The problem isn’t with Rolex, it is with their ADs.

[enjoythemusic]

You're all wrong.

Like, totally.


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[Krash]

Originally Posted by enjoythemusic

You're all wrong.

Like, totally.


Attachment 1436050

Actually, the aliens are just as mad. They travel from thousands of light years away to buy a Rolex, and they can’t get one either.





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[enjoythemusic]

Originally Posted by Krash

Actually, the aliens are just as mad. They travel from thousands of light years away to buy a Rolex, and they can’t get one either.

Well, you know how it is. We see this often on TRF. You travel to some far-off land by ship hoping the Rolex AD at the port has something for sale. We've seen this question asked many times on TRF.

Why can't they be happy with H. Moser, or Omega, Tudor... and surely MB&F's Spaceship-like timepieces would be more appreciated by Aliens. You are right Krash, Aliens discovered there are too many humans on ᔑリᒷ ᓵℸ ⍑ (a.k.a. Earth) with not enough resources to get a Rolex. There is an easy solution of course.

Why can't we all just get along?

[Nico81]

What a nonsense post.
Why don’t you wear a hat of an AD
They are running a business not a charity .
They are investing millions in the brand
It js their discretion who they want to sell hard to get pieces.
A generational customer who buys for their wedding, birthday, holidays, mothers day, fathers day, new born gifts etc
or some watch nerd that wants to have a daytona for circle jerk at the next watch GTG at the local microbrewery

Get over it.. or go grey
There is no problem with rolex or Rolex ADs
I went to three ADs in 3 large cities.. experience was amazing, was offered a drink, and could try any piece i wanted and got a magazine.



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[Kevin of Larchmont]

Originally Posted by Nico81

What a nonsense post.
Why don’t you wear a hat of an AD
They are running a business not a charity .
They are investing millions in the brand
It js their discretion who they want to sell hard to get pieces.
A generational customer who buys for their wedding, birthday, holidays, mothers day, fathers day, new born gifts etc
or some watch nerd that wants to have a daytona for circle jerk at the next watch GTG at the local microbrewery

Get over it.. or go grey
There is no problem with rolex or Rolex ADs
I went to three ADs in 3 large cities.. experience was amazing, was offered a drink, and could try any piece i wanted and got a magazine.



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Needed to be said.

[enjoythemusic]

Originally Posted by Nico81

A generational customer who buys for their wedding, birthday, holidays, mothers day, fathers day, new born gifts etc
or some watch nerd that wants to have a daytona for circle jerk at the next watch GTG at the local microbrewery

Get over it.. or go grey

.
.

.
.

[Harry-57]

Originally Posted by Nico81

What a nonsense post.
Why don’t you wear a hat of an AD
They are running a business not a charity .
They are investing millions in the brand
It js their discretion who they want to sell hard to get pieces.
A generational customer who buys for their wedding, birthday, holidays, mothers day, fathers day, new born gifts etc
or some watch nerd that wants to have a daytona for circle jerk at the next watch GTG at the local microbrewery

Get over it.. or go grey
There is no problem with rolex or Rolex ADs
I went to three ADs in 3 large cities.. experience was amazing, was offered a drink, and could try any piece i wanted and got a magazine.

I think this view of the situation has equal validity to the OP.

[buffetwarren]

The problem is Rolex. They turn a blind eye to ADs.

[bluestreak]

Originally Posted by Nico81

What a nonsense post.
Why don’t you wear a hat of an AD
They are running a business not a charity .
They are investing millions in the brand
It js their discretion who they want to sell hard to get pieces.
A generational customer who buys for their wedding, birthday, holidays, mothers day, fathers day, new born gifts etc
or some watch nerd that wants to have a daytona for circle jerk at the next watch GTG at the local microbrewery

Get over it.. or go grey
There is no problem with rolex or Rolex ADs
I went to three ADs in 3 large cities.. experience was amazing, was offered a drink, and could try any piece i wanted and got a magazine.



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Truth…

Why should the AD sell a hot watch to a customer who will never darken their door again?

Why would Rolex care at all who the ADs sell to?

