Rolex on order - Strange T&C's

[jdwoodbury]

Hey Folks,

I was with my missus the other day and popped into an AD to buy her a Rolex Date 34, it was a special order as there was no stock in the UK and had to be built by the factory...no bother we were not in a hurry. So I was asked to pay the full retail and then would expect the watch in 12 weeks, again I wanted the watch and understood it was a special order and so paid the money (receipt provided).

So today I get an email from the AD saying that they forgot to get my agreement on the T&C's and that could I reply via email. There was 1 term on the T&C's that's bothering me:

The current price is £XXXX.00, but please be aware the price payable is always the RRP from the manufacturer on delivery. We acknowledge receipt of your deposit of £XXXX.00, with a balance of £0 outstanding at this time.

I have never bought a Rolex before so maybe this is what they do, but I had assumed that if I ordered a watch then I would pay the price at the time of order (pretty much like anything else). The AD refers to my payment as a deposit but that was not discussed in the shop....I though I was paying for the watch. My "deposit" by the way is non-refundable and non-transferable

Thoughts? Seems as bit stiff to me....

JD

[RSTurboPaul]

Sounds like they are covering their arse for if Rolex HQ does their usual 10% price increase for no reason.

[jdwoodbury]

I am fairly sure they have breached Consumer Rights, as if there was a price increase they would have to offer me my deposit back, but my email states that the deposit is not refundable.

[funinhounslow]

Yep I was told the same. The price you pay is the RRP when you take delivery of the watch, not when you order it.

With people waiting months and years for their watch you can see the thinking behind this

[jdwoodbury]

funinhounslow said:

Yep I was told the same. The price you pay is the RRP when you take delivery of the watch, not when you order it.

With people waiting months and years for their watch you can see the thinking behind this

But if the price did go up while on order, I assume the buyer has the choice to accept the new price, or obtain a refund of the deposit. In this agreement that are locking you in to that future price.

[WizzBang]

I agree OP, seems stiff to me too.

I've been asked to pay 25% deposit on a lady's Rolex special order with a delivery time of 12-18 months, also with a 'pay current price at time of delivery' condition. I can understand the reason for this as the expected delivery time is way into the future.

But with yours, as delivery time is only 12 weeks away and you have paid 100% and the last Rolex increase was only 2 months ago, it is a bit rich asking you to commit further.

[ruhall]

I wouldn't be happy about locking in to an unknown figure; it's only a watch at the end of the day, although I suppose it depends how much of a 'must have' it is.

I agree it's unlikely to change dramatically, if at all, over 12 weeks; assuming that it is only 12 weeks but there really should be an opt out clause, unless it was a one-off piece manufactured for the buyer. As a normal production-run item supposedly in demand, I think it's a bit much. Having said that, my local AD has a fairly pretentious attitude and I don't buy anything from them.

What will they do if you don't email them accepting their T&Cs, refund your money and cancel the order? It's their error.

[jdwoodbury]

I agree I am unlikely to be hit with a price rise, but I would rather not take the chance. Anyway I spoke with the AD and said I would not sign it and they seem ok with that as it’s their error...so I can’t complain.

[ruhall]

That sounds like a perfectly gentlemanly approach and the correct result. Hope she likes it.

[Wills2]

Rolex don't control VAT or import duties, I'd be annoyed if they put the price up and then asked for more post the sale but nothing they can do about changes in the tax system, I'd imagine the T&C's are a sop to the recent uncertainty around the B word.

[loskie]

jees are folks so hung up on a watch?

[ClaphamGT3]

Reason #346 never to buy a new Rolex

[KungFuPanda]

I thought this was going to be about keeping the warranty card.

[Buster73]

KungFuPanda said:

I thought this was going to be about keeping the warranty card.

They don’t do that now , keep up at the back of the class.

[Tomo1971]

So basically another anti - consumer sham by Rolex.

Knowing full well that there months and months of delays they wont honor the window price due to THEIR delays and short supply that they create!

[Mark83]

WizzBang said:

I But with yours, as delivery time is only 12 weeks away and you have paid 100% and the last Rolex increase was only 2 months ago, it is a bit rich asking you to commit further.

I hadn't been following prices since I bought mine new in 2018 but that's two prices rises during my ownership and almost 20% increase. Gulp. I'm not sure I could stomach or justify current prices.

[anonymous-user]

KungFuPanda said:

I thought this was going to be about keeping the warranty card.

I thought they’d started selling the movement less display only models to select customers.

[Rob_R]

Omega must be loving this.

[KungFuPanda]

Rob_R said:

Omega must be loving this.

I doubt it. If someone wants a Rolex, they aren’t going to buy an Omega just because they couldn’t get their first choice.

They’ll either wait or pay more on the grey market.

[Rob_R]

KungFuPanda said:

I doubt it. If someone wants a Rolex, they aren’t going to buy an Omega just because they couldn’t get their first choice.

They’ll either wait or pay more on the grey market.

That's not necessarily true. If someone goes to buy a Rolex but they also really want a Seamaster for example, things like this can make them think twice about buying the Rolex. (By the way, I'm not trying to turn this into a Rolex vs Omega debate. Both make great watches)

I guess what I was alluding to was that things like this can be damaging to Rolex's brand. What Rolex are asking for here is, effectively, an interest free loan for the full amount of the watch while the watch is being made, and in turn, they may well ask the customer to pay them the interest on top anyway. Which is taking the pi$$. The amount of time in which they can get away with stuff like this is becoming increasingly short.