Has the Rolex bubble finally burst? Perhaps it has

Has the Rolex bubble finally burst? Perhaps it has

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Discussion

Saweep

6,613 posts

188 months

Tuesday 21st April 2020
quotequote all
Calculator said:
Saweep said:
I wouldn't want to be sat with all my savings all in any asset class at the moment; especially not a safe full of Rolexs.
When you say ‘any asset class’ I assume that means you’re holding cash? What do you think will happen to that in the doomsday presented above?
I also said "all".

I have always kept a significant cash reserve as I remember 08/09 very well and looking at 30k Ferraris and £4k presidential Rolexs wishing I had the cash at such a young age to buy them!

Only later did I realise that the reason people were fire selling was due to a lack of cashflow not necessarily because they had no assets.

I don't think there will be a total doomsday that turns paper money into kindling but never have I felt more vindicated by holding a portion of my money in £, whether in the bank or under the mattress.

Everyone's appetite to risk is different though, that's for sure.

willttqs

123 posts

151 months

Tuesday 21st April 2020
quotequote all
I have decided against the non date sub I was offered from watches of Switzerland

paulguitar

24,119 posts

115 months

Tuesday 21st April 2020
quotequote all
willttqs said:
I have decided against the non date sub I was offered from watches of Switzerland
Sounds wise to me.



gregd

1,665 posts

221 months

Tuesday 21st April 2020
quotequote all
Rolex could help by allowing online ordering and postal delivery for AD's. WOS group are in a position to deliver other brands perfectly well even when stores are closed (I had a new Bond Seamaster arrive from them today). If WOS truly do have Rolex sports stock for those on waiting lists (or genuinely imminently expect it) this would overcome the current logjam and customer's (totally understandable) concerns about the safety of pay now / collect later.

Saweep

6,613 posts

188 months

Tuesday 21st April 2020
quotequote all
gregd said:
Rolex could help by allowing online ordering and postal delivery for AD's. WOS group are in a position to deliver other brands perfectly well even when stores are closed (I had a new Bond Seamaster arrive from them today). If WOS truly do have Rolex sports stock for those on waiting lists (or genuinely imminently expect it) this would overcome the current logjam and customer's (totally understandable) concerns about the safety of pay now / collect later.
I just don't believe Rolex have magiced up some watches from nowhere then told the AD they can't send them out.

If these watches were real surely Rolex would allow it.

Sounds really dodgy to me.

willttqs

123 posts

151 months

Tuesday 21st April 2020
quotequote all
I think i trust it, but for me and the non date, it is that I have had one before (eBay) and sold it (watchmaster), i didn't really remember when i was put on the list for one if i am honest. I don't want to pay £6,300 for a watch that i am not a 100% sure about, especially if i do decide to sell it, i lose out, which i think in this climate is perfectly possible.

Unless you are getting a GMT or something hard to get hold of, i am not keen on paying list price for any watch currently.

gregs656

10,950 posts

183 months

Tuesday 21st April 2020
quotequote all
willttqs said:
I think i trust it, but for me and the non date, it is that I have had one before (eBay) and sold it (watchmaster), i didn't really remember when i was put on the list for one if i am honest. I don't want to pay £6,300 for a watch that i am not a 100% sure about, especially if i do decide to sell it, i lose out, which i think in this climate is perfectly possible.

Unless you are getting a GMT or something hard to get hold of, i am not keen on paying list price for any watch currently.
That sounds like a smart decision if you are not that keen on the watch anyway.

The whole situation with WoS seems risky anyway, there are some simple things they could be doing even if they can't send out the watches which they are not (photographs, serial numbers etc). I would be grateful they gave you a simple decision.

Buster73

5,086 posts

155 months

Wednesday 22nd April 2020
quotequote all
.

Anyone who pays WOS a penny without seeing the watch physically in person needs their head examined.

Don’t cloud the issue with serial numbers or guarantee cards being allocated, credit card refunds or any other excuses to try and convince yourself you’ll be ok.

“A fool and their money are easily parted.” a phrase my grandmother drummed into me , she hasn’t been proved wrong yet.

DT398

1,745 posts

150 months

Wednesday 22nd April 2020
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I’d want a photo of the watch plus a photo the warranty card with my name on it with a matching serial number to pay in full and even then I probably wouldn’t want to take the risk of them going bust in the meantime.

If they can’t provide pics, then there’s something wrong!

anonymous-user

56 months

Wednesday 22nd April 2020
quotequote all
It’s a self fulfilling prophecy, as we, the consumers anticipate the market we lower prices to sell or hold off spending and fuel the downward spiral.

Ultimately someone will have to make a *hit decision and say the economic impact vs an additional 20k deaths isn’t worth it.

So

26,582 posts

224 months

Wednesday 22nd April 2020
quotequote all
DT398 said:
I’d want a photo of the watch plus a photo the warranty card with my name on it with a matching serial number to pay in full and even then I probably wouldn’t want to take the risk of them going bust in the meantime.

If they can’t provide pics, then there’s something wrong!
I can think of no reason why they would not settle for a deposit and balance on the day of collection. I am struggling to think of any business that would expect payment in full with an indeterminate delivery time frame.

Buster73

5,086 posts

155 months

Wednesday 22nd April 2020
quotequote all
So said:
I can think of no reason why they would not settle for a deposit and balance on the day of collection. I am struggling to think of any business that would expect payment in full with an indeterminate delivery time frame.
One so arrogant enough to think they can get away with it , if you don’t agree their terms you can guarantee someone will.

BOR

4,732 posts

257 months

Wednesday 22nd April 2020
quotequote all
There is NO reason why those watches don't exist, or can't be made to exist, as soon as the lockdown is lifted in Switzerland.