[WatchEater666]

Rolex is following the same playbook as Ferrari and Hermes, in a slightly less direct way.

[ArtNouveau]

Originally Posted by Nico81

What a nonsense post.
Why don’t you wear a hat of an AD
They are running a business not a charity .
They are investing millions in the brand
It js their discretion who they want to sell hard to get pieces.
A generational customer who buys for their wedding, birthday, holidays, mothers day, fathers day, new born gifts etc
or some watch nerd that wants to have a daytona for circle jerk at the next watch GTG at the local microbrewery

Get over it.. or go grey
There is no problem with rolex or Rolex ADs
I went to three ADs in 3 large cities.. experience was amazing, was offered a drink, and could try any piece i wanted and got a magazine.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It appears you won the Internet today.

[Cassian739]

Originally Posted by Nico81

What a nonsense post.
Why don’t you wear a hat of an AD
They are running a business not a charity .
They are investing millions in the brand
It js their discretion who they want to sell hard to get pieces.
A generational customer who buys for their wedding, birthday, holidays, mothers day, fathers day, new born gifts etc
or some watch nerd that wants to have a daytona for circle jerk at the next watch GTG at the local microbrewery

Get over it.. or go grey
There is no problem with rolex or Rolex ADs
I went to three ADs in 3 large cities.. experience was amazing, was offered a drink, and could try any piece i wanted and got a magazine.

#Truth! Play the game or go grey, either way, people need to stop complaining. There is nothing "fair" about life, and an AD owes us nothing.

[Nico81]

Originally Posted by ArtNouveau

It appears you won the Internet today.

Lol


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[BroncoOne]

Originally Posted by bluestreak

Truth…

Why should the AD sell a hot watch to a customer who will never darken their door again?

Why would Rolex care at all who the ADs sell to?

They don’t want ADs selling to flippers. They sell to people that they know as customers first. It’s good business to take care of your regulars is the basic reason. Blocking out flippers is a bonus.

[njlam]

OP here.

Lots of Stockholm Syndrome on this thread.

Good luck.

[Submariner868]

Try going into an AD for Alden shoes to purchase a pair in whiskey, cigar or ravello shell cordovan, then get back to me about wait lists. I waited over 6 years for a pair in ravello - this after many other shoe purchases in calf as well as black and Color 8 shell. And my AD is awesome! The grey market for Alden rare shell is ridiculous - some shoes selling for double MSRP. Then again, it’s just a pair of shoes and I’m an incredibly patient man who refuses to pay over MSRP for anything. If I can’t get a Batman at the AD (even with spend history), so what? My life wouldn’t be any different.

[Malum]

I Like New Balance .

[MRBolton]

Originally Posted by Submariner868

Try going into an AD for Alden shoes to purchase a pair in whiskey, cigar or ravello shell cordovan, then get back to me about wait lists. I waited over 6 years for a pair in ravello - this after many other shoe purchases in calf as well as black and Color 8 shell. And my AD is awesome! The grey market for Alden rare shell is ridiculous - some shoes selling for double MSRP. Then again, it’s just a pair of shoes and I’m an incredibly patient man who refuses to pay over MSRP for anything. If I can’t get a Batman at the AD (even with spend history), so what? My life wouldn’t be any different.

I felt super lucky to get my whiskey Crockett & Jones at a 15 or 20 percent discount. They only had two pairs left and decided to clear inventory. A month later, I looked at someone who had them on eBay for almost $1,500.

[Submariner868]

Originally Posted by MRBolton

I felt super lucky to get my whiskey Crockett & Jones at a 15 or 20 percent discount. They only had two pairs left and decided to clear inventory. A month later, I looked at someone who had them on eBay for almost $1,500.

You were lucky! I have to special order as they don’t carry my width in the majority of their styles. Special orders used to take around 4 months; now they take a year. I only wear Alden. Patience is a virtue, which I learned via fishing and refined via poker.

[Krash]

What about Nvidia? They can’t build GPUs fast enough to meet demand. Nobody would ever suggest that Nvidia should blow up their distribution model because of this.


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[Harry-57]

Originally Posted by njlam

OP here.

