Rolex AD's allocation - is this right?
Discussion
Touché! Where’s the like button?
It was just the attitude that got my goat. I part-own a vintage aeroplane, and fly several others. Collar me as you’re disembarking and tell me that you have a Private Pilot’s License, and I’ll happily chat. (Actually, I’ll happily chat to anyone about anything.) I certainly wouldn’t sneer at you for actually USING the things that you own.
The encounter still rankles, several months later. And I was left with the distinct impression that it was the general, default attitude of the whole “boutique”.
It was just the attitude that got my goat. I part-own a vintage aeroplane, and fly several others. Collar me as you’re disembarking and tell me that you have a Private Pilot’s License, and I’ll happily chat. (Actually, I’ll happily chat to anyone about anything.) I certainly wouldn’t sneer at you for actually USING the things that you own.
The encounter still rankles, several months later. And I was left with the distinct impression that it was the general, default attitude of the whole “boutique”.
Edited by 4321go on Tuesday 11th February 20:52
El stovey said:
SagMan said:
Without going into too much detail . My knowledge is that AD’a now know what professional watches they will be getting in 2020 and roughly when. Non professional watches can be ordered as usual .
I have one watch to collect this month and one due Q4 if funds permit !
Is that a very new thing? Hadn’t heard that before.I have one watch to collect this month and one due Q4 if funds permit !
The trouble with these threads is that ADs are all doing their own thing so although the OP might be getting honest and accurate advice for his situation, someone else may know a dealer that is doing something completely different with sought after watches.
The only dealer I half know is a colleague’s school friend. He said he just gave them to people he knew but it was actually mates etc not just people who’d bought other watches from him.
Proof of it was that my mate and other workmates have ended up getting hard to get watches from him with no previous buying history at all.
I suppose id imagine what would I do if I was running a dealership. You’ve got long lists of people wanting to buy Rolexes and then your friend wants one, would you sell it to someone you didn’t really know or to your friend etc.
They’ve pretty much got a captive market with buyers phoning them up and popping in all the time and can do what they want tbh.
offshoreeddy said:
Five years ago I was on the wait for a SS Daytona with a white dial. Went to Dubai on holiday; whilst there walked into Siddiqi's in Atlantis, told them what I wanted - either a black or white dial SS Daytona - and they had both for me to look at two days later, and at less than UK list, still in factory transit packaging.
Just a suggestion - flights to Dubai aren't that expensive.
That was indeed the case 5 years ago with the old model. Siddiqui won't even put you on the list for the new one now as it's so long.Just a suggestion - flights to Dubai aren't that expensive.
Tony1963 said:
Mappin and Webb in Cambridge told me that in 2013.
I bought a used SS Daytona at under list instead. Happy times!
I think you'll find the mapin and Webb store have no direct access to Rolex. All they may have is the stock allocation from head office as they are part of the Watches of Switzerland group (previously called Aurum). I bought a used SS Daytona at under list instead. Happy times!
It's absolutely a first world problem but very frustrating nonetheless. I've been on the list for most of the sought after SS models with an AD for over 3 years. In that time they have come up with a no date Sub and a Batman (older Oyster bracelet model). Both of these were in the first 12 months, but I've seen nothing since then. As a family we've also bought an Explorer II (cancelled order from someone else), a TT Datejust, a gold Speedmaster and a Tudor GMT from them during this time but this does not seem to make any difference. One member of staff suggested buying some jewellery from them would help.. I would agree that 'the list' is largely meaningless and being a (very) big spender is what counts the most. IMHO they should just be upfront about 'bundling' eg.. buy a Daydate (or a whacking great diamond or whatever) and a Pepsi together to skip the queue!
gregd said:
It's absolutely a first world problem but very frustrating nonetheless. I've been on the list for most of the sought after SS models with an AD for over 3 years. In that time they have come up with a no date Sub and a Batman (older Oyster bracelet model). Both of these were in the first 12 months, but I've seen nothing since then. As a family we've also bought an Explorer II (cancelled order from someone else), a TT Datejust, a gold Speedmaster and a Tudor GMT from them during this time but this does not seem to make any difference. One member of staff suggested buying some jewellery from them would help.. I would agree that 'the list' is largely meaningless and being a (very) big spender is what counts the most. IMHO they should just be upfront about 'bundling' eg.. buy a Daydate (or a whacking great diamond or whatever) and a Pepsi together to skip the queue!
