HauteLook Class Action Alleges Store Sells Inferior Rolex Watches

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Nordstrom Inc. and HauteLook Inc. have been hit with a class action lawsuit alleging they deceive consumers by advertising authentic vintage Rolex brand watches that are actually in poor condition and contain non-Rolex parts.

Plaintiff Brunilda Stephens of Maryland accuses Nordstrom and HauteLook of tricking consumers by offering vintage Rolex watches for sale to the general public, but failing to inform them that the watches are shipped from various jewelry stores rather than from Rolex itself.

HauteLook is a “flash sale site” that was acquired by Nordstrom in 2011. “One of the key selling points of HauteLook is the promise that ‘our merchandise is 100% authentic and comes direct from the brands,’” the Rolex class action lawsuit alleges.

According to the lawsuit, Hautelook deceives consumers by leading them to believe the Rolex watches are sold at a 50 percent to 75 percent discount from their actual value, and that they provide consumers with a false appraisal.

“Consumers are led to believe that they are receiving an incredible bargain, one that would not be available without Hautelook’s buying power and clout,” the HauteLook class action lawsuit says.

However, the Rolex watches are inferior to the promised product because they are damaged, in poor condition, and/or contain non-Rolex and inferior watch parts, Stephens alleges in the HauteLook class action lawsuit. Further, the watches often do not match the photograph that was displayed in HauteLook’s advertisements.

According to the HauteLook Rolex class action lawsuit, Stephens purchased a vintage Rolex watch from the defendants. She says she relied on their representation that she would receive an authentic vintage Rolex watch, that it was in the same excellent condition as depicted in the solicitation materials, that the watch would be shipped by Rolex and that it contained all Rolex parts.

Instead, Stephens alleges she received an inferior Rolex watch that was damaged, contained parts from different models of watches, and contained non-Rolex parts. Non-congruent parts of the watch appeared to be glued together, the HauteLook class action lawsuit says.

Stephens alleges HauteLook and Nordstrom require consumers to “purchase the watches, sight unseen, as is, without the option of returning the watch if the consumer is unhappy with it.” She claims the Rolex watch HauteLook sends to consumers is worth significantly less than the price they paid.

The HauteLook class action lawsuit was filed on behalf of Stephens and a proposed Class of consumers in the United States who have purchased vintage Rolex watches from Nordstrom or HauteLook within the last four years.

The HauteLook Rolex class action lawsuit asserts claims for common law fraud; unlawful, unfair and fraudulent business acts and practices; misleading and deceptive advertising; untrue advertising; injunctive relief; breach of the implied warranty of merchantability; and breach of express warranty.

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

The HauteLook Rolex Watch Class Action Lawsuit is Brunilda Stephens v. Nordstrom Inc., et al., Case No. 2:17-cv-05872, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.