Rolex is awful. I didn’t know the deal when going to an AD.
I know they are great watches. But going to a Rolex AD made hate the brand.
Dad wanted to sell his old Explorer 1016 and I said I’d buy it, thinking a couple k would be fair. Then, I checked the value and suddenly realized it was way outta my league $$$$. I didn’t totally love its looks, so I offered to sell it for him. (He wanted to buy a truck or boat, he’s 84).
Dad thought it might need a service. It kept time fine, but it hadn’t been serviced in >15 years. So headed to local AD to inquire. I hoped to try on a couple modern Rolex models while I was there, being sweet on the Submariner.
I went in as as a complete fool, thinking a Rolex AD would be similar to the Rolex website with models and prices.
After getting through the Fort Knox security layers, I was able to chat with the salesman.
He recommended that if my 1016 worked at all, do not even think of servicing. He said it would literally be 2 or 3 years and cost many thousands dollars, so I should forget about it.
I thought: Ok… that’s crazy, but I’ll look at the Explorer II and Sub while I’m here!
He then let me know that they didn’t have a single mens Rolex. And no: I can’t give deposit or be on the wait list. Whole convo he had an arrogant dismissive attitude
I left quite sullied on snobby Rolex.
So, I sold the Explorer privately for a good price. Felt sad to let my “dad watch” go, but wanted Dad to get most the money possible and never really felt any passion for that small black and expensive antique watch. He’s looking a nice little boat now!
I don’t know how an AD pays rent when he has no watches to sell. What a silly and deliberate problem Rolex created.
Thanks for reading!
@fieldwalker.watch/ on Instagram. 一期一会 Treasure the unrepeatable nature of a moment. Zen Zaratsu state of mind. ~6” wrist. Explore the ocean and the mountains in my free time.
Sounds like a bad AD and SA and I would not let it sour you on the brand. Full service should be about $800-$1000 and you are looking at a 2-4 month turnaround. My guess is the AD did not want to deal with it so they totally blew you off by giving you bogus expectations.
Regarding the new watches, that is the way right now. They have watches to sell, just not to you. Not trying to be mean, please do not take it as that, but unless you have an existing relationship or willing to spend money on non-Rolex inventory, they are not going to sell you a hot model because of the current market. They have 100+ folks calling or stopping by every day trying to get a watch to make a quick buck. I am sure with the right SA, you probably could have got a Date Just, but sadly that is about it for most.
I hope your dad enjoys the new boat.
Unfortunate but not uncommon with Rolex ADs.
Good call. Great time to be selling an old Rolex. He'll enjoy the boat MUCH more.
Spend time with your Dad in the boat, and forget about watches.
My father is "only" 70, but every time I have a chance to spend time with him back home(1600km away) I do, and don't care about what we are doing. We could watch paint dry and it would be worth more than all the wealth on earth.
If you went in to another Rolex AD and they were nice to you and they happened to offer you a Rolex watch you wanted (at list price) would you take it? My point is: was your experience sullied by the AD, the SA or the brand? Its important to differentiate
That's a lovely explorer shame it had to go. But the way Rolex AD's are treating folk will come back to bite them.
I would not buy a Rolex if I had the money simply out of principal. Too much great alternative product out there, and more my style to. Hope you got a good fair price for it in the end.Enjoy the boat and regards to your Dad.
Honestly, props to your Dad, he deserves that boat, and there is no need to keep that watch if it didnt mean anything to him.
Regarding the Rolex ADs... Yeah, the situation is like that right now... For that price I would go to GS, JLC, ... Companies that let you buy their watches. I like Rolex and I love my Datejust, but I dont like what they are doing right now.
Rolex hasn’t created a problem. You had a personal experience with an independent private AD. They have a license to sell Rolex, but they are not part of Rolex. If your salesman is a giant d**k try another one. As a fanboy I was at various ADs around the world and had just a few experiences with snobby ADs most are super nice and polite. However it is true that you cannot put a deposite, because they don’t know when and if they are able to sell you that watch. Rolex sells, as commonly known, over 1 mio watches a year, Omega 500k as well as Cartier. Both you find in the windows. So there is a problem with the demand, not with production amount. The popularity rose to fast, Rolex produces every year more watches, but they cannot come behind. And how should they!? Before Covid, Rolex watches were desired as premium watches of the most well known brand. A few models like the Hulk/Kermit, Pepsi and Daytona where nice to invest in. Nowadays every Rolex can be seen as an investment. So not only watch lovers but investors also buy that watches.
For you (and your Dad) this desirability was also a big plus when selling the watch. So be happy with the money you made! :)
I appreciate that you had a bad experience, this seems to be commonplace now for Rolex and Rolex ADs. I am glad that your dad can move on from this and purchase that boat.
