Buying Rolex Watches On-line: Deal or “Steal?”
Shopping on-line can save a consumer time and money. There’s no exhaustive racing from store to store, and if you know what you’re looking for, you can buy it immediately. You can save a substantial amount of money because you’re not subsidizing posh showrooms or expensive advertising. Online auction bidding or purchasing expensive items, such as fine <a href=”http://www.cocogiftstore.com”>LED WATCH</a> is fun and exciting, too. But CAVEAT EMPTOR (“Buyer Beware”)—Not all online merchants are reputable or stand behind the romises they make. As with any expensive purchase, it’s important for you to be an informed consumer.
I am an experienced “high end” on-line shopper. I carefully researched all the angles before I purchased my (reconditioned) Rolex watch on the Internet. While I knew there was an inherent risk in buying such an expensive item “sight unseen,” I felt confident that I’d asked all the right questions to protect myself should something go wrong…but I hadn’t. Here’s my story…
I’d sold my first book and desided to purchase a Rolex with my earnings.
I shopped around in stores and decided on a ladies stainless steel and 18K gold Rolex with diamonds on a champagne dial. The retail price for such a watch “new” was far beyond my budget, so I considered “reconditioned” watches. I saw many Rolex <a href=”http://www.cocogiftstore.com/Product_ListCategory.asp?Bid=1&Sid=11″>LED Remote Watch</a> available on auction sites (Ebay is undoubtedly the largest) but there was no way to really know the condition of the watch. Some auctions did not even have a photograph attached. Few sellers were able to answer questions such as: the age of the watch, the condition of the watch, if all the parts/band were original or replacement, how many previous owners did the watch have, when the watch had last been serviced, did the watch have its original hang tag, box and papers, and did any warranty come with the <a href=”http://www.cocogiftstore.com/Product_Detail.asp?id=64″>Multifunction led Touch Screen TV/DVD Remote Control Watch</a>? An auction purchase is strictly “as is.” That was too much of a risk, in my view. However, from the auctions I got a ballpark idea of what “my watch” should cost.
It’s extremely easy to find Rolex dealers on-line: just type in “Rolex watch” in any search engine! I visited many sites and spoke with several jewelers before I settled on “M” Jewelers in West Palm Beach, Florida, the first week in January, 2002.
I chose “M” Jewelers because their website was easy to navigate, with clear, expandable photos, and the prices of all the watches currently for sale were posted. There was an 800 number and email address.
I called Mr. “M”, the owner. I confidently told him that I was looking for a watch less than twenty years old that had not been reconditioned with after-market parts. I was assured that no aftermarket parts were ever used, except for the diamonds in the face. He added the firm had been in business for many years and that he would absolutely stand behind any watch I bought 100% with a two-year warranty. My watch would come with a Rolex box and hang tag and an appraisal for insurance. After slight negotiation, we settled on a price of $2,500 which was not a super-bargain but was right in the ballpark of what I’d figured to pay. However, a $50 handling charge I had not considered was tacked on. “Never buy in haste,” I told myself. I said I needed to think about it.
Two days later, I called back and made the deal. But this is where my trouble began: I was told to pay with a cashier’s check—no credit card. (Whenever you make a substantial purchase, consider making it on a credit card because if there are problems subsequent to the purchase, most companies will serve as an ombudsman with the merchant and withhold payment until the matter is resolved). We agreed to use PayPal, an online banking system. PayPal is fast, safe, and reliable, but because of the high amount of the purchase, the money had to come from my checking account, not my online credit card. I felt uncomfortable knowing that once the pay- ment was made, I had no recourse if the watch was never sent or if it was faulty, but I paid anyway.
The watch arrived several days later, but the band was clearly aftermarket and too short (the wrist measurements I had given had obviously not been followed—I was later told that “not using any aftermarket parts” did not apply to the band). The very first day, the band broke because a gold piece holding it to the watch was missing, and the watch had started to run very slowly by the end of the day. I called up immediately and got “Andrew” on the line who told me he’d get right back to me. When two days passed and there was no call, I took the watch to my local jeweler and had the band repaired for a cost of $150.
Finally, Andrew called and told me to return the watch and it would be reserviced. I packed and insured the watch ($60) and returned it. Two weeks later, the watch came back: the band had been lengthened but the watch had clearly not been serviced at all. I never did receive a detailed appraisal.
It took four weeks and countless phone calls to get my watch back this time and when it arrived it was completely dead. So the watch was returned once again and after several weeks came back again: dead.
This time, I told “Andrew” that I’d had enough: it was now five months and I wanted my money refunded since apparently they could not provide a functioning watch. I was told in no uncertain terms that my money would never be returned. I said I’d accept a completely different watch if it would work, and to be certain, I wanted one with a white face. Andrew swore he’d get a different watch to me using my “band” but weeks went by. No watch. No call. Another call to Andrew: he explained they were having trouble with their watchmaker and I’d get my watch in a few more weeks. At this I reminded Andrew I was to get a replacement watch—but espite the fact that their website is littered with similar watches to the one I purchased, Andrew insisted they didn’t have any others and the only available similar watch had a mother of pearl face that would be $400 more-non-negotiable.
Knowing I’d never get my money back and without a working watch, I agreed to pay the extra $400. The new watch was DOA (dead on arrival) and totally non-operational. I was furious. I demanded to speak with Mr. “M” who had initially sold me the watch. This was denied. Andrew insisted they were getting a new watchmaker and to send back this watch and he’d have it fixed. I said “No.” I insisted my money be refunded or they cover the cost to have the watch serviced by my local jeweler. I followed up with a detailed email and a registered letter. I then took the watch to a local jeweler who repairs Rolex watches.
The jeweler opened the watch and said, “Lady, this thing is absolute-ly filthy! It hasn’t been touched since at least 1979!” The estimate of $250 climbed another $100 when it was discovered that instead of replacing the worn date dial, someone had painted over the old numbers but hadn’t aligned them, so for the first half of the month, you could not see the dates once the dial was reinstalled!
I retained a local attorney to send a letter with an estimate requesting to be reimbursed for the repair costs. Neither I nor the at-torney received a response.
Of course, I could sue in small claims court, but as a practical matter, any judgment rendered in my state would be unenforceable in Florida. Hiring a Florida at-torney would cost more than the watch is worth: I am sure “M” Jewelers already knows this.
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