Community Stories

Maybe The Best Of The Rolex vs. Omega

Davidt
Posts
13,192
Likes
22,932
I do wonder how many of the people who slam Rolex AD’s for providing horrible customer service and talking down to potential customers actually have first hand experience of this and how many are just regurgitating what they’ve read on the internet.

From my first hand experience the AD I use are polite and helpful. You generally can’t get the watch you want just by walking in but I had an Explorer and Submariner within 12 months of requesting one which isn’t dissimilar to the amount of time people wait for a service on a vintage watch. I ultimately sold my explorer as I didn’t like the proportions of the 39mm and when I recently went in to try on the new 40mm, I was offered one there and then. I also had a really nice chat with the sales person around vintage watches and she was genuinely interested and quite knowledgeable.

From what various people have told me in ADs, they get multiple calls/drop in per day where people literally ask “what’s the best Rolex for investment”. Whilst I fully agree that every should be dealt with on an individual basis, I can also see how this would be tiring on their part.

TLDR: in my experience my Rolex AD treats people very well if they believe you’re genuinely interested in watches and not just looking to flip for profit.
 
ErichKeane
Posts
1,975
Likes
2,137
Davidt Davidt
I do wonder how many of the people who slam Rolex AD’s for providing horrible customer service and talking down to potential customers actually have first hand experience of this and how many are just regurgitating what they’ve read on the internet.

From my first hand experience the AD I use are polite and helpful. You generally can’t get the watch you want just by walking in but I had an Explorer and Submariner within 12 months of requesting one which isn’t dissimilar to the amount of time people wait for a service on a vintage watch. I ultimately sold my explorer as I didn’t like the proportions of the 39mm and when I recently went in to try on the new 40mm, I was offered one there and then. I also had a really nice chat with the sales person around vintage watches and she was genuinely interested and quite knowledgeable.

From what various people have told me in ADs, they get multiple calls/drop in per day where people literally ask “what’s the best Rolex for investment”. Whilst I fully agree that every should be dealt with on an individual basis, I can also see how this would be tiring on their part.

TLDR: in my experience my Rolex AD treats people very well if they believe you’re genuinely interested in watches and not just looking to flip for profit.
The Rolex AD I worked with was really pleasant, and the SA I worked with was fantastic! BUT when he left, the person who helped me after that was kinda terrible.

That said, I'm ~3 years into waiting on an Explorer 2/GMT Master without getting the call. I've since purchased both (actually 3, 2 GMT masters, 1 I moved on from) privately.

But thats a YMMV. In general the 'horrible customer service' from my perspective is: "I have money, and I want one of your products!", "No, I can't sell you that until you wait a while/or are willing to buy a ton of crap mall jewelry".
 
njlam
Posts
145
Likes
123
I have probably met 20-30 Rolex ADs around the world with experiences ranging from dismissive and rude, to friendly and knowledgable. While I feel i like and have a nice relationship with 2-3 of them, no Rolex AD has ever offered me a watch.

Honestly, some give the vibe that "we will never sell you a watch", while others are less insulting. I must admit, I don't like to go into ADs anymore. It just feels discriminatory.
 
Davidt
Posts
13,192
Likes
22,932
ErichKeane ErichKeane
The Rolex AD I worked with was really pleasant, and the SA I worked with was fantastic! BUT when he left, the person who helped me after that was kinda terrible.

That said, I'm ~3 years into waiting on an Explorer 2/GMT Master without getting the call. I've since purchased both (actually 3, 2 GMT masters, 1 I moved on from) privately.

But thats a YMMV. In general the 'horrible customer service' from my perspective is: "I have money, and I want one of your products!", "No, I can't sell you that until you wait a while/or are willing to buy a ton of crap mall jewelry".

I agree it’s completely YMMV. You can certainly get arseholes at any AD. The worst I’ve ever experienced was at an Omega boutique whilst trying a watch on from a sales guy who was extremely rude and dismissive. This is a boutique who are usually excellent.

But, people are people.
 
ErichKeane
Posts
1,975
Likes
2,137
My worst was an Omega AD, now no longer an AD. My boutique is awesome through.
 
TIMElyBehaviour
Posts
738
Likes
1,322
For me I have a Rolex and I have a modern omega. One would say of the same genre. Both are beautiful and both make me happy.

As for a better movement both have a 10 yr service interval and similar specs.

Do I think that omega have ran the Daniel’s movement into the ground? Yeah they have ran the coaxial further than any other series of movement ever. I pride omega on creating their own movements and I get the idea of acquiring what they currently use, but I don’t think they could create a new movement as good as what they used to anymore.


As for Rolex, they are now focused on being the biggest luxury brand and are forgetting what made them a popular brand in the first place. Does the rugged go anywhere and do anything action man still buy a Rolex? I think now. Why, because you can’t scratch your modern Rolex, it would affect resale value. Even typing that comment made me vomit.

Tudor is most likely what the modern man of actions tool piece.

Oh, and I don’t baby either of mine. I use them as what they are, tool watches.

IMG_7677.webp IMG_7661.webp
 
Faz
Posts
3,833
Likes
22,917
Davidt Davidt
I do wonder how many of the people who slam Rolex AD’s for providing horrible customer service and talking down to potential customers actually have first hand experience of this and how many are just regurgitating what they’ve read on the internet.
I can attest to living through this experience shopping for my wife’s dream watch. She wanted a grape dial Oyster Perpetual and BOTH ADs here gave me exactly the above treatment.
 
spacemission
Posts
1,337
Likes
706
Davidt Davidt
I do wonder how many of the people who slam Rolex AD’s for providing horrible customer service and talking down to potential customers actually have first hand experience of this and how many are just regurgitating what they’ve read on the internet.

