It amazes me that people will say you need to "work with your AD" to even get to
try on a watch. That is so messed up that it boggles the mind that people think this is in any way a normal way of doing business. And what does "work with your AD" actually mean? Do I have to buy something else just to get to try on a watch? If so, WTF?
No, people don't have to accept it. They can just move on and buy from a brand that actually wants to sell you their product without making you feel like you need to beg them for it...
To each his own, but I don’t just have to accept Rolex’s ridiculous marketing practices. Even if I found Rolex’s product attractive - and I don’t - the idea of having to “work with my AD” to get one is crazy. Either they want to sell me a watch or they don’t. And if they do then they ought to have it in stock for immediate delivery. It’s not complicated.
I have never had to work with my AD to try a watch on, the AD has been great letting me try on watches they have in awaiting customers coming in to collect their orders, that is how I have been able to determine what I want.
But you are right, if you don't want to play the game then you don't have to, nothing is forcing any of us to buy any brand of watch let alone Rolex. As we all know there are plenty of great watches out there, watches that can be bought in many cases without a wait.
I haven't had to buy any watch to get another one, I have only bought the watches that I want and none of these were at the behest of the AD. I get on very well with my AD, they are very helpful and believe that they can get me the watches that I want, I understand that there is a wait, I don't find that a problem.
My failing is that I am possibly naive to this watch world, I have only been buying Rolex since late summer, this is the state of play that I have walked into and to be honest I don't find it unexpected, Rolex is an incredibly popular watch brand with a range of extremely desirable watches that are very popular and aspirational to own the world over.
I know not the intricacies of the Rolex supply chain or the methodology behind it, some will say that Rolex are slowing production and some will say otherwise, some will say that it is a plot by the AD's to get you to buy more, some will say otherwise.
All I know is that I like Rolex and that I am happy to wait for my watch to arrive, I am happy to pop in to my AD for a chat, their coffee is very good, I am happy to buy other jewellery from them but only if it is what is wanted, I certainly will not buy just for the sake of it or to boost my standing in the store.
However, I am not daft, I am after a specific Rolex watch but if the AD starts to mess me about or the delays get longer and longer with no sign of the watch ever arriving, then I will go elsewhere and buy another brand, there are plenty of watches out there that I like, plenty within the budget that I have set, but for moment I am happy to play the game, be a familiar face in the AD letting them know that I am able to buy and can move at short notice so if someone declines then I can step in.
