Has the Rolex bubble finally burst? Perhaps it has
Discussion
I literally sent an email to the store asking them to order in a model for me. They ordered it up and let me know when it arrived.
That was about 8 years ago. It sounds a bit ridiculous having to jump through hoops and that someone at Rolex is employed to play detective and investigate potential buyers.
That was about 8 years ago. It sounds a bit ridiculous having to jump through hoops and that someone at Rolex is employed to play detective and investigate potential buyers.
Shnozz said:
Not entertaining the w
ky ball cupping AD’d who I hope all fail.
Looking to buy a Starbucks - best recommendations on grey market? Dom still?
ky ball cupping AD’d who I hope all fail. Looking to buy a Starbucks - best recommendations on grey market? Dom still?
Funny what people entertain and don't entertain.
I dont entertain paying overs to someone for a 2nd hand watch; if someone like yourself does, I don't come on here having a wee fizzer that people paying overs on the grey market are effectively responsible for creating this actual situation.
Here is another thing; you mention Dom; you will somehow have to contact him to ask what you are wanting and most likely thank him profusely for sourcing you what you want even though you have paid a premuim.
Both the same thing tbf, although I prefer to get a call, like I did on Monday, to ask if I wanted to come in for a cup of tea or coffee, talk about the new collection and which ones I would like and pay rrp when it arrives in the not too distant.
Paying over list for a 2nd hand watch and coming on here, flexing about a 'starbucks', and trying to make me out as a mug for paying rrp....hmmmm.
Each to their own though.
Best of luck with that Submariner.
Wheelspinning said:
Funny what people entertain and don't entertain.
I dont entertain paying overs to someone for a 2nd hand watch; if someone like yourself does, I don't come on here having a wee fizzer that people paying overs on the grey market are effectively responsible for creating this actual situation.
Here is another thing; you mention Dom; you will somehow have to contact him to ask what you are wanting and most likely thank him profusely for sourcing you what you want even though you have paid a premuim.
Both the same thing tbf, although I prefer to get a call, like I did on Monday, to ask if I wanted to come in for a cup of tea or coffee, talk about the new collection and which ones I would like and pay rrp when it arrives in the not too distant.
Paying over list for a 2nd hand watch and coming on here, flexing about a 'starbucks', and trying to make me out as a mug for paying rrp....hmmmm.
Each to their own though.
Best of luck with that Submariner.
That's why people go grey.
Wheelspinning said:
Funny what people entertain and don't entertain...each to their own though.
Funny what people entertain...schmoozing up to a clerk in a shop for the merest opportunity to purchase a watch made of a grade of steel less durable than that which the rest of the industry uses, which places the wearer firmly amongst the ranks of car salesmen, footballers, z-list celebrities and influencers flexing on Instagram...each to their own though 
Pincher said:
Surely the hardest part is getting on the carousel in the first place - how are you supposed to build a 'relationship' with an AD (such as you seem to have) if they won't sell you a watch because you don't have any history with them? It's just a circular argument, until such time they deem you worthy of their time and attention, for whatever reason.
That's why people go grey.
I do get that, but equally someone popping in twice a year and asking where they are on the list is wasting their time.That's why people go grey.
For me, we treated ourself to a break at the location where the AD happens to be located; we went in, seen a lovely ring for my wife and bought it. She had also seen a pair of earrings she loved so I took a mental note.
Whilst purchasing, we were offered a glass of champagne, tea or coffee, and then sat chewing the fat, whereby I mentioned no1 son was going to be 21 and would love to buy him a Rolex; the manageress overheard and then came through with a 41mm fluted Wimbledon that had came in that day and the person who ordered was undecided, and I was asked if they declined would we be interested.
We duly accepted.
4 months later I popped in to buy the earrings as a surprise for our wedding anniversary; again, offered a tea or coffee whilst doing the purchase, asked how my son was liking the watch, and if I would like to put 3 watches down on a wishlist.
6 weeks later I was offered a Daytona.
