Rolex ‘Waitlist’ Debate
I’ve seen a post recently debating the whole AD/waitlist blah blah with Rolex and so I thought I’d share an alternative view.
Now I get the frustration of having/needing a ‘purchase history’ but once again, if you’re in the business of sales, generating extra revenue is the name of the game. I’m not saying I agree with it, and my AD has sold me 2 Rolex without any purchase history, so know it’s not necessarily a requirement.
If watches were sold on a first come first serve basis, we’d see queues outside the store every morning and all the stock would be sold 15 minutes after opening. Kind of like anything Supreme release.
Is that a better way to do it? Some of us who don’t want to wait in a virtual queue, would you really wait in a real one? When there’s people camping outside overnight?
If you think that selling in this way is a better system and will eradicate flippers…
In my honest opinion if feels like an artificial shortage or market manipulation. They make a lot of them but people are constantly waiting years for popular models??? Doesn't make sense to me.
Every post like this is like the guy who wanders to the front of the queue and gets told "hey mate this is the front of the queue". 😂
It’s not that I don’t understand why Rolex likes things the way they are, it’s that I don’t appreciate the way they are.
If there were any transparency, I wouldn’t mind a list. I’m absolutely ok with waiting, and I get your point about a real line out the door.
But…I recently ordered a car and the salesman was able to show me the list with exactly how many cars would be made before mine. He also told me an approximate delivery date, and was pretty accurate.
So it can be done, but Rolex and their ADs love the mystery more than they love their customers. That’s why, in my view, they can all f**k right off.
It’s not that I don’t understand why Rolex likes things the way they are, it’s that I don’t appreciate the way they are.
If there were any transparency, I wouldn’t mind a list. I’m absolutely ok with waiting, and I get your point about a real line out the door.
But…I recently ordered a car and the salesman was able to show me the list with exactly how many cars would be made before mine. He also told me an approximate delivery date, and was pretty accurate.
So it can be done, but Rolex and their ADs love the mystery more than they love their customers. That’s why, in my view, they can all f**k right off.
Definitely could be more transparency regarding the list. I know we would all appreciate that. From all the ADs I’ve spoken to, they all say that they never know which watches are going to be in each week/months delivery. Without that info, it’s pretty difficult guesswork in terms of timeframes.
I do not think that anybody wants to stop watches being sold on the grey market. If they did, grey market dealers would not have the latest models within days of their release. In fact, I would go so far as to say that there are a good few ADs that are happy to sell the new releases to grey market dealers. Perhaps even on consignment and for a share of the increased prices grey market dealers can charge.
I’m not waiting to buy any watch, ever. If I have to get on a list to buy it, I’m moving on to the thousands of other watches that I don’t have to play games to get.
Flippers always seem to have more watches than the AD's. Same with ticket touts. It doesn't seem possible to stop the practice. But what I don't understand is the AD's can't give you a date. Why don't they know when they'll get delivery? It's not rocket science.
Flippers always seem to have more watches than the AD's. Same with ticket touts. It doesn't seem possible to stop the practice. But what I don't understand is the AD's can't give you a date. Why don't they know when they'll get delivery? It's not rocket science.
I have a cousin who is a ticket tout. He sources his from individuals who just want to make a quick ££. I’m assuming watches work pretty much the same way. I’m sure ADs do some back door deals, but I’d guess a big chunk of grey dealer stock comes from individual customers as well.
With regards to the dates, the ADs I’ve spoken with have said they don’t know what they will receive in each delivery, so it’s impossible for them to forecast. Whether that’s true or not, I leave up to the cynic in you to decide 😅
I have done it for concert tickets before so queing up for a Rolex, where does the line start (if they have the model I want).
It is what it is. Deal with it or don't.
How about an internet wait list where you can be given a ball park estimate of your turn to buy. If you already bought one from that AD this year then you can’t have another one this year.
I’m not waiting to buy any watch, ever. If I have to get on a list to buy it, I’m moving on to the thousands of other watches that I don’t have to play games to get.
Yep. Life’s too short to play games of self importance and referring to a Rolex purchase as “got the call”. It’s pathetic.
It’s not that I don’t understand why Rolex likes things the way they are, it’s that I don’t appreciate the way they are.
If there were any transparency, I wouldn’t mind a list. I’m absolutely ok with waiting, and I get your point about a real line out the door.
But…I recently ordered a car and the salesman was able to show me the list with exactly how many cars would be made before mine. He also told me an approximate delivery date, and was pretty accurate.
So it can be done, but Rolex and their ADs love the mystery more than they love their customers. That’s why, in my view, they can all f**k right off.
I was told at Wempe the other week, that there were more than 200 people on the wait-list for an Explorer 1. No idea wether to believe this or not, but not unimaginable in the main shopping street of Munich. And why would they want to stop me from buying a 7k watch, we spoke a bit about other watches, but they got that I'm looking for an Explorer only.
At Bucherer they told me, that they don't actually know how many watches will be allocated to them each time a batch is produced, that's also why they can't really say how long it'll take. Also don't know if I believe that, but it doesn't sound completely out of this world. Still said I'd definitely have mine before Christmas.
