Is the Way Rolex AD’s Sell Exhibition Pieces Fair?

[KatGirl]

Originally Posted by Vipes

I was thinking the customer could’ve returned with watch within a couple of days. The transaction occurred a year ago thus only 4 years left on warranty.

Possible, but doubtful. In this climate, customer could have sold it to a grey dealer for a nice profit. I was under the impression that only a fully stickered, unworn, unsized watch could be returned, after purchase. The next time I visit my AD, I will ask my SA about this deal.

Kat


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[worldofoyster]

hard to believe. but oh well, anything can happen in today's world

[sinbad]

Warranty cards are swiped at the time of sale, which should start the clock for a full warranty.

If the card was swiped before the sale (let's sale one year earlier), then I can understand if a year of warranty is gone. However, that would be a used pre-owned/used watch purchase and should not be considered new. Getting charged full price on a new price might still be a good deal, if the secondary market prices are higher for that watch.

[AJG]

This seems very weird and I wouldn’t accept these conditions.

Warranty would not cover damage caused by dropping a watch.

[jdoc7]

I purchased an exhibition model Sub Date from my AD and the warranty card was started on the day of purchase. Not sure what your AD pulled on your friend.

[KatGirl]

Originally Posted by AJG

This seems very weird and I wouldn’t accept these conditions.

Warranty would not cover damage caused by dropping a watch.

I was just guessing about why the warranty was activated, in the first place, when it became an exhibition piece.

Kat


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[Rolex1982]

Maybe it was sold previously to another customer who then returned the watch for not wearing it and the AD thought to use it and resell it as an exhibition model? Otherwise it sounds very strange to me that the warranty started before the first sale.

[Calatrava r]

I am not sure what went on here. The exhibition watches are new. He should have gotten the warranty card swiped when he bought the watch as its first retail owner, if the watch was a true exhibition piece.

[watchwatcher]

I'm good with the whole exhibition purchase as long as the watch doesn't show visible wear and the warranty starts the day I purchase it. Anything else...eh, as the song goes, that don't impress me much.

P.S. However...if it was one of my ultimate grails that I have lusted over for years, well then...maybe.

[SilverKast]

I didn't realize that AD's were selling the exhibition pieces, every time I ask they always tell me no they cycle them between stores or have to return them. Guess I'm not important enough for them to consider :P

Although now I'm going to mention that other AD's do indeed sell the pieces at some point, can't hurt my cause.

[sinbad]

An AD had mentioned to me that once they receive the warranty cards and paperwork for their exhibition pieces, they go back to Rolex to become certified pre-owned. Upon return, they are sold at CPO prices that are similar to secondary market prices. I am sure this will evolve as the CPO program and for AD needing to stock a large quantity for display is a relatively new thing.

[Ferrari308]

I know that my wife's new DJ31 was an exhibition piece and we bought it at new prices. I don't know how long it was on exhibition, but I know it was at least a few months from the time I first saw it until we purchased it.

Just my .02


PDG

[KatGirl]

Originally Posted by sinbad

An AD had mentioned to me that once they receive the warranty cards and paperwork for their exhibition pieces, they go back to Rolex to become certified pre-owned. Upon return, they are sold at CPO prices that are similar to secondary market prices. I am sure this will evolve as the CPO program and for AD needing to stock a large quantity for display is a relatively new thing.

I was under the impression that CPO pieces had to be at least 3 years old. This watch was only 1 year old.

Kat


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[KatGirl]

Originally Posted by Ferrari308

I know that my wife's new DJ31 was an exhibition piece and we bought it at new prices. I don't know how long it was on exhibition, but I know it was at least a few months from the time I first saw it until we purchased it.

Just my .02


PDG

I got the full story on why my friend’s Exhibition Datejust purchase was considered preowned, and he lost a year of warranty. While visiting the AD the other day, I got the full scoop. It turns out, that his particular watch was damaged, in a smash and grab theft, at the store, in broad daylight, awhile ago. The AD had to send it back to RSC to be repaired, and made to look new again. In order to do that, they had to activate the warranty, acting as the original owners, which is their right, since The ADs pay for the watches, in full, upon delivery. They did charge him full MSRP, which was better than overcharging, for a CPO piece.

