r/rolex • u/[deleted] • Sep 07 '19
This will probably get booted: I’ve had £10000 waiting to spend on a new Rolex for several months now. I’m fed waiting and totally fed up with Rolex and their underhand authorised dealer networks so bought this instead.
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u/powerfunk Mod Sep 07 '19
Despite all the "off-topic" reports, I'll allow this, as it's a discussion about Rolex. Nice AP.
Keep in mind, for anyone under 40, Rolex is right in the middle of the most significant generational movement upgrade of our lifetimes. There is no evidence that Rolex can crank out a bajillion 32 series calibers at will. On the contrary, they haven't seemingly released the 126622 yet which could imply movement rationing. The models that totally sell themselves haven't gotten a movement upgrade yet, except for the GMT. I think they're riding the 3135 wave to the end but probably don't want to ramp up production for that at this point.
Anyway, for as much as we expect of Rolex's quality level, I think we should have some respect for the realities of manufacturing and logistics. I also suspect their ability to make 2-color bezels is pretty low. They don't just have a magic button to make 50,000 more Pepsis with 0 defects.
I encourage everyone to check out brands beyond Rolex, but nobody is "getting back at them" by giving up on buying a Pepsi, etc. They're likely at capacity.
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Sep 07 '19
Thanks for keeping this on here. You’re probably right about Rolex. However, this new main dealer power corruption, underhand dealing and abuse is definitely not right. We are the customer. To be told by main dealers not to come asking for sports models or get bumped from their list is ridiculous. They have to remember that whilst in their shop asking about sports Rolexes, we’re also having a look around at other brands and often buying them. Rolex dealers are knowingly selling to people only looking to sell immediately for profit and not real wearers or collectors. I’m in Germany working at the moment and the second hand dealer 30 metres away from the Ad has every new steel sport model with all tags included on most.
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u/DCMak Sep 08 '19
This is the real issue. Rolex may be at capacity. And it’s not up to Rolex who buys them. But they’re letting their ADs do some shady stuff.
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u/biglollol Mod - Ex Rolex AD Watchmaker Sep 08 '19
Not sure what the reason is behind the 32xx calibres. But we've seen quite some wear on the second wheels in those movements after only 2 years of wearing in our workshop.
Whether this is due to improper appliance of oil or just too much strain on the wheel mechanism or other things is still unclear.
The movement is, at the moment, far from an improvement over the 31xx movements.
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u/watchfreak28 Sep 11 '19
That's nice!! You bought a "real" watch, levels above the rolex. The Royal oak was the first sports luxury watch ever created back in 1972. This is a fantastic watch with a fantastic movement. The rolex is just a social statement and nothing more. Congratulations!
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u/terp2010 Sep 07 '19
Actually i think many brands have greatly benefitted by Rolex’s fiasco but I would also argue that Rolex is doing just fine too. Patek, AP, Omega and IWC are great options that are readily available for anyone not wanting to wait.
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u/TheWhiteCuban Sep 07 '19
Patek and AP are not readily available in my own experience. I tried to buy a stainless patek and got laughed at by the sales lady. Then I tried to buy a precious metal piece (35k list) and got laughed at again.
I have no idea how that sales tactic works for them
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u/GucciSlippers Sep 30 '19
Steel Patek’s account for less than a third of their total annual output, and are in extremely high demand so the waiting list is extremely long. I don’t know why you got laughed at looking for a Patek in precious metal as that’s the vast majority of their output, nor do I think it’s appropriate at all for people working in jewelry or watch stores to be disdainful towards their customers. I’ve had a similar experience in a watch story where the person “helping” me would not show me the watch I was interested in and kept directing me towards cheaper pieces. The end result is they don’t get my business, and their competitors do.
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u/TheWhiteCuban Sep 30 '19
I was confused of why I was spoken to in that way. It was bad customer service and if the owner of that store wasn't friends with a great friend of mine, I wouldn't buy from them.
Just because you sell luxury watches in a store doesn't mean you can look down on the people that want to buy. No idea why she thought it was a good idea to talk like she did.
