Nordstrom’s HauteLook Class Action Targets Vintage Rolex Watches

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A Southern California resident is seeking to represent a nationwide class of consumers claiming they purchased authentic vintage Rolex watches from Nordstrom’s HauteLook only to find the products were damaged, in poor condition, and contained non-Rolex, inferior parts.

Plaintiff Vahdat Aghdasy filed the class action lawsuit last week in federal court against the fashion retailer over allegations that HauteLook and its parent company, Nordstrom, misled consumers regarding sales of vintage Rolex watches.

HauteLook is a membership-based “flash sales site” that has been in business since 2007. In 2011, Nordstrom acquired the company. HauteLook promotes itself as being able to offer drastically reduced prices on name brand items. One of HauteLook’s key selling points is the promise that “our merchandise is 100% authentic and come direct from the brands.”

According to the lawsuit, from time to time HauteLook offers the sale of authentic vintage Rolex watches at drastically-reduced prices from the original retail price, typically 50 to 75 percent off the retail price. The watches are sold “as-is” and are not returnable, therefore, a consumer does not have the ability to inspect the watch before purchasing it.

Purchasers are promised a certified appraisal of the watch for insurance purposes and to establish the current market value of the watch, but only after the purchase is completed. However, the lawsuit purports that the appraisals for the vintage watches that come from a company called Swiss Watch Appraisers are fraudulent and that in fact the products have never been appraised.

“Plaintiff and class members received a ‘certified appraisal’ from a company identified as Swiss Watch Appraiser…there is no contact information for Swiss Watch Appraisers on the appraisal. In fact, although there is a website entitled ‘Swiss Watch Appraisers’ with the same log as noted on the appraisal, the only contact information offered is a telephone number which has been disconnected or is not working,” the lawsuit states.

Additionally, Aghdasy claims the Rolex watches are not sent from the authentic Rolex brand but come from various different vendors and contain a mixture of used parts. “[The] Rolex watches are not authentic, often containing a mixture of used parts.  In reality, the bezel is often glued and many parts are not Rolex. The Rolex watch sent to consumers is worth substantially less than the price paid by the consumer.”

The proposed class action alleges common law fraud, conspiracy to commit fraud, breach of implied and express warranties, unjust enrichment, violations of California’s Consumer Legal Remedies Act, and other violations of California’s Business and Professions Code.

Aghdasy is seeking declaratory and injunctive relief, restitution and disgorgement, actual damages, exemplary and/or punitive damages, interests, attorney fees, and other costs of the lawsuit. A jury trial has been demanded.

The plaintiff is represented by Roland C. Colton of Colton Law Group and Alexander Escandari of L.A. Trial Lawyers, Inc.

The Nordstrom HauteLook Class Action Lawsuit is Vahdat Aghdasy v. Nordstrom Inc., et al., Case No. 2:16-CV-01829 in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.