Rolex AD surprises
I have in the past been critical of Rolex as a brand and of their Dealerships.
I have visited quite a few in and around London in the UK with mixed results ranging from indifferent staff to non available stock. We all know the issues which are discussed ad infinitum here and elsewhere.
However I am happy to admit that based on my recent experience at one particular AD I was wrong to be too critical and join in the populist Rolex bashing.
I visited Mappin and Webb at Fenchurch Street London on 21st April to once again peruse the Rolex displays.
I was welcomed by a member of staff named Trevor , a guy about my age (approaching 60) and he could not have been more accommodating.
We drank coffee and chatted for an hour or so about watches and collecting in general before we got onto the specifics of what I might like to buy ( given the chance).
I took his advice on a more likely available model and specified a datejust 41 black dial smooth bezel on a jubilee.
He took my details and also noted my background and interests( it did feel a little like a promotion board at some points) and told me he would let me know if something came in.
I think it certainly helped that I was wearing my Tudor PO1 at the time. He joked that it was a proper enthusiasts watch. I has bought this and a Pelagos within the same group ( Goldsmiths) so I had a purchase history as well.
To cut to the chase we really hit it off. I was in there quite a while. I was gifted a Rolex magazine and brochure before I left.
On the 19th May I took a call from Trevor asking me of I was still in the market for the datejust and whether I could get to the store within 48hrs to buy the watch if one came in? I confirmed I could and joked I would not be hanging by my phone for that call!
On 26th May he called me back. My watch was ready for collection!
We made an appointment and today I collected my new watch with a massive smile on my face!
This will likely remain my biggest watch purchase.
I would like to applaud the service I got from Trevor at this AD.
This recent experience for me completely negates my previous less than positive views of the Rolex buying experience.
I now think a combination of purchase history, genuine interest as a collector/enthusiast and building a relationship with a great staff member is the way forward. Plus a good deal of luck in this case!
( I did check with Trevor that he was happy to be identified by the way!)
Thanks for reading!
An enthusiast and collector for two and a half years. Got it worse now than when I fell down the rabbit hole! The more I learn the greater my affliction becomes... A particular interest in titanium di...
Congrats on a very good experience and nicely done by Trevor!
Thank you! I've been in quite a few Rolex AD and this guy in this store really stood out.
Good to hear the customer service and AD experience was good. I know both you and I have been critical in the past.
In fairness though, it should be out of this world each and every time. The fact that it comes as a pleasant surprise is exactly why I don't like the brand.
The watch is lovely, they usually are. That's never been my issue.
Enjoy it my friend
Thanks mate. Yes you are spot on. We shouldn't be surprised to get great customer services at those price points.
Congratulation Craig. Nice to hear that you found an AD that works for you. Great choise of watch as well.
Thanks my friend. I took advice from the AD on my choice. It was between the datejust and the explorer. Both lovely to be fair! Despite my sometime negativity around Rolex I'm happy to now own one for sure!
Congratulations on your beautiful Rolex! I think the Rolex AD experience is anecdotal at best, right time/right place/right SA…but being respectful and positive never hurts. 🤙
Congrats on getting a great watch in such a short time
Congratulations on your beautiful Rolex! I think the Rolex AD experience is anecdotal at best, right time/right place/right SA…but being respectful and positive never hurts. 🤙
Many thanks and yes I agree completely.
Congrats on getting a great watch in such a short time
Thanks. I certainly wasn't expecting to get one any time soon. Infact I thought I was looking at years rather than five weeks!
Nice work! You’ll have to relegate the vintage Seikos to Championship dress occasions, and nights out in sketchy areas!
Well done. As much shit as I give Rolex, it is good to know that Trevors still exist. I know Rolex doesn't really need ADs like him to sell their product, but I hope they appreciate them. I'm glad your experience went so well.
Wow wow wow!!
Congratulations on an utterly gorgeous watch Craig! 🍻🎉🥳
Wow wow wow!!
