Conversation with my Rolex AD

pIoNeErOfThEnILe

that's just not true. peeps buy reps for all kinds of reasons. i have no problem with anyone buying one and nobody else should either.

Martin_J_N

Once upon a time there was a well marketed watch brand that existed in the mountainous regions of Europe, their watches had an excellent build quality, good accurate movements and standards that others aspired too. Over time these watches began to be sought after by those with an eye for a quality product that would last and last.

Then there was a crisis, many other watch brands were bought to their knees in this crisis but not 'The brand', they survived and came through the crisis stronger than ever, their stock was now sought after and revered. 'The brand' found that after the crisis it had a new market of customers, these people came not just from traditional areas but from places where owning one of these timepieces wasn't just about having a nice watch it became a status symbol, it was cool to be seen with this brand of watch, but not any watch but just those watches that came from 'The brand's' line of 'Professional' watches.

As a result demand soared, 'The brand' couldn't / wouldn't (delete as appropriate according to opinion) produce enough of these watches and demand rapidly outstripped supply.

Some enterprising entrepreneurs realised that there was a market to be exploited and started getting as many of these sought after watches purchased as quickly as they could, they would happily pay over the odds as they knew that they could sell their second hand watches to this nouveau rich market who would happily pay well over the increased price the entrepreneur had paid and so the grey market was born.

Others realising that they could buy a watch at 7000 and sell it for 10000 to the entrepreneurs started hounding dealers for these watches, offering the dealers backhanders for access to these watches and some succumbed.

But many dealers didn't go this route and they stayed loyal to their customers but with demand outstripping supply their shelves were empty, they were also finding that people buying these 'Professional' watches were immediately selling the watch to the entrepreneurs for a profit.

Dealers started to fight back, they made people wanting a 'Professional' buy another watch from 'The brand' first, and then made the customer wait for 'the Professional watch', and because of the popularity of 'The brand's' watches that wait could be a long time, a very long time for watches deemed 'The Watch to Own'.

Now, many customers refused to buy another watch from the dealer, they just wanted one watch, sometimes to keep and be their watch but for others it was still the chance to make a quick profit.

So those customers who wanted the watch but wouldn't wait bought from the grey market, their piggy bank ripped open to fund a greatly overpriced watch but they were happy, they proudly showed the watch on their wrist and on internet forums loudly slated 'The brand' for not making more watches.

Those who refused to buy another watch from the dealer but still wanted a 'Professional' watch went on the AD's waiting list, a mysterious list that seemed to have different rules for different people. These people protested loudly on the internet forums complaining that dealers never had watches for sale, waiting lists were a joke etc etc.

Some people said that if you had relations with the dealer (sorry that should read a relationship, it could be platonic but who actually knows 😀), then you could work your way up the mysterious list and like magic get your watch.

Those that entered into a relationship with the dealer were able to get watches that others were struggling to get. The issue was just how good a relationship you had to have with the dealer to get your watch. Some stated many many thousands of the local currency had to change hands to get you watch, other stated that they just had coffee with the dealer (we've all heard that one 😀).

But, in all of this 'The brand' did nothing other than continue to produce the same number of watches as they did before, the watches were now more refined than they ever had been, the sparkle had not lost its lustre (unlike the champagne at my dealers 😉), the watches were were just as sought after and there was seemingly nothing that was going to happen to burst this bubble.

So customers are encouraged to buy other watches from 'The brand's' 'Classic' range and once you have done this you are given the key to the magic world of sought after 'Professional' watches, the mysterious waiting list still exists, it now appears that you have jumped up many rungs on the ladder because you bought a 'Classic' watch, you have kicked some poor sod down the ladder who refused to play the game, but you are closer to your goal of owning one of the rare 'Professional' watches.

Hang on what's this, if I want that watch named after a race circuit in America I have to wait 10 years, and I have to wait 10 years for a watch with a blue dial and a spinning bezel, but if I buy some watches made of gold I may find that i can get these watches sooner, so there's another ladder.......😲

So, unlike the fairy tales that we are used to this one has no happy ending, only that whichever way you choose to get your watches is your choice, you earn your money and you have every right to spend it entirely as you wish, It is not for any of us to pass judgment on how people freely spend their money.

We can agree or disagree over the way the brands work, but it isn't going to change. In the fullness of time I can see other brands going down this route, it cannot be cost effective to have hundreds if not thousands of watches sat in dealers window or safes around the world, it is far better for those brands who are deemed to be at the higher echelons of watch making to have waiting lists for watches, making watches and selling them quickly will improve their cashflow and not tie up money for either the brand or the dealer. We may not like the way that 'The brand' operates but it is not stopping their continued rise in popularity or reducing the number of watches that are being sold.