Totally crazy. I'm so glad I gave up dealing with Rolex AD's. I get much better service from my Grand Seiko AD's, at least they appreciate your custom and are enthusiastic about their product.Omega is heading the way of Rolex too with regards to care, not a good trend.
In any marketplace where premiums become established, it is unlikely that anyone subsequently acquires one of the items at list.
Whoever controls the distribution of a scarce commodity ultimately captures the lions share of any associated premium. Although the mechanisms may be hard to discern, I fully expect that Rolex themselves capture most of the premium on these watches. It is frankly highly unlikely that Rolex gift the premiums to their dealers, and it is equally unlikely that dealers will gift them to ordinary customers.
The mechanisms may involve dealers and customers agreeing to overpay (perhaps by ordering/overpaying for other items that they don't want), or agreements to pass back premiums achieved, or "unexpected intermediators", whatever... But this is an unregulated and opaque market in which discretion is part of the price for participation, so it's unlikely that transparency will prevail.
Anyone expecting to sit on a list and walk away with a watch that they can sell immediately for a material premium is likely to be disappointed.
Whoever controls the distribution of a scarce commodity ultimately captures the lions share of any associated premium. Although the mechanisms may be hard to discern, I fully expect that Rolex themselves capture most of the premium on these watches. It is frankly highly unlikely that Rolex gift the premiums to their dealers, and it is equally unlikely that dealers will gift them to ordinary customers.
The mechanisms may involve dealers and customers agreeing to overpay (perhaps by ordering/overpaying for other items that they don't want), or agreements to pass back premiums achieved, or "unexpected intermediators", whatever... But this is an unregulated and opaque market in which discretion is part of the price for participation, so it's unlikely that transparency will prevail.
Anyone expecting to sit on a list and walk away with a watch that they can sell immediately for a material premium is likely to be disappointed.
WindyCommon said:
In any marketplace where premiums become established, it is unlikely that anyone subsequently acquires one of the items at list.
Whoever controls the distribution of a scarce commodity ultimately captures the lions share of any associated premium. Although the mechanisms may be hard to discern, I fully expect that Rolex themselves capture most of the premium on these watches. It is frankly highly unlikely that Rolex gift the premiums to their dealers, and it is equally unlikely that dealers will gift them to ordinary customers.
The mechanisms may involve dealers and customers agreeing to overpay (perhaps by ordering/overpaying for other items that they don't want), or agreements to pass back premiums achieved, or "unexpected intermediators", whatever... But this is an unregulated and opaque market in which discretion is part of the price for participation, so it's unlikely that transparency will prevail.
Anyone expecting to sit on a list and walk away with a watch that they can sell immediately for a material premium is likely to be disappointed.
You are totally spot-on of course, supply and demand. Whoever controls the distribution of a scarce commodity ultimately captures the lions share of any associated premium. Although the mechanisms may be hard to discern, I fully expect that Rolex themselves capture most of the premium on these watches. It is frankly highly unlikely that Rolex gift the premiums to their dealers, and it is equally unlikely that dealers will gift them to ordinary customers.
The mechanisms may involve dealers and customers agreeing to overpay (perhaps by ordering/overpaying for other items that they don't want), or agreements to pass back premiums achieved, or "unexpected intermediators", whatever... But this is an unregulated and opaque market in which discretion is part of the price for participation, so it's unlikely that transparency will prevail.
Anyone expecting to sit on a list and walk away with a watch that they can sell immediately for a material premium is likely to be disappointed.
seadragon said:
WindyCommon said:
In any marketplace where premiums become established, it is unlikely that anyone subsequently acquires one of the items at list.
Whoever controls the distribution of a scarce commodity ultimately captures the lions share of any associated premium. Although the mechanisms may be hard to discern, I fully expect that Rolex themselves capture most of the premium on these watches. It is frankly highly unlikely that Rolex gift the premiums to their dealers, and it is equally unlikely that dealers will gift them to ordinary customers.
The mechanisms may involve dealers and customers agreeing to overpay (perhaps by ordering/overpaying for other items that they don't want), or agreements to pass back premiums achieved, or "unexpected intermediators", whatever... But this is an unregulated and opaque market in which discretion is part of the price for participation, so it's unlikely that transparency will prevail.
Anyone expecting to sit on a list and walk away with a watch that they can sell immediately for a material premium is likely to be disappointed.