How about an internet wait list where you can be given a ball park estimate of your turn to buy. If you already bought one from that AD this year then you can’t have another one this year.
Some ads do already use the prsctice of only one Rolex a year
Another boring Rolex post which has been regurgitated a million times before! What’s the point?
I think the problem is rolex produces a lot of watches, and there is more demand for the individual pieces like a explorer 40mm, batgirl, pepsi , daytona etc.
They make like 10 different colour dialed DJ41mm, and then another 10 on jubilee if not on oyster , then another 10 with smooth bezel, fluted bezel, two tone, rose gold, then again on 36mm and 31mm size. And thats just the datejust line up.
But there is a handful of watches that everyone is after so the waiting list of those must be disproportionately higher.
You can probably get a rolex from an AD very quickly if you went for models no one else is after
This is exactly the point. The popular line is ‘they make a million watches a year’. Yes they do, but how many of those million are Pepsi GMT or panda Daytona?
There is far more demand and it isn’t all manufactured as many claim.
I’m not waiting to buy any watch, ever. If I have to get on a list to buy it, I’m moving on to the thousands of other watches that I don’t have to play games to get.
I don’t see the harm in registering your interest. It won’t stop you from still being able to enjoy all the other watches you want to. And who knows you might get offered a Rolex out the blue too.
Another boring Rolex post which has been regurgitated a million times before! What’s the point?
If you read the post you might see the point I was going for.. if not then scroll on 😉
Think of it like this, Rolexes are currency and the AD is the central bank. Just like a central bank, the ADs restrict the supply to ensure confidence in the currency. If they just made as many as people would buy, the values would crash and existing Rolex owners would be mighty pissed as their ‘savings’ go up in smoke. Because Rolex have chosen to operate this way, they have a continued responsibility to existing owners (I.e savers if we use the analogy) not to destroy the value of their collection. Personally I see nothing wrong with this as there is plenty of choice. If you don’t subscribe to this way of doing business, buy a different watch.
I don’t see the harm in registering your interest. It won’t stop you from still being able to enjoy all the other watches you want to. And who knows you might get offered a Rolex out the blue too.
There’s no harm in it, but it’s a game and I have no interest in playing it. There’s a plethora of other watches out there that I don’t have to play games to get.
Well first of all, I question how authentic is the "Waiting list", in other words who says the AD abides by it?
I refuse to play by their power trip games, AD's, so I will never own a Rolex new. I honestly don't have a problem paying more to gray market (a bit more, not obscenely more) to not be treated like a indigent when buying a luxury good.
People do what we allow them to do to us.
Think of it like this, Rolexes are currency and the AD is the central bank. Just like a central bank, the ADs restrict the supply to ensure confidence in the currency. If they just made as many as people would buy, the values would crash and existing Rolex owners would be mighty pissed as their ‘savings’ go up in smoke. Because Rolex have chosen to operate this way, they have a continued responsibility to existing owners (I.e savers if we use the analogy) not to destroy the value of their collection. Personally I see nothing wrong with this as there is plenty of choice. If you don’t subscribe to this way of doing business, buy a different watch.
Well the market is correcting now, Rolex and high end watches, so one can potentially get one on gray market—without taking complete bath on purchase.
Well first of all, I question how authentic is the "Waiting list", in other words who says the AD abides by it?
I refuse to play by their power trip games, AD's, so I will never own a Rolex new. I honestly don't have a problem paying more to gray market (a bit more, not obscenely more) to not be treated like a indigent when buying a luxury good.
People do what we allow them to do to us.
The list operates differently at every AD which tells us that it's a case by case basis, determined by the particular AD, and not a Rolex list.
The list operates differently at every AD which tells us that it's a case by case basis, determined by the particular AD, and not a Rolex list.
It is all arrogance and a power trip. There has to be a better way...one is buying a luxury product for $10k (USD) plus. To be treated like a ignorant child is insulting. To be forced to buy trinkets to gain favor is also degrading.
But hey if people want to play the game, be treated with disdain, that is their right.
I don’t wait to spend my money…..🤣😂
Any company or AD that does this has too much money imo,
My money is good anywhere. If an AD wont sell me a watch they have in stock, its not rocket surgery ill just turn around and buy a proper watch 🤣
I have no problem with wait lists if there is actually a list and you can find out your position in the queue, I do have a problem with needing a purchase history.
I have no sympathy with people who are complaining about waitlists. Most people who are whining just want the watch because it is popular. Why not buy it before the craze if it's such a "grail piece"? Don't tell all of them just now saved up so that they can afford it...
Late to the party?! Well, the beer is gone and the others are having a blast...
Definitely could be more transparency regarding the list. I know we would all appreciate that. From all the ADs I’ve spoken to, they all say that they never know which watches are going to be in each week/months delivery. Without that info, it’s pretty difficult guesswork in terms of timeframes.
If that’s true the fault is definitely with Rolex. There’s no way a company that size and with that much success can’t let ADs know what and how many watches they’ll be getting.