Since then, that's how it has been; no smoozing, and no 'cupping' whatever that is as some really funny dudes keep posting.
For no2 son, they contacted me as they had it on file his 21st was coming up, and offered me a 41 fluted blue faced Datejust.
In between, I would receive a call on a Friday afternoon asking if I would like a watch that had come in and was not allocated on had been declined.
I guess all ADs aren't like that, and maybe a bit of right place at right time, but that's how it all started for myself.
Gastons_Revenge said:
Wheelspinning said:
Funny what people entertain and don't entertain...each to their own though.
Funny what people entertain...schmoozing up to a clerk in a shop for the merest opportunity to purchase a watch made of a grade of steel less durable than that which the rest of the industry uses, which places the wearer firmly amongst the ranks of car salesmen, footballers, z-list celebrities and influencers flexing on Instagram...each to their own though 
It has to suck being a bitter person.
Wheelspinning said:
Pincher said:
Surely the hardest part is getting on the carousel in the first place - how are you supposed to build a 'relationship' with an AD (such as you seem to have) if they won't sell you a watch because you don't have any history with them? It's just a circular argument, until such time they deem you worthy of their time and attention, for whatever reason.
That's why people go grey.
I do get that, but equally someone popping in twice a year and asking where they are on the list is wasting their time.That's why people go grey.
For me, we treated ourself to a break at the location where the AD happens to be located; we went in, seen a lovely ring for my wife and bought it. She had also seen a pair of earrings she loved so I took a mental note.
Whilst purchasing, we were offered a glass of champagne, tea or coffee, and then sat chewing the fat, whereby I mentioned no1 son was going to be 21 and would love to buy him a Rolex; the manageress overheard and then came through with a 41mm fluted Wimbledon that had came in that day and the person who ordered was undecided, and I was asked if they declined would we be interested.
We duly accepted.
4 months later I popped in to buy the earrings as a surprise for our wedding anniversary; again, offered a tea or coffee whilst doing the purchase, asked how my son was liking the watch, and if I would like to put 3 watches down on a wishlist.
6 weeks later I was offered a Daytona.
Since then, that's how it has been; no smoozing, and no 'cupping' whatever that is as some really funny dudes keep posting.
For no2 son, they contacted me as they had it on file his 21st was coming up, and offered me a 41 fluted blue faced Datejust.
In between, I would receive a call on a Friday afternoon asking if I would like a watch that had come in and was not allocated on had been declined.
I guess all ADs aren't like that, and maybe a bit of right place at right time, but that's how it all started for myself.
We have heard time and time again from people who get sold plenty of watches, who then admit they buy various pieces of jewellery as well, and this is what makes a big profit for the jeweller.
The jewellery is the 'bribe' that the AD is looking for, before they start flogging you watches. Once you are on that carousel of watch buying, the AD will keep selling you watches and offering you desirable models, even if they jewellery buying dries up.
I'm not suggesting there is anything wrong with buying jewellery by the way, as there absolutely isn't, but I would suggest that the vast majority of ordinary chaps looking to buy themselves a nice watch or two, have no intention of buying jewellery.
That means we then come back round to 'How does an ordinary chap buy a watch from an AD'? Because as you rightly point out, someone putting their name on a bulls
t waiting list and calling in twice a year is pointless. The above is the reason why so many people got annoyed with Rolex over the last few years. Instead of selling Wheelspinning 10 watches, and kept one person happy, they could have just as easily sold 1 watch to Wheelspinning and 9 watches to 9 other people, and kept 10 people happy in total.
The customers of Gleneagles would have been happier as well, as there would have been those 9 watches available to just walk in and buy whilst they were on holiday there.
I still find all this quite interesting/bemusing even though my Rolex buying days are behind me. I never paid RRP even when they were freely available as I just didn't see the value/worth, and I still don't. I would rather bung that money into cars or other things. I bought all mine, and my wifes, from grey dealers around 5-8 years ago when a ceramic Sub and GMT were £4-5k each which to me, was enough to pay for a stainless sports watch.