Kat


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[puma1552]

Originally Posted by KatGirl

I got the full story on why my friend’s Exhibition Datejust purchase was considered preowned, and he lost a year of warranty. While visiting the AD the other day, I got the full scoop. It turns out, that his particular watch was damaged, in a smash and grab theft, at the store, in broad daylight, awhile ago. The AD had to send it back to RSC to be repaired, and made to look new again. In order to do that, they had to activate the warranty, acting as the original owners, which is their right, since The ADs pay for the watches, in full, upon delivery. They did charge him full MSRP, which was better than overcharging, for a CPO piece.

Kat


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Full MSRP and less than full warranty for a stolen, damaged, heavily repaired exhibition watch? Oof.

[Oystersteel92]

We so quickly forget that other than Daytonas, pretty much EVERY Rolex was an exhibition piece and it was not uncommon to see flashy diamond studded DDs hang around for YEARS in a dealer's case pre mania. Those watches were still sold as new with full warranty, and were also subject to any updated pricing coming from Rolex.

In my mind, there is NO good reason for a current exhibition piece to be sold as used and with a prorated warranty.

[KatGirl]

Originally Posted by puma1552

Full MSRP and less than full warranty for a stolen, damaged, heavily repaired exhibition watch? Oof.

Not stolen! Damaged during the robbery. The thieves did not take that one with them.

Kat


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[DJ2020]

Originally Posted by Vipes

I think the watch was sold to a customer. Customer returned the watch and since it looks brand new, the AD put it back in the exhibition case. Warranty was activated a year ago when customer bought it.

This, I agree. It's the only thing that makes sense.

[DJ2020]

Originally Posted by KatGirl

I got the full story on why my friend’s Exhibition Datejust purchase was considered preowned, and he lost a year of warranty. While visiting the AD the other day, I got the full scoop. It turns out, that his particular watch was damaged, in a smash and grab theft, at the store, in broad daylight, awhile ago. The AD had to send it back to RSC to be repaired, and made to look new again. In order to do that, they had to activate the warranty, acting as the original owners, which is their right, since The ADs pay for the watches, in full, upon delivery. They did charge him full MSRP, which was better than overcharging, for a CPO piece.

Kat


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Wow, had I known that, I would of never purchased that particular watch. Having not been told at time of purchase would make me want to return the item and never grace their doors again for anything in the future. Not a full disclosure. 4 year warranty should of been a red flag.

[Guppydriver]

Originally Posted by KatGirl

I got the full story on why my friend’s Exhibition Datejust purchase was considered preowned, and he lost a year of warranty. While visiting the AD the other day, I got the full scoop. It turns out, that his particular watch was damaged, in a smash and grab theft, at the store, in broad daylight, awhile ago. The AD had to send it back to RSC to be repaired, and made to look new again. In order to do that, they had to activate the warranty, acting as the original owners, which is their right, since The ADs pay for the watches, in full, upon delivery. They did charge him full MSRP, which was better than overcharging, for a CPO piece.

Kat


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Wait..

They didn't disclose this to him? I would be triple pissed. I assume they didn't because I imagine your friend would have told you this originally when explaining his exhibition purchase. You only found out the story later.

If he knew the full scoop and went ahead anyway, great. If he was told it was a normal exhibition watch, I'd go in pretty heated.

[jb335]

Originally Posted by Vipes

I think the watch was sold to a customer. Customer returned the watch and since it looks brand new, the AD put it back in the exhibition case. Warranty was activated a year ago when customer bought it.

Maybe but I doubt it. What AD allows pople to return a Rolex after leaving the store with it? Never heard of that. At least not in modern times.

However, the "smash and grab" explanation sounds even less plausible. Sounds like a story a sales rep would make up. Maybe though.