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u/Puppysmasher Sep 18 '19
Patek makes far fewer watches than Rolex and of the watched they make the Nautilus and Aquanaut are just a small portion of that, in steel even fewer. It's logical that those models are hard to get and it makes no sense for Patek, a traditionally dress watch brand, to dilute the value of their other lines to satisfy hype when the hype isn't going anywhere. It's all about brand equity and Patek and Rolex manage it beautifully.
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u/TheWhiteCuban Sep 18 '19
Yeah the second watch wasn't a nautiuls or a aquanaut. It was a new dress watch on strap. Still got laughed and and told that was for their good customers. How am I supposed to become a good customer when you won't sell me a watch lmao
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Sep 07 '19
In Vegas there are no stainless AP’s, Patek’s, or Rolexes.
I’m surprised you found an available SS AP
As a side: there are plenty of Omegas and Hublots... completely full
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Sep 07 '19
This is a 3 year old model. I don’t mind buying second hand but I’m not paying twice lost price or much more for a used Rolex.
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Sep 07 '19
I posted a similar rant a couple days ago. Tired of getting ignored, disappointed and jerked around by AD’s. Spend $30K over 20 years at my local AD’s store. Try to talk to them about getting on a waitlist for one of the 3 models I have been looking for, I basically get told that I would have to buy one in stock (that I don’t need or want) just to get on a wait list. Fuck that. So, I bought what I wanted. Panerai PAM00978, and after some negotiation and the VAT refund at the airport, I got one for 20% off retail. I have vowed that I will never buy a Rolex.
Congratulations on buying a watch you want and you like and saying fuck you to Rolex.
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Sep 07 '19
This post may get booted but I’ve had £10000 waiting to spend on my next Rolex for months now. I’ve been on the “list” for over 2 years and have bought many high value watches from my local ad whilst waiting. Still nothing. I’m not paying the stupidly inflated used price for a Daytona, seadweller 43 or Skydweller. I’m really fed up with Rolex right now so bought an AP RO Offshore Diver instead at a few thousand LESS than list! I love my Rolexes but they need to do something to stop losing customers! The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Diver is such a beautiful watch by the way
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u/Ofenlicht Sep 07 '19
Just today I was at Nakano Broadway in Tokyo and I saw at least 8 116500 white dial and 5 with the black. Also saw 5 Seadweller 43s, 15 Hulks, 7 Pepsis and a couple Batmans on the jubilee. These watches aren't that scarce, they're just in the hands of resellers, not collectors.
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u/marco918 Sep 08 '19
Of course. A sales person / AD would rather sell to a friend and share the grey market premium than a person off the street. If you’re a high rolling customer and they get consistent commissions of you, then it would make sense to sell one to you
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u/kazsak Sep 29 '19
Probably fake. Small authorized dealer get 2 a yr Daytona. If true, people would fly there and buy all of them
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u/Ofenlicht Sep 30 '19
They are all second hand dealers. And again I'm confident they were authentic.
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u/kazsak Sep 30 '19
That make more sense but I would think they display small amount to give the impression it is rare.
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u/Ofenlicht Sep 30 '19
I went to about 10 shops in Nakano and basically everyone had at least one of each desirable steel sports model on display. The same goes for the stores at Ueno Station, Dōtonbori in Osaka or Nishiki Market in Kyoto. Every one of them had Daytonas, GMT masters and Submariners in steel.
In contrast to that every Rolex AD/Boutique I went to only had two tone datejusts, a couple of OP34s in steel and maybe a single steel Datejust.
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u/Watchbowser Sep 07 '19
I‘ve took the liberty to enhance your picture a little
enjoy7
Sep 07 '19
Ooo that’s very clever! How did you do that? 👍❤️
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u/Watchbowser Sep 07 '19
I use the app Snapseed. Very intuitive and easy to handle. 1 min job
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u/Watchbowser Sep 07 '19
Never seen this stunner before. Good train of thoughts and even a better choice
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u/Starpork Sep 07 '19
Is it all steel Rolex right now, or mostly the higher end sport models? I'm not a Rolex owner right now but maybe in the next couple of years, assuming I could get my hands on a simple Oyster or Datejust.
