Visiting another Rolex museum in San Antonio Tx.
During my vacation, I visited (as any watch enthusiast would) a Rolex store at Cantera Mall in San Antonio, TX, after checking out the models displayed in the store's exterior showcase. The feeling upon entering was familiar, akin to stepping into a museum where I can admire artworks but, of course, cannot purchase them.
Once inside, I overheard a customer asking the salesperson (the tour guide for this matter), "Are there any pieces available for sale?" and I couldn't help but chuckle inwardly. Poor soul. He had come all the way from Monterrey, Mexico, and if they could have sold him a watch, he would've paid cash on the spot. Anyway, once inside, all I could do was browse the usual models; watches with the label "for exhibition only" in each display case. This was not the first time I felt I was wasting my time. The salesperson approached me and repeated the same spiel she had just given my fellow countryman... "Are you on the waiting list?" To which I replied with some sarcasm, "Yes, thank you, I'm on seven waiting lists," when in reality, I've been on a waiting list back in Mexico City for a Daytona for about three years now with little success.
Anyway, I'm telling you this because now that the micro-brand tournament is over, I realize that there are many brands out there vying for our attention. I don't think it's right for us to lose our power as consumers to a brand that has museums instead of stores. I love my Datejust; it's a great watch and I hold it dear, but without meaning to offend anyone here, every time I see a Rolex posted on WC, I don't linger long because I've grown somewhat bored since my interest in the brand has waned. I'm sure many others feel the same way. It's just tiresome and honestly I don’t know if I want the Daytona anymore when Rolex has given me the opportunity to discover much better watches now.
Obsessed with watches…
The "scarcity" thing has never bothered me. It is what it is and like you said, there are plenty of other watches out there. I enjoy Rolex very much. I have the ones I want from the brand and I have other watches. I've never begged or bought anything I don't want. They don't need my money and if I want another, I'm happy to wait. They also don't owe me anything and I don't have to wait because there are other great options. I feel it's best to take it all in stride and not give it any extra thought until it's your turn to swipe your card... Or not.
I played the game to get my Explorer, and I absolutely love it, but I don’t think I’ll be going through it again. Lots of other great watches that can be bought with a better customer experience
So true.
I played the game to get my Explorer, and I absolutely love it, but I don’t think I’ll be going through it again. Lots of other great watches that can be bought with a better customer experience
Same feeling…just once…
Rolex = Great Watches and a Great Big Fuck Up as of late
What power are you giving up to Rolex?
Watches are well made, but the brand hates regular shmucks who watch F1, but don’t drive F1 cars. I lost interest long ago.
Nice to hear you’re moving on from Daytona dreaming 👍
I feel bad about it; but I must confess for this reason (mostly) I don't like Rolex.
I took this pic as a remembrance from dubai mall 😄
Totally agree my friend,I've always worn watches starting very early as a child,but rolex sparked my interest as a teen giving me the drive to get one,drives gone,apart from there service there popularity become something ugly,maybe one day something vintage of there's but never ad they don't deserve our time and definitely not our money,and if it was a museum it would be full of lies just like there ads 😂👍
Rolex sales hit 11.5 billion USD in 2023. So it’s hard to imagine that their museums will change anytime soon.
And if I was sitting in a board room at Rolex right now I’m not sure I would increase production.
Thank you for this little story, really enjoyed reading it!
I was that customer who had the nerve to ask “do you have any pieces for sale?” The answer was yes, and I bought a Datejust. This was a little over a year ago. Never hurts to ask. This was an AD jewelry store, not a Rolex boutique.
I took this pic as a remembrance from dubai mall 😄
Someone broke into the Dubai museum! 🤣
Rolex sales hit 11.5 billion USD in 2023. So it’s hard to imagine that their museums will change anytime soon.
And if I was sitting in a board room at Rolex right now I’m not sure I would increase production.
One specific example of a brand that experienced a shift in consumer interest due to scarcity and subsequent price increases is the sneaker brand Yeezy, created by Kanye West in collaboration with Adidas. Yeezy sneakers had limited releases and high demand, leading to resellers driving up prices significantly. However, as the brand continued to release new models with limited availability and high retail prices, some consumers started to feel deterred by the exclusivity and began exploring other sneaker brands offering similar styles but with more accessible pricing and availability. This shift in consumer behavior highlights the delicate balance between scarcity-driven marketing and maintaining long-term consumer engagement. Dangerous in a highly competitive market.
Thank you for this little story, really enjoyed reading it!
Glad you liked it!
I was that customer who had the nerve to ask “do you have any pieces for sale?” The answer was yes, and I bought a Datejust. This was a little over a year ago. Never hurts to ask. This was an AD jewelry store, not a Rolex boutique.
Yes.. morbid curiosity sometimes pays off! 🤣I’m glad you got it..!
