1st world problem incoming - Dealer woes!

[OGR4M]

Firstly TL;DR - poor me can’t get hold of the watch I want, bottom lip out, toys out of pram etc.

Nothing more than a rant, but fingers crossed for some friendly advice, so be nice!

Twice in the last few months I’ve tried to buy a hulk, and trade in my no-date to offset the cost - and twice have I gotten to the point of travelling to see the watch, and potentially make the transaction when I’ve been informed that the hulk I was after has been sold.

I’m all too aware of the demand on these watches, and yes I’m sure I’ll get laughed at for being willing to pay over retail for a watch when I can just wait my turn on the list, and of course, why would a dealer wait a few days until I can turn up to ‘maybe’ trade in a watch when someone much wealthier than me turns up with a wad of £20s and buys it straight away.

My rant is purely that the dealers are trying to run a business! (How dare they, don’t they know who I am etc.) I don’t have a leg to stand on, I know! But it just stinks of unsportsmanlike behaviour when today I get an email from a jeweller confirming my appointment to see the watch AFTER they send me one saying it has been sold.

‘Deep breath’, ‘reality check’, and ‘shut up’ are all appropriate responses from which you can choose. But, if anyone can recommend a friendly reliable dealer that is likely to either have a nearly-new hulk in, or can get them - I would very much appreciate a nudge in the right direction.

Worth noting, I’m on the list for my 2 local ADs - have been quoted a wait of between 12 months and 6 years(!)

[dudleybloke]

Have you tried Amazon?

https://www.amazon.com/Incredible-WX2061632-Interc...

[anonymous-user]

Why not pay for it over the phone?

[ginettajoe]

..... personally, I can't think of anything worse than waiting for a hulk!! Incredible!!

[OGR4M]

Can’t believe I didn’t expect hulk jokes. Henceforth the piece shall be referred to as ref. 116610LV!

desolate said:

Why not pay for it over the phone?

Something I have tried, but because I’m trying to trade in my current watch, the dealer needs to see it to agree a price, and so the balance could change based on the value they place on that.

Also, the jewellers and dealers to whom I’ve spoken seem unwilling to take a deposit, until I can get to their premises in order to have my watch appraised - my assumption was that they can get the full sale price almost immediately, so it makes no sense to hold onto stock for a deposit instead...

[sandman77]

I thought they were readily available if you are willing to pay over retail. Is £2k over retail too much though?
https://www.chrono24.co.uk/rolex/submariner-date-1...

[EmilA]

Are you looking at buying from a grey market dealer? And do you have history of buying watches from those AD's or other AD's? It is highly in demand as you know. I was lucky enough to get one within 3 months of being on a waiting list, possibly because the AD caused a mistake when I was picking up a different watch.

Have you seen one in the flesh properly? There are grey market places in London who seem to have them in stock?

[Spice_Weasel]

Grey market is a good suggestion. Have you tried Iconic?

https://www.iconicwatches.co.uk/rolex-submariner-d...


My Tudor Pelagos was sourced by Iconic back before Tudor relaunched in the UK.

[Wills2]

Why don't you buy this one.

http://www.watchfinder.co.uk/Rolex/Submariner/1166...

When I've part exchanged with them I've reserved the watch and then sent the part exchange in, I can't remember the exact process but it was all done before I sent the watch in, securing the watch I wanted.

[KungFuPanda]

Have you tried selling your ND Sub first so you can just try and do a deal without a part ex? Surely you'll get more if you try and sell on Ebay or TZ if you're a member there?

[Crockefeller]

How’s much are you expecting for the sub? Is it ceramic?

[Lancerevo]

Picking my Hulk up at the end of the week, I think they are looking after returning customers rather than people who are putting names down on lists. Same names at 10 different shop but in the same group.

[OGR4M]

A lot of decent suggestions, thanks everyone - can’t seem to multiple quote on mobile, so here’s a summary:

My ND is a 2017 ceramic - I paid £5,450 retail, and have been offered between £5,000-£5,350 from different dealers/traders - which seems fair to me as a trade in price, on the basis mine isn’t in pristine condition.

I had briefly looked at iconic, and that price is just within my upper limit which I accept to pay (that one on watchfinder is excessive, in my opinion). I intended to look up peoples’ experiences with them before continuing - are they reliable? ‘Grey market’ doesn’t bother me as long as the watch has been sourced officially.

Of course selling privately will achieve a higher gross yield, but after stuff like eBay fees (not a member of TZ, don’t even know what that is!) then my net profit vs a trade is cut significantly, then there’s the potential hassle of selling to some mouth-breather who wins the auction then asks if he can pay weekly and ship it to Venus.