Mont Blanc said:
...and we are back to the fact that you bought jewellery, at a massive markup, to turn the head of the AD and get them interested in the first place, to get the first foot on the carousel.
We have heard time and time again from people who get sold plenty of watches, who then admit they buy various pieces of jewellery as well, and this is what makes a big profit for the jeweller.
The jewellery is the 'bribe' that the AD is looking for, before they start flogging you watches.
And again, I also see your view.We have heard time and time again from people who get sold plenty of watches, who then admit they buy various pieces of jewellery as well, and this is what makes a big profit for the jeweller.
The jewellery is the 'bribe' that the AD is looking for, before they start flogging you watches.
I can only post my experiences.
The initial buying a ring was a spur of the moment thing as we stopped in there during our stay, my wife seen a ring she loved, and it was her 50th 2 weeks later.
Rolex weren't really on my radar when we went in....during chat I mentioned one of the kids 21st, Rolex was mentioned and one appeared; right time, right place.
After that, a set of earrings for our anniversary that she was trying to choose between that and the ring previously; not quite buying 5 porsches to get a GT allocation.
The watches thereafter were just like the video that was posted before; I had no real plans to start collecting, it just kinda happened until I got a bit bored with it after the last watch I purchased in late Sept.
Like the new GMT, and the blueface deepsea just for its outrageousness, so will request when the books open and see what arrives, if anything.
Wheelspinning said:
Mont Blanc said:
...and we are back to the fact that you bought jewellery, at a massive markup, to turn the head of the AD and get them interested in the first place, to get the first foot on the carousel.
We have heard time and time again from people who get sold plenty of watches, who then admit they buy various pieces of jewellery as well, and this is what makes a big profit for the jeweller.
The jewellery is the 'bribe' that the AD is looking for, before they start flogging you watches.
And again, I also see your view.We have heard time and time again from people who get sold plenty of watches, who then admit they buy various pieces of jewellery as well, and this is what makes a big profit for the jeweller.
The jewellery is the 'bribe' that the AD is looking for, before they start flogging you watches.
I can only post my experiences.
The initial buying a ring was a spur of the moment thing as we stopped in there during our stay, my wife seen a ring she loved, and it was her 50th 2 weeks later.
Rolex weren't really on my radar when we went in....during chat I mentioned one of the kids 21st, Rolex was mentioned and one appeared; right time, right place.
After that, a set of earrings for our anniversary that she was trying to choose between that and the ring previously; not quite buying 5 porsches to get a GT allocation.
The watches thereafter were just like the video that was posted before; I had no real plans to start collecting, it just kinda happened until I got a bit bored with it after the last watch I purchased in late Sept.
Like the new GMT, and the blueface deepsea just for its outrageousness, so will request when the books open and see what arrives, if anything.
I can see it from all sides, but generally my view is that the last 4-5 years have been handled appallingly by Rolex. They have failed to control the behaviour of their AD's in the slightest, leading to a huge rise in disgruntled customers. There was nothing Rolex could do regarding the sudden rise in demand, but there was certainly plenty they could have done about the AD allocation policy to make things at least appear fairer to customers.
I see their purchase of Bucherer, and the introduction of their own pre-owned range, as a major steps in trying to rectify the mistakes.
Mont Blanc said:
...the introduction of their own pre-owned range, as a major steps in trying to rectify the mistakes.
Rectify? Their pre-owned offering just allows them to add another hoop to get people to jump through whilst simultaneously grabbing a bigger slice of the pie for themselves.DP14 said:
Mont Blanc said:
...the introduction of their own pre-owned range, as a major steps in trying to rectify the mistakes.
Rectify? Their pre-owned offering just allows them to add another hoop to get people to jump through whilst simultaneously grabbing a bigger slice of the pie for themselves.Although I wouldn't say that it was Rolex's issue to solve, but they are looking to take advantage.
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?Gassing Station | Watches | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff