AD’s attitudes

[Stebinners]

Is there anyone sick of the attitude of AD’s, trying to make you bend over backwards to buy any watches? Rolex AD’s have terrible customer experience.


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[kieselguhr]

Complaining about it doesn’t accomplish anything so I just walked away and found a different AD that treated me better. No complaints at all with my current. Stellar service.

[Bazil]

To be honest, no ..
I’m lucky, I have a fantastic AD, told her from day one I only want to buy the watches I’m after, no jewellery and if that was an issue then tell me.
I’ve had Submariners, GMTs and Daytona.
Lucky, maybe, honest - yes …

[OTX]

Unfortunately, that’s the way it is right now due to increased demand. That’s why the gray market exists. Straight to the point without all the BS. If you are willing to play the games, you might end up saving yourself thousands. You just have to ask yourself if it’s worth it. Even then you’re not guaranteed to get what you want!.

[Stebinners]

I have bought 4 rolex over the years, get them all serviced, went in last weel to get wifes watch serviced and asked about a datejust 41 for my upcoming big birthday, the sales lady basically said no chance you
Need to build “relationship”. Its a joke, so never going back


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[nighthawk77]

Which AD are you using?

[Bob-a-Job]

Well, you beat me to the same question nighthawk!

[Stebinners]

Originally Posted by Bob-a-Job

Well, you beat me to the same question Nighthawk!

In the UK NW England


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[Stebinners]

Originally Posted by Stebinners

I have bought 4 rolex over the years, get them all serviced, went in last weel to get wifes watch serviced and asked about a datejust 41 for my upcoming big birthday, the sales lady basically said no chance you
Need to build “relationship”. Its a joke, so never going back


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What does this whole relationship, mean i as a customer have to beg?


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[Easy Rhino]

I don't really have a problem with them and have always been treated with respect even if they've got nothing available that I want. But then, I always treat them as I want to be treated.

It's just the nature of an over-demanded, over-desirable item.

I have been able to get the very few Rolexes I own, one of which that required some patience. The ADs that could not help me were at least straight forward about it, so I located other ADs that would work with me. It's not that difficult. I've probably been in a few dozen different ADs but bought watches from two of them and have a good newly formed relationship with a third. None of the three had any requirement to buy other non-Rolex items before being offered a Rolex to purchase.

I know that I would not want to be a SA at a Rolex store with entitled people being rude about not being sucked up to and tossing a hissy when they couldn't immediately get what they demand.

[Stebinners]

Originally Posted by Easy Rhino

I don't really have a problem with them and have always been treated with respect even if they've got nothing available that I want. But then, I always treat them as I want to be treated.

It's just the nature of an over-demanded, over-desirable item.

I have been able to get the very few Rolexes I own, one of which that required some patience. The ADs that could not help me were at least straight forward about it, so I located other ADs that would work with me. It's not that difficult. I've probably been in a few dozen different ADs but bought watches from two of them and have a good newly formed relationship with a third. None of the three had any requirement to buy other non-Rolex items before being offered a Rolex to purchase.

I know that I would not want to be a SA at a Rolex store with entitled people being rude about not being sucked up to and tossing a hissy when they couldn't immediately get what they demand.

This is far from my experience, i have bought numerous watches over the years but all the new sales people seem arrogant, maybe its just a UK thing.


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[nighthawk77]

Originally Posted by Stebinners

In the UK NW England


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Same here hence why I asked...There's a few in the NW, some perhaps better than others. I wouldn't lose hope just yet, and maybe try another. You have two in Manchester City Centre, Trafford Centre, Chester, Liverpool, Preston and Wilmslow off the top of my head.

Depending on which one you choose, you may have better success if you book an appointment to visit. Availability also varies from AD to AD, so no harm in shopping around too.

It is frustrating how things currently are, gone seem to be the days of simply walking in and buying a watch, but I'm sure with a little persistence and patience a DJ shouldn't be too difficult.

