Has the Rolex bubble finally burst? Perhaps it has

[The Gauge]

Pro Bono said:

Geertsen said:

I found this YouTube video interesting. I’m not sure how much of it is true but it’s what I’ve suspected for a while (regarding waitlists)

Yes, it was interesting, and thanks for the link. The guy mentioned that the reason they take your details is to look you up and see if you're a flipper. So on the assumption that all the dealers share information I wonder if putting your name on the `waiting list' with more than one store would be a red flag for them?

After watching that video, I've just posted on all my social media about how much I love my AD and how special it would be to buy my first ever Rolex from them, and that it's the watch that when my mother was laying on her death bed she made me promise to buy for myself to remind me of her, and as a treat for taking in so many orphaned children over the years.

Got some dust in my eyes now..

Edited by The Gauge on Friday 12th April 21:12

[philcray]

Been in Hong Kong and Belfast in the last few weeks, so opposite sides of the world, and had a look in the window of the Rolex shops I came across, all had windows chock full of watches but with a little sign saying "Display only".

Didn't go in to ask but I wouldn't be surprised if Rolex is trying to get back to some normality as supply increases and demand reduces, maybe going down the route where you go in to the shop, pick the one you like and order it with a realistic delivery date (obviously depending on demand for that particular watch). No doubt they will also have some watches in there which aren't really "display only" and you can buy if you want one....

[Mr Penguin]

Geertsen said:

I found this YouTube video interesting. I’m not sure how much of it is true but it’s what I’ve suspected for a while (regarding waitlists).

Sounds like it would be harder to convince a super model to marry you than it is to buy a watch.

[bordseye]

Geertsen said:

I found this YouTube video interesting. I’m not sure how much of it is true but it’s what I’ve suspected for a while (regarding waitlists).

I find it hard to believe the "vaults full" of watches. Why would a dealer want to just store watches he could sell and make money on? The rest makes sense

[Mont Blanc]

bordseye said:

I find it hard to believe the "vaults full" of watches. Why would a dealer want to just store watches he could sell and make money on? The rest makes sense

By 'vaults full' I was taking it to mean the safe gets filled with watches when the monthly delivery arrives. The watches then get sold bit by bit over the month to the preferred customers, whist Joe Bloggs gets told there is nothing available when he enquires.

Joe Bloggs could be asking to buy a watch the day after the monthly delivery, when the safe is full of watches, and still be told they have nothing available.

[jules_s]

Mont Blanc said:

bordseye said:

I find it hard to believe the "vaults full" of watches. Why would a dealer want to just store watches he could sell and make money on? The rest makes sense

By 'vaults full' I was taking it to mean the safe gets filled with watches when the monthly delivery arrives. The watches then get sold bit by bit over the month to the preferred customers, whist Joe Bloggs gets told there is nothing available when he enquires.

Joe Bloggs could be asking to buy a watch the day after the monthly delivery, when the safe is full of watches, and still be told they have nothing available.

For preferred you means customers on a list?

I think there are five (or more) tiers

Joe Bloggs rocking up and asking - no hope
Joe Bloggs on the list sub one year - some hope
Joe Bloggs on the list more than one year - better hope
Joe Bloggs on the list but knows/cups the AD - bingo
Joe Bloggs on the list but has already had a watch or two - roughly at the some hope level

Edited by jules_s on Saturday 13th April 22:13

[CharlesdeGaulle]

jules_s said:

For preferred you means customers on a list?

I think there are five (or more) tiers

Joe Bloggs rocking up and asking - no hope
Joe Bloggs on the list sub one year - some hope
Joe Bloggs on the list more than one year - better hope
Joe Bloggs on the list but knows the AD - bingo
Joe Bloggs on the list but has already had a watch or two - roughly at the some hope level

You forgot wheelspinning and the cupping advantage.

[Mr Penguin]

What do you actually have to spend on other things to get "the call"?

[MickTravis665321]

When you ask your AD where you are on the wait list.

[Wheelspinning]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

jules_s said:

For preferred you means customers on a list?

I think there are five (or more) tiers

Joe Bloggs rocking up and asking - no hope
Joe Bloggs on the list sub one year - some hope
Joe Bloggs on the list more than one year - better hope
Joe Bloggs on the list but knows the AD - bingo
Joe Bloggs on the list but has already had a watch or two - roughly at the some hope level

You forgot wheelspinning and the cupping advantage.

Aww...look at you being all funny....

Being a tedious bore automatically rules people out also, so thats you fked....

You need to get yourself some new material.

[Octoposse]

Mr Penguin said:

What do you actually have to spend on other things to get "the call"?

I don’t think there’s a figure you can quote. ADs sell to whom they’re motivated to sell to, and the motivation varies between ADs.