Lots of Stockholm Syndrome on this thread.

Good luck.

Thank you. At least I've got all my AD supplied Rolex watches to keep me company in my delusional universe. Nine down one to go.

[kieselguhr]

Originally Posted by Harry-57

Thank you. At least I've got all my AD supplied Rolex watches to keep me company in my delusional universe. Nine down one to go.

He’s just bitter that hardly anybody shares his sentiment. Sadly that’s the majority of adults these days. There’s always some obscure reason something doesn’t go their way other than themself.

[Harry-57]

Originally Posted by kieselguhr

He’s just bitter that hardly anybody shares his sentiment. Sadly that’s the majority of adults these days. There’s always some obscure reason something doesn’t go their way other than themself.

I'm not sure about "these days" but I get what you are saying. There is sometimes a tendency to rationalise irrational tendencies by blaming an imaginary conspiracy or blaming other people who are perceived as somehow depriving the injured individual from their goal or even stealing it from them.

Intensity of belief somehow balances out the lack of evidence. Mind you, that's what most religions are based on.

[Giovannibravo]

Originally Posted by njlam

While I understand why ADs use the most sought-after Rolex models as incentives for customers to buy non-Rolex watches and high-margin jewelry, I don’t understand why Rolex allows it.

We all know once you own one Rolex, you will want to own more. Why then, are allocations made to maximize non-Rolex profits of the ADs, rather than maximize the number of Rolex owners?

Everyone knows Rolex sells every watch it makes (so why care what anyone thinks), however the current state of the AD experience is so unpleasant, it is damaging their long-term reputation. Perhaps a change is afoot as we are seeing many independent AD lose the privilege of carrying Rolex. There is likely more to go before it is over.

In my opinion, the current AD model is broken at best, corrupt at worst. And while I make room for the idea that some people have AD/SAs that they like personally (hate the game, not the playa…), but my question is this: if certain Rolex models are so hard to get, why are there so many available at grey market dealers?

The large number of BNIB sought-after models (with current year warranty card) that are available at Trusted Sellers/Chrono24/eBay suggests two things:
1. ADs are doing a poor job of identifying flippers (or are sharing the profits with flippers)
2. AD are complicit (profit sharing) with grey dealers

A good example of #2 is: some greys are currently offering new PM models below MSRP. How is this possible if an AD is not complicit? Obviously it is a bad look for an AD to give a discount to a retail customer; but if an AD can lighten their less sought-after inventory to a grey and still make a little that is good business (for them).

Once the move to Rolex-only boutiques and Rolex-owned chains (ie Bucherer) becomes more the norm, hopefully the allocation process becomes less focused on maximizing non-Rolex profits at non-Rolex owned ADs. When “Rolex-First” becomes the priority, perhaps allocations will become more accessible to more watch enthusiasts.

Somehow they are in the business now with Bucherer.

[Rp121]

I visited Goldsmiths in Birmingham (UK) today just for a browse. BeforeI even opened my mouth I was quickly informed that some precious metal Subs were available but my preferred watch, the Starbucks was not. Even though I am on their ‘register of interest’ I was told I’d never be allocated one with zero purchase history. At least he was straight up. What saddened me was his total lack of customer service and belittling attitude. He couldn’t get me out of the door fast enough. Not sure if that’s the impression a brand would want to give to a potential customer.

[Fleetlord]

Originally Posted by Rp121

I visited Goldsmiths in Birmingham (UK) today just for a browse. BeforeI even opened my mouth I was quickly informed that some precious metal Subs were available but my preferred watch, the Starbucks was not. Even though I am on their ‘register of interest’ I was told I’d never be allocated one with zero purchase history. At least he was straight up. What saddened me was his total lack of customer service and belittling attitude. He couldn’t get me out of the door fast enough. Not sure if that’s the impression a brand would want to give to a potential customer.

At most AD (especially chain), the SA is on commission.

They also work on an "up" system, which means that the associates take turns working with individuals who walk in. You became his "up" and he cannot deal with another individual or group of individuals until you are gone and then he can get back in the loop to work with another individual.