Congratulations on an utterly gorgeous watch Craig! 🍻🎉🥳
Thank you! I'm feeling lucky right now!
Nice work! You’ll have to relegate the vintage Seikos to Championship dress occasions, and nights out in sketchy areas!
Yep! I've never bought a new dress watch before!
Nice story.
Congratulations on a beautiful timepiece.
Gorgeous piece! I’ve been think about getting the same model, but with the white dial. Next London meetup I make it to you need to wear this one!
OK will do!
Congratulations on a beautiful timepiece.
Thank you! Guessing we are the same age!?
I've also had a reasonably good experience with a Goldsmiths in Nottingham. The sales associate was a genuine watch enthusiast, welcoming and polite and had plenty of time to sit down and talk.
I assume each chain has a different sales training program and guidance for their staff. Chisholm Hunter in Edinburgh are fannnntastic, but not Rolex ADs.
WoS (Watches of Switzerland / World of Shite!?) on the otherhand are a terrible dissappointment. I struggle to even get in the door, past security, and past the check-in desk..to speak with an associate. In Heathrow, WOS even scalded me for wearing my explorer on a leather strap! 😂 They told me it's not how it should be worn...
My best ever AD experience was at the IWC boutique on new bond street. Where my friend and I got to drink whisky, chat with the SA and try on a bunch of fun expensive stuff! I am definitely an IWC convert as a result.
I also recently took my Rolex in for a warranty service, at the rolex UK facility in St James'. That was a very nice experience - with the opportunity to speak with a rolex watchmaker of 30 years. It's clear the ADs are a bit like car delaerships - the quality of staff and training can vary massively, from group to group, and even intra-group.
I didn't realise the connection between some of the better known names like butchered, mappin and webb, goldsmiths etc.
My experience at Fenchurch Street was very good, as it should be when you are spending a small fortune!
The new Tudor boutique at Battersea Power Station where I got my Pelagos was outstanding in every way.
I'm with you on watches of switzerland. The one in Regent Street was a pretty hostile environment definitely not interested in my custom.
Very much like car dealers. My car dealer is pretty good. I took my wife's car in today and it was shockingly bad!
Bucherer not butchered! Although that might be appropriate...
Congratulations on your new watch :)
Congratulations on your new watch :)
Thank you! Despite some previous poor experience I'm a new convert. The date just is just lovely!
So nice to hear a story like that!!. As a sales representative most of my career Trevor did his job the way it is supposed to be done..Congrats on the new watch and finding a AD worth your time in going to..
So nice to hear a story like that!!. As a sales representative most of my career Trevor did his job the way it is supposed to be done..Congrats on the new watch and finding a AD worth your time in going to..
Thank you. Yes it has restored my faith in most if not all of the Rolex AD.
Congratulations! I’ve been saying for a while that not all ADs are built equal, and that ‘artificial scarcity’ is a myth — I’m also fortunate to have a great relationship with two ADs in London and Italy. ‘Populist bashing’ is exactly it, good that you saw the light!
Congratulations! I’ve been saying for a while that not all ADs are built equal, and that ‘artificial scarcity’ is a myth — I’m also fortunate to have a great relationship with two ADs in London and Italy. ‘Populist bashing’ is exactly it, good that you saw the light!
Thank you! Yep I'm a convert which means I will now be defending Rolex when they are frequently bashed. What a turn around!
Great story mate. Was in London in 2010 wild place i was nearly robbed twice. We have limited access to quality time pieces were I live. It’s 2.5 hours to Sydney and appointments required even for non AD retailers.
Great story mate. Was in London in 2010 wild place i was nearly robbed twice. We have limited access to quality time pieces were I live. It’s 2.5 hours to Sydney and appointments required even for non AD retailers.
Thanks. im still positive about it 9 months later and the datejust gets quite a lot of wear although not wearing a t shirt on the tube for obvious reasons.
Will probably never buy another Rolex but at least I don't give them a bad press any more well generally!