Seller will not take Rolex to authorized dealer before purchase

[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.

[Steiner689]

His original suggestion was we meet at AD but when I said great lets go he backed off as he felt that the AD would not like him taking watch for verification as seller is competitor. I would feel as a novice that the AD obligation would be to appraise, service and authenticate as part of their relationship with Rolex. Am I wrong about the role of an AD

[pol3259]

The mere fact you've posted this question on the forum clearly indicates your hesitation to deal with the seller. Trust your instincts.

[WAK4]

Originally Posted by Steiner689

The jeweler I have used for 20+ years is authorized dealer and will inspect the Rolex for $70 in which I even offered to pay. Still not willing to do this. I do have pics but am struggling loading them on forum as I am newbie here. Advise on best way to post pics.

Just to be clear, are you local to the seller? Is this an in person meeting, or are you asking him to send the watch to you, which you will then take to be validated before the sale in completed?

As for pictures, easiest way is to have them saved on your computer (or phone/tablet if using one), click on "manage attachments" at the bottom of the page, a second window will open up.... click "choose file"...select file...and then click "upload"...close that window and then hit "preview post" to make sure it worked, and then hit "Submit reply" as you normally would.

[japenney]

Originally Posted by Steiner689

The jeweler I have used for 20+ years is authorized dealer and will inspect the Rolex for $70 in which I even offered to pay. Still not willing to do this. I do have pics but am struggling loading them on forum as I am newbie here. Advise on best way to post pics.

click the "manage attachments button" and then "browse" to find a pic to upload and then "upload" when you have found the pic.

[Baco Noir]

Originally Posted by Steiner689

The jeweler I have used for 20+ years is authorized dealer and will inspect the Rolex for $70 in which I even offered to pay. Still not willing to do this. I do have pics but am struggling loading them on forum as I am newbie here. Advise on best way to post pics.

Have you looked in the "Buyers/Sellers Who's Who" section here on the forum to see if they have a lot of solid references?

https://www.rolexforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=28

There are many sellers here on TRF that have years worth of successful transactions and if this seller is one of them it may be okay to accept their return policy.

The seller takes precautions against scammers just like the buyers do. Most don't want to turn over a watch without funds as they have no recourse if the buyer and jewler are in cahoots.

[japenney]

Originally Posted by Steiner689

His original suggestion was we meet at AD but when I said great lets go he backed off as he felt that the AD would not like him taking watch for verification as seller is competitor. I would feel as a novice that the AD obligation would be to appraise, service and authenticate as part of their relationship with Rolex. Am I wrong about the role of an AD

NO, an AD does not have to authenticate every single rolex in existance that comes thru their doors..............lol. If the watch was purchased from them now that is a different story.

[sleddog]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

You can just post a link to the listing here

Originally Posted by sleddog

Post a link to the sale thread if it's being offered here on this forum?!

Great minds......

If it's not for sale here, and you were contacted via email or pm unsolicited, then name the seller.

[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.

[tudorluv]

Originally Posted by pol3259

The mere fact you've posted this question on the forum clearly indicates your hesitation to deal with the seller. Trust your instincts.

🙏

[japenney]

You seem to be a very novice buyer, no offense. Perhaps it would be better to purchase a piece new from an Authorized dealer. Have you even approached an AD and asked about pricing?

[Old Expat Beast]

Originally Posted by sleddog

Great minds......

If it's not for sale here, and you were contacted via email or pm unsolicited, then name the seller.

[KrismanX]

My guess is either fake or stolen. Hence no AD verification. Run, my friend.

[Sublovin]

In fairness, we don't know the whole story. How close is the seller to the AD? People do have lives and maybe the seller just wants you to do that in your own time...

[Steiner689]

http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/jwd/5480942922.html

[drifter01]

I'd run from this one

[Mr Kram]

Originally Posted by Steiner689

The jeweler I have used for 20+ years is authorized dealer and will inspect the Rolex for $70 in which I even offered to pay. Still not willing to do this. I do have pics but am struggling loading them on forum as I am newbie here. Advise on best way to post pics.

that is relatively cheap for an inspection, still it is a matter of convenience too. my time (personally) is worth way more than that. post a link like others have said.

[Old Expat Beast]

Originally Posted by Steiner689

http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/jwd/5480942922.html

Is the watch also for sale on trf? You said the seller is on here. Watch looks ok on my iphone, fwiw.

[Shichinin]

Don look back while running


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Boothroyd]

Are you buying it for yourself or your wife or ladyfriend? If it's for you personally, there are much better ways of proceeding than meeting someone you don't know off a Craigslist posting, especially someone who refuses to meet you at an AD. Please just walk away from this one, and stay safe!

[T. Ferguson]

If it's a well regarded seller here then it might simply be inconvenient for them to accommodate meeting you. Without opining on the seller or the watch, if you are not comfortable with the transaction or the seller, find another watch. I'm going to venture a guess that it is not that rare a piece that this will be your only opportunity to ever acquire what you're looking for.

[crazycarlitos]

Originally Posted by Steiner689

It is a seller on here

Originally Posted by Steiner689

http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/jwd/5480942922.html

which is it?

is he a seller here or CL ?

[TheRolexKingofLV]

I may be wrong but I think this is the watch in question, it's listed here on TRF.

http://www.rolexforums.com/showthrea...ighlight=69173

[Patton250]

Originally Posted by TheRolexKingofLV

I may be wrong but I think this is the watch in question, it's listed here on TRF.

http://www.rolexforums.com/showthrea...ighlight=69173

Quick find. Nice job.

[Boothroyd]

Well, that alleviates my comments about buying off of Craigslist.

[Chewbacca]

Originally Posted by 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.

did anyone say run?

seriously, ask to meet at a police station then. get the ID and go from there if you really want it. that'll explain more.

[Mr Kram]

i don't know his rep, but he has 4100 posts, so i'm guessing he's legit. also, that watch is on the lower end of the spectrum price wise, so there's probably on a small margin he will make on it.

[Steiner689]

He told me he has references on here in which I am trying to find. Also trying to find if this watch is for sale on this forum as well. I only have access to puck from the original CL listing. I may have more luck when I get to desk top to oust additional pucks he had recently sent Thank you

[Baco Noir]

Originally Posted by TheRolexKingofLV

I may be wrong but I think this is the watch in question, it's listed here on TRF.

http://www.rolexforums.com/showthrea...ighlight=69173

If it's alexthegreat123, here's a reference check for the buyer...

http://www.rolexforums.com/search.php?searchid=14543667

That said, I'd verify that it's him that you have been talking to via Craigslist via PM here too. Often, CL scammers will grab photos and descriptions from sites like this and post them on CL as part of the hustle.

Also note - his price here is $500 cheaper!

[Steiner689]

That's the same. Post says 1991 but sales receipt says 1993.