There are still a few decent AD’s out there.
Christmas 2021, I received my first grail watch, a Pepsi GMT. Yesterday, I got my second watch. Both at my AD, both I waited 6 months from the time I requested to receive.
I wanted to share my experience, maybe it will make you feel better about working with an AD, maybe it won’t.
I spoke to three different stores before choosing the one I worked with. The salesman I worked with was honest and sincere from the beginning. I would not be able to get something like a pepsi off the bat. Why? A lot of people come in wanting to flip. I needed to earn his trust. I purchased an explorer 1 39mm. It took me 3 months to get the watch in 2018. This watch I gave to my father. 6 months later I bought a date just for my wife.
During this time, I would check in with my salesman, once a quarter, mainly shooting the shit about watches. In Feb, 2020, I asked if I could get a Pepsi gmt. He said I could. Aug 2020, on my bday, I got a call that my Pepsi had arrived. I actually turned it down. Pandemic was crushing my business, and I did not feel it was right to spend that much money on a watch. My Ad was understanding, but I was pretty broken up, that I turned down my grail watch. I never knew if I would get a chance again.
Fastforward to June of 2021, my business had returned back to normal, and I asked again for the Pepsi. He said he would do his best, this is when watches were going crazy. That Christmas I had my watch.
Point of this, there are people if you have an honest relationship with, will help you out. Are they hard to find, yes. Did I need purchase history, yes. Did I need to prove that I wouldnt flip the watch, yes. But at the end of the day, I got the watches I wanted with patience.
Fantastic story! I had a similar experience with two ADs. I never bought watches I didn't specifically ask for. Glad you got the watches you wanted!
I’m glad you were able to get tha watch you wanted. I do wonder what your experience would have been had you not bought 2 other watches first. Can trust be earned through showing interest, or would I need to buy a few watches first? I’ll be honest, I would like exactly 1 more Rolex. I’m not interested in paying over retail, and I don’t want to buy something else to earn the privilege.
I’m glad you were able to get tha watch you wanted. I do wonder what your experience would have been had you not bought 2 other watches first. Can trust be earned through showing interest, or would I need to buy a few watches first? I’ll be honest, I would like exactly 1 more Rolex. I’m not interested in paying over retail, and I don’t want to buy something else to earn the privilege.
I feel like getting a Rolex without prior purchase history is rare although not unheard of as I've seen a few people say they were able to get one without any purchase history. I'm in the same camp where I had purchased 2 watches from my AD prior to getting a Rolex
Lovely story and I agree that there are many good ADs out there, but it seems a bit crazy to me to have to spend 10-20K on watches I don't want to earn the privilege of maybe having the opportunity to spend 20K on watches I do. I know how we got here, but it's nuts.
I bought my first Rolex from an AD after 6 months on the list. No prior purchase history. Yes, it was an SS Explorer 124270... so maybe it was an easier model to get than some, but that was the watch I wanted.
Thanks for sharing your story. I think many can learn from this - its all about the relationship you develop with your dealer. I often smile wryly at those who are incensed at the thought they have an entitlement to turn up with their money and just buy something from someone else. Why? In fact pure contract law suggests the advertising of offering of a product is merely an "invitation to treat". It doesn't mean a person with an item someone else wants has to sell it to them. Furthermore, if they have a desirable product, why should they be compelled to sell to people who don't respect them, or the product sufficiently? I think decorum as both a buyer and a seller is a good thing. And it seems you were rewarded for yours. Congrats! #rolex
Just wondering where you're from as I have a good purchase history and am still waiting over 2 yrs for a GMT
Just wondering where you're from as I have a good purchase history and am still waiting over 2 yrs for a GMT
Houston
Thanks for that ,seems USA getting a lot of allocation
Lovely story and I agree that there are many good ADs out there, but it seems a bit crazy to me to have to spend 10-20K on watches I don't want to earn the privilege of maybe having the opportunity to spend 20K on watches I do. I know how we got here, but it's nuts.