I bought my ND from bullring Goldsmith’s, which is the primary list I’m on, the other is WoS just down the road from there.

I think that’s everything - I’ll try and get in touch with iconic to gain a more accurate lead time, and see if they’re interested in my ND.

Thanks again all!

[OGR4M]

sandman77 said:

I thought they were readily available if you are willing to pay over retail. Is £2k over retail too much though?
https://www.chrono24.co.uk/rolex/submariner-date-1...

Additional info, if people are scratching their heads at my proposal (I know my dad is, when I told him!)

I’d set a hard limit for my transaction, that I wouldn’t accept less than £5k for mine - which seems easily achievable in today’s market - and wouldn’t pay more than £8k for the green sub. The latter is the problem as the price growth seems to be accelerating.

Money don’t grow on trees and all that, and whilst I’m willing to pay over retail for one, there comes a limit, at which point I’ll simply wait my turn.

[7184c]

Try harder. Uk market is full of bent ad’s who are as trustworthy as estate agents.

Speak to European ad’s where it’s easy to pick up at list. A cheap flight and even with weak £ you still better off than paying 8k without your name on warranty. Better still find somewhere with low vat.

[EmilA]

Have you tried the AD in Solihull and also in Stratford Upon Avon? Both those AD's are in a popular city and have long waiting lists, try one abit further afield.
Heard good things about the AD in Litchfield too

[MorganP104]

Potentially a bit risky, but you could go down the eBay route.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_nkw=rolex+11661...

If all the papers, etc. check out, you could be onto a winner.

[Nomal]

OGR4M said:

sandman77 said:

I thought they were readily available if you are willing to pay over retail. Is £2k over retail too much though?
https://www.chrono24.co.uk/rolex/submariner-date-1...

Additional info, if people are scratching their heads at my proposal (I know my dad is, when I told him!)

I’d set a hard limit for my transaction, that I wouldn’t accept less than £5k for mine - which seems easily achievable in today’s market - and wouldn’t pay more than £8k for the green sub. The latter is the problem as the price growth seems to be accelerating.

Money don’t grow on trees and all that, and whilst I’m willing to pay over retail for one, there comes a limit, at which point I’ll simply wait my turn.

AD in Gran Canaria, had one last month in the window at list. Call them a long weekend away and everyone is happy at least if it is still in stock!!

[Deano84]

OGR4M said:

Firstly TL;DR - poor me can’t get hold of the watch I want, bottom lip out, toys out of pram etc.

Nothing more than a rant, but fingers crossed for some friendly advice, so be nice!

Twice in the last few months I’ve tried to buy a hulk, and trade in my no-date to offset the cost - and twice have I gotten to the point of travelling to see the watch, and potentially make the transaction when I’ve been informed that the hulk I was after has been sold.

I’m all too aware of the demand on these watches, and yes I’m sure I’ll get laughed at for being willing to pay over retail for a watch when I can just wait my turn on the list, and of course, why would a dealer wait a few days until I can turn up to ‘maybe’ trade in a watch when someone much wealthier than me turns up with a wad of £20s and buys it straight away.

My rant is purely that the dealers are trying to run a business! (How dare they, don’t they know who I am etc.) I don’t have a leg to stand on, I know! But it just stinks of unsportsmanlike behaviour when today I get an email from a jeweller confirming my appointment to see the watch AFTER they send me one saying it has been sold.

‘Deep breath’, ‘reality check’, and ‘shut up’ are all appropriate responses from which you can choose. But, if anyone can recommend a friendly reliable dealer that is likely to either have a nearly-new hulk in, or can get them - I would very much appreciate a nudge in the right direction.

Worth noting, I’m on the list for my 2 local ADs - have been quoted a wait of between 12 months and 6 years(!)

Very frustrating.

I've had the same issue with a new Ceramic Daytona, I bought my original non ceramic face Daytona in August 2015 (which I still have) but the demand is so strong for the new one apparently I can't even get on the list, the dealer I bought it from claim they have closed the waiting list in store and you can only get one if the manager has recommended you to head office- as they hold the list, which begs the question what exactly do you have to do to be recommended if already buying one from them previously isn't enough (brown paper bag?!)

They seem to favour the flippers over the people who actually want to own the watch and enjoy wearing it, hence the ridiculous waiting lists in stores which do actually still hold a list.

Edited by Deano84 on Wednesday 10th January 19:00

[jshell]

Nomal said:

AD in Gran Canaria, had one last month in the window at list. Call them a long weekend away and everyone is happy at least if it is still in stock!!

What? Pay too much and then hit with VAT on the way back at 20%? Nah!