Rolex boutique refuses sale because of social media posts

[Rolexatlast]

If ADs really wanted to avoid the flippers, they would not sell to high spending customers.

They would only sell to first time buyers.

No one needs to buy multiple Rolex watches year on year.

[~Haze~]

Originally Posted by Jack T

This doesn’t sound true. The AD had 10 months to vet the buyer, why wait until he shows up to pick up the watch? I don’t believe it.

I agree with this. This sounds like a butthurt wannabe-customer but the Rolex AD won’t even give them the time of day.

My local ad has many, many, many, many 1 star reviews and I think all of them say something like “I went there to see if they’d buy my Rolex and they offered me $5k. What a joke. And shows how much they know because I got $8k”. Meanwhile all I can think is win win. 1) they’re not in the business of buying watches. They sell watches. And 2) it sounds like it all worked out. The reviewer got what they wanted.

But yeah, people can write whatever they want and this user probably figured this story sounds better then saying “they discriminated against me by not selling me a watch”. In my opinion.


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[Harry-57]

Originally Posted by Cryten

It never ceases to amaze me how many people put their entire lives on the internet, everything, even photos of their lunch, and then moan about a lack of privacy and strangers finding out things about them.

LOL! So true.

If I'm recruiting/selecting on behalf of a client, social media are go to resources. It doesn't work for everyone or every situation, but it can work some.

Prospective employers and universities do it routinely, although as part of a more wide ranging evaluation. The situation under discussion in the OP however, doesn't sound realistic. I suspect there is more to it - if it happened at all.

[Patton250]

Originally Posted by vh2k

The great ADs thoroughly vet, qualify, and background check every customer before selling an allocated piece. Confirming a customer's address, profession, etc. and reviewing social media profiles is part of that process.

Stories like this (true or untrue) are good for Rolex and ADs -- as it sends a strong symbolic message we will blacklist and punish you if you flip our watches.

Originally Posted by vh2k

Exactly. If I have a prospect's name, mobile phone, and address... it's game over. I can get everything (that's publicly available) in a few clicks. If there are any inconsistencies at all, their purchase is declined and they go on the "do not sell" list.

Originally Posted by vh2k

Don't be naive. It took me one click to background check you and get your full name, address, and much more. I'm not trying to scare you... but Google is a very powerful aggregator of publicly available data and ADs know how to use the Internet to qualify prospects. If you post ANYTHING on the internet, it can be found.

You seem very bitter.

[Patton250]

Originally Posted by Rolexatlast

If ADs really wanted to avoid the flippers, they would not sell to high spending customers.

They would only sell to first time buyers.

No one needs to buy multiple Rolex watches year on year.

I always get a little concerned when one human being declares what another human being “needs”.

[russ86]

I had that same exact problem with Patek few months ago. I was buying a hot model and they requested my Linked In account. Not my insta or facebook but Linked In for some weird reason. Last time I was on that website was when I graduated from Columbia about million years ago to update my graduation status. I didnt get the watch, it went to someone I know with a good linked in profile.

[nuwildcat928]

Originally Posted by Oxfordian

Why were they looking through your social media, who gave the AD access to your social media?

How did the AD know that you were on social media?

How did the AD know who you were on social media?

My answer to all these questions is; you.

If my AD wants to take my phone and scroll through my social media accounts then they will be politely told to get lost. The AD has no right what so ever to verify, check, or browse your social media unless you give them permission.

I’m gonna go ahead and guess that you’re over 50 years old.

[Singslinger]

Originally Posted by Marcjvr

My AD says you can choose to skip the social media background check if you submit yourself for the full cavity search instead

[Deepseadoug]

Think I read on here not to long ago about a guy picking up a watch and as they were in the back he got a notification his sales lady was on his LinkedIn account so I don’t doubt it. Kinda crazy but I guess that reflects the times.

[DonRickles]

Don't worry.............

You're safe here, and can say and post anything you want, it's not social media....No one can find a word you post here!

[fskywalker]

Originally Posted by Marcjvr

My AD says you can choose to skip the social media background check if you submit yourself for the full cavity search instead

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[Oxfordian]

Originally Posted by nuwildcat928

I’m gonna go ahead and guess that you’re over 50 years old.

????????????

[Harry-57]

Originally Posted by nuwildcat928

I’m gonna go ahead and guess that you’re over 50 years old.

I'm going to go ahead and guess that few people under 50 realise that today's grey generation designed and built the web.

[mountainjogger]

How in the world would you even begin to guess whether the post is true and accurate?