I hope that you like my take on 'The brand', its a bit of fun but from my limited time collecting watches, I have 4, it sought of sums up how I have seen the brand portrayed. Clearly the way that the brand operates is divisive for many and not popular. I'll leave you all to comment, rip to shreds, like or dislike my little fairy story. I think that when SWMBO reads this she will tell me I need to get out more 😁.

JwRosenthal

Are we getting the lines blurred again between a fake and an homage? A watch in the style of a popular brand or model has been done since the beginning of horology. A fake is a fake and that’s actually illegal in many places- and for good reason, it’s meant to deceive. Wether you know it or not doesn’t matter- at some point in the future that fake may get sold to someone who buys it under false pretenses.

mayankyadav

Man, looks like you have developed some kind of sentimental bond with your AD. Go have a coffee there.. More power..err watches to you. cheers!

Martin_J_N

Having bought a DJ I have opened a door into the world of professional Rolex watches, 😀

chunkythebulldog

No you haven't, you've just bought a DJ

chunkythebulldog

No you haven't, you've just bought a DJ

Lenny Pepperidge

I have to agree with this, which is why I absolutely wouldn't play that game. You're essentially trusting someone you don't know at all, and you have to imagine that dealer has a long list of people who've bought more than one Rolex (along with engagement rings, diamond necklaces etc) also on that list. Unless they took a deposit for the sports watch and confirmed a firm delivery date, you just dropped 8K on faith.

Martin_J_N

Yep, I went in to the shop and bought a DJ, because that is what I wanted. I didn't buy a DJ to get access to the Professional watches I actually went in to buy a DJ as that was the watch I wanted. (Actually that's not true, I went in for an OP but there were a few things that I didn't like about the watch so went for a DJ instead).

After all the paperwork was done, my watch is getting acquainted with my wrist, and I am sitting chatting, drinking flat champagne, the sales assistant explains that if I want one I can now get access to a 'Professional' watch, the SA explained that they expect customers to buy another watch first before they will discuss getting a Professional watch.

I didn't know this at the time I bought my DJ as I hadn't asked for a Professional watch, the dealer was quite open during our pre purchase discussions that waiting lists were lengthy for Rolex's 'Professional' models, up to 10 years in some cases, but that was all, no mention of having to buy to get access.

Now that I have my lovely DJ, I can and I have discussed the possibility of a number of watches, no firm order just discussions, but the AD has given me rough time scales to get a Sub (presuming no movement upgrade in 2020), a Pepsi and a few others.

So, am I playing their game, no. I wasn't forced, coerced, bullied, manipulated or any other method into buying a DJ, that was the choice of watch that I wanted.

I have a dive watch (Seamaster), I have a Chronograph (Speedmaster), I have a dress watch (Longines), I now have something very different in a Rolex DJ, it fills a gap in my watch collection and is awesome. The fact that my AD will help me source my next Rolex from any part of the Rolex catalogue if I want one is great news, I have plenty of watches to choose from if that is what I want to do.

My apologies if this isn't what people want to hear, but there are other Rolex watches not just the SS Professional models that are so popular at the moment, but I was not buying a DJ to get access to Professional watches, I bought the DJ as that is the watch that I wanted. It may be my one and only Rolex, it may be the first of many, who knows what tomorrow will bring.

Lenny Pepperidge

My misunderstanding. I thought you bought the DJ solely to move up the SS waitlist. So the latter is just a nice bonus for getting the watch you wanted. Makes perfect sense then.

ConElPueblo

Sorry, what? You are okay with this?

What do you do for a living yourself?

JwRosenthal

Martin, I think your point about this just being the way it is with Rolex now is well stated...it is what it is. I think much of the outrage is from people who remember the way it was- but that’s not how it is.
Again, I’m thrilled you got the watch you wanted- the DJ you got is lovely, plus you had the luxury to select from a couple they had which allowed you to make a decision based on how you felt about it and not just a catalog pic.
I spoke with the local AD recently (went in to look at their used pieces which are always nice- they carry Omega, Breitling, Tudor, etc) and he said it’s a tough time to be a Rolex dealer. It’s not a huge part of their sales but the demand is 55% of what they get requests for. He said, saying no to a client is difficult and he can turn some clients on to other brands but most people who walk in off the street wanting a Rolex want nothing else- so they lose sales daily.

Hopefully the tides will turn for Rolex and when the dealers find themselves back to the good ole days of having flush displays, stock in the back room and handing out gratuitous compliments and swag- they will have already alienated a huge portion of their previous base clientele....couldn’t happen to a nicer company.

Stufflers Mom

There are slightly more important things in the fake world to worry ourselves about than a watch, you do know that drugs and medicines are now routinely faked and sold?

ConElPueblo

So if your house gets broken into you won't take offense because there are worse crimes?

In a different thread someone said about you that you were seemingly here mostly for trolling and I am starting to get their point.

mancio

Oh well, you should have ask how long for a Daytona!!!😁😁😁
My girlfriend asked to an AD in Zurich, the answer was 15 years🤨🤨🤨