Calling Rolex AD's to be put onto interest lists
Discussion
I've commented on other threads but thought I'd make my own now based on my experience. I'm trying to get myself a Submariner (non-date and/or Hulk) at list from an AD and after speaking with a few within an hours drive from home, I've got the following responses below.
AD 1 - We may keep onto the warranty card for 6 months
- We will not put you on the list for a Hulk
- Why are you not trying an AD closer to home
AD 2 - We can only put you onto one list
AD 3 - We can put you on the lists but returning customers take priority when watches are offered
AD 4 - Same as above
AD 5 - Put you on one list only and returning customers get priority
Granted there have also been a few AD's that have put me onto as many lists as I want with no questions asked. I've already been put onto the lists at both local AD's that I have brought from but I'm trying to get a watch asap due to the rumoured price hike.
AD's really are being selective on who goes onto their lists, I'll more than likely be a returning customer as well but they seem to be turning me away over the phone. Don't know if the experience would be any different if I went in person.
AD 1 - We may keep onto the warranty card for 6 months
- We will not put you on the list for a Hulk
- Why are you not trying an AD closer to home
AD 2 - We can only put you onto one list
AD 3 - We can put you on the lists but returning customers take priority when watches are offered
AD 4 - Same as above
AD 5 - Put you on one list only and returning customers get priority
Granted there have also been a few AD's that have put me onto as many lists as I want with no questions asked. I've already been put onto the lists at both local AD's that I have brought from but I'm trying to get a watch asap due to the rumoured price hike.
AD's really are being selective on who goes onto their lists, I'll more than likely be a returning customer as well but they seem to be turning me away over the phone. Don't know if the experience would be any different if I went in person.
I gave up on local AD when I put my name down for a SD43 on release, was initially #13 on list when and 6 months later just down to #11.... when I asked about why so little progress on list got told they sell to other repeat customers before going to next new customer on list....
... so told them to remove my name. I'll visit other local AD's when I get chance but already getting told over phone that there no allocation left this year and April before they'll even take my name.
Almost at point of giving up on it to be honest...
... so told them to remove my name. I'll visit other local AD's when I get chance but already getting told over phone that there no allocation left this year and April before they'll even take my name.
Almost at point of giving up on it to be honest...
That's a shame but I guess it mirror's what I have experienced too. It's tricky to get watches you want without buying other watches you don't want at times.
Hopefully my local AD's won't treat me the same since I've brought from them already. I just wish I got the non-date when I was first shown one last year
Hopefully my local AD's won't treat me the same since I've brought from them already. I just wish I got the non-date when I was first shown one last year
I think phoning anywhere to talk about being put on waiting lists for any premium product isn't going to bare any fruit in a lot of cases, they may well appear to be taking 'your details' but I'd half expect it to be scrawled on the back of an envelope and binned at the end of the day unless your putting a deposit down.
As you seem to be finding, AD's will have customers that they know face to face that will buy everything they can get, so the seller is in the fortunate position to not really need any new customers.
When I bought my Daytona many many years ago I just went in my local AD and talked to them about what I wanted, the list at the time was something like 5 years, put a deposit down there and then and waited....and waited, the price went up, luckily by not the daft amounts they have more recently but the price you pay is the price when it comes, so paid up and looked happy, on collection they were trying to get me to sign up for the next 'list' watch which was an LV but I wasn't really interested.
As you seem to be finding, AD's will have customers that they know face to face that will buy everything they can get, so the seller is in the fortunate position to not really need any new customers.
When I bought my Daytona many many years ago I just went in my local AD and talked to them about what I wanted, the list at the time was something like 5 years, put a deposit down there and then and waited....and waited, the price went up, luckily by not the daft amounts they have more recently but the price you pay is the price when it comes, so paid up and looked happy, on collection they were trying to get me to sign up for the next 'list' watch which was an LV but I wasn't really interested.
Dave350 said:
I had an email from a kind member inhere recommending a couple of ADs nearby.
Made an enquiry with the first one and had a phonecall not long after saying they had one in stock.
I’ll be going on the weekend! He said they get 1/2 subs a month.
when do you pick up the other half?Made an enquiry with the first one and had a phonecall not long after saying they had one in stock.
I’ll be going on the weekend! He said they get 1/2 subs a month.
For me the only way to stop all this rubbish (which is Rolex playing games) is to refuse to buy, and eventually like 2/3 years ago there will be more stock than demand. Rolex have even tried to apply this silly waiting list game to their sub brand Tudor with the new bi colour pelagos (my local dealer told me) and i'm so fed up of these games i'm going to buy other brands in future.
andyman_2006 said:
For me the only way to stop all this rubbish (which is Rolex playing games) is to refuse to buy, and eventually like 2/3 years ago there will be more stock than demand. Rolex have even tried to apply this silly waiting list game to their sub brand Tudor with the new bi colour pelagos (my local dealer told me) and i'm so fed up of these games i'm going to buy other brands in future.
Lol Tudor don't make a bi colour Pelagos, so you might be waiting a long time for that 
Authorised Dealers are like women. They need buttering up before you can go further. If you have shown faith by purchasing a watch from them, then they will be more likely to trust your intensions and surprise you at how quickly they can supply you with a watch that you desire. At least thats my experience. They obviously (and for many reasons) don't like to deal with people whom they consider will be purchasing a watch in order to sell it on for a profit. I'm not suggesting that that is your intension but that is the way of things. I have no problem with that and as such have an excellent rapport with my AD. For your info they are Hamilton & Inches in Edinburgh. Can't recomend them highly enough. All the best.