[mountainjogger]

Originally Posted by Harry-57

I'm going to go ahead and guess that few people under 50 realise that today's grey generation designed and built the web.

Indeed.

[jimcameron]

My AD requires that you submit to a Polygraph in order to purchase a Rolex or Omega. If you're buying a Tudor, they give you a free coupon for Burger King.

[Luke@TRF]

UK ADs do check your background, sm posts etc and will not sell to you if they find anything dodgy.

[Marcjvr]

Originally Posted by Luke@TRF

UK ADs do check your background, sm posts etc and will not sell to you if they find anything dodgy.

Sounds like they are doing the Lord’s work. Just imagine if a Rolex fell into the wrong hands. Oh the horror!!!

[NickD1975]

Originally Posted by Harry-57

LOL! So true.

If I'm recruiting/selecting on behalf of a client, social media are go to resources. It doesn't work for everyone or every situation, but it can work some.

Prospective employers and universities do it routinely, although as part of a more wide ranging evaluation. The situation under discussion in the OP however, doesn't sound realistic. I suspect there is more to it - if it happened at all.

The US is the Wild West as far as privacy laws are concerned, but if you are trawling for information on prospective candidates you have to make it clear to them that you are doing so. The same would be true of the AD if it was in Europe.

I agree though that it probably didn’t happen anyway.

[johnwigan]

I salute the AD. Watch flipper having a tantrum because the AD wants to sell to a someone who actually wants the watch.

[Driver8]

God knows if this is true or not, but if it is it's absolutely pathetic.

Anyone would think AD's are selling a cure for cancer, instead of a totally and utterly non-essential, luxury item that absolutely no-one on planet Earth actually NEEDS.

[topgear]

Originally Posted by JRell

You can thank the flippers and grey markets for creating this. ADs are being extra cautious now.

I doubt so. Could there be a possibility that the AD is going to sell to a grey dealer?

It does not make sense to me that the AD is extra cautious.

All ADs that I know said "no stock/shipment". But the grey dealers have lots of SS Rolexes.

[NickD1975]

Originally Posted by topgear

I doubt so. Could there be a possibility that the AD is going to sell to a grey dealer?

It does not make sense to me that the AD is extra cautious.

All ADs that I know said "no stock/shipment". But the grey dealers have lots of SS Rolexes.

I’ll answer that with a question. If you were offered a watch by your AD and it wasn’t a model you were after, would you sell it on to a grey dealer for 3-4K more than you paid?

That’s why the greys have stock and the ADs don’t.

[szabo_martin]

Each store can decide their own criteria for selling hot watches and I'm sure it varies by each location. Social media gives a peak into a persons life, and if you think employers and potential clients aren't looking you are fooling yourself. If your smart you can use this to your advantage by creating just the right amount of social presence and ensuring it has a net positive tone. A guy got sued by Ferrari for posting gawdy pics of his shoe brand perched on his 812... Ferrari said the posts dont align with their image... its a crazy world out there and "harmless" posts can have ramifications.

[asiparks]

Originally Posted by szabo_martin

. A guy got sued by Ferrari for posting gawdy pics of his shoe brand perched on his 812... Ferrari said the posts dont align with their image... its a crazy world out there and "harmless" posts can have ramifications.

I saw that, Phillipp Plein was the guy. It's amazing that Ferrari won, ( it was an Italian court that ruled in favor for Ferrari )- Blacklisting is one thing, but it's odd and scary that a brand can sue you for using your own property in a manner they don't like.

[dannyp]

Originally Posted by russ86

I had that same exact problem with Patek few months ago. I was buying a hot model and they requested my Linked In account. Not my insta or facebook but Linked In for some weird reason. Last time I was on that website was when I graduated from Columbia about million years ago to update my graduation status. I didnt get the watch, it went to someone I know with a good linked in profile.

Guessing that has more to do with gauging future spend potential, or making a judgement on whether you’d likely be able to buy to keep vs sell. Not likely looking for evidence of past flipping.

[SCWrist]

I also came across that Google review, and it's an unusual situation. Surprisingly, a Rolex boutique would refuse a sale based on social media posts. Businesses typically aim to attract customers, not turn them away based on their online presence.

[njlam]

Originally Posted by vh2k

The great ADs thoroughly vet, qualify, and background check every customer before selling an allocated piece. Confirming a customer's address, profession, etc. and reviewing social media profiles is part of that process.

Stories like this (true or untrue) are good for Rolex and ADs -- as it sends a strong symbolic message we will blacklist and punish you if you flip our watches.

If this were true, how is it that greys have more inventory than ADs on any given day?


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