Got an allocation for a 36mm Explorer 124270 after 2 years of waiting... life changed...

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UCZ_15

·Apr 17, 2024

Hi OF,

I've never been in this situation before and wanted some advice. I got the call to collect a Rolex Explorer 124270 36mm this weekend at a Rolex AD after 2 whole years since registering my interest. I'm based in England.

This watch was meant to be a gift for a family member but this person's eyesight has deteriorated massively in the past year or so due to health problems and now they do not even wear a watch because its simply not an easy or efficient way to read the time.

I'm registered at this authorised dealer for my dream Rolex watches (GMT Batman and SS Yachtmaster 40) and don't want to turn this call down - but I will simply not wear it or give it as a gift now. I'm a little gutted because I sold my Datejust at the end of 2020 due to some unforeseen financial difficulties during COVID after a few months of owning it and I've been trying to get back into Rolex ownership ever since.

I'm worried if I turn this allocation down, my relationship at this AD is effectively "he is not a real buyer" and I won't be taken seriously for a GMT or Submariner when the time comes.

What should I do?

 

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140dave

·Apr 17, 2024

Tell them what you told us and see what happens, or buy it and flip it. Option B isnt as easy as it was a year ago but still an option.

 

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rendo

·Apr 17, 2024·faux legend

2 years is a long time for a lot to change in anyone's life. The AD should understand that you don't have a reason to purchase the Explorer anymore.

 

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UCZ_15

·Apr 17, 2024

140dave

Tell them what you told us and see what happens, or buy it and flip it. Option B isnt as easy as it was a year ago but still an option.

I so badly wanted to avoid this as I didn't want to be part of that game. I did however, peruse the current prices of the 124270 and they are lower than MSRP now as I guess the bubble is starting to burst ever so slightly... I wouldn't mind taking a £100 hit but close to £1,000 isn't possible.

rendo

2 years is a long time for a lot to change in anyone's life. The AD should understand that you don't have a reason to purchase the Explorer anymore.

Honestly, all the stories I've heard and read about Rolex authorised dealers... a lot of their expectations and practices are unreasonable to use a generous word 🙁

 

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JPE.88305

·Apr 17, 2024

You're on a waitlist at a Rolex AD for 3 watches, like umpteen bajillion other people...unless you already have a relationship with that AD (and even if you do), I wouldn't worry too much...I think they are completely used to people turning things down, particularly in the current financial climate. 2 yrs have gone by and you have realigned your interest, and/or the explorer is not top of the list, doesn't sound out of the ordinary.

FWIW I would never feel pressured to buy an Explorer out of fear an AD might skip me on the list for another watch. No guarantee it means anything to them if you buy it anyway. I've purchased 2 Tudors, a Rolex and a Tissot (and some jewelry to boot) from the only AD near me and I'm still on the waitlist for my GMT II pepsi...it's been 3 years, and I keep getting told the same story. I'm just being patient...and putting my name on 5 other next-closest ADs. MSRP in a year or two (like $11k) is still better than grey market now (like $20k+).

 

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TheGreekPhysique

·Apr 17, 2024

I was on a waitlist of some sort or another for about 3 years before I got the call to pick up my sub. If you turn down your allocation your bridge is probably burned with that specific AD. Taking a look at comps you could probably buy and sell without taking too much of a hit at the moment. If you do end up turning it down I can say from personal experience that I had the most success going to a Mom & Pop AD over corporate ones. I only waited there a little less than a year. I stopped in at least once a month and would just shoot the breeze with the employees there. Being that it was family owned the staff there was small and consistent. I would never go in to buy anything or butter anyone up. Just talk watches and other passions. Eventually one of my visits landed me talking to the owner. She learned about my intentions: the watch was suppose to be a birth year watch for my daughter (ended up being a year later). Not even a month later she called me up to come and get it.

 

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Aroxx

·Apr 17, 2024

I think any reasonable person would understand the situation if you explained it to them. They must have this happen pretty frequently. What’s it to them if they just offer it to the next person on the list? If it burns a bridge I’d say that’s pretty sad really. I wouldn’t want to deal with the hassle of flipping it and hoping to break even.

 

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rootbeer7

·Apr 17, 2024

Being honest may work in your favour.

