Rolex Experience
Yesterday went to a Rolex AD as my brother was interested in getting himself his first luxury watch. We knew going in we would have to go on a waiting list and that is fine. Nature of the beast, and after my last post learnt a lot, thanks @Omeganut . But it honestly felt like an interview 🤣 Had to explain to them what watches were currently in his collection, what he did for a living. Why he wanted the watch etc. And I get it you want to prevent these items ending up on the grey market. But I must admit I was exhausted just listening to it all. But, in fairness the Rolex salesman was great and wasn't pushy at all. It's just hard to believe it's come to this when buying a watch.
Keen watch enthusiast and aviation geek. I love dress and tool watches.
congratulations for your brother. so what model did he choose? 🍺
Yea, I had to go through the same thing to get on the list.
Oh my word, I had no idea it was like that!
Why does it matter what you do for a living as long as I don't say "Gray market watch dealer innit"??
The new legitimate customer experience is far from ideal
congratulations for your brother. so what model did he choose? 🍺
Well he left with a Grand Seiko Snowflake on the day. But he has got his name down for the Yatchmaster 2 on the right with the platinum bezel. The picture doesn't do the dial justice. He's also on the list for the explorer 1. So hopefully he will get something this year. But time will tell.
Yea, I had to go through the same thing to get on the list.
It's mad.
Oh my word, I had no idea it was like that!
Why does it matter what you do for a living as long as I don't say "Gray market watch dealer innit"??
Yeah well he even went on to ask me and my dad what he did as well. Now it's either him wanting to get to know us all and develop a relationship should we want a watch. But we could all just make something up. 🤷🏻♂️
Like you say the worry about the grey market is too much.
Yeah it would be interesting if the shoe was on the other foot. I agree, all that matters is if I can afford it. And just because you have a nice job doesn't mean you wouldn't flip it 🙄
Yeah well he even went on to ask me and my dad what he did as well. Now it's either him wanting to get to know us all and develop a relationship should we want a watch. But we could all just make something up. 🤷🏻♂️
Like you say the worry about the grey market is too much.
IMHO... individual flippers are maybe 5% of the problem. I believe that the other 95% is ADs who ship the new products right back out the back door to Jomashop and others. All while putting on this show of screening walk-ins to ensure the customers are worthy.
I have heard rumors of this happening to people but didn't know it to be factual. Personally I hate shopping except for watches which I will take a little more time. I do like to be in and out fast though but with an interview i think that would make me almost not want to buy.
Well he left with a Grand Seiko Snowflake on the day. But he has got his name down for the Yatchmaster 2 on the right with the platinum bezel. The picture doesn't do the dial justice. He's also on the list for the explorer 1. So hopefully he will get something this year. But time will tell.
It took about 9 months on the waitlist for the Explorer I 124270 for me (no prior purchase history, but stopped by the store every few weeks to say hi).
IMHO... individual flippers are maybe 5% of the problem. I believe that the other 95% is ADs who ship the new products right back out the back door to Jomashop and others. All while putting on this show of screening walk-ins to ensure the customers are worthy.
There are probably a good few out there who do that. I think the most curious thing was he talked about the list and wait times and how we wouldn't be able to get on the list for certain models. And we asked him can you tell us what models we can go on the list for? As he made a deal about us not being able to get models but he wouldn't ever tell us which models we could get. 🙄 Just not helpful.
Like I say he was a nice guy and wasn't pushy. But just a lot for a show of interest.
It took about 9 months on the waitlist for the Explorer I 124270 for me (no prior purchase history, but stopped by the store every few weeks to say hi).
They said 18 months for the explorer 1. But I may try that tactic. Did you just go in and have a casual chat?
It's come to this when buying a Rolex. The trick is to buy from any other watch company.
They said 18 months for the explorer 1. But I may try that tactic. Did you just go in and have a casual chat?
Any time I happened to be in the area, which is every few weeks, I’d stop by to say hi with just a “I’m already on the registry of interest for an Explorer… Just checking in and saying hi.”
My AD records those interactions by phone number in a CRM tool that they look at when receiving and allocating watches out.
Most of the AD staff here are friendly, and if you’re in the store long enough you feel a bit bad for them because people can be a bit nasty to them. I did have one employee get snotty that “It’s not a ‘wait list’, it’s a ’registry of interest’ and you’ll have to wait A LOT longer.” She was an outlier, though, and everyone has a bad day sometimes.
It’s sad that it’s even a thing, though. At the end of the day, it’s a nice watch, but just a watch. And there are lots of nice watches out there. I love my Explorer and it was worth the wait to me. I think the wait with ADs for something popular isn’t the real issue with people, it’s the games, attitude, and lack of transparency that some ADs have.
Any time I happened to be in the area, which is every few weeks, I’d stop by to say hi with just a “I’m already on the registry of interest for an Explorer… Just checking in and saying hi.”
My AD records those interactions by phone number in a CRM tool that they look at when receiving and allocating watches out.
Most of the AD staff here are friendly, and if you’re in the store long enough you feel a bit bad for them because people can be a bit nasty to them. I did have one employee get snotty that “It’s not a ‘wait list’, it’s a ’registry of interest’ and you’ll have to wait A LOT longer.” She was an outlier, though, and everyone has a bad day sometimes.