You are totally spot-on of course, supply and demand. Whoever controls the distribution of a scarce commodity ultimately captures the lions share of any associated premium. Although the mechanisms may be hard to discern, I fully expect that Rolex themselves capture most of the premium on these watches. It is frankly highly unlikely that Rolex gift the premiums to their dealers, and it is equally unlikely that dealers will gift them to ordinary customers.
The mechanisms may involve dealers and customers agreeing to overpay (perhaps by ordering/overpaying for other items that they don't want), or agreements to pass back premiums achieved, or "unexpected intermediators", whatever... But this is an unregulated and opaque market in which discretion is part of the price for participation, so it's unlikely that transparency will prevail.
Anyone expecting to sit on a list and walk away with a watch that they can sell immediately for a material premium is likely to be disappointed.
Brads67 said:
Mr Pointy said:
Watchfinder have got 13 of them if you really want one.
Seriously, your advise is to pay over double the price for a second hand current model.?Rolex must love you.
As for watchfinder, jeez don't get me started.
If he wants one badly enough he'll have to pay the going rate. They are available if he wants one.
Two years ago I went into a dealer in a large shopping centre in Kent to enquire about possibly buying a couple of explorer 2s for my 2 sons and a milgaus for the other half (all of which they had in stock and we tried on).
I asked if, I were to buy the other three there and then, would they be able to source me SS daytona.
They told me I would not get a Daytona, and better still, would not even be put on a list.
Shortly after, when the Pepsi GMT was announced, I called to put my name down with them. They didn’t acknowledge my interest. So I then put my name down at an AD in London. Got an email a few days later saying that my name had been removed from both lists as they were part of the same group.
When I pointed out the reason, ie due to a lack of acknowledgement they still refused to get me back on.
That arrogance, frankly, stinks.
I asked if, I were to buy the other three there and then, would they be able to source me SS daytona.
They told me I would not get a Daytona, and better still, would not even be put on a list.
Shortly after, when the Pepsi GMT was announced, I called to put my name down with them. They didn’t acknowledge my interest. So I then put my name down at an AD in London. Got an email a few days later saying that my name had been removed from both lists as they were part of the same group.
When I pointed out the reason, ie due to a lack of acknowledgement they still refused to get me back on.
That arrogance, frankly, stinks.
I’m resigned to the fact that when I see what I want I’ll just buy it. The bloody minded part of me comes out when faced with this sort of thing, I can wait. The general attitude of the staff in all the airports is a bit off, I totally understand what Rolex are doing but do smile inwardly when told what I’m looking at is something so zen, it must inhabit its own unique business model in the watch market and I really should be grateful that I can even look at a picture, for free 
Edited by rosetank on Wednesday 12th February 20:02
Mr Pointy said:
The OP's been waiting four years: he isn't getting a new one from an AD in his lifetime.
If he wants one badly enough he'll have to pay the going rate. They are available if he wants one.
Exactly. You can have the watch, but not the premium. You may as well give up on that idea - no-one is going to hand you ten grand just because you’ve been patient and waited in line nicely. Not happening!If he wants one badly enough he'll have to pay the going rate. They are available if he wants one.
Lord.Vader said:
My first watch was a black S/S Daytona in 2017, then a DJ41 Wimbledon and a BLNR in December 2019.
Never bought anything from them before, kept in contact, happy to allow them to keep the paperwork (etc) back in 2017.
Just waiting for my white daytona now
Things were different back then! Never bought anything from them before, kept in contact, happy to allow them to keep the paperwork (etc) back in 2017.
Just waiting for my white daytona now
Purchased a Bi metal Daytona at Gleneagles , they showed me an allocated Root beer. I told them i loved it and keep me in mind if another was to come along.
Fast forward literally 4 days later i received a call saying another had appeared at the boutique and if i were interested they would set it aside.
I guess that they knew i was serious due to purchasing a Daytona previously . They never know what models are coming in and are often asked via other dealers if they have a certain model in stock.
Theres no secret stash under the counter of stainless sports models and hardly a waiting list. If you turn up with the readies they will sell to whoever.
Im not sure how other AD's work , this is just my own experience. I will never go on a waiting list though .
Fast forward literally 4 days later i received a call saying another had appeared at the boutique and if i were interested they would set it aside.
I guess that they knew i was serious due to purchasing a Daytona previously . They never know what models are coming in and are often asked via other dealers if they have a certain model in stock.
Theres no secret stash under the counter of stainless sports models and hardly a waiting list. If you turn up with the readies they will sell to whoever.
Im not sure how other AD's work , this is just my own experience. I will never go on a waiting list though .
Gassing Station | Watches | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff