Starting to lose my resolve
Discussion
Ed T said:
That is incredibly annoying - great that you got one but the effort to run around being super polite and grateful. I’m having one more attempt and this time I genuinely want to buy my wife jewellery for her birthday so let’s see if that makes a difference. I then may give up.
You're insane. I might try choosing something for the wife and then tying it to the purchase of the watch. "Great, I'll take this jewelery and that watch I've been after for a year please." ... "Sorry, no. I'd like both items please. If you can't sell me both, then I'm not interested."
But I'd only try that if I actually wanted both. And clearly the next line is, "OK I understand you don't have the watch on the shelf. I'm happy to agree a delivery date & pay a deposit."
But to actually give them custom in the hope that they'll favour you. That's just lunacy. "Ere Mavis, this guy is buying stuff in the hope we'll sell him a watch. Do we sell him one?"
"Nah, give him a cup of coffee, make him feel wanted & string the sucker along for a few more purchases. As many purchases as you can Maud."
mikeveal said:
You're insane. I might try choosing something for the wife and then tying it to the purchase of the watch. "Great, I'll take this jewelery and that watch I've been after for a year please." ... "Sorry, no. I'd like both items please. If you can't sell me both, then I'm not interested."
But I'd only try that if I actually wanted both. And clearly the next line is, "OK I understand you don't have the watch on the shelf. I'm happy to agree a delivery date & pay a deposit."
But to actually give them custom in the hope that they'll favour you. That's just lunacy. "Ere Mavis, this guy is buying stuff in the hope we'll sell him a watch. Do we sell him one?"
"Nah, give him a cup of coffee, make him feel wanted & string the sucker along for a few more purchases. As many purchases as you can Maud."
It is marketing at its best. Consumers are zombies queuing up to buy something so expensive and so unnecessary. Its like its a basic human need, food, shelter, Rolex and without one you have failed in life.
I’ve never suggested this before but..... if there seems to be ni reason why they might give you some sort of preference and your wait may be indefinite, rather than start spending the difference on other “stuff” with them and therefore eating into the £3k difference between RRP grey priced Sub, just buy a grey market Sub
If you look after it, it will be worth more than RRP so you won’t lose the whole premium, maybe less than the “stuff” you bought in the hollow hope that it might help you up the list
What if it doesn’t?? I think for that “game” to work you need to spend s
tloads to get “noticed”
I know the extra £3k is real money
If you look after it, it will be worth more than RRP so you won’t lose the whole premium, maybe less than the “stuff” you bought in the hollow hope that it might help you up the list
What if it doesn’t?? I think for that “game” to work you need to spend s
tloads to get “noticed”I know the extra £3k is real money
I got my unworn 2019 Sub Date back in March from Global Watch Shop. Yes I paid more than rrp but honestly it doesn't matter as I love the watch and have worn it every day. If you're going to be investing in a watch collection for profit - play the AD game. I can't be bothered with all that at all. I thought about trying to get on the AD list but honestly I don't want to give them the satisfaction of me having to kiss their arses.
If I ever get another watch it won't be a Rolex. I'd like it to be but won't play the games versus getting a Tudor, Omega, IWC etc that I could just walk out the shop with.
My advice to the original poster - save up a bit more and forget what the RRP is. The only difference would be someone else's name on the warranty card.
If I ever get another watch it won't be a Rolex. I'd like it to be but won't play the games versus getting a Tudor, Omega, IWC etc that I could just walk out the shop with.
My advice to the original poster - save up a bit more and forget what the RRP is. The only difference would be someone else's name on the warranty card.
Ed T said:
The point being I’m buying the wife jewellery anyway so attempting to purchase both at the same time. Also will be a new shop. I’m sure this won’t work. Last try.
Witten - I think this is the next step. It’s just a bit annoying isn’t it but agreed it gets the job done
I'm sorry to say but I really don't think it will make a difference. They will not agree to definitely sell you a sub because you are prepared to drop a few £k on jewellery. If it were a few tens of thousands of £ then it might be more of a possibility, but I'll assume that's not what you meant.Witten - I think this is the next step. It’s just a bit annoying isn’t it but agreed it gets the job done
I think Don Logan has hit the nail on the head. If you really want the watch then pay the extra and buy it on the grey market.
If you are after just one single watch then in reality it will cost you no more. What I mean is that to get the sub at list these days you will have to drop (and lose) quite a few £k with your AD. This makes sense if you are trying to build a collection as you may well get other sought after models.
However for a single piece it doesn't really make sense.
It's a real shame that things are this way but no point losing sleep over things which are out of your control.
Good luck
Edited by Deep on Wednesday 2nd June 19:32
witten said:
I got my unworn 2019 Sub Date back in March from Global Watch Shop. Yes I paid more than rrp but honestly it doesn't matter as I love the watch and have worn it every day. If you're going to be investing in a watch collection for profit - play the AD game. I can't be bothered with all that at all. I thought about trying to get on the AD list but honestly I don't want to give them the satisfaction of me having to kiss their arses.
If I ever get another watch it won't be a Rolex. I'd like it to be but won't play the games versus getting a Tudor, Omega, IWC etc that I could just walk out the shop with.
My advice to the original poster - save up a bit more and forget what the RRP is. The only difference would be someone else's name on the warranty card.
The newer warranty cards don’t even have a name applied.If I ever get another watch it won't be a Rolex. I'd like it to be but won't play the games versus getting a Tudor, Omega, IWC etc that I could just walk out the shop with.
My advice to the original poster - save up a bit more and forget what the RRP is. The only difference would be someone else's name on the warranty card.
I was in the market for a 126655, spoke to two ADs who both suggested I visit the premises to grovel in person.
I was quite happy to pay 5% over rrp to avoid such nonsense- did the deal with an indie and had a brand new watch on my wrist next day. Incidentally it came with the WoS extended warranty too…
No time for the BS from ADs.
DoubleSix said:
The newer warranty cards don’t even have a name applied.
I was in the market for a 126655, spoke to two ADs who both suggested I visit the premises to grovel in person.
I was quite happy to pay 5% over rrp to avoid such nonsense- did the deal with an indie and had a brand new watch on my wrist next day. Incidentally it came with the WoS extended warranty too…
No time for the BS from ADs.
Exactly. I do not want to beg to pay someone £7k for a product they're already making a large profit on. Yes buying grey costs more, but I am buying it to wear it and love it. I am not going to flip it for profit at all so I just pretend the rrp doesn't exist and be thankful that I dealt with a good and decent grey market dealer who gave me a good deal/service.I was in the market for a 126655, spoke to two ADs who both suggested I visit the premises to grovel in person.
I was quite happy to pay 5% over rrp to avoid such nonsense- did the deal with an indie and had a brand new watch on my wrist next day. Incidentally it came with the WoS extended warranty too…
No time for the BS from ADs.
That doesn't mean that if I walk into the Rolex dealer in T5 and they'll sell me one I won't buy it but I will not grovel.
dxbtiger said:
Shouldn't this be merged with the bubble burst thread?
My thought exactly. It's all been said before.My advice to the OP: buy grey. It's the watch you want and even paying overs it still makes economic sense. If you can't afford the overs, then, as others have said, there's some very nice wristware out there for 7K.
Edited by Maxym on Thursday 3rd June 12:01
witten said:
DoubleSix said:
The newer warranty cards don’t even have a name applied.
I was in the market for a 126655, spoke to two ADs who both suggested I visit the premises to grovel in person.
I was quite happy to pay 5% over rrp to avoid such nonsense- did the deal with an indie and had a brand new watch on my wrist next day. Incidentally it came with the WoS extended warranty too…
No time for the BS from ADs.
Exactly. I do not want to beg to pay someone £7k for a product they're already making a large profit on. Yes buying grey costs more, but I am buying it to wear it and love it. I am not going to flip it for profit at all so I just pretend the rrp doesn't exist and be thankful that I dealt with a good and decent grey market dealer who gave me a good deal/service.I was in the market for a 126655, spoke to two ADs who both suggested I visit the premises to grovel in person.
