AD went to size my watch, and removed all stickers against my wishes. Advice?

[bswanson]

I took my brand new BLNR with stickers (purchased 2/20) to a well known AD in SoCal to size it for my wrist.

My plan was to size it and put it back into the safe to hold on to. Possibly wearing during special events, or maybe around the house when feeling saucy, but definitely keeping stickers on and definitely keeping the watch in perfect condition.

I gave the watch to the person at the counter, who handed it off to the tech on duty. While she did this, I mentioned to both of them that I'd like the stickers kept on the watch, but understood if one had to be removed to get links out. We all had a good laugh about wearing a watch with stickers, and the tech took it into the back.

About 5 minutes of browsing later, I got the watch back, with 2 links taken out and absolutely zero stickers left on the watch. Once I noticed, I immediately turned white.

I'm going to stop the story right here and ask, if you were in my position, what would you have done here? Would you have blown up? Would you have chalked it up to a misunderstanding and say oh well, they must come off sometime?

I am pretty frustrated right now, as I had planned on keeping this watch in as perfect condition as possible and thought it was extremely clear what my intentions were before giving the watch up to be sized.

Right now, I'd like to hear how others would have handled this situation, and what your reaction would have been had you been in my shoes.

[ronricks]

Stickers aren’t meant to be on a watch if you are going to wear it.

[bswanson]

Originally Posted by ronricks

Stickers aren’t meant to be on a watch if you are going to wear it.

Fine. Would love the option to remove them myself at the time of my choosing if spending $9,000 on a watch.

You disagree?

[Jim Smyth]

Its supposed to be standard practice removing stickers at the AD. Not all comply it seems. The watch is meant to be enjoyed and worn. Next time invest in a nice hollow ground screwdriver and have the ability to do it yourself. Many AD's butcher the screw heads because they dont know what there doing. You should feel lucky if they didnt round yours off. I would never trust them to do that.

[ronricks]

Originally Posted by bswanson

Fine. Would love the option to remove them myself if spending $9,000 on a watch.

You disagree?

You absolutely have a right to be upset. Not sure what the recourse could be though.

[Duende01]

Don’t really get the euphoria of having or not having plastic stickers on the watch. How much can they really be worth? A couple of cents?

[RJRJRJ]

Sucks but not the end of the world. The stickers are a pain to take off anyway. This should give you more incentive to wear it.

[DoctorA]

They do that now
For my JC, I told them it would be a deal breaker and they didn’t care and said “fine you won’t get the watch then”!! I backed down and had them remove stickers!!

It’s annoying like anything but they try to ensure you’re not flipping!!

[Reddy_Kilowatt]

Meh.

[gregmoeck]

Nothing you can do, just get a small screw driver like the ones that come in those tubes, eye glass repair kit

A lot of bad words would have come out of my mouth and everyone in the AD would have heard my rant.And I would have not let up until right before the cops were called and then I would have left. Report to Rolex nyc and also report to the owner of the AD

[doboy007]

Sized watch shouldn’t be counted as BNIB :) It sucks but just enjoy the watch.

[doboy007]

Originally Posted by DoctorA

They do that now
For my JC, I told them it would be a deal breaker and they didn’t care and said “fine you won’t get the watch then”!! I backed down and had them remove stickers!!

It’s annoying like anything but they try to ensure you’re not flipping!!

Think OP got the watch somewhere else so not up to this AD to remove them.

[HL65]

Originally Posted by gregmoeck

Nothing you can do, just get a small screw driver like the ones that come in those tubes, eye glass repair kit

A lot of bad words would have come out of my mouth and everyone in the AD would have heard my rant.And I would have not let up until right before the cops were called and then I would have left. Report to Rolex nyc and also report to the owner of the AD

Why? Rolex USA policy is to remove the stickers before the owner leaves with it. It’s too bad but it is what it is and the AD who originally sold didn’t follow new protocol.

[Starhutch]

They were already off when I showed up for my pickup...wouldn’t have saved them anyway

[Rrpdc]

They should have removed stickers when you first purchased it. Just wear it already and enjoy it. Like having plastics covers on your furniture.

[HogwldFLTR]

Originally Posted by gregmoeck

Nothing you can do, just get a small screw driver like the ones that come in those tubes, eye glass repair kit

A lot of bad words would have come out of my mouth and everyone in the AD would have heard my rant.And I would have not let up until right before the cops were called and then I would have left. Report to Rolex nyc and also report to the owner of the AD

Sure, that's a likely way to strip the screw. Get the correct hollow ground driver for the job or bring it to a watchmaker/jeweler. As far as stickers are concerned, just the though of leaving them on makes my wrist itch!!!

[Rrpdc]

Originally Posted by hl65

why? Rolex usa policy is to remove the stickers before the owner leaves with it. It’s too bad but it is what it is and the ad who originally sold didn’t follow new protocol.

+1

[MinMay]

Removing the link does not qualify a BNIB just my opinion.

[bswanson]

As a poster said above, my watch for whatever reason came with stickers in tact from another AD.

Not this specific AD's responsibility to remove stickers.

For more context, when asked, the tech looked completely embarrassed and said it was a "habit" and accidental. Clearly a mistake had been made, nothing having to do with policy.

[henrylee]

I would be upset but it's not the end of the world. I would just never trust or do business with that AD again. Just leaves bad taste in your mouth.

[TitanCi]

Well.... tbh, if you wanted it to be LNIB then you shouldn't even have removed any links.


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[springer]

Originally Posted by bswanson

Fine. Would love the option to remove them myself at the time of my choosing if spending $9,000 on a watch.

You disagree?

The watch will not be BNIB if you are wearing it - with or without the stickers.

[Thatguy]

I don’t understand sizing a watch to wear and leaving stickers on.
That said, they should not have taken them off as you didn’t buy there but what recourse do you want? Once sized it’s not BNIB anyway so you didn’t lose value.


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[Reddy_Kilowatt]

Frankly, my takeaway from this thread is never buy a "BNIB" watch from the OP.

[Justinmg]

I would never be in that position, remove the stickers, size it yourself, wear and enjoy... it’s a watch not a fine painting

[brandrea]

Unfortunately they were following the new protocol as Ken stated.

What would be interesting to me, is if you asked and they declined, but they insisted on removing the stickers before you left the store....

[pigman08]

Originally Posted by Reddy_Kilowatt

Frankly, my takeaway from this thread is never buy a "BNIB" watch from the OP.

[bswanson]

Lol, I'm not selling this watch BNIB.

Even though most of you are piling on in a weird way, this thread is actually making me feel better. Thanks TRF fam.

[The Libertine]

Candidly, it’s not something worth raising your blood pressure over.

[Old Expat Beast]

Originally Posted by MinMay

Removing the link does not qualify a BNIB just my opinion.

Originally Posted by TitanCi

Well.... tbh, if you wanted it to be LNIB then you shouldn't even have removed any links.


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