From my first hand experience the AD I use are polite and helpful. You generally can’t get the watch you want just by walking in but I had an Explorer and Submariner within 12 months of requesting one which isn’t dissimilar to the amount of time people wait for a service on a vintage watch. I ultimately sold my explorer as I didn’t like the proportions of the 39mm and when I recently went in to try on the new 40mm, I was offered one there and then. I also had a really nice chat with the sales person around vintage watches and she was genuinely interested and quite knowledgeable.

From what various people have told me in ADs, they get multiple calls/drop in per day where people literally ask “what’s the best Rolex for investment”. Whilst I fully agree that every should be dealt with on an individual basis, I can also see how this would be tiring on their part.

TLDR: in my experience my Rolex AD treats people very well if they believe you’re genuinely interested in watches and not just looking to flip for profit.
I've always said the most honest person is the one who just wants or needs a single watch according to his needs. In general, I am suspicious of people who own several rolex watches.
 
M'Bob
Posts
7,175
Likes
23,246
spacemission spacemission
I've always said the most honest person is the one who just wants or needs a single watch according to his needs.
If that were the case, we wouldn’t have much of a forum dedicated to “collectors,” would we?
 
Jakeys
Posts
633
Likes
1,491
Davidt Davidt
I do wonder how many of the people who slam Rolex AD’s for providing horrible customer service and talking down to potential customers actually have first hand experience of this and how many are just regurgitating what they’ve read on the internet.

I wouldn't know. When I went to Sydney for a trip, I spent an afternoon visiting most of the watch stores on and around Martin Place and Rolex was the only one that required an interview with a camera and a locked door to even look at their inventory.

I don't believe it's a privilege to be earned to look at a Rolex much less buy one, so as far as I'm concerned, they're dead to me as a brand until they improve their ridiculous customer service.

Omega had windows that were not tinted opaque, open doors and a staff member to greet you. Plus, they'll sell you a watch - kinda the bare minimum.
 
hansaboy
Posts
2,512
Likes
5,522
spacemission spacemission
I've always said the most honest person is the one who just wants or needs a single watch according to his needs. In general, I am suspicious of people who own several rolex watches.
How about them freaks who have several Speedys....??
😎
 
blufinz52
Posts
3,385
Likes
8,921
Jakeys Jakeys
Rolex was the only one that required an interview with a camera and a locked door to even look at their inventory.
That's a ridiculous way to run a business, but it's far from my experience. I have purchased 2 rolexes at the same AD in the US and gone in to chat a few times, and have always been treated cordially.
 
pdxleaf
Posts
6,184
Likes
21,163
TIMElyBehaviour TIMElyBehaviour
Tudor is most likely what the modern man of actions tool piece.
I mean this in the best way
🤮

The modern man of action wears a G-Shock or Garmin.
 
Jakeys
Posts
633
Likes
1,491
blufinz52 blufinz52
That's a ridiculous way to run a business, but it's far from my experience. I have purchased 2 rolexes at the same AD in the US and gone in to chat a few times, and have always been treated cordially.

It might have just been that one AD in Sydney, but there are so many similar stories online about Rolex ADs, there's too much smoke for there not to be a fire. Plus, I do have first hand experience that another AD in my home state put me on the mystical waitlist for an Explorer 36, which I never heard back about. I assume I hadn't spend enough with them to get a Rolex allocation and they just bullshitted me, but I fundamentally disagree with that business model and I refuse to partake in it.

You can blame some of the interaction on the individual AD, but when there are so many ADs doing these kinds of things that it becomes systemic, the fault has to lie with Rolex. These problems didn't seem to exist 10-15 years ago, they were happy to let me try things on and even buy them if I'd had the money back then. Omega's treatment of me as a customer is the same now as it was originally and that's one of the reasons why I'm here and not on TRF.
 
spacemission
Posts
1,337
Likes
706
M'Bob M'Bob
If that were the case, we wouldn’t have much of a forum dedicated to “collectors,” would we?
I know collectors and collectors.
 
Dan S
Posts
24,230
Likes
53,961
spacemission spacemission
I am suspicious of people who own several rolex watches.
Totally agree, someone with only "several" Rolex watches is probably an axe murderer. If they have more than 10, they are probably safe.
 
14 More Posts...
Sign up or log in to reply...

Similar threads

watchstick_81

The Fascinating Mysteries of the Speedmaster BA345.0802: A Personal Reference Guide

watchstick_81 Open Discussion
BAJJ
BAJJ
Posts
23
Views
543
PilotSports

Rolex vs Omega

PilotSports Open Discussion
chiefenergy
chiefenergy
Posts
83
Views
12K
A

I need your advice on an inherited Omega OT 14707 Cal. 268

airxon Vintage Omega Watches Help, Discussion and Advice
Archer
Archer
Posts
13
Views
353
Trev

Shopping watch dealers on cruise ships (Regalia/Swiss Crown USA/Omega) - Quantum of the Seas, Australia 2025 with mini ship review

Trev Open Discussion
hen
hen
Posts
15
Views
3K
zkramez

Rolex Vs. Omega 2022

zkramez Open Discussion
Nobel Prize
Nobel Prize
Posts
7
Views
4K
C

I just bought the newer quartz Seamaster Regatta. It's fantastic, but Omega has done a terrible job advertising it! Mini review...

Chairman LMAO Modern Omega Watches
C
Chairman LMAO
Posts
13
Views
2K