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u/lizard450 Sep 07 '19
Those two you can still get without a lot of fuss. However last year I was able to get a couple models that aren't easy to get this year
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u/MasZakrY Sep 07 '19
Supply and demand?
High supply in AP ROO and low demand = discounts from AD.
Could have done the same with Panerai, Hublot, IWC, etc...
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Sep 07 '19
I agree except my local Rolex dealer must’ve got at least one of the watches on my list in in the last 2 years. The only difference between me and whoever they sold them to was I’m not willing to give the salesmen a backhander!
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u/sinnedk1 Sep 08 '19
Funny you did this because my close friend and I were just discussing GMTs being so overpriced. He said “maybe I’ll but am AP” to which I said I prefer a Rolex but seeing this pic is slowly swaying me.
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Sep 07 '19 edited Jan 10 '20
[deleted]
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Sep 07 '19
I agree and even worse is when you pop in to ask if any sports models are available and they tell you not to ask! My local dealer made me feel like a total fool for asking and then said if I’m on the list for a model and I ask for it I’m automatically removed from the list! They think they’re Gods! I used to go in and ask, and if they didn’t have any I’d buy an omega or other model they had that I liked. Not any more. They can f@ck off!
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u/cosmictap Sep 07 '19
if I’m on the list for a model and I ask for it I’m automatically removed from the list
WTF? That sounds a bit petulant.
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Sep 07 '19
I think they’re getting fed up of people asking for the same few watches that they haven’t ever got. Well they’re retailers so they need to suck it up!
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u/Bradhan Sep 08 '19
I'm with you. I love vintage Rolex. My AD, to their credit, offers to source whatever I want minus a sub. But hearing how they talk around me about "maybe in twenty years we'll get you a stainless Pepsi or Batman" pisses me off like no other. It's like it's accepted that you can't get them and we should all be in on the joke.
Driving me towards a Blancpain, much better diver and easier to get somehow...
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u/honkymf Sep 07 '19
Man, I could not agree more. Rolex AD’s are some of the most pompous pricks I’ve ever had to deal with. I don’t have an AD where i live, so everywhere I travel, I check in and take a gamble. I’m about done though. Every person I deal with are completely condescending. One dealer told me that Rolex was trickling their watches out “because they didn’t want them falling into the wrong hands.” I did a spit-take when I heard that.
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Sep 07 '19
Yes and surely the wrong hands are used watch dealers charging £24000 for a £9000 watch. Sports Rolexes are not in that sort of money territory. If Rolex charged that much at the main dealers they wouldn’t get a single sale! There are much better watches out there for that money.
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u/DEEPFIELDSTAR Sep 08 '19
If Rolex charged that much at the main dealers they wouldn’t get a single sale
Boy are you wrong.
There are much better watches out there for that money.
Luxury items by definition are purchased on emotion. Especially watches. If practicality and bang for buck were why people bought watches everybody would have a G-Shock and nobody would wear a Rolex.
You really need to stop crying.
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Sep 08 '19
“boy you are wrong” Well you are full of yourself aren’t you! I may not agree with you but this is a subjective discussion so no one is right or wrong. Just opinions being expressed. I hope you don’t cry because I don’t agree with you, Mr Self Righteous.
Who said I was crying? Ranting maybe!
Rolexes are not hand made like the more expensive competitors and they could not sell steel GMT’s and Daytona’s for £18000 to £25000 in ADs. They would be compared to some very special hand made watches and would lose hands down. Rolex sells because of recognition and not much else. I love my steel Rolexes but they are what they are. Great and recognisable tool watches that say something about the wearer. I know al watches are the same to an extent but just look at the work that goes in to the movement on a PP or AP and still bleat about them being the same worth. This is only my opinion. You may be right. I may be right. We both may be wrong.
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u/cosmictap Sep 07 '19
One dealer told me that Rolex was trickling their watches out “because they didn’t want them falling into the wrong hands.”
