How are gray dealers able to sell watches with stickers if Rolex AD’s remove them?

[CoveWatch]

Originally Posted by johnnyjazz

If i were an AD today i would have a grey business as well. Rolex delivers the watches to my AD and i drive them across town to my grey and sell for maximum profit. You would be stupid not to take advantage.

Except Rolex will likely find out sooner or later and take away your Rolex license

[Speedbird-1]

The dealer keeps the warranty cards and removes the stickers, to prevent 'flippers' selling watches 'as new'. Meanwhile 'greys' are selling 'stickered' pieces at more than twice the MRSP.
Ha...ha... ha!

'Geneva' and their accomplices must think we enjoy having smoke blown up our bums!

[173rdabn]

Can't imagine leaving stickers on. Why wear a damned expensive watch with plastic on it. Makes no sense.

[101031-28]

Originally Posted by Lt Virgil Hilts

The dealer keeps the warranty cards and removes the stickers, to prevent 'flippers' selling watches 'as new'. Meanwhile 'greys' are selling 'stickered' pieces at more than twice the MRSP.
Ha...ha... ha!

'Geneva' and their accomplices must think we enjoy having smoke blown up our bums!

On point. Sad state of affairs.

[Old Geezer]

My guess is the greys buy enough that they simply arrive at a AD and collect a bunch of watches in their coffins or have them shipped to them. Easy peasy.

[kid4life]

Can the people who have bought watches with stickers from the greys like Davidsw - name a few of the ADs - asking for a friend.

[DoctorA]

It might have to do with how much your AD trusts you! I’ve had it both ways where my Hulk, DJ41 and subC came fully snickered, my daytona and SD43 has some stickers and my Pepsi, JC and skyD came completely bare!!

[Speedbird-1]

Its probably been already suggested, many times.

But, why wouldn't Rolex do what a lot of retailers
are doing, and sell direct to private buyers that want to purchase online?

Our 'high streets' are dying because of 'online sales' pressure.
So, why not just run a few flagship stores in capital/major cities etc.
Huge savings to be made, commercial property rates (taxes), staffing, lighting, heating, ever-changing display costs, insurance, etc, etc.

It's the future, surely?

[HL65]

Originally Posted by Lt Virgil Hilts

Its probably been already suggested, many times.

But, why wouldn't Rolex do what a lot of retailers
are doing, and sell direct to private buyers that want to purchase online?

Our 'high streets' are dying because of 'online sales' pressure.
So, why not just run a few flagship stores in capital/major cities etc.
Huge savings to be made, commercial property rates (taxes), staffing, lighting, heating, ever-changing display costs, insurance, etc, etc.

It's the future, surely?

That makes no sense. Rolex doesn't own 99% of the stores so there would be no savings on overhead. The majority of AD's are jewelry store owners that carry Rolex and perhaps a few others. They shoulder the property, staffing, lighting, heating, insurance etc.

I think Rolex knows what they are doing and they have done pretty good job thus far for a wee bit of time without the help of internet forums.

As to stickers or no stickers who cares about stickers. It used to be all about the watch.

[tbonesteak]

Originally Posted by HL65

I think Rolex knows what they are doing and they have done pretty good job thus far for a wee bit of time without the help of internet forums.

Over and over I read thoughts on how Rolex should do this or do that, I find it so entertaining.

Pretty sure they know what they're doing when they have people on their hands and knees begging to be sold a small piece of SS for $12,400.

[Chloe&Harley]

Originally Posted by 037

I always keep the stickers and throw the watch away.

Problem solved.

[BMW Guy]

Found a guy on eBay he sells stickers, no affiliation.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/For-Rolex-S...QAAOSwVwRa8IMJ

[sutats]

Originally Posted by 05carbondrz

because the game is rigged my friend.

+1

[Dompropat]

Originally Posted by BMW Guy

Found a guy on eBay he sells stickers, no affiliation.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/For-Rolex-S...QAAOSwVwRa8IMJ

[Livermoron]

I took a co worker to HQMilton to look at Rolexes ( we work in downtown San Francisco) . Then she ended up buying a DJ new in box from an AD. The next day at the office she shows it off to me and still had the stickers on, she hadn’t taken any off.

[Sweetswisssteel]

They buddy up with someone, sell them the Rolex, then that dude sells to a dealer and profits are split. ADs are not stupid enough to sell direct to dealers.
No way are majority of ADs selling to ordinary customers.

Sent from my HTC 2PXH3 using Tapatalk

[Speedbird-1]

Originally Posted by HL65

That makes no sense. Rolex doesn't own 99% of the stores so there would be no savings on overhead. The majority of AD's are jewelry store owners that carry Rolex and perhaps a few others. They shoulder the property, staffing, lighting, heating, insurance etc.

As to stickers or no stickers who cares about stickers. It used to be all about the watch.

So, Geneva gets the shop space, and 'train' the Rolex 'specialists' etc totally for free? Interesting.
Just another illustration, I suppose, of the huge 'margins' in the industry.
Jewellers might just be the last retail outlets on a dead highstreet then.

