I returned a watch, did I make a mistake?

[Duke Nukem]

Originally Posted by DougUSMC

Thanks for all of the comments, I was completely unaware of the potential misstep and I now have a better understanding.

To try to answer a few questions and concerns:
- This is all past tense, the watch was returned last Friday.
- I'm 99.9% certain it was new. I didn't check or ask, but I don't recall a CPO box or white tags, and I would've noticed if they were.
- I didn't check the card to see if it had been dated, I wish I had. The stickers had been removed.
- I understand the concerns with returning a gift, and would agree. It's my wife that made my change my mind over the years. She'd be annoyed with me if I *didn't* return it for something I preferred, especially given the cost of the item. She'll tell you that she didn't even select it, she asked the SA to help pick something. The SA also knows how we gift. I was in a couple of days before my wife (unbeknownst to either of us) buying some things for her. The SA helped me select some designer bags and some jewelry, knowing the odds were 50/50 at best that my wife wouldn't exchange them. I understand that jewelry and bags are different than Rolex, I only mention this to say that's how my wife prefers that we gift.
- Again, my wife had no idea which to get me, she had the SA choose. The SA told her (and she told me) that I had until the 15th to return it. Everything everyone is saying about the challenges that arise with a returned watch make perfect sense to me, but the only thing in my head was that I only had a few days left to return. Not if I *could* return.
- I was already planning to bring my SA something back from this trip, but now I'm going to have to make it a little more special. Not only as a huge thank you, but also with the hope that she'll help me understand the impact of the return.

Thanks for chiming back in. Keep us posted and hope things work out in your favor moving forward with the other references.

[OTX]

If I was the SA, I would be very reluctant to sell you a watch knowing you might return it. It means more headaches for him. Although they were nice to take it back, I would think that would put you at the bottom of the list. SAs just want to sell and move on. Hope it doesn’t end up like that.

[Daytona king]

Originally Posted by DougUSMC

Thanks for all of the comments, I was completely unaware of the potential misstep and I now have a better understanding.

To try to answer a few questions and concerns:
- This is all past tense, the watch was returned last Friday.
- I'm 99.9% certain it was new. I didn't check or ask, but I don't recall a CPO box or white tags, and I would've noticed if they were.
- I didn't check the card to see if it had been dated, I wish I had. The stickers had been removed.
- I understand the concerns with returning a gift, and would agree. It's my wife that made my change my mind over the years. She'd be annoyed with me if I *didn't* return it for something I preferred, especially given the cost of the item. She'll tell you that she didn't even select it, she asked the SA to help pick something. The SA also knows how we gift. I was in a couple of days before my wife (unbeknownst to either of us) buying some things for her. The SA helped me select some designer bags and some jewelry, knowing the odds were 50/50 at best that my wife wouldn't exchange them. I understand that jewelry and bags are different than Rolex, I only mention this to say that's how my wife prefers that we gift.
- Again, my wife had no idea which to get me, she had the SA choose. The SA told her (and she told me) that I had until the 15th to return it. Everything everyone is saying about the challenges that arise with a returned watch make perfect sense to me, but the only thing in my head was that I only had a few days left to return. Not if I *could* return.
- I was already planning to bring my SA something back from this trip, but now I'm going to have to make it a little more special. Not only as a huge thank you, but also with the hope that she'll help me understand the impact of the return.

I would go back and accept the watch. No way the SA doesn’t get in trouble here. I think your chances of getting anything from this AD is close to zero. If you loved everything but the dial you should have reached out to a Trusted seller to see if they can source you the dial you wanted. You could have always sold the white dial and had a minimal amount out of pocket.


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[Mystro]

.

[codecow]

I feel you should keep watches you don’t like and when you get angry tell them how you feel about them!

[Trailboss516]

Any watch my wife spent time & effort picking out for me would remain, regardless of the brand or style, because of the gesture from her and the meaning it would have for me.

[Akacoke]

Is this an official Rolex authorized dealer? Not just some store that sells rolexes ? I haven't heard any ADs with jewelry store which also selling hand bags. Forgive us for being curious. It's just I haven't heard you can return a rolex in ages.

[Duke Nukem]

Originally Posted by Mystro

This isn't as bad as the refusal of a black SS Daytona but it’s up there.
I do understand the titanium YM is very polarizing and very flat tool looking. It isn’t for everyone.

I think you meant this for the other thread

[Mystro]

Originally Posted by Duke Nukem

I think you meant this for the other thread

Yea, started post on one device as it was dying and finished it on another.
Jumped the thread.