If you don't want to wait, you can always go to the secondary market and have the watch on your wrist in a couple of days. Some DJs are below or close to MSRP, with only a handful of models trading above MSRP.

[Stebinners]

Originally Posted by nighthawk77

Same here hence why I asked...There's a few in the NW, some perhaps better than others. I wouldn't lose hope just yet, and maybe try another. You have two in Manchester City Centre, Trafford Centre, Chester, Liverpool, Preston and Wilmslow off the top of my head.

Depending on which one you choose, you may have better success if you book an appointment to visit. Availability also varies from AD to AD, so no harm in shopping around too.

It is frustrating how things currently are, gone seem to be the days of simply walking in and buying a watch, but I'm sure with a little persistence and patience a DJ shouldn't be too difficult.

If you don't want to wait, you can always go to the secondary market and have the watch on your wrist in a couple of days. Some DJs are below or close to MSRP, with only a handful of models trading above MSRP.

Preston used to be good. I bought 4 watches, then last year i went and they said they had new computer system and lost all purchase history! They almost disputed it ever bought watches from them!


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[Stebinners]

Originally Posted by nighthawk77

Same here hence why I asked...There's a few in the NW, some perhaps better than others. I wouldn't lose hope just yet, and maybe try another. You have two in Manchester City Centre, Trafford Centre, Chester, Liverpool, Preston and Wilmslow off the top of my head.

Depending on which one you choose, you may have better success if you book an appointment to visit. Availability also varies from AD to AD, so no harm in shopping around too.

It is frustrating how things currently are, gone seem to be the days of simply walking in and buying a watch, but I'm sure with a little persistence and patience a DJ shouldn't be too difficult.

If you don't want to wait, you can always go to the secondary market and have the watch on your wrist in a couple of days. Some DJs are below or close to MSRP, with only a handful of models trading above MSRP.

Maybe just having bad experience with this dealer but have always gone to be loyal! Yes also bought many watches from grey when couldn’t get from dealer.


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[brandrea]

I like my AD, they’ve always treated me very well.

[Ash1dreamcast]

Originally Posted by nighthawk77

Same here hence why I asked...There's a few in the NW, some perhaps better than others. I wouldn't lose hope just yet, and maybe try another. You have two in Manchester City Centre, Trafford Centre, Chester, Liverpool, Preston and Wilmslow off the top of my head.

Depending on which one you choose, you may have better success if you book an appointment to visit. Availability also varies from AD to AD, so no harm in shopping around too.

It is frustrating how things currently are, gone seem to be the days of simply walking in and buying a watch, but I'm sure with a little persistence and patience a DJ shouldn't be too difficult.

If you don't want to wait, you can always go to the secondary market and have the watch on your wrist in a couple of days. Some DJs are below or close to MSRP, with only a handful of models trading above MSRP.

I have managed to get a datejust 41 mm mint green dial and a Tudor black bay 58 GMT from Goldsmiths in Trafford Centre without any wait and no spend history. However, I was very lucky as I walked in early in the morning on a weekday. It depends who you get some of the sales guys in there are very arrogant and class 1 prick's. DMR in Manchester City centre are very welcoming but no joy there at all and feel like the big spenders get the allocations. You could try Preston or Leeds as well.

[Stebinners]

Originally Posted by Ash1dreamcast

I have managed to get a datejust 41 mm mint green dial and a Tudor black bay 58 GMT from Goldsmiths in Trafford Centre without any wait and no spend history. However, I was very lucky as I walked in early in the morning on a weekday. It depends who you get some of the sales guys in there are very arrogant and class 1 prick's. DMR in Manchester City centre are very welcoming but no joy there at all and feel like the big spenders get the allocations. You could try Preston or Leeds as well.

Preston has been my AD for years but currently not great. Almost laugh at you …..