 

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watchyouwant

·Apr 17, 2024

" I guess the bubble is starting to burst ever so slightly... I wouldn't mind taking a £100 hit but close to £1,000 isn't possible..." That will get worse. Advertise it before you have to buy. That will show you the state of "desired" Ownership for that model. Don`t buy stuff you don`t want. Even the 2 models, you mentioned before and really want, will take a hit after purchase. Times have changed.

 

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Dan S

·Apr 17, 2024

You might want to post this on Rolexforums. Conversations about waiting lists seem to comprise 90% of the traffic there, so you will probably get a lot of firsthand advice.

 

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pdxleaf

·Apr 17, 2024·"I cut it TWICE and it's still short!"

Warning, this is conjecture.

You won't get a Batman after buying one Explorer. Passing it up won't help, but it won't be enough. It might help with getting a YM.

You could buy it, sell it for a 1k loss and add that 1k to the retail price of the YM (if you get the call.)

Or you could buy a Longines Spirt Zulu and save a ton of money on a nice GMT.

 

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jsducote

·Apr 18, 2024

Ideally you would have taken your name off the Explorer waitlist when circumstances changed, but you've got a good reason why that wasn't your first priority.

 

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UCZ_15

·Apr 20, 2024

Hey guys. Thanks for all the responses, they were genuinely super useful. Sometimes hearing/reading it from people more experienced than you makes a huge difference.

I refrained from posting this on Rolex forums because I feel the level of intellect/empathy in that place has taken quite a tumble.

Anyway, I just called this AD and just said the truth and my SR was sympathetic and said they understood but was happy to continue my other two expressions of interest.

I wasn’t going to love the Explorer, and probably make a loss on it so now I feel relaxed that I’ve turned it down.

If the other calls come in the future, so be it. If not, it doesn’t change life!

 

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JPE.88305

·Apr 20, 2024

Fwiw I just stopped in at my A.D. to see where I am on the list for my Pepsi… Put my name in the list 2021, am told they have been getting two per year, so I have at least another 3 to 4 year wait… Which is insane…7 yr waitlist for a Pepsi. I suppose it doesn't help this is a small volume Midwest US AD but still. Hopefully your Batman comes in sooner!

 

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NGO1

·Apr 20, 2024

Buy your Bat gray. They go for around $15k. (That’s $2.5k above retail). You can even land one for $13.5k without box papers. Even with a softening Rolex market, it’s still difficult to land any GMT as first timer.

 

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NGO1

·Apr 20, 2024

JPE.88305

Fwiw I just stopped in at my A.D. to see where I am on the list for my Pepsi… Put my name in the list 2021, am told they have been getting two per year, so I have at least another 3 to 4 year wait… Which is insane…7 yr waitlist for a Pepsi. I suppose it doesn't help this is a small volume Midwest US AD but still. Hopefully your Batman comes in sooner!

Production of Pepsi is/was either halted or significantly reduced. My boutique is Tourneau, (which is owned by Rolex) hasn’t seen a Pepsi for nearly 2 years. For whatever reason, Pepsi and the Bat are significantly reduced. On a positive note, I got a Sprite allocation in 3 months.

 

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Adam2941

·May 3, 2024

Sorry if this will be an unpopular post on this particular forum, but if it has gotten so insane buying new Rolexes from ADs, first I like the idea of the gray market as already suggested, or pre-owned, but here’s where I might get unpopular: how about another brand for comparable money? There are soooo many great independents now, and even some of the biggies are producing such great watches. Me, I have my gilt ‘67 Explorer so shut up, right? But seriously, when customers start to be afraid of the dealers something is wrong with that picture.

 

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NGO1

·May 3, 2024

Adam2941

Me, I have my gilt ‘67 Explorer so shut up, right?

Wrist shot or didn’t happen.

Lux watch is a personal and emotional purchase. If you want a Rolex, nothing else will do. There’s nothing logical or sensible about it. We can all agree that time-telling is free. So this comes down to entirely brand desired. OP can hop around indies, but they aren’t the wrist candy he wants. To me, the chase is more exciting than the acquisition.

Edited: May 4, 2024

 

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watchyouwant

·May 4, 2024

You need to build a " Relationship with your Rolex AD " to deliver a ton of money to him ? That sounds rather like being on a Dating Site ? Do you want to buy a Watch or are you looking for a sort of Friend ?

 

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vibe

·May 5, 2024

If it were that easy one could sell that gilt 67 and buy up some independents, right? Didn’t think so.