How long will the Rolex Bubble Last
Discussion
Are there actually lists?
My work colleague has a friend who works in a Rolex dealership and got him a Batman. He had never bought a Rolex and decided to buy it based on the dealer saying it was a ‘hard to get’ watch.
Then another arrived at the dealership and the dealer asked if my friend knew anyone else who wanted one.
Surely there would be lots of people putting their names down for one but the dealer was phoning around offering them to my friend’s friends.
In the end a Batman went to some bloke who got told it would be a good investment and wasn’t even that fussed about watches.
TBH it made me think there wasn’t even a list at all. I know both these guys and have seen both their watches and can confirm neither have owned a Rolex before or have any great knowledge or even any interest in watches.
My work colleague has a friend who works in a Rolex dealership and got him a Batman. He had never bought a Rolex and decided to buy it based on the dealer saying it was a ‘hard to get’ watch.
Then another arrived at the dealership and the dealer asked if my friend knew anyone else who wanted one.
Surely there would be lots of people putting their names down for one but the dealer was phoning around offering them to my friend’s friends.
In the end a Batman went to some bloke who got told it would be a good investment and wasn’t even that fussed about watches.
TBH it made me think there wasn’t even a list at all. I know both these guys and have seen both their watches and can confirm neither have owned a Rolex before or have any great knowledge or even any interest in watches.
El stovey said:
Are there actually lists?
My work colleague has a friend who works in a Rolex dealership and got him a Batman. He had never bought a Rolex and decided to buy it based on the dealer saying it was a ‘hard to get’ watch.
Then another arrived at the dealership and the dealer asked if my friend knew anyone else who wanted one.
Surely there would be lots of people putting their names down for one but the dealer was phoning around offering them to my friend’s friends.
In the end a Batman went to some bloke who got told it would be a good investment and wasn’t even that fussed about watches.
TBH it made me think there wasn’t even a list at all. I know both these guys and have seen both their watches and can confirm neither have owned a Rolex before or have any great knowledge or even any interest in watches.
Similar to my experience.My work colleague has a friend who works in a Rolex dealership and got him a Batman. He had never bought a Rolex and decided to buy it based on the dealer saying it was a ‘hard to get’ watch.
Then another arrived at the dealership and the dealer asked if my friend knew anyone else who wanted one.
Surely there would be lots of people putting their names down for one but the dealer was phoning around offering them to my friend’s friends.
In the end a Batman went to some bloke who got told it would be a good investment and wasn’t even that fussed about watches.
TBH it made me think there wasn’t even a list at all. I know both these guys and have seen both their watches and can confirm neither have owned a Rolex before or have any great knowledge or even any interest in watches.
A branch of a big national chain initially told me there were waiting lists. As we got to know each-other they later confirmed that there are not. As under-supplied watches arrive some are reserved and they’ll make a phone call to people they know will likely be interested in the rest. So, yes they have a mental list of trusted buyers but definitely not a ‘waiting list’ of people who will get the watches in sequence.
Obviously not every branch will operate the same way but, at this AD, the watches are going to trusted buyers, mostly locals, who make face-to-face contact on a regular basis. Being fresh in mind is important; the squeaky wheel gets the oil. People who request watches by email or phone, people trying to get on multiple lists, people who expressed an interest a long time ago but who haven’t followed up since.... are generally deluded if they think they are on a waiting list.
Just one store and one story. Ymmv etc.
Hang On said:
Just one store and one story. Ymmv etc.
It does sound like a sensible way to operate. When a desirable piece comes in offer it round previous customers to keep them sweet. If there are no takers then stick it in the window and let it sell itself. Or hold it back as a "sweetner" if a customer is considering purchasing a more expensive piece.I don't see the point of keeping a list of "unknown quantities" (any of which could be dreamers and timewasters) then spending a happy morning working through it. And what do you do when you get the inevitable "keep it for me I'll be in next week"?
Badda said:
'Demonstration of knowledge' to buy a watch. What did you do, show them how you could tell the time?
ky. What i'm saying is if you walk in there and say " Yeah mate, i want a rolex. A shiny one." Your chances of them ever finding you any of the SS sports models is zero.
If you have a bit of a chat and say this is exactly what I'm looking for, you know how much it costs, and you know roughly how hard they are to get, they are much more likely to take you seriously and give you a call when one comes in.
Seems to work for me.
Well my recent experience was a bit of a shock. The well known high street AD, who sold me a Batman 2 years ago after only visiting the store for the first time and having a bit of a chat (waited 6 months for that one) called me last week offering me the chance to purchase the new ceramic Daytona.
When I bought the Batman, in conversation I mentioned I sold my pre ceramic Daytona not long before they were discontinued, due to it feeling too small for my wrist. We agreed the ceramic model would probably suit better and my interest was registered.
