How to build a relationship with an Authorized Dealer?

That is a game that some ADs would love you to play. They are after all retailers, and are in the game to make money. If you wish to purchase one of the more sought after models, it may increase your chances but there is no guarantee. You could also go into an AD and walk out with a watch on your wrist.

No, don't do any of this, it's ridiculous.

I believe there is as many strategies as collectors. I decided to go the ”AD game” route and made a post about it here.

I am totally against doing this. If however, the AD is the woman in the photo, I would reconsider.

Don’t fall for that trap men be strong haha it cost me a fortune and didn’t even get her number 🤣🤣

Firstly, find an AD and an SA who you get along with. No point trying to build a relationship with someone who doesn’t really care.

You will need a purchase history but don’t buy things just for the sake of it. I’ve built my spend history organically, buying only the things I want. I just try to buy from the same guy as it helps towards my more sought after watches.

Depends what model you’re going for.

Datejust, oyster perpetual in general don’t need a spend history. (Except womberton dial DJ and tiffany blue OP) You just need to wait a month or a few.

Full gold watches you can just put yourself on the waitlist. Unless its a John Meyer Daytona.

Others may need a spend history. Or you can keep bringing chocolates. From my experience, gifts don’t work at my A.D. Buying Tudors or Jewelry will work.

Note: My A.D is a hot young lady. So I can’t keep bothering her cuz then my wife will start getting upset 😂

🫠

Or pay above and go grey market.

My AD is a hot young lady.

She keeps calling me and it gets into my wife’s nerves.

She offered me two tone explorer, solid gold GMT, then she offered me white gold 1908. All these watches that I never asked for, or never put myself on waiting list for.

In fact, I am done with Rolex and I am not even on the waitlist for anything.

It’s really hard to turn down a hot young lady.

Whatever you do, please don't bring your AD gifts; have some self-respect. Otherwise, best of luck in your endeavors.

I have WAY too much self respect to do any of this.

I’m waiting for the 1908. I want to pick up a gold dress watch, and would like to see this in the flesh before making a decision. My AD hasn’t had one pass through their store.

Treat your AD the same way you would develop any other relationship. Be honest and respectful. Don’t simp over things you’re not interested in but always be polite. If you’re genuine, everything will fall into place.

Thanks for all of your input!

But just to be clear, of course I have no intention of shoving money down an AD's throat just for the privilege of giving them more!

I wrote the post with a bit of irony and just want to know how the whole AD dance works before I step on the floor.

And there is actually some good advice in the comments, so thanks for that! And some bits that made me laugh, so thanks for that, too ;)

This whole concept blows my mind. How is buying a watch different than any other transaction? You are under no obligation to purchase when shopping. The Golden Rule is the mindset everyone should have, regardless of interaction, so treating an AD with respect is a given. You should not have to bribe, as a consumer, a salesperson trying to sell you a watch. If those are the vibes a particular establishment is giving, I’d steer clear.

The watch industry is on its ass , you can see this with your own eyes with AD's being ghost shops and inventory collecting dust.

Do not try and build any sort of relationship with a retail outlet in the hope you are going to jump some precieved list.

In the past when the term was used it was mutually beneficial like getting better deals etc.. I.e rewarding good customers.

Now it's been warped and used to hoodwink the gullable.

If it is hinted in an AD that other purchases are required , politely walk out the door as they have several of that model you want out the back.

Don’t be bullied to play their games. Sometimes it’s worth going to the grey market to find that price you’re after.

It's hard enough to explain the occasional parcel with another watch to my wife. Investing more than the due respect anybody in retail deserves in a SA would get me in serious trouble!

I know that my purchase history doesn't support local ADs and I feel sorry for them because I remember a sign (from an umbrella shop about 30 years ago) stating in rhymed German "It's an old tradition to buy things where they get repaired" and I fear that there won't be any watchmakers around anymore when my watches require a revision, but that's te state of our current economy.

I have a relationship with my girlfriend, but not with any AD. I don‘t play this Game and have purchased a lot of watches in the past years.

I treat every dealer with respect and play fairly and expect the same from his side.

Whatever happened to the axiom, "the customer is always right"? I would NEVER submit to such treatment. Give me the watch I want right now, or I will go somewhere else, and buy from someone else. Period. I don't care how "exclusive" the product is. Putting me on a waiting list is NOT an incentive for me to want to do business with you. In fact, quite the opposite.

Of course, being a poor educator, I'll never have "Rolex money" to begin with. But if I ever manage to save enough, or win (lottery) enough money to buy a luxury watch, I will probably go with RGM anyway. Their "waiting list" is based on demand; they make everything by hand, so sometimes it might take a year or more to get what you want, but there aren't any games involved. It's literally because they can't produce them fast enough.

And Rolex produces ~1M units per year, so I don't believe claims that Rolex can't keep up with production. That claim smells phoney to me. Just my opinion.

Just a nitpick: "The customer is always right." Is actually just the first part of a longer saying; "The customer is always right, in matters of taste." Meaning that the sales clerk shouldn't insult the customer's spending choices, or treat their desires for a certain product as 'bad'. It does not mean that the employee should bend over backwards for every request that the customer has.

(Yes, I used to work in a retail environment...)

Yeah, I am not talking about being an a$$hole to the salesperson. 😀 I am always respectful. But I do NOT believe that if I have the money in-hand, and want to purchase something that the dealer has (or can order) that I should be told, "No, you have to buy several items worth x amount of money FIRST, to prove..." What? That I can be trusted? That my money's green?

When I go to buy a watch, or anything else for that matter, simply asking to buy the product is not a "bend over backwards" type of request. From what I've read, ADs are becoming gatekeepers, in an effort to increase demand. And that's just not right. Thus, if I ever have the money and desire for a Rolex, or any other "waitlist brand," I will probably be forced to go the gray market route.

Thank heavens for sites like Pride & Pinion. 😎

Yeah, it's just that the phrase "The customer is always right" just drives me up the wall.

The best way is to become the landlord of the building in which the AD rents space for his boutique and threaten him with 30 % rent hikes each year if he doesn't put you in top position of any waiting list you wish for.

it's not THAT bad, you just have to be patient.

If I have 10k-15k knocking about, I’m not waiting to be “considered” by any AD. Especially if prior purchase history plays a part. Great post though! Always gets the comments section bubbling👍😝😂

I have no experience of Rolex AD's. But my sister put down for a Submariner for me after I gave her a Navitimer and a vintage DayDate. She got "the call" within 10 months. She had no history with the AD, just an honest request for the watch she was told by the AD I would most want. 🤷

Walked in 2016 and purchased a sub no date. Did it again in 17 and purchased a BLNR. Long gone are those days. Seems like it was just yesterday. Picture below is when I purchased the BLNR. I went in to see if they had a Explorer 2..

Well said 👍