You have all swallowed the myth that steel Rolexes are some kind of unobtainable unicorn. That is due to Rolex or WOS manipulating supply to maintain demand.

There is no reason that Rolex cannot start spaffing out thousands of steel subs or daytonas on day 1 after they start up the printing presses production lines again, if they want to ensure the survival of their retail partners, which I am sure they do.

Or they can open that big cupboard where all the buffer stock is kept, and send it over.

Obviously, it HAS to be paid in full in advance, with no release of serial number data.

If the Billys realise that everyone can now have one, then suddenly, they won't be interested anymore, which defeats the purpose, so get lots bought and paid for before the penny drops.

Anything else defies logic.

So

26,582 posts

224 months

Wednesday 22nd April 2020
quotequote all
BOR said:
There is NO reason why those watches don't exist, or can't be made to exist, as soon as the lockdown is lifted in Switzerland.

You have all swallowed the myth that steel Rolexes are some kind of unobtainable unicorn. That is due to Rolex or WOS manipulating supply to maintain demand.

There is no reason that Rolex cannot start spaffing out thousands of steel subs or daytonas on day 1 after they start up the printing presses production lines again, if they want to ensure the survival of their retail partners, which I am sure they do.

Or they can open that big cupboard where all the buffer stock is kept, and send it over.

Obviously, it HAS to be paid in full in advance, with no release of serial number data.

If the Billys realise that everyone can now have one, then suddenly, they won't be interested anymore, which defeats the purpose, so get lots bought and paid for before the penny drops.

Anything else defies logic.
It's a theory.

They could still do it with a deposit, rather than full payment, though.

BOR

4,732 posts

257 months

Wednesday 22nd April 2020
quotequote all
Nope.

If they want cashflow, and that is clearly what everybody needs right now, then it needs to be pay-in-full or go back to the back of the queue.

So

26,582 posts

224 months

Wednesday 22nd April 2020
quotequote all
BOR said:
Nope.

If they want cashflow, and that is clearly what everybody needs right now, then it needs to be pay-in-full or go back to the back of the queue.
I thought you were talking about guaranteed sales, not cash flow.

I think it is ALL to do with cash flow. I am also inclined to agree that the watches don't exist. Buyers are buying a promise.



anonymous-user

56 months

Wednesday 22nd April 2020
quotequote all
So said:
BOR said:
Nope.

If they want cashflow, and that is clearly what everybody needs right now, then it needs to be pay-in-full or go back to the back of the queue.
I thought you were talking about guaranteed sales, not cash flow.

I think it is ALL to do with cash flow. I am also inclined to agree that the watches don't exist. Buyers are buying a promise.
That’s the issue though? Are WOS saying the Watch is actually available and they just can’t send it OR you’re buying a promise that they’ll get it and thus you will post lockdown?

If you’re buying a promise or a possible future watch and the payment is through an external company the there might be implications with you getting your watch as we don’t know what will happen to WOS.

If WOS are calling up people and saying Rolex have guaranteed you’ll get this watch after lockdown ends as they will ensure all promised watches are delivered then it might be ok but that’s not apparently the case.



Tango13

8,537 posts

178 months

Wednesday 22nd April 2020
quotequote all
BOR said:
There is NO reason why those watches don't exist, or can't be made to exist, as soon as the lockdown is lifted in Switzerland.

You have all swallowed the myth that steel Rolexes are some kind of unobtainable unicorn. That is due to Rolex or WOS manipulating supply to maintain demand.

There is no reason that Rolex cannot start spaffing out thousands of steel subs or daytonas on day 1 after they start up the printing presses production lines again, if they want to ensure the survival of their retail partners, which I am sure they do.

Or they can open that big cupboard where all the buffer stock is kept, and send it over.

Obviously, it HAS to be paid in full in advance, with no release of serial number data.

If the Billys realise that everyone can now have one, then suddenly, they won't be interested anymore, which defeats the purpose, so get lots bought and paid for before the penny drops.

Anything else defies logic.
Now colour me cynical but when I bought my GMT2 the serial number reflected the date of manufacture. Rolex went over to random serial numbers a few years back so there is no way of knowing if the watch was made last month or has been held back by Rolex for a rainy day...

Carl_Manchester

12,386 posts

264 months

Wednesday 22nd April 2020
quotequote all
BOR said:
You have all swallowed the myth that steel Rolexes are some kind of unobtainable unicorn. That is due to Rolex or WOS manipulating supply to maintain demand.
I agree with your post apart from this bit because the theme of the thread is a bunch of us felt this market was just another bubble waiting to pop.

gregs656

10,950 posts

183 months

Wednesday 22nd April 2020
quotequote all
BOR said:
There is NO reason why those watches don't exist, or can't be made to exist, as soon as the lockdown is lifted in Switzerland.

You have all swallowed the myth that steel Rolexes are some kind of unobtainable unicorn. That is due to Rolex or WOS manipulating supply to maintain demand.

There is no reason that Rolex cannot start spaffing out thousands of steel subs or daytonas on day 1 after they start up the printing presses production lines again, if they want to ensure the survival of their retail partners, which I am sure they do.

Or they can open that big cupboard where all the buffer stock is kept, and send it over.

Obviously, it HAS to be paid in full in advance, with no release of serial number data.

If the Billys realise that everyone can now have one, then suddenly, they won't be interested anymore, which defeats the purpose, so get lots bought and paid for before the penny drops.

Anything else defies logic.
I think you’ve missed the issue.

I don’t think anyone here thinks the watches can’t be made at some point in the future, the issue is what WoS are actually selling you right now and your rights should they go tits up.

It’s nothing to do with scarcity.