Anyway, dropped in the shop maybe only twice in the last 2 years just to see how progress was. Spoke about other models but didn’t purchase anything else.
So I was surprised to say the least and obviously more than over the moon, when he called last week offering me a new Daytona. I would have been overjoyed with a Hulk!
He was even nice enough to leave the stickers in place as he knows I’m not a flipper, just keeping the warranty card.
When I bought the Batman, in conversation I mentioned I sold my pre ceramic Daytona not long before they were discontinued, due to it feeling too small for my wrist. We agreed the ceramic model would probably suit better and my interest was registered.
Anyway, dropped in the shop maybe only twice in the last 2 years just to see how progress was. Spoke about other models but didn’t purchase anything else.
So I was surprised to say the least and obviously more than over the moon, when he called last week offering me a new Daytona. I would have been overjoyed with a Hulk!
He was even nice enough to leave the stickers in place as he knows I’m not a flipper, just keeping the warranty card.
Chaz645 said:
Well my recent experience was a bit of a shock. The well known high street AD, who sold me a Batman 2 years ago after only visiting the store for the first time and having a bit of a chat (waited 6 months for that one) called me last week offering me the chance to purchase the new ceramic Daytona.
When I bought the Batman, in conversation I mentioned I sold my pre ceramic Daytona not long before they were discontinued, due to it feeling too small for my wrist. We agreed the ceramic model would probably suit better and my interest was registered.
Anyway, dropped in the shop maybe only twice in the last 2 years just to see how progress was. Spoke about other models but didn’t purchase anything else.
So I was surprised to say the least and obviously more than over the moon, when he called last week offering me a new Daytona. I would have been overjoyed with a Hulk!
He was even nice enough to leave the stickers in place as he knows I’m not a flipper, just keeping the warranty card.
Nice one! When I bought the Batman, in conversation I mentioned I sold my pre ceramic Daytona not long before they were discontinued, due to it feeling too small for my wrist. We agreed the ceramic model would probably suit better and my interest was registered.
Anyway, dropped in the shop maybe only twice in the last 2 years just to see how progress was. Spoke about other models but didn’t purchase anything else.
So I was surprised to say the least and obviously more than over the moon, when he called last week offering me a new Daytona. I would have been overjoyed with a Hulk!
He was even nice enough to leave the stickers in place as he knows I’m not a flipper, just keeping the warranty card.
Chaz645 said:
Well my recent experience was a bit of a shock. The well known high street AD, who sold me a Batman 2 years ago after only visiting the store for the first time and having a bit of a chat (waited 6 months for that one) called me last week offering me the chance to purchase the new ceramic Daytona.
When I bought the Batman, in conversation I mentioned I sold my pre ceramic Daytona not long before they were discontinued, due to it feeling too small for my wrist. We agreed the ceramic model would probably suit better and my interest was registered.
Anyway, dropped in the shop maybe only twice in the last 2 years just to see how progress was. Spoke about other models but didn’t purchase anything else.
So I was surprised to say the least and obviously more than over the moon, when he called last week offering me a new Daytona. I would have been overjoyed with a Hulk!
He was even nice enough to leave the stickers in place as he knows I’m not a flipper, just keeping the warranty card.
This post summarizes why the Rolex strategy is so effective, they've made you feel lucky for having the opportunity to hand over a large sum of money to them for a watch that is only relatively scarce because they've chosen to make it so.When I bought the Batman, in conversation I mentioned I sold my pre ceramic Daytona not long before they were discontinued, due to it feeling too small for my wrist. We agreed the ceramic model would probably suit better and my interest was registered.
Anyway, dropped in the shop maybe only twice in the last 2 years just to see how progress was. Spoke about other models but didn’t purchase anything else.
So I was surprised to say the least and obviously more than over the moon, when he called last week offering me a new Daytona. I would have been overjoyed with a Hulk!
He was even nice enough to leave the stickers in place as he knows I’m not a flipper, just keeping the warranty card.
They are nice watches though
BRR said:
This post summarizes why the Rolex strategy is so effective, they've made you feel lucky for having the opportunity to hand over a large sum of money to them for a watch that is only relatively scarce because they've chosen to make it so.
They are nice watches though
I agree, I was just grateful to get the watch, what with the situation around them being what it is. If I didn’t get one, it wouldn’t change my life.They are nice watches though
I wouldn’t pay whats being asked for them on the grey market. It’s a sum of money I’m happy to part with, for a product I think is worth it.
Chaz645 said:
So said:
Yes nice touch that, only keeping the warranty card.
What can you do, I’m not selling it in the next year so it’s no problem. So let’s say I buy your watch from you and it needs warranty work. I walk into or call the AD you bought it from and tell them I need warranty work. What are they going to do? I imagine the warranty is transferable according to their contract.
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