I could purchase the watch from the local AD, but my jeweler has quoted me almost $2,000 USD under the AD price, and would avoid sales tax by paying cash (AD said they would not do that)

Any advice you have is greatly appreciated!

[sco]

Make sure you get a new Rolex 5 year warranty. The serial number on the watch (on the lower portion of the rehaut on the dial) should match the warranty card.

[yxc145]

some of the grey market dealer cannot offer the Rolex 5 year warranty since it is not sold by an authorized dealer.
instead, they provide their own warranty. which is one reason they are able to discount a lot more.

[OneRolex]

How will I know if I get the 5 year warranty? is there a different card?

[DavidUK]

Rolex warranty booklet says 5 year warranty ONLY if bought from an AD.

But... what if you bought it used? The remainder of the warranty applies afaik?

[sager]

Originally Posted by sco

Make sure you get a new Rolex 5 year warranty. The serial number on the watch (on the lower portion of the rehaut on the dial) should match the warranty card.

This.

Also, if you trust the seller, you trust the seller. I understand due diligence but if there is an ounce of suspicion or anything along those lines, then you are trusting the wrong seller.

Good luck and keep us posted!

[Quicksilver]

If the watch comes with the Rolex warranty, no need to worry. I love my LN - its a great watch and if you can get it a good price from someone you trust, go for it.

[OneRolex]

I would think the remainder applies? I assume the 5 years begins with the date on the card?

Also, how important is the 5 year warranty? I hope that in buying a Rolex, the watch will last a lifetime, and barring any significant damage shouldn't need to be serviced in the first 5 years, thoughts?

[sco]

The remainder applies, if the watch has an original Rolex warranty.

Here is a recent thread on warranty usage. Personally I didn't need the warranty for my Rolex, but I did send my Omega in..

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthre...light=warranty

[Stevec14]

If the watch was initially purchased on or after July 2015, then as long as you have the docs you should have the 5 year warranty (I think that's right, but am sure someone more knowledgable than I will be along).

Any older than that and it's 2 or 3 years I think. Of course, no papers (or incorrect ones) and then you have no Rolex warranty but you would have the sellers warranty.

Warranty runs from the purchase date on the card.

I bought my gmt for a great price from a grey with no b&p. First thing I did was lob it in with Rolex for a service for a fraction of my saving and then I had Rolex 2 yrs warranty after that and piece of mind that the watch was 100% legit.

Good luck with your purchase!

[Muzz]

Originally Posted by yxc145

some of the grey market dealer cannot offer the Rolex 5 year warranty since it is not sold by an authorized dealer.
instead, they provide their own warranty. which is one reason they are able to discount a lot more.

David, every new Rolex is sold by an AD. The warranty is not factored in to the price and as soon as an AD is paid for the watch the warranty card is activated at the time of sale.

How long the grey dealer has the watch determines how long the end user will have warranty left on the piece.

[tyler1980]

Originally Posted by OneRolex

I would think the remainder applies? I assume the 5 years begins with the date on the card?

Also, how important is the 5 year warranty? I hope that in buying a Rolex, the watch will last a lifetime, and barring any significant damage shouldn't need to be serviced in the first 5 years, thoughts?

its important in that its a complete set to get the box, warranty card, watch, and other accessories like hang tags. Not so important IMO for any practical reason. The number of watches that actually need a service within the warranty period is very small.

[yxc145]

Originally Posted by Muzz

David, every new Rolex is sold by an AD. The warranty is not factored in to the price and as soon as an AD is paid for the watch the warranty card is activated at the time of sale.

How long the grey dealer has the watch determines how long the end user will have warranty left on the piece.

But, Jxxasxxp.com, a large online watch retailer told me that their watches are brand new, but DO NOT come with Rolex warranty. It doesn't come with Rolex warranty card. If something goes wrong within 5 years, ROLEX will fix it, but will not be covered. Instead, they will give you a Jxxasxxp warranty card and do all the repair/coverage in house.
I understand an authentic Rolex watch "should" come with the Rolex warranty card and when AD sold the watch to the Grey dealers, the watches should come with it. BUT, that's the exact word that this online retailer told me.
It's like people export BMW, Mercedes or other car from US to Asia. The grey dealers will sell the cars at 20% lower than authorized dealer. But the cars are not covered under the normal manufacturer warranty.

[ADifferentPhilosophy]

I'm sure there have been previous threads on this but I'll toss my two cents in having gone through your trial about a month ago.

Grey market dealers like Jomashop, etc, will not give you the Rolex 5 year warranty. I spoke with Jomashop and that's a fact.

Buying off someone like DavidSW BNIB nets you the Rolex + the 5 year warranty since the watch was sourced from a local AD who needed to get out from under it, sold at big discount due to volume buyer, or some other scenario. That's why those guys are so well respected on here.

Ideally, you work the heck out of a local AD and get within a few hundred $ of the grey market price. Local ADs offer a few benefits- if they are customer service experts, they might be willing to send your watch into RSC free of charge to repair a ding you can't live with but suffered in the first week of owning the watch, for example. Certain ADs are very interested in keeping your business- it is doubtful that a TS would be willing to ship your watch into RSC for cosmetic reasons just to assuage your ego.

Best of luck

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[Rolex addict]

Personally, I would get a very nice preowned GMT. You'll save enough money to get it serviced and be good to go for 8-10 years. If fact, this is exactly what I did. It's hard to pay an extra $3000 for a watch.

[OneRolex]

Originally Posted by tyler1980

its important in that its a complete set to get the box, warranty card, watch, and other accessories like hang tags. Not so important IMO for any practical reason. The number of watches that actually need a service within the warranty period is very small.