That's a fairly bleak outlook.
Picture; An empty, windswept 'Mall', the jewellers staff
cowering behind the armoured glass, eyeing the 'tooled-up', masked & helmeted, moped mounted youths, circling outside, like vultures over a carcase on the Serengetti.

I'll be doing my 'shopping' online, thank you.

Agree about the stickers though...what kind of madness is that!

[AK797]

Originally Posted by BMW Guy

Found a guy on eBay he sells stickers, no affiliation.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/For-Rolex-S...QAAOSwVwRa8IMJ

And he's sold 40 at $45!

[HL65]

Originally Posted by Lt Virgil Hilts

So, Geneva gets the shop space, and 'train' the Rolex 'specialists' etc totally for free? Interesting.
Just another illustration, I suppose, of the huge 'margins' in the industry.
Jewellers might just be the last retail outlets on a dead highstreet then.

That's a fairly bleak outlook.
Picture; An empty, windswept 'Mall', the jewellers staff
cowering behind the armoured glass, eyeing the 'tooled-up', masked & helmeted, moped mounted youths, circling outside, like vultures over a carcase on the Serengetti.

I'll be doing my 'shopping' online, thank you.

Agree about the stickers though...what kind of madness is that!

Sorry but there is nothing bleak about it. They are doing fine selling plenty of jewelry and lots of Datejusts which contrary to the folks here might think are their very best sellers. Sounds like you live in a very bleak and bad area so perhaps online shopping is what's best for you especially if you are afraid of thieves and hooligans.

For me I will continue to go to my AD and buy the watches I want and enjoy my watch life without the paralyzing fear which keeps you behind your keyboard.

By the way Malls are anything but empty here in the US they are thriving and packed. Retailers have been on a roll here and have anything but a bleak outlook and that is a fact.

[Number3]

Originally Posted by HL65

That makes no sense. Rolex doesn't own 99% of the stores so there would be no savings on overhead. The majority of AD's are jewelry store owners that carry Rolex and perhaps a few others. They shoulder the property, staffing, lighting, heating, insurance etc.

I think Rolex knows what they are doing and they have done pretty good job thus far for a wee bit of time without the help of internet forums.

As to stickers or no stickers who cares about stickers. It used to be all about the watch.

No savings on overheads but a potentially huge increase in profits if they sold direct a MSRP. Personally I would love to see them go the direct route.

[HL65]

Originally Posted by Number3

No savings on overheads but a potentially huge increase in profits if they sold direct a MSRP. Personally I would love to see them go the direct route.

Right now they take 62% of MSRP so 38% goes to AD less all their overhead(both fixed and variable expenses). Again my guess is Rolex knows what they are doing and are doing pretty well even without all of our advice.

If they did go to a direct route that would be great for me too as I will save lots of money by not buying any more Rolex watches.

Anyway who cares about watches when we have awesome stickers to focus on!

[Quailhunter]

Is it possible that an AD would also operate a Gray outlet? It would certainly boost net profits.

[Banks]

Made an AD purchase this week and wasn’t required to remove stickers.

[Speedbird-1]

Originally Posted by HL65

If they did go to a direct route that would be great for me too as I will save lots of money by not buying any more Rolex watches.

Why would you stop buying Rolexes, if Geneva started selling direct?

I've stopped buying Rolexes, simply because the 'shops' haven't got the watches that the huge Geneva marketing machine is promoting. I don't think I'm alone in this.

If I could order direct from HQ, I would.

[Speedbird-1]

Originally Posted by CoveWatch

Except Rolex will likely find out sooner or later and take away your Rolex license

Is there any evidence, that this has happened?

[ronricks]

Originally Posted by Frank McKay

Apparently it’s been confirmed that AD’s must remove stickers from all sold watches per Rolex. How does, for example DavidSW get his watches with stickers on them? Do Gray’s have under the table arrangements with AD’s? Something really stinks about it all.

My AD has had no such policy told to them by Rolex.

[torrente]

My AD does not remove the stickers and does not keep the warranty card, at least to me as a known customer.
However they always want to keep the green rectangular tag with the price.

[Quailhunter]

The last watch I bought from my AD wore the stickers until my salesperson removed them at my request. The warranty card was kept by the company for about 2 months. I think my salesperson jarred the warranty card loose.

[ocN55]

Someone explain to be why there are those in the gray market who have a fixation of buying watches with stickers? Especially when it is against the traditional policy for the watch to leave the AD with stickers on.

It seems stickers are often more important to some than a warranty card that is not more than a few days old...If that doesn't prove new, I don't know what does.

[ArcticMoose]

Originally Posted by ocN55

Especially when it is against the traditional policy for the watch to leave the AD with stickers on.

I have never heard of any such policy. All the watches I have purchased from ADs in Australia, USA, Sweden and Malaysia in the last 15 years have all had stickers, and in none of the cases did anyone even ask if the stickers were to be removed.