So once he offered you an available PM sub and you didn't bite, it's time for you to go. He can't sell you a Starbucks without purchase history (management say no) and you didn't want to buy anything else at that moment, so you need to get out so he can get another up. Hence, you were handled out the door. Just how it is...not really a "customer service" issue because in their eyes, you aren't a "customer".

They sell plenty of watches so they will continue to act like this until they are forced to not act this way. If and when that happens..who knows??

[Yobber76]

Originally Posted by Fleetlord

Rolex doesn't have any "problems"

Their dominance in the luxury watch market is absolute.

Their marketing strategy has made them arguably the strongest brand name of any product in the world.

I guess, if I were to personally dig deeper for a "problem", I feel they still have too many inadequate dealers in terms of quality of merchandising build out and location.

Rolex is actively addressing that, so they see an issue there and are cutting doors to resolve effectively.

Exactly! There are "buyers markets" and "sellers markets" in every product, in every economic period, based on many variables.
Rolex thru brilliant marketing, consistent high quality, trade in value that is higher than much of its competition, and a price point that has always attracted luxury buyers, has created a "sellers market" that withstands all of the normal market fluctuations. They sell off their production every year, and while we complain that we don't get the luxury experience we crave from their AD network, we are still here trying to buy every watch they make.
And if you can't wait for a Rolex, buy a Tudor, and contribute to the financial and market strength of the Rolex Corp. Or pop into Tourneau. I assume
anything you buy through them ultimately strengthens the Rolex Corp. And if their AD network uses Rolex to help them sell other products within their stores, that's just good marketing for their AD's.
It's brilliant!

[Neil McCauley]

Originally Posted by Rp121

I visited Goldsmiths in Birmingham (UK) today just for a browse. BeforeI even opened my mouth I was quickly informed that some precious metal Subs were available but my preferred watch, the Starbucks was not. Even though I am on their ‘register of interest’ I was told I’d never be allocated one with zero purchase history. At least he was straight up. What saddened me was his total lack of customer service and belittling attitude. He couldn’t get me out of the door fast enough. Not sure if that’s the impression a brand would want to give to a potential customer.

Not far from me - the Merry Hill branch is my local AD.

In many ways, I can sympathise - I don't think we as punters can understand what it's like having people coming in all day every day asking for the same things that you cannot sell to them. They must be sick to their back teeth of it. A lot of these "customers" have a crap attitude as well and get pretty aggy with the SA's.
Many times I've been there and seen people come and drop the immediate "I have the money, I wanna buy that one there, why can't I?" or "Hi mate, I wanna buy a Rolex" with no other discussion lol.

That said - the reason why I don't bother with Birmingham is just what you said, I found them incredibly rude and wouldn't entertain my business, in WoS around the corner, I actually got smugly laughed at by the lady in sales.
Conversely, Merry Hill is very different, everyone in the store knows my name, greets me, drinks, looked after, and importantly, have gotten what I have wanted.

[Harry-57]

Originally Posted by Rp121

He couldn’t get me out of the door fast enough. Not sure if that’s the impression a brand would want to give to a potential customer.

And they'll never get a penny of your money. Works both ways. This behaviour isn't confined to Rolex dealers and if you reside in the West Midlands you've got a lot of potential alternatives, some of whom might treat you as if they are pleased to see you. Good luck with it.

[RTG]

Originally Posted by Fleetlord

At most AD (especially chain), the SA is on commission.

They also work on an "up" system, which means that the associates take turns working with individuals who walk in. You became his "up" and he cannot deal with another individual or group of individuals until you are gone and then he can get back in the loop to work with another individual.

So once he offered you an available PM sub and you didn't bite, it's time for you to go. He can't sell you a Starbucks without purchase history (management say no) and you didn't want to buy anything else at that moment, so you need to get out so he can get another up. Hence, you were handled out the door. Just how it is...not really a "customer service" issue because in their eyes, you aren't a "customer".

They sell plenty of watches so they will continue to act like this until they are forced to not act this way. If and when that happens..who knows??

Good breakdown. Tough on a sales person to get so many requests for something they can’t sell.