I was quite happy to pay 5% over rrp to avoid such nonsense- did the deal with an indie and had a brand new watch on my wrist next day. Incidentally it came with the WoS extended warranty too…
No time for the BS from ADs.
That doesn't mean that if I walk into the Rolex dealer in T5 and they'll sell me one I won't buy it but I will not grovel.
Ironically, in my case I wasn’t even after an SS model so seems all the more foolish on their behalf - a chance to bring a new customer into the fold, or a chance kill a relationship before it even started!
El stovey said:
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Exactly.The problem only exists because people are willing to go along with all the nonsense in the first place.
It’s a watch.
Do people really want to be jumping through dealership hoops and paying over the retail price etc just to be able to buy one?
As has been said, even if the whole of the UK refused to buy any more Rolex watches, the Far East/Asia and other areas would swallow those unsold watches up within days. Global demand is massive and growing, and as long as emerging markets and developing countries want Rolex watches, prices will continue creeping for years to come. Social media has ensured that everyone wants to be seen with a Rolex.
I bought my watches a few years ago when you could easily buy them used for a couple of grand less than retail, but I have no interest at all in buying any more Rolex models. Simply not interested in the circus, and I don't like the connotations that are now often associated with wearing a Rolex on your wrist.
I have moved on to buying other brands, and couldn't be happier.
From my best knowledge , Most AD’s get only 2 allocations per annum of special pieces . I suspect they get 10 - 20 regular customer enquiries on these individual pieces per annum and maybe 100 non previous customer enquiries .
Not sympathetic with this situation just facts as I understand . I buy from both AD’s and greys so just expressing a view
Not sympathetic with this situation just facts as I understand . I buy from both AD’s and greys so just expressing a view
I really don't get the clamour for Rolex. Are you not just paying for their endless advertising spend when you buy a watch from them? I was into an AD yesterday and they have these expensive retail outlets but not one single sports model in stock. Totally pointless. They haven't really moved their design philosophy on since well they just never have....
PopsandBangs said:
I had exactly the same thoughts as you OP back in March of this year, attempting to buy my first and only and forever Rolex (Explorer 39mm, the only one i'd ever wanted and the explorer having family significance).... spoke quite extensively about it on the Bubble thread, with the same "I just want to walk in and buy one" thoughts 
Horrid experiences at all of the 3/4 official dealers I'd attempted to to get one at, and absolutely hated the idea of paying 25%+++ from some grey market flipper... indeed I felt as though it would ruin having the watch and I'd remember how I was "mugged off" in order to get it. Unworn was important to me, as it was to be a hand down to my as yet non existent son or daughter one day so wanted to be the first owner.
Rumours were that it was to be discontinued, (it was a few weeks later, so that worked out well) so I just grimaced and paid 2k over from watchfinder, who had a newly listed unworn one. It's worth more now, but that's irrelevant as its not going anywhere ever.
To be honest I've forgotten..(ish!!) about the premium now, even though it was a lot of extra money, and I haven't had to debase myself playing games with ADs. Sadly it's the way it is now.
But that watch is safe and sound on my wrist, and I'm glad I did it. So go for a good grey one. If you find that you resent what you've done after, can always sell it on
Thank you for sharing your experience, good to read. Horrid experiences at all of the 3/4 official dealers I'd attempted to to get one at, and absolutely hated the idea of paying 25%+++ from some grey market flipper... indeed I felt as though it would ruin having the watch and I'd remember how I was "mugged off" in order to get it. Unworn was important to me, as it was to be a hand down to my as yet non existent son or daughter one day so wanted to be the first owner.
Rumours were that it was to be discontinued, (it was a few weeks later, so that worked out well) so I just grimaced and paid 2k over from watchfinder, who had a newly listed unworn one. It's worth more now, but that's irrelevant as its not going anywhere ever.
To be honest I've forgotten..(ish!!) about the premium now, even though it was a lot of extra money, and I haven't had to debase myself playing games with ADs. Sadly it's the way it is now.
But that watch is safe and sound on my wrist, and I'm glad I did it. So go for a good grey one. If you find that you resent what you've done after, can always sell it on
Edited by PopsandBangs on Monday 7th June 22:54
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