I have been collecting Rolex for over 20 years.
Things are harder now but here is what took me years to figure out.
Be honest with the AD - if you want a hard to get model ask them what you need to do - if it's buy 5 watches first it may be cheaper to buy grey market than take the loss on the 5 watches.
ADs are not impressed if you just buy sports models, they can sell them easy, you aren't doing them a favour buying them.
If you buy a precious metal piece say you will only buy when they have a daytona in stock that you can also buy - they will get you one from the safe.
Offer to leave the paperwork with them for a year so they know you aren't going to sell it on.
Make them realise you are a collector - send a picture of you at Basel etc.
Let them know you can buy immediately - not on finance- when they need to meet their sales targets you will be the person that they call.
Good luck everyone
Things are harder now but here is what took me years to figure out.
Be honest with the AD - if you want a hard to get model ask them what you need to do - if it's buy 5 watches first it may be cheaper to buy grey market than take the loss on the 5 watches.
ADs are not impressed if you just buy sports models, they can sell them easy, you aren't doing them a favour buying them.
If you buy a precious metal piece say you will only buy when they have a daytona in stock that you can also buy - they will get you one from the safe.
Offer to leave the paperwork with them for a year so they know you aren't going to sell it on.
Make them realise you are a collector - send a picture of you at Basel etc.
Let them know you can buy immediately - not on finance- when they need to meet their sales targets you will be the person that they call.
Good luck everyone
simonr100 said:
I have been collecting Rolex for over 20 years.
Things are harder now but here is what took me years to figure out.
Be honest with the AD - if you want a hard to get model ask them what you need to do - if it's buy 5 watches first it may be cheaper to buy grey market than take the loss on the 5 watches.
ADs are not impressed if you just buy sports models, they can sell them easy, you aren't doing them a favour buying them.
If you buy a precious metal piece say you will only buy when they have a daytona in stock that you can also buy - they will get you one from the safe.
Offer to leave the paperwork with them for a year so they know you aren't going to sell it on.
Make them realise you are a collector - send a picture of you at Basel etc.
Let them know you can buy immediately - not on finance- when they need to meet their sales targets you will be the person that they call.
Good luck everyone
I honestly cannot believe that some are willing to jump through these hoops to buy a Rolex sports watch. It is completely the wrong way round. The dealer should be selling themselves to the buyer not the other way around. It’s completely absurd. Things are harder now but here is what took me years to figure out.
Be honest with the AD - if you want a hard to get model ask them what you need to do - if it's buy 5 watches first it may be cheaper to buy grey market than take the loss on the 5 watches.
ADs are not impressed if you just buy sports models, they can sell them easy, you aren't doing them a favour buying them.
If you buy a precious metal piece say you will only buy when they have a daytona in stock that you can also buy - they will get you one from the safe.
Offer to leave the paperwork with them for a year so they know you aren't going to sell it on.
Make them realise you are a collector - send a picture of you at Basel etc.
Let them know you can buy immediately - not on finance- when they need to meet their sales targets you will be the person that they call.
Good luck everyone
sandman77 said:
simonr100 said:
I have been collecting Rolex for over 20 years.
Things are harder now but here is what took me years to figure out.
Be honest with the AD - if you want a hard to get model ask them what you need to do - if it's buy 5 watches first it may be cheaper to buy grey market than take the loss on the 5 watches.
ADs are not impressed if you just buy sports models, they can sell them easy, you aren't doing them a favour buying them.
If you buy a precious metal piece say you will only buy when they have a daytona in stock that you can also buy - they will get you one from the safe.
Offer to leave the paperwork with them for a year so they know you aren't going to sell it on.
Make them realise you are a collector - send a picture of you at Basel etc.
Let them know you can buy immediately - not on finance- when they need to meet their sales targets you will be the person that they call.
Good luck everyone
I honestly cannot believe that some are willing to jump through these hoops to buy a Rolex sports watch. It is completely the wrong way round. The dealer should be selling themselves to the buyer not the other way around. It’s completely absurd. Things are harder now but here is what took me years to figure out.
Be honest with the AD - if you want a hard to get model ask them what you need to do - if it's buy 5 watches first it may be cheaper to buy grey market than take the loss on the 5 watches.
ADs are not impressed if you just buy sports models, they can sell them easy, you aren't doing them a favour buying them.
If you buy a precious metal piece say you will only buy when they have a daytona in stock that you can also buy - they will get you one from the safe.
Offer to leave the paperwork with them for a year so they know you aren't going to sell it on.
Make them realise you are a collector - send a picture of you at Basel etc.
Let them know you can buy immediately - not on finance- when they need to meet their sales targets you will be the person that they call.
Good luck everyone
sidicks said:
I had an email from the AD at the Royal Exchange asking if I was still interested in being on their waiting list (no hint that a watch was imminently available) for the Submariner (Hulk).
I declined, having told them I'd now purchased a GMT-Master II BLNR instead.
Mmmmm. Green..I declined, having told them I'd now purchased a GMT-Master II BLNR instead.
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