One specific example of a brand that experienced a shift in consumer interest due to scarcity and subsequent price increases is the sneaker brand Yeezy, created by Kanye West in collaboration with Adidas. Yeezy sneakers had limited releases and high demand, leading to resellers driving up prices significantly. However, as the brand continued to release new models with limited availability and high retail prices, some consumers started to feel deterred by the exclusivity and began exploring other sneaker brands offering similar styles but with more accessible pricing and availability. This shift in consumer behavior highlights the delicate balance between scarcity-driven marketing and maintaining long-term consumer engagement. Dangerous in a highly competitive market.
It could also be because Kayne killed his brand appeal by being so distasteful. That’s not something Rolex will do.
One specific example of a brand that experienced a shift in consumer interest due to scarcity and subsequent price increases is the sneaker brand Yeezy, created by Kanye West in collaboration with Adidas. Yeezy sneakers had limited releases and high demand, leading to resellers driving up prices significantly. However, as the brand continued to release new models with limited availability and high retail prices, some consumers started to feel deterred by the exclusivity and began exploring other sneaker brands offering similar styles but with more accessible pricing and availability. This shift in consumer behavior highlights the delicate balance between scarcity-driven marketing and maintaining long-term consumer engagement. Dangerous in a highly competitive market.
I don’t know if we can compare Kanye West to Rolex. Kanye as talented as he may be is about as out there as can be. That’s why Addidas broke the deal with him.
That’s not to say Rolex won’t make mistakes and it’s easy to get complacent at the top. Lord knows better companies have fallen. I do have to say the watch industry’s reliance on limited editions is getting a bit ridiculous. Is anything new not a limited edition now? Seems like every Seiko is some sort of limited edition to the point it’s getting confusing.
It completely negates the whole point of these releases.
I don’t know if we can compare Kanye West to Rolex. Kanye as talented as he may be is about as out there as can be. That’s why Addidas broke the deal with him.
That’s not to say Rolex won’t make mistakes and it’s easy to get complacent at the top. Lord knows better companies have fallen. I do have to say the watch industry’s reliance on limited editions is getting a bit ridiculous. Is anything new not a limited edition now? Seems like every Seiko is some sort of limited edition to the point it’s getting confusing.
It completely negates the whole point of these releases.
Your absolutely right. Fear for future scarcity is a human weakness and brands have taken good advantage from it. 👍
Plus Rolex is a private company so if they ‘like’ 11.5 billion in sales a year, they don’t have to answer to shareholders to increase production to hit 13 billion.
Just a different perspective, for A Lange Sohne, a brand I admire for their craftsmanship very much, if you’re not an established customer with a proven track record, you can’t even get on the waiting list for the higher priced pieces. They don’t need to sell a million watches a year nor do they even want to.
Like the old adage says “If it’s not broke don’t fix it”
One specific example of a brand that experienced a shift in consumer interest due to scarcity and subsequent price increases is the sneaker brand Yeezy, created by Kanye West in collaboration with Adidas. Yeezy sneakers had limited releases and high demand, leading to resellers driving up prices significantly. However, as the brand continued to release new models with limited availability and high retail prices, some consumers started to feel deterred by the exclusivity and began exploring other sneaker brands offering similar styles but with more accessible pricing and availability. This shift in consumer behavior highlights the delicate balance between scarcity-driven marketing and maintaining long-term consumer engagement. Dangerous in a highly competitive market.
I believe, in my personal experience, they are trying to correct this. I was able to pick up 2 Rolex’s this month from Bucherer. One was an exhibition piece for my wife that was pulled off exhibition just for her 2 weeks after we inquired about it. Also last week they had about 6-8 watches for immediate sale and a few more in the safe if you asked for that configuration specifically. Of course this is market dependent as well. Our AD is in NYC.
I feel like either I understand Rolex too well or I don't understand at all. 😃 I have never owned one but I like most other watch enthusiast do like them very much. My budget for watches would allow me to purchase a few of them but my thoughts about it just doesn't align with actually ever doing that. Never say never but currently I really enjoy having a large variety of watches from many different brands that don't necessarily fit the usual mold. I also feel much more comfortable wearing watches that cost below $2000 dollars.
I feel like either I understand Rolex too well or I don't understand at all. 😃 I have never owned one but I like most other watch enthusiast do like them very much. My budget for watches would allow me to purchase a few of them but my thoughts about it just doesn't align with actually ever doing that. Never say never but currently I really enjoy having a large variety of watches from many different brands that don't necessarily fit the usual mold. I also feel much more comfortable wearing watches that cost below $2000 dollars.
I perfectly understand how you feel about Rolex. It is not hate, it is not indifference, it’s being honest about what we really like and enjoy about watches. So, If I happen to be again in a Rolex AD and there is availability, of course I will take the opportunity to buy only the exact watch I like and not what the have for sale. But as I said before, I’ve found so many beautiful watches in my collecting journey that I honestly can wait as I will never buy a pre-owned one above retail price.
A Rolex is just not something I could ever afford in this world. But I can always admire it from afar. Maybe one day I'll get lucky and inherit my father's otherwise it's like a Ferrari, something cool to look at in pictures or occasionally in real life, but never actually own.
There is no scarcity. Rolex makes over a million watches a year. It is a multi-headed problem. Mostly controlled by Rolex. The AD's are partially to blame as well as the flippers.