It’s sad that it’s even a thing, though. At the end of the day, it’s a nice watch, but just a watch. And there are lots of nice watches out there. I love my Explorer and it was worth the wait to me. I think the wait with ADs for something popular isn’t the real issue with people, it’s the games, attitude, and lack of transparency that some ADs have.
Cheers for this I'll get my brother to do the same. I do appreciate it.
Yeah as you say the wait isn't the be all and end all. You know you have to do it and it's no shock. Like you say it's the attitude of staff, which in fairness he didn't have. But I have dealt with staff who look down on you. Which always frustrates me.
At the end of the day, as long it was successful and my brother gets one it's fine and hopefully should myself or my dad want one we won't have to go through it again.
Too many equal or better luxury options out there at the same price. And I will be damned if I have to beg to get on a waitlist.
For 1/5th the price of a Daytona you can have a Zenith Chronomaster.
For less than price of any Rolex precious metals watch you can pickup JLC, VC and have a FAR better watch for the money paid.
Rolex hype, and I have owned three, has gotten past stupid. They are solid watches but are mass produced luxury.
When the Rolex bubble pops, and it will eventually, there will be a flood of people who regret buying. I will not be one of those people as I refuse to participate in the mess that Rolex has become.
This is dire - but is it only limited to Rolex? Has anyone had similar with other brands?
The grey market grifters will keep dominating the waitlists anyway.
Getting questioned just to buy a watch. Who do they think they bloody are?
Too many equal or better luxury options out there at the same price. And I will be damned if I have to beg to get on a waitlist.
For 1/5th the price of a Daytona you can have a Zenith Chronomaster.
For less than price of any Rolex precious metals watch you can pickup JLC, VC and have a FAR better watch for the money paid.
Rolex hype, and I have owned three, has gotten past stupid. They are solid watches but are mass produced luxury.
When the Rolex bubble pops, and it will eventually, there will be a flood of people who regret buying. I will not be one of those people as I refuse to participate in the mess that Rolex has become.
I agree that the bubble will pop. How long that will take I am not sure? but I was reading in the financial times the other month that Chinese investors were putting some of their wealth into luxury watches. So unfortunately I am not sure it will end anytime soon. I am just glad he liked one of the lesser loved models. That way he won't need to wait for long. But I always find Rolex stroll the line between a luxury brand and a watch brand. So you tend to get a lot of people who want it for the status symbol rather than being a good watch brand.
This is dire - but is it only limited to Rolex? Has anyone had similar with other brands?
I've only had it with Rolex but they are somewhat of an outliar as in my area the ADs only sell Rolex. Additionally, they are currently one of the most requested brands. So they determine the rules of play. But I have heard Patek do similar things, but only a rumour I've heard.
The grey market grifters will keep dominating the waitlists anyway.
Getting questioned just to buy a watch. Who do they think they bloody are?
I agree a lot of grey market sellers will be on the list.
It's silly I agree, as long as you can afford it that should be the only thing that matters.
A great overview on what's going on with pricing/availability of Rolex, Audemars Piguet, and Patek Philippe.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mB4hsVsjR8I
I've only had it with Rolex but they are somewhat of an outliar as in my area the ADs only sell Rolex. Additionally, they are currently one of the most requested brands. So they determine the rules of play. But I have heard Patek do similar things, but only a rumour I've heard.
Fair play - here‘s hoping you don’t wait too long.
Fair play - here‘s hoping you don’t wait too long.
Cheers matey 👍
A great overview on what's going on with pricing/availability of Rolex, Audemars Piguet, and Patek Philippe.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mB4hsVsjR8I
It's funny I watched the evening we got in from the AD. Couldn't have been better timed 😂
I do agree that we have no easy access point for younger generations who want to buy watches.
Do Rolex actually understand that they aren't doing you a favour when selling a watch?
There's no way on earth I'd allow someone to vet me on whether I'm allowed to spend MY money on one of their products. Such pretentious nonsense.
I only really like the Submariner but there's no way I'd kowtow to any dealer to get hold of one. I'd happily take my money elsewhere... and do... often.
Do Rolex actually understand that they aren't doing you a favour when selling a watch?
There's no way on earth I'd allow someone to vet me on whether I'm allowed to spend MY money on one of their products. Such pretentious nonsense.
I only really like the Submariner but there's no way I'd kowtow to any dealer to get hold of one. I'd happily take my money elsewhere... and do... often.
I believe they do it for a couple of reasons.
But I am like you I would rather put my money elsewhere. I get the impression that some staff are snobby, thinking they're better than you. Despite you being able to afford these items. And not really a fan of watch making. But that's just me.
I'm interested to see how ADs will react and change once this Rolex bubble pops. But I don't know when that will be? 🙄
Just read that again. It says EVERYTHING. The exclusivity is achieved by the cost model. Vetting people to ensure they are worthy is sickening business practice. If everyone thought like me they'd be bankrupt in a month.
Thank goodness not everyone is a miserable git like me. 🤣
Maybe we need more people like you because then we would be focused on things that would actually matter.
But yeah it's not a cool thing, because who gives a shot what you do all that matters should be can you afford it?