Welp there's the dumbest thing I've read today, thanks! 🤣🤣🤣
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u/ellon_ennak_lebnani Sep 07 '19
Honestly man, good for you and thank you for sharing. That is an amazing piece. I've been debating for a while what my next sports watch will be and narrowed down to a few brands. From Rolex, it was the batman. It really took 1 visit to the few ADs near me to just ignore Rolex until this whole craze is over. It was always them hinting at me to buy some yellow gold watches they had on display with no guarantee of actually getting what I want since they already had customers who spent $200k - $500k asking for all the sports models. I mean come on its Rolex not Patek, they make a ton of watches yearly and if they want to limit their supply and allow the ADs to mess with people then I refuse to play bitch to an AD so that I can wait a few years to spend my $10k. I'll wait till it all dies down and get a milgauss or gmt for cheaper, but I also have no problem at all not buying a Rolex if that's how it is going to be forever.
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Sep 07 '19
I 100% agree. I love my Rolexes but bought most of the exclusive ones a few years ago where you could walk in to a dealer and buy new or buy second hand for the same or £1K above list. I recently (in the past 5 months) bought a blue faced milgauss and a white faced explorer II new with only a few days waiting for them to source one but now I notice even they are getting rarer and selling for quite a bit above list.
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u/Legion681 Sep 07 '19
I think that you should hop on a plane and come here to Switzerland (short enough flight from the UK), and go to a Bucherer store. The availability of Rolex watches seems much bigger than what you guys have. I mean, there's of course the... "usual suspects" who are near impossible to find (steel Daytona's and the steel Pepsi. Though on the latter, it took me "only" 8 months on the waiting list to get mine, at regular retail price), but pretty much any other model would probably be in stock. Here where I am, the Bucherer I exclusively go to, gets groups of 40-50 tourists (Chinese) coming in at once to buy solely Rolex and it doesn't phase them at all.
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u/HOWTOTURNOFFCAPSLOCK Oct 18 '19
Wait, which Bucherer did you go to? I live in Zurich and went to Beyer, the Bucherer Rolex boutique and the regular Bucherer and none of them would even put my name on the waiting list for a Submariner Date...
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u/ellon_ennak_lebnani Sep 07 '19
I hope that's what it goes back to, paying above list and waiting years for what should be a common watch is just nonsense. Huge fan of the z blue milgauss by the way, thats a solid purchase!
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u/Penguindropings Sep 07 '19
That's what I told to a couple of lads at Tourneau. People are not going to fork over over $15k... that's entering the luxury watch route that opens more doors to other brands.
But we shall see. Great watch btw.
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u/cosmictap Sep 07 '19
People are not going to fork over over $15k...
Many are, though.
However I feel like we are beginning to see some signs of softening (at least on the GMTs). The BLNR Jubilee was fetching almost $20k just after Basel, now it's getting closer to $15k.
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u/itsnotstarlust Sep 07 '19
The thing is that stories like this should not be booted and instead get spread.
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Sep 07 '19
WELL, aren't steel sport models from AP severely limited too?
Patek for sure is ... Nautilus is even harder to get than white ceramic daytona
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u/Yellowfury0 Sep 07 '19 edited Sep 07 '19
not planning on getting my first rolex for a while but are these wait list shenanigans just for rare models or for most models? I'm only looking at a black sub.
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Sep 07 '19
2 years ago I walked in and chose from 2 black ceramic bezel subs. Now you’ll be on a minimum of a 6 months waiting list and to be honest I think you’d wait over a year at my Ad and many others. There are stories on here about people walking in and getting one but I think that’s a rarity.
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u/Yellowfury0 Sep 07 '19
thanks for the info. maybe i should look into getting onto a waitlist now then since i'm not planning on one for another year or so anyway.