I can sense the difference between the two I’m (unsuccessfully) “registered” with:

One’s a “big fish in a small pond”, large town, only AD for thirty miles. Decision about who gets what don’t seem to be strictly commercial . . . it’s golf club mates, mates of mates, closed circle, flippers!

The other is very different - über high end retailer in London, Rolex probably the cheapest things in the store. They do seem commercially / customer relationship driven . . . . if one of their billionaire clientele wants six watches as presents for the hired help, he gets them. Fair enough, and they’re also positively pleasant to chat to.

Then there are presumably other ADs who are focused on maximising revenue, where pure purchasing history forms a big part of the process?

[BigBen]

The chap in my local jeweller told me that I could increase my chances by purchasing other stuff, mainly jewelerry for the mrs and the like. I was clear I would be unlikely to do that but would buy a watch about every ten years. Less than a year later I got the call for my deep sea. He also told me that actually living near the jeweller helped rather than being a waiting list tourist.

WoS in Bond street put me on a list and called me even sooner but I had decided by then to go for a blue face one so declined. I suspect the above just shows that deep seas are not as popular as other models.

[Buster73]

Mr Penguin said:

What do you actually have to spend on other things to get "the call"?

Nothing if my experience is to go by.

[CharlesdeGaulle]

Wheelspinning said:

Aww...look at you being all funny....

Being a tedious bore automatically rules people out also, so thats you fked....

You need to get yourself some new material.

You're part of PH lore chum, up there with powerfully built and Ambiwlans. No point getting antsy about it.

[Wheelspinning]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

You're part of PH lore chum, up there with powerfully built and Ambiwlans. No point getting antsy about it.

See, this PH 'lore' you talk about only gets cast up by a very small minority on here.

The irony being they post these 'lores' to be humourous, with the complete lack of self awareness that makes themselves look like tedious bores.

Why don't you make a post about hammering sausages on another thread just to keep your PH 'lore' bingo quota up to date?

Oh, and do have a little chuckle to yourself revelling in how humourous a guy you are whilst hitting the submit button...

[okgo]

I’d probably just stop posting, it won’t get better from here

[Geertsen]

Mont Blanc said:

bordseye said:

I find it hard to believe the "vaults full" of watches. Why would a dealer want to just store watches he could sell and make money on? The rest makes sense

By 'vaults full' I was taking it to mean the safe gets filled with watches when the monthly delivery arrives. The watches then get sold bit by bit over the month to the preferred customers, whist Joe Bloggs gets told there is nothing available when he enquires.

Joe Bloggs could be asking to buy a watch the day after the monthly delivery, when the safe is full of watches, and still be told they have nothing available.

I think you might have hit the nail on the head, sounds like the most plausible process.

[Wheelspinning]

Geertsen said:

Mont Blanc said:

bordseye said:

I find it hard to believe the "vaults full" of watches. Why would a dealer want to just store watches he could sell and make money on? The rest makes sense

By 'vaults full' I was taking it to mean the safe gets filled with watches when the monthly delivery arrives. The watches then get sold bit by bit over the month to the preferred customers, whist Joe Bloggs gets told there is nothing available when he enquires.

Joe Bloggs could be asking to buy a watch the day after the monthly delivery, when the safe is full of watches, and still be told they have nothing available.

I think you might have hit the nail on the head, sounds like the most plausible process.

As was explained to me, they have an idea of some of the watches that come in, and others they didn't know about.

Almost every watch has a 'list', and the manager goes through the list for each watch and makes the call; that list will consist of known 'regular' customers, known customers and people that came in, put their name down and have never been in touch again.

The list in in chronological order of date of interest placed, and it is as simple as going through that list as people do decline, don't respond or they no longer desire that watch, as what happens a lot now you aren't making instant huge cash on allocation.

If after x amount of calls and the watch isn't allocated, it then falls into the last 2 categories which is very regular customers getting a call about a watch they didn't request, a call to the 'never heard from again' or what happened to myself, right place, right time.

The more hard to obtain watches aren't decided at branch level; the manager puts forward the list and suggestions, and guess what; those who have a mixed purchase history with the AD shall get offered.

The safe isn't full, as the watches are allocated very quickly as you understand, and new watches arrive weekly.

So in a nutshell it falls into 'regular customer' or 'luck'.

[CharlesdeGaulle]

okgo said:

I’d probably just stop posting, it won’t get better from here

[Wheelspinning]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

okgo said:

I’d probably just stop posting, it won’t get better from here

And why is that OKGO?

Some keyboard warrior types going to keep posting about 'cupping' or some other stuff everyone else skips over?

Thanks for the advice but I think I might just be able to cope with bores that offer nothing.

Maybe if they could inject a different slant and make it into a funny post, that would be entertaining; but as with these types, just like in the real world, it's way beyond their capabilities.