[jb335]

Originally Posted by Akacoke

Is this an official Rolex authorized dealer? Not just some store that sells rolexes ? I haven't heard any ADs with jewelry store which also selling hand bags. Forgive us for being curious. It's just I haven't heard you can return a rolex in ages.

Good point. Ive never seen a Rolex AD also sell hand bags.

I think this is a reseller, which would make a lot of sense.

[KatGirl]

The knowledge that they also sell designer handbags has me wondering now if this was an AD, or a non authorized high end boutique store of some sort.

Kat


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[Rolexpandoro]

You did the right thing, but most importantly, the AD did the right thing. I bought one ( another brand) and the SA made a fuss about it, I think they even scratch my watch on purpose so they could claim that it was not in new condition to deny the return.

Funny thing is I can afford keeping a watch I do not like, but a multi million (billion) AD cannot afford to take in a return.

Well my spend history became just that with this AD… history.

Some ADs even write that you cannot sell a watch within a year of purchase.

Great for you have such a great AD.


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[GGGMT]

Not a pbm


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[Lunaen]

Originally Posted by jb335

Good point. Ive never seen a Rolex AD also sell hand bags.

I think this is a reseller, which would make a lot of sense.

There's a Rolex AD in the Washington DC area that I visited once which had a huge handbag selection in the back wall next to the Omega display.

[Joearch]

I had a similar situation 10 years ago. My wife bought me a luxury watch as a gift that I never really bonded with. After a few days, she was fine with us returning it. We took a little bit of a hit on the return. I used that money to buy my BLNR from David SW, that I still have today.My wife was very happy with the final outcome. So am I, 10 years later.
You never get used to something that’s not right for you

[ArtNouveau]

I am still shocked to hear that an AD would take a watch back.

[ChronoZach]

Op, I don’t know on this one, my first concern would be my wife’s feeling’s even with the expensive gift agreement? Her feeling’s mean more than any material possession.

As for the return with AD, yes and no ! If they sized it and activated the warranty then it would be a No, I would not want them to take a hit, even the ADs don’t like to loose $$$.
I do not know how much of a loss but for $500-1,000 it’s not worth any bad blood with the AD. Speak with the SA and manager if need be, make it easy for them too.

Now if nothing has been done and there is something you want available to exchange with great. I agree to buy what you like and will wear always.

Thank you for your service, Semper fi

Cheers,

[DougUSMC]

Chiming back in with more updates:

- Definitely an AD. Full boutique layout, service center, and everything. I bought my wife's DJ and my SD there. My SD was in the plastic coffin case, fully stickered before the SA sized it and moved it over to the green box. The DJ was fully stickered before she delivered it to me. They're a full dealer for a number of brands and even have a CPO area.
- IDK if it matters, but the watch was never sized. Again, I didn't check to see if the card was filled out
- I'm thinking I may call my SA today to see what the situation is. If I put them in an awkward position I may go back and re-buy it in an attempt to prevent them being stuck and repair any damage to the relationship.
- I can't stress this enough: I'm not an evil ungrateful person that doesn't value a gift from my wife.

It's HER preference that we both return things that aren't exactly what we prefer. I'm the sentimental one that will sometimes keep things. She can be very sentimental, but not about material things at all. I first found the AD when I brought in the Tag she bought me that needed to be repaired (again). It was the second time the stem had stripped, and the second time I spent ~ $800 fixing that watch. She was MAD that I did it and said I was being silly.

Wife: I can't believe you spent $800 fixing that thing, again! I told you not to bother the first time. It's > 10 years old, it's just going to keep breaking.
Me: It's the one you got me as a wedding present!
Wife: SO!?!? Wear the Omega I got you as an anniversary present!
Me: I wear that too.
Wife: You better not repair that again if it breaks in a couple of years
Me: Of course I will, what else would I do with it??
Wife: Throw it out!

[rolph]

I think you handled the situation thoughtfully and respectfully.

[Duke Nukem]

Originally Posted by DougUSMC

Chiming back in with more updates:

- Definitely an AD. Full boutique layout, service center, and everything. I bought my wife's DJ and my SD there. My SD was in the plastic coffin case, fully stickered before the SA sized it and moved it over to the green box. The DJ was fully stickered before she delivered it to me. They're a full dealer for a number of brands and even have a CPO area.
- IDK if it matters, but the watch was never sized. Again, I didn't check to see if the card was filled out
- I'm thinking I may call my SA today to see what the situation is. If I put them in an awkward position I may go back and re-buy it in an attempt to prevent them being stuck and repair any damage to the relationship.
- I can't stress this enough: I'm not an evil ungrateful person that doesn't value a gift from my wife.