However, and as an aside not really aimed at the OP of this thread, it is getting very tedious with all this Rolex bashing. There has to numerous posts a day on this all basically saying the same thing: look at the prices, I can’t buy one, the ADs are mean, I hate flippers, what are Rolex doing, I‘ll never buy one again… It’s getting very salty in here and I’m starting to float.
Rolex hasn’t created a problem. You had a personal experience with an independent private AD. They have a license to sell Rolex, but they are not part of Rolex. If your salesman is a giant d**k try another one. As a fanboy I was at various ADs around the world and had just a few experiences with snobby ADs most are super nice and polite. However it is true that you cannot put a deposite, because they don’t know when and if they are able to sell you that watch. Rolex sells, as commonly known, over 1 mio watches a year, Omega 500k as well as Cartier. Both you find in the windows. So there is a problem with the demand, not with production amount. The popularity rose to fast, Rolex produces every year more watches, but they cannot come behind. And how should they!? Before Covid, Rolex watches were desired as premium watches of the most well known brand. A few models like the Hulk/Kermit, Pepsi and Daytona where nice to invest in. Nowadays every Rolex can be seen as an investment. So not only watch lovers but investors also buy that watches.
For you (and your Dad) this desirability was also a big plus when selling the watch. So be happy with the money you made! :)
Hi Pascal,
I think you are letting Rolex off too easily. Rolex dealers are vetted, strictly controlled and subject to a set of rules. This dealer blatantly lied to the client about the repair being years long.... If the client sent an email to Rolex, the dealer would very likely be reprimanded about this.
The ridculous delivery times are another story however; Rolex supports this methodology so the dealer in this case is simply following Rolex's guidelines.
Personally, I wouldn't go remotely near any manufacturer (regardless of product) who makes me, as a customer, feel like they're doing me huge favour by selling me their product. Almost as if potential customers need to be deemed "worthy" of owning said product. They get 2 words from me, 7 letters, 3 of which are "f".
If you went in to another Rolex AD and they were nice to you and they happened to offer you a Rolex watch you wanted (at list price) would you take it? My point is: was your experience sullied by the AD, the SA or the brand? Its important to differentiate
The AD experience is very much part of the brand experience. It's not just the watch.
If you buy a cheap watch on Ali, it has an issue and you want to return the watch, the Ali store you bought it from may turn out to be a nightmare when it comes to such requests. But perhaps a different Ali store would be more helpful? Perhaps, but your bad experience is now part of your personal experience with the brand, it reflects on the brand. With Rolex it is not any different.
And deservedly so: an AD is after all an Authorised Dealer, as in: authorized by the brand to sell their watches, not just a random person selling you a watch.
Typical Rolex experience, get treated like shit. If people stopped buying them then their attitude would change.rolex will never get a penny off me.
The AD experience is very much part of the brand experience. It's not just the watch.
If you buy a cheap watch on Ali, it has an issue and you want to return the watch, the Ali store you bought it from may turn out to be a nightmare when it comes to such requests. But perhaps a different Ali store would be more helpful? Perhaps, but your bad experience is now part of your personal experience with the brand, it reflects on the brand. With Rolex it is not any different.
And deservedly so: an AD is after all an Authorised Dealer, as in: authorized by the brand to sell their watches, not just a random person selling you a watch.
@uhrensohn They should treat all their customers/people who walk into their stores with the utmost respect anyway, regardless if they are an AD or not. It’s the least they can do.
It makes no difference if its Rolex/Ali Express. It’s down to individual preference whether you’d still want the watch from another seller/AD/retailer. Personally, I wouldn’t tarnish all the AD’s (and the associated brand) with the same brush - some are good, some are bad - like everything in life. Fortunately, there are too many watches out there that warrant my attention to dwell on a single AD/brand.
If you went in to another Rolex AD and they were nice to you and they happened to offer you a Rolex watch you wanted (at list price) would you take it? My point is: was your experience sullied by the AD, the SA or the brand? Its important to differentiate
Yes, even at retail it’s no small purchase. I had researched the all the list prices before going in and I had in my mind that if I saw something I totally loved, I’d bite.
That's a beautiful Explorer. Those numerals strike me as much more classy/timeless than the current model's.
I'll tolerate many faults but arrogance is one of the few to shut me down immediately. Worst of all coming from what should be a customer service experience. Rolex somehow manages to treat a luxury good consumer like a feudal serf. There are too many other companies trying to give their customer all they can -- they deserve our business.
Hope you and your father enjoy that time on the water together!