[KatGirl]

I had already known all about the robbery, so that was true. Apparently, the watch was badly scratched, by the broken glass, from the display case. So, not a story. As long as RSC did a good job, and I tried the watch on, so know it was pristine, I don’t think the SA, (not my particular SA, BTW) had any obligation to tell my friend the story about the robbery. It was my friend’s decision to buy that particular watch. He had the opportunity to examine it, before purchase, and before accepting the deal. He could have waited for a brand new example to become available. Having said all of that, I’ve decided that I’m not telling him any of this. It is also possible that he already knows, and did not mention it to me, but I kind of doubt it.


Kat


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[ratty]

I find it very strange that the SA would tell you these details about someone else’s purchase!

Now we all know about it as well. It’s possible that the person who bought the watch is the person who knows least about it!

[AD337]

Didn’t get to read through the whole thread but wanted to provide some insight from a very close friend of mine’s purchase from my/our local AD.. So I live in a smaller city, we have only one AD. Maybe 300,000 population or so by now.. And I say all that to say, that a daydate40 is a very uncommon watch that comes in.. maybe 1 white 1 rose 1 yellow per year something like that.. anyway, we had a yellow gold with silver Roman’s dial sitting as an exhibition watch for quite literally almost an entire year… finally, IT got replaced by a daydate36mm in the exhibition case.. Come to find out the very same day that happened, was the day my buddy got the call for the daydate40! It was the watch that sat in their case for all that time and it was dated on the card THE DAY HE TOOK DELIVERY—- and im very positive its the watch because way back when, when my AD first got these pieces in exhibition I took note of the serial numbers lol !

Anyway, the short point is this - OP, that situation doesn’t seem right I’ve never heard of it being done that way prior to your thread !

[BraveBold]

Assuming all components returned to spec and no impact on subsequent sales (if any) of the watch, perhaps in this case ignorance is bliss.

Consider accidents that happen to watches before they leave the factory… something is dropped, etc. Components will be replaced, watch examined / tested, etc. Decisions made - none of which reached the end-customer.

[KatGirl]

Originally Posted by AD337

Didn’t get to read through the whole thread but wanted to provide some insight from a very close friend of mine’s purchase from my/our local AD.. So I live in a smaller city, we have only one AD. Maybe 300,000 population or so by now.. And I say all that to say, that a daydate40 is a very uncommon watch that comes in.. maybe 1 white 1 rose 1 yellow per year something like that.. anyway, we had a yellow gold with silver Roman’s dial sitting as an exhibition watch for quite literally almost an entire year… finally, IT got replaced by a daydate36mm in the exhibition case.. Come to find out the very same day that happened, was the day my buddy got the call for the daydate40! It was the watch that sat in their case for all that time and it was dated on the card THE DAY HE TOOK DELIVERY—- and im very positive its the watch because way back when, when my AD first got these pieces in exhibition I took note of the serial numbers lol !

Anyway, the short point is this - OP, that situation doesn’t seem right I’ve never heard of it being done that way prior to your thread !

That is precisely why I started the thread! All I knew , at the start, was that my friend paid full MSRP for an exhibition piece, that was sold to him as a used watch, with a warranty card dated a year prior to the purchase. I found it odd. It did not seem fair to me. So when I had the opportunity to ask about it, on my next visit to that same AD, I did. I, too, am surprised at the details that my SA shared.

Kat


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[Kisara]

My AD simply said, "The exhibition pieces are NOT for sale." I always wondered what they did with them. Is their a wait list for these too that I don't know about?

[rg9390]

Not sure how AD runs, but the AD might have purchased it themselves to meet a certain quota of sales to get more stock into their inventory, or being offered by Rolex Daytonas, GMTs etc.

As for AD in Hong Kong, all the exhibition watches are only for 'viewing' via the window / glass case and not to be handled by customers. So I have no problem buying any exhibition watched if I was offered any. Besides, going back to the old days, all watches were on display, and you still pay full price (or discount depending on how far back you go) and we never complained that it was a display watch. My first 4 Rolex was purchased from watches on displayed, and I was glad that I made the purchase and did not mind about it being displayed.