It's HER preference that we both return things that aren't exactly what we prefer. I'm the sentimental one that will sometimes keep things. She can be very sentimental, but not about material things at all. I first found the AD when I brought in the Tag she bought me that needed to be repaired (again). It was the second time the stem had stripped, and the second time I spent ~ $800 fixing that watch. She was MAD that I did it and said I was being silly.

Wife: I can't believe you spent $800 fixing that thing, again! I told you not to bother the first time. It's > 10 years old, it's just going to keep breaking.
Me: It's the one you got me as a wedding present!
Wife: SO!?!? Wear the Omega I got you as an anniversary present!
Me: I wear that too.
Wife: You better not repair that again if it breaks in a couple of years
Me: Of course I will, what else would I do with it??
Wife: Throw it out!

That's a good idea. I'm sure the warranty was activated prior to it leaving the store.

I wouldn't stress about the other comments. No one here knows your wife better than you.

[JRell]

I did the same thing with a white dial DJ. If it doesn’t sit with you, no reason to keep it especially when it is a 10k watch. Great move for you.

[S’portEye]

I probably would have kept it and learned to love it. I did this exact thing when my wife gifted me a DJ 2 about 12 years ago. I was lusting for a milgauss at the time. Super glad I kept it too, as the sentiment just gets greater with time. Can’t say you did anything wrong though.

[metallic]

Agree with returning it. Don’t keep something you don’t really like.

Buying a watch for a WIS is like buying golf clubs as a gift for Tiger Woods. Unless you know exactly what they want, don’t buy.

[worldofoyster]

did the SA actually sell her the watch or was nice enough to allow her to take home the watch without activate the warranty?

[train-time]

Originally Posted by ArtNouveau

I am still shocked to hear that an AD would take a watch back.

Have to agree with you on this one especially with this AD. There must have been some sort of agreement or understanding up front that as a gift purchase it could be returned within 15 days as that is not standard operating procedure at the OP's AD. Believe me I know....

Shortly before the Pandemic I purchased a watch from them and I didn't bond with it so I decided to see if it could be returned. It was still in the box with all the factory stickers on it, hadn't been sized yet or worn. It would have been easy to get the card reissued for a nominal fee to Rolex which I pointed out and even offered to pay the fee. They would not take it back!! The watch was like three days old and in perfect condition. At that time, I was a 15-year customer with dozens of watch purchases, other jewelry purchases, and numerous referrals and had never returned anything before. I was considered "friends & family" among their group of customers and invited to all their special events. My SA during my entire relationship is the store manager.

Oh, it had a white dial too!

[Alizmi]

First off, I own a DJ 41 white roman dial (biased of course) and to me it’s the cleanest and quietest of the DJ’s. I love mine and asked for that combination. Second, if they bald you a new watch as others have said paperwork has to filled out as it’s been sold (warranty cards etc). I can’t see the AD now being able to sell this as new again once it’s been sold and possession taken.


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[brandrea]

I’d be more worried about being put in the doghouse

This is why whenever a thread comes up about someone wanting to buy their significant other a watch as a surprise, I say it’s better to take them to the AD and let them choose

[Akacoke]

Now we got a bit more info to work with. I don't you did anything wrong here nor does AD really care. Because they have a CPO program varies things they sell. Even though this piece is considered used now they would have no problem selling it in their store, probably not a CPO unit. From my understanding CPO can only be after certain amount of years. But maybe they can bend the rule due to it's a return. Either way they are not stuck with it or taking a lost if anything they might be able to mark it up more since it's a pre-owned.

[JRell]

Originally Posted by Alizmi

First off, I own a DJ 41 white roman dial (biased of course) and to me it’s the cleanest and quietest of the DJ’s. I love mine and asked for that combination. Second, if they bald you a new watch as others have said paperwork has to filled out as it’s been sold (warranty cards etc). I can’t see the AD now being able to sell this as new again once it’s been sold and possession taken.


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Mine was sticks, I like the Romans better.

[samson66]

Originally Posted by thesharkfactor

It was a gift, a lovely gift too from your wife. I'd keep it.

This exactly. And it was a beauty on top of it. And in five years you can even have Rolex swap out the dial if you haven't grown to love the white dial. I think she picked out a really nice watch to be honest.