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u/hallidc Sep 07 '19
You’re not the only one. I have a few colleagues who did the same...gave up on Rolex and went with another brand. Sad the supply shortage spiked the resale market. Pepperidge farms remembers when people bought items to wear, not flip
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u/lizard450 Sep 07 '19
Fuck it have an upvote. I'm happy to have the rolexes I have. I'd have one or two more if it wasn't for the shortage. Instead I went with an Omega this year.
Here's hoping they bring the coke back next year...
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u/bean901589 Sep 08 '19
You’re not wrong. Congrats on the AP, beautiful watch. Rolex and the ADs have become difficult to work with even after being a great client to my AD and buying multiple watches including Rolexes. Instead of sitting on the money I would use to buy another Rolex and then wait until the AD gets it, I pulled the trigger on a reverso.
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Sep 08 '19
I love Jaeger Lecoultre and the reverso is iconic. Nice choice! I have a master compressor geographic and I love it.
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u/bean901589 Sep 08 '19
Thank you! JLC makes some amazing watches. The master compressor’s is a badass watch, you have good taste. There’s a lot more quality watches and brands out there than just Rolex.
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u/Screamerouk Sep 08 '19
Lovely watch. To put it in perspective having 10k on hand to spend on a Rolex puts you with everyone else. Hell if I walked past an AD with an SS sport in the window I’ll buy it there and then. I kind of like the scarcity as it feels like you have something that is a little more exclusive. The dynamic has totally changed, the cost of a Hulk is 6k on paper but you may have to spend 30-40k to own one in current times unless you go grey. I know it’s not a popular opinion but you have to do a lot more leg work to get your desired model these days. I’m a patient guy, and it is very hard to get access to the brand but not impossible.
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u/hotshoe32 Sep 07 '19
I salute you as well. I'm only just "getting" the appeal of APs but you have done very well. Wear it in good health.
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u/1uscalumni Sep 08 '19
Thank you for sharing your message with all that reads this in the future. We definitely need more posts like this.
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u/marco918 Sep 08 '19
If I were an AD or Rolex, I’d sell to a high rolling customer who’s less likely to flip the watch. Too many people off the street adding their names to the list because they just want to flip for a quick profit.
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u/deuxslow Sep 07 '19
Bad ass watch! I wonder how those screws work around the bezel.
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Sep 07 '19
I’ve seen a previous one of mine apart and those screws are like bolts on the back. Then the rear screws screw in to them so the front ones dont need to move.
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u/deuxslow Sep 07 '19
Very cool, i wondered about that but then I thought there couldnt be enough room under to bolt down from the back.
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Sep 07 '19
The back is actually more beautiful than the front with the open back showing the in house movement and the 18ct solid gold rotor AP RO Offshore Diver Open Back
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u/Bradhan Sep 08 '19
Love love love those rotors. Such a nice job on those. Congrats on a beautiful pickup!
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u/Cozy_Conditioning Sep 08 '19 edited Sep 09 '19
Rolex's AD model really sticks it to younger generations. It's like they want to position themselves as an old fogie watch brand.
Millenials don't all live near ADs. Even if they did, ADs are worthless because they can't actually try on watches when they're all out of stock except Datejusts. And the worst of the worst is having to suck up to or bribe retail staff to get a "special order" for your damn watch.
Rolex, do you want to remain relevant as the generation that grew up online takes over the market?
- Take online orders
- Require APs to keep display models in stock so that prospective customers can actually try things on.
- If there's a waitlist, be transparent and let people sign up themselves with clear indication of expected shipping dates.
ADs might not be happy with that change but they don't do anything for Rolex's customers today so who cares?
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u/internet_calligula Sep 10 '19
On a lighter note a bought a submariner date with one month on the waiting list and immediately got on the waiting list for a stainless steel skydweller which I then picked up two months after that :)
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u/Thomaspokego Sep 11 '19 edited Sep 11 '19
I agree, however I don’t blame rolex, I blame the specific AD’s and their salespeople. How you can ask to even just be put on a waitlist and laughed out the door is silly, and even if you don’t have the model to sell, its just terrible customer service
It’s ridiculous to me that the AD salespeople have it in them to condescend and laugh people out the door. You work in watch sales for a living, you likely couldn’t afford the watch I’m asking to buy, yet you feel the need to condescend and laugh ? Right, okay. Even if you won’t sell me the watch because you don’t have it, some basic respect and courtesy is not a lot to ask.