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[Kevin of Larchmont]

It sounds like you’ve had a bad experience with one AD and are attempting to extrapolate that across all ADs. I don’t share your experience. As I’ve aged one habit I’ve gotten into after a difficult interaction is to ask myself what was my role in that conversation. It’s enlightening. You may want to consider trying it.

[Kinnakeet]

Originally Posted by Stebinners

Is there anyone sick of the attitude of AD’s, trying to make you bend over backwards to buy any watches? Rolex AD’s have terrible customer experience.


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I haven’t had that problem. Mine are very nice to me.

[L_S_SHOE]

Definitely. My previous AD lost their status. I’ve visited several other ADs since then and the SAs were aloof and unhelpful. If I ever want a new Rolex again, I’ll probably just source one through a trusted seller. My time and energy are too valuable to waste on a Rolex AD.

On a related note, I was out of town recently and visited a Patek AD. What a different experience. They were very friendly and comparatively transparent about which watches I could buy now, later or never, haha.


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[nighthawk77]

Originally Posted by Stebinners

Preston has been my AD for years but currently not great. Almost laugh at you …..


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Preston the City, where Whittles are the AD, or Prestons the AD in Wilmslow?

[Stebinners]

Originally Posted by nighthawk77

Preston the City, where Whittles are the AD, or Prestons the AD in Wilmslow?

Whittles


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[Stebinners]

Originally Posted by Stebinners

Whittles


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I think whittles were privately owned, but now i think owned by beaverbrooks, thats maybe where the customer service went to


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[Nairn1980]

DJ41 shouldn’t be too hard unless you’re asking for a very desirable dial eg mint green, or Wimbledon. Also fluted and jubilee far harder than smooth and oyster.

[Oxfordian]

Great relationship with my Rolex SA, bought 4 watches no issues on any of them, but then I moved house to a totally different part of the country, however my old store still contact me occasionally to see if I want anything.

Visited my new store a few weeks back and walked out with a TTSD on first visit - see separate thread.

I think that it is just a bit of luck, your attitude in shop, attitude of SA towards you, how you interact, good bit of banter works wonders, smiles etc etc. I don’t think that there is any magic formula to getting what you want.

[Stupot]

I would say the UK has a severe problem with their Rolex distribution, it’s specifically a Watches Of Switzerland Group issue.

They have too big a stranglehold on the market. It’s stifled competition. You can only register with one outlet, so there is absolutely no competition between their own branches for business, and they have such a large footprint now they can be the only Rolex outlet for miles. I visit a lot of UK cities on business and almost everywhere I visit it’s a WOS outlet, so no point even asking. It’s almost a monopoly.

Very, very difficult to get anything out of them, and I have mid tier spend history.

I don’t really understand where they channel the watches to market.

Supply certainly doesn’t appear to me to have loosened any.

[Stebinners]

Originally Posted by Stupot

I would say the UK has a severe problem with their Rolex distribution, it’s specifically a Watches Of Switzerland Group issue.

They have too big a stranglehold on the market. It’s stifled competition. You can only register with one outlet, so there is absolutely no competition between their own branches for business, and they have such a large footprint now they can be the only Rolex outlet for miles. I visit a lot of UK cities on business and almost everywhere I visit it’s a WOS outlet, so no point even asking. It’s almost a monopoly.

Very, very difficult to get anything out of them, and I have mid tier spend history.

I don’t really understand where they channel the watches to market.

Supply certainly doesn’t appear to me to have loosened any.

I agree, i just don’t get a nice experience in my AD.


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[Harry-57]

Originally Posted by Stebinners

Rolex AD’s have terrible customer experience.

They don't in my part of the South West.

Warrington is nice. Shame about the Ad(s).

Moaning won't get it done but if you feel any better for getting it off your chest, then go for it.

[JRell]

Sorry to hear your experience. I get treated like gold at Henne Jewelers and I am not even close to a big spender there.

[Neil McCauley]

Why not tell us exactly what happened OP.