I bought my first Rolex from an AD after 6 months on the list. No prior purchase history. Yes, it was an SS Explorer 124270... so maybe it was an easier model to get than some, but that was the watch I wanted.
Yeah, i mean, people are saying, i'm not gonna pay premium, i'm gonna buy from an AD, and then you're literally buying 2 more watches. If it isn't a premium, then i dont know what is.
Thanks for sharing your story. I think many can learn from this - its all about the relationship you develop with your dealer. I often smile wryly at those who are incensed at the thought they have an entitlement to turn up with their money and just buy something from someone else. Why? In fact pure contract law suggests the advertising of offering of a product is merely an "invitation to treat". It doesn't mean a person with an item someone else wants has to sell it to them. Furthermore, if they have a desirable product, why should they be compelled to sell to people who don't respect them, or the product sufficiently? I think decorum as both a buyer and a seller is a good thing. And it seems you were rewarded for yours. Congrats! #rolex
The only outcome i can learn from this, that in order to buy a watch, you need to buy another 2 watches lol)
It's not a decorum, it's not about a relationship, it's dealer milking you for more cash and that's it. If it was all about the relationship, you wouldn't need a buying history, you would need to take a sales person for a dinner.
Was this an independent AD or a Rolex boutique?
Rolex boutique
The only outcome i can learn from this, that in order to buy a watch, you need to buy another 2 watches lol)
It's not a decorum, it's not about a relationship, it's dealer milking you for more cash and that's it. If it was all about the relationship, you wouldn't need a buying history, you would need to take a sales person for a dinner.
You have no entitlement to a product just because its produced. Where there is a scarcity, those with the product can make choices who to sell to. If you are a bit of a cock or appearing entitled, I can see why a dealer may choose to make a client jump through some hoops. If you are polite, respectful (to both the product and the salespeople) you know what - you may just get what you are looking for. Dealers also play the long game - if you are likely to be a repeat client, it is in their interest to look after you. There are plenty of stories out there bout people getting the watch they want without a buying history, with a little bit of patience, a demonstrated interest and a polite disposition. I suggest people just try. What have you got to lose?
@KiwiWayne seems like you've send me a comment, but it's not showing up anywhere in this thread, or basically anywhere. Would you mind repeat the comment please?
@KiwiWayne seems like you've send me a comment, but it's not showing up anywhere in this thread, or basically anywhere. Would you mind repeat the comment please?
Let’s take one of the most sought after watches. A daytona. My salesperson gets 2 a year. There are 6 salespeople. That’s means 12 Daytonas a year. How many come in asking for a Daytona? A couple thousand people a year. How would you go about deciding who gets one?
Let’s take one of the most sought after watches. A daytona. My salesperson gets 2 a year. There are 6 salespeople. That’s means 12 Daytonas a year. How many come in asking for a Daytona? A couple thousand people a year. How would you go about deciding who gets one?
Well, I’d just roll the randomizer.
You have no entitlement to a product just because its produced. Where there is a scarcity, those with the product can make choices who to sell to. If you are a bit of a cock or appearing entitled, I can see why a dealer may choose to make a client jump through some hoops. If you are polite, respectful (to both the product and the salespeople) you know what - you may just get what you are looking for. Dealers also play the long game - if you are likely to be a repeat client, it is in their interest to look after you. There are plenty of stories out there bout people getting the watch they want without a buying history, with a little bit of patience, a demonstrated interest and a polite disposition. I suggest people just try. What have you got to lose?
Yeah, I get what are you trying to explain, it’s just the whole “purchase history“ concept isnt clicking with me. I mean, if it’s about building a base of a loyal customers, yeah, right you want it as an AD, and you want to maintain a good relationship with those people so they would go for more watches or recommend your shop to friends, but at the same time, I can see how a salesperson could abuse the system and ask for ”bribe”.
And if someone says that “look, if you buy this 2 watches i will put you further on the list” - this is just filthy corruption