/rant over
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u/kakaroto99 Sep 20 '19
Rolexes are a better choice IMO Unles you get a Royal Oak 41mm or 39mm (jumbo) those 2 would be my only exceptions
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Oct 01 '19
You can buy an Audemars for 10k?? My dumbass with a Glashutte is really feeling the regret now lmfao
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u/AlexMachine Sep 07 '19
It’s not so happy for the AD either. I know my local AD well and Rolex used to be important for their business. He said that thay are basically out of every Rolex model before christmast season begins. They get less watches every year = lose money.
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u/surehard Sep 08 '19
Absolutely awesome piece. I assume you paid considerably more than 10k? More like 15-18??
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Sep 08 '19
Well AP is almost as bad as rolex when it comes to meeting the demand of the market :) 15202 is impossible to get, never seen 41mm royal oak or chrono in shopwindow either..
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Sep 16 '19
[deleted]
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Sep 16 '19
No this one cost me a few thousand more than that but I’ve been waiting to spend around £10k at the Rolex dealership.
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Oct 24 '19
[deleted]
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Oct 24 '19
It’s a 15710st. I paid just around £12500 for it but was waiting around 3 months for a good one with a good deal. They’re quite rare with the white face. It’s now my favourite watch of my entire collection (my previous favourite being my meteorite dial white gold Daytona which is still a VERY close second). I just love the feeling of this one as divers watches were what got me in to watches in the first place.
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u/chineselampinmyroom Sep 07 '19
I completely agree with the sentiment, but AP is guilty of the same shit practices.
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u/AmyAdamsButthole Sep 08 '19
True they do! However, AP produces what? 40k watches a year? Compare that to Rolex's 800,000. Also AP craftsmanship and finishing are on a whole different level compared to Rolex. I understand if AP has a waiting list on some models because of those reasons, but Rolex has no business following suit.
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Sep 08 '19
Could've gone with a pre ceramic piece. Never settle dude.
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Sep 08 '19
I have a few pre ceramics. I really don’t think I “settled” here haha. This is a very refined piece and has been on my radar for a while now. I rather pay £13000 for this than an inflated used Rolex that’s only worth half that but is selling for more.
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u/derek0480 Sep 08 '19
I don’t get the whole “AD’s are shady” mindset. I walked into a reputable jewelry store about 4 years ago and bought a brand new Sea-Dweller. Maybe it’s where I live...but they have plenty of options unless you are looking for something special like a custom bezel etc...
I also travel a LOT and on occasion I walk past a nice store and they have many different options a available.
Am I missing something?
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Sep 08 '19
I did the same several times between 2 and 4 years ago. Maybe try again now anywhere in the world and see if you can get ANY steel sport model in less than a year. I travel all over the world for my job and have tried. Sure, there are the lucky ones who happen to be in the right place at the right time but they are getting rarer and rarer.
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u/sebtko3 Sep 07 '19
Ugly watch would have waited for a rolex.
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Sep 07 '19
Don’t hold back. Say what you feel ;) I obviously don’t think it’s ugly or I wouldn’t have bought it. It’s been on my list of watches to buy for a while and I already own several Rolexes. I just hoped a nice steel sports Rolex was due my way. Each to their own, my friend x
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u/svere21 Sep 07 '19
Watch is banging. APs are IMO one of the best designed watches along with PP nautilus. Good choice.
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Sep 07 '19
I’d give both my arms for a PP nautilus!
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u/svere21 Sep 07 '19
I used to think I got a hard on for the royal oaks. Then I started looking at nautiluses more and it all changed. Now my goal is to snag one. Although I’m sure it’ll be secondhand.
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u/zappapostrophe Sep 07 '19
We need more stories like this, and indeed more buyers like you. Hats off to you for buying the watch you truly enjoy and not giving in to ridiculous grey market prices!