There are many many beautiful watches from many luxury brands. I have never really wanted a Rolex. I can't afford their ridiculous prices anyway. Omega. For example maker much nicer and arguably better watches than Rolex. Rolex have become a money making machine for those fortunate enough to buy and flip them . Am I jealous? Maybe... But I can build a collection of Omega.Panerai.Tudor( part of Rolex I know) Gran Seiko etc etc for the price of One Rolex.
It’s funny because since getting that initial “punch in the face“ intro from Rolex I basically immersed myself in watches and our culture.
So going again might be different? I kind of don’t doubt it. To a Rolex AD I’m still a nobody and not an oligarch.
Happily the experience didn’t sully watches in general and I’ve now started a nice little collection.🙂
My own sense now that I’m not such a neophyte is that a Rolex is much more a status symbol and much less, a watch.
People currently buying Rolex do it mostly to impress others, or to try to profit from.
Other brands of high end watches are bought mostly for one’s own personal enjoyment of a gorgeous mechanical timepiece.
I don’t think this theory applies to those who bought years ago when a Rolex was just a luxury tool watch and you pay what you expect to pay.
(like my dad!)
Personally, I wouldn't go remotely near any manufacturer (regardless of product) who makes me, as a customer, feel like they're doing me huge favour by selling me their product. Almost as if potential customers need to be deemed "worthy" of owning said product. They get 2 words from me, 7 letters, 3 of which are "f".
100%
Spend time with your Dad in the boat, and forget about watches.
My father is "only" 70, but every time I have a chance to spend time with him back home(1600km away) I do, and don't care about what we are doing. We could watch paint dry and it would be worth more than all the wealth on earth.
You got it Kristian!
It felt criminal selling my dads Rolex but time with him is priceless so no regrets
We actually wrote an article about this a couple months ago. It's a big problem everywhere. Not just in Vancouver. I was travelling through Central America and out of curiosity stopped by a few to see if they had any stock, nothing. Not one had a single watch. This is why you're starting to see other brands increase in popularity. Specifically Tudor. Here's a link to the article if you're interested. - https://www.searchluxxee.com/magazine/where-are-all-the-rolexes
Just wanted to stop in and say amazing 1016! Sad watch to let go of but happy to hear the funds were used for more fun!
Regarding ADs I would have no idea. No AD in my city has any, and I don't even dare ask
Just wanted to stop in and say amazing 1016! Sad watch to let go of but happy to hear the funds were used for more fun!
Regarding ADs I would have no idea. No AD in my city has any, and I don't even dare ask
Thanks.
I took some glamour shots of it and made it look rather awesome.
But at 36mm and a rather simple black face, it kind of disappeared on my wrist in daily use. (Wore it for a few days to check it’s accuracy).
So would’ve likely just sat in a watch box if I’d kept it. Also, I’m hard on watches so a valuable antique is not ideal for me!
We actually wrote an article about this a couple months ago. It's a big problem everywhere. Not just in Vancouver. I was travelling through Central America and out of curiosity stopped by a few to see if they had any stock, nothing. Not one had a single watch. This is why you're starting to see other brands increase in popularity. Specifically Tudor. Here's a link to the article if you're interested. - https://www.searchluxxee.com/magazine/where-are-all-the-rolexes
Thanks! Will read it. Funny - new Tudor store just opened in Vancouver and I’d like to go in and see the BB and Pelagos in person
I appreciate that you had a bad experience, this seems to be commonplace now for Rolex and Rolex ADs. I am glad that your dad can move on from this and purchase that boat.
However, and as an aside not really aimed at the OP of this thread, it is getting very tedious with all this Rolex bashing. There has to numerous posts a day on this all basically saying the same thing: look at the prices, I can’t buy one, the ADs are mean, I hate flippers, what are Rolex doing, I‘ll never buy one again… It’s getting very salty in here and I’m starting to float.
Spot on. I get it, the process is not for everyone and it is disappointing that someone who worked hard to save for one cannot get one, I get it, but the continuous bashing is just silly, especially by those that are not even in the target audience. The same has been happening for Porsche, Ferrari, Hermes, and other luxury products for decades.
For me, let people enjoy what they enjoy and to your point, the complaints are predictable at this point.
There are many many beautiful watches from many luxury brands. I have never really wanted a Rolex. I can't afford their ridiculous prices anyway. Omega. For example maker much nicer and arguably better watches than Rolex. Rolex have become a money making machine for those fortunate enough to buy and flip them . Am I jealous? Maybe... But I can build a collection of Omega.Panerai.Tudor( part of Rolex I know) Gran Seiko etc etc for the price of One Rolex.
Well said !!! Right on … I have owned 4 Rolex and sold them all. I love the new look of Omlegs and just bought a Tudor GMT, I’m switching out my bands on my Panerai to make it more fun. Love your point of view !
It's almost as if they WANT you to go to the grey market and not bother them with pesky things like giving them money.