Yes, that makes sense. My jeweler doesn't even have the watch yet, he said he will get it from an AD for me and it would be a complete box set with papers and all.

[Muzz]

Originally Posted by yxc145

But, Jxxasxxp.com, a large online watch retailer told me that their watches are brand new, but DO NOT come with Rolex warranty. It doesn't come with Rolex warranty card. If something goes wrong within 5 years, ROLEX will fix it, but will not be covered. Instead, they will give you a Jxxasxxp warranty card and do all the repair/coverage in house.
I understand an authentic Rolex watch "should" come with the Rolex warranty card and when AD sold the watch to the Grey dealers, the watches should come with it. BUT, that's the exact word that this online retailer told me.
It's like people export BMW, Mercedes or other car from US to Asia. The grey dealers will sell the cars at 20% lower than authorized dealer. But the cars are not covered under the normal manufacturer warranty.

The said dealer is trying to protect his AD source and nothing more. Clearly they have an arrangement with their ADs to protect their identity by not providing the card.

The card would display the source and they are not prepared to do that.

[watchwatcher]

Kind of makes you wonder what he's paying the AD for it, doesn't it?

[yxc145]

Originally Posted by Muzz

The said dealer is trying to protect his AD source and nothing more. Clearly they have an arrangement with their ADs to protect their identity by not providing the card.

The card would display the source and they are not prepared to do that.

That makes sense.
I was gonna buy a watch from them, but later decided that a ROLEX warranty is more important than the discount(also read some stories about their in-house service). I prefer to get a watch with the warranty card. Like you said. Some grey dealers do provide them.

[Stx]

The five year warranty, plus two years extended by the credit card company, is worth some money to me. I got an ad to discount my explorer 1 so the grey was no saving. Maybe there's another authorized dealer that will negotiate with you. Or, in vague terms, let your ad know you are considering a lower price.

[Muzz]

Originally Posted by yxc145

That makes sense.
I was gonna buy a watch from them, but later decided that a ROLEX warranty is more important than the discount(also read some stories about their in-house service). I prefer to get a watch with the warranty card. Like you said. Some grey dealers do provide them.

I think that is the way to go. Almost every grey dealer (that I know) provides them and I really think that buying a new watch should include everything Rolex intended it to have.

I too would not be a fan of an in house warranty on a new watch. I think independent centres are best utilized after the warranty period that should come with the watch; if you are comfortable with their service rather than being forced.

I have had great success with both but definitely agree with the new pieces being covered by RSC.

[pblondon]

The warranty card isn't actually needed to get warranty work done at an RSC.

I bought a full set DaytonaC BNIB with stickers etc from a grey dealer in May, two months later it stopped. I do have the warranty card but when I took it to the RSC they didn't ask for it, all they needed was the watch as they know the warranty details from the serial number. There fixed it under warranty with no issues.

[Muzz]

Originally Posted by pblondon

The warranty card isn't actually needed to get warranty work done at an RSC.

I bought a full set DaytonaC BNIB with stickers etc from a grey dealer in May, two months later it stopped. I do have the warranty card but when I took it to the RSC they didn't ask for it, all they needed was the watch as they know the warranty details from the serial number. There fixed it under warranty with no issues.

That is up to the discretion of the RSC. Not every centre is that helpful.

[yxc145]

Originally Posted by pblondon

The warranty card isn't actually needed to get warranty work done at an RSC.

I bought a full set DaytonaC BNIB with stickers etc from a grey dealer in May, two months later it stopped. I do have the warranty card but when I took it to the RSC they didn't ask for it, all they needed was the watch as they know the warranty details from the serial number. There fixed it under warranty with no issues.

I am curious. When a Grey dealer like Jxmaxhxp.com buy their watches from their sources (assume authorized dealers). Do the AD then activate the warranty cards? If they were activated, why wouldn't the Grey dealers take advantage of it and just sell the watches with the manufacturer warranty instead of providing their own in-house warranty.

[Jim Smyth]

Make sure the watch comes with a warranty card that is stamped with the dealers name and address. Also it should have the green hang tag rather than the red one indicating its a newer model and has the 5 year warranty.

[Jimbogigolo]

Originally Posted by pblondon

The warranty card isn't actually needed to get warranty work done at an RSC.



I bought a full set DaytonaC BNIB with stickers etc from a grey dealer in May, two months later it stopped. I do have the warranty card but when I took it to the RSC they didn't ask for it, all they needed was the watch as they know the warranty details from the serial number. There fixed it under warranty with no issues.

I'm just curious what happened as your Daytona is new? Like did Rolex give you an explanation as to why it stopped working?


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[pblondon]

Originally Posted by Jimbogigolo

I'm just curious what happened as your Daytona is new? Like did Rolex give you an explanation as to why it stopped working?


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They just said they replaced the main spring and did a "movement adjustment". No problems since and it is now keeping incredibly accurate time (not lost a second since I last set it on Sunday).

[SpeakWithMichael]

Originally Posted by yxc145

I am curious. When a Grey dealer like Jxmaxhxp.com buy their watches from their sources (assume authorized dealers). Do the AD then activate the warranty cards? If they were activated, why wouldn't the Grey dealers take advantage of it and just sell the watches with the manufacturer warranty instead of providing their own in-house warranty.

I don't know, I'm only assuming, but I would think that in order to get the prices down, Rolex AD's sell to Jomashop without a Rolex warranty of any kind. As I said, I could be wrong, but it would be the logical way to buy at a lower price. Win-win for Rolex.