How can you actually buy a rolex?

[jkyrolex]

Is secondary market the only way to buy a rolex? I currently own two rolexes but have not bought one over ten years. Maybe a newbie q here but how are people getting anything from ADs?

[afmars]

Pretty straight forward, actually.

- Demonstrate that you are already a long time customer of the brand
- Know what you want and have a narrative of why you want that piece
- Be likeable
- Don’t act entitled
- Followup regularly but without being annoying or pushy
- Be patient
- making a small purchase of something else will help speed up the process, and for some ADs may be a requirement.

Good luck.

[HJZS2K]

Originally Posted by afmars

Pretty straight forward, actually.

- Demonstrate that you are already a long time customer of the brand
- Know what you want and have a narrative of why you want that piece
- Be likeable
- Don’t act entitled
- Followup regularly but without being annoying or pushy
- Be patient
- making a small purchase of something else will help speed up the process, and for some ADs may be a requirement.

Good luck.

Reading this made me kind of feel like it's a job application lol. Aren't wrong but man how this hobby have developed.

[afmars]

Originally Posted by HJZS2K

Reading this made me kind of feel like it's a job application lol. Aren't wrong but man how this hobby have developed.

For sure! Only you can decide if it’s worth the time and hassle. If the answer is ‘no’, then the gray market awaits you :)

[amh]

Originally Posted by afmars

Pretty straight forward, actually.

- Demonstrate that you are already a long time customer of the brand
- Know what you want and have a narrative of why you want that piece
- Be likeable
- Don’t act entitled
- Followup regularly but without being annoying or pushy
- Be patient
- making a small purchase of something else will help speed up the process, and for some ADs may be a requirement.

Good luck.

IME even that doesn't work. I think if one turns the "small purchase" into "$50k of jewelry" then the safe will open.

Course I'm willing to be proven wrong, thus I'll stick with your recipe!

[Santiago32]

Originally Posted by afmars

Pretty straight forward, actually.

- Demonstrate that you are already a long time customer of the brand
- Know what you want and have a narrative of why you want that piece
- Be likeable
- Don’t act entitled
- Followup regularly but without being annoying or pushy
- Be patient
- making a small purchase of something else will help speed up the process, and for some ADs may be a requirement.

Good luck.

Or skip the BS and go gray. Especially if you want 1-2 watches. If you want 3+ watches it might be worth jumping through hoops.

[lowmandfl]

Originally Posted by afmars

Pretty straight forward, actually.

- Demonstrate that you are already a long time customer of the brand
- Know what you want and have a narrative of why you want that piece
- Be likeable
- Don’t act entitled
- Followup regularly but without being annoying or pushy
- Be patient
- making a small purchase of something else will help speed up the process, and for some ADs may be a requirement.

Good luck.

This is excellent advice.

[ColdWater]

I stopped in today to say hello for the second time this year. Tried on a demo Explorer again.

I cried, "I bet you don't get many of these. I've been waiting five months."

She yelled, "We get these all the time!"

I walked out with another Rolex catalogue.

[dwaine99]

Originally Posted by afmars

Pretty straight forward, actually.

- Demonstrate that you are already a long time customer of the brand
- Know what you want and have a narrative of why you want that piece
- Be likeable
- Don’t act entitled
- Followup regularly but without being annoying or pushy
- Be patient
- making a small purchase of something else will help speed up the process, and for some ADs may be a requirement.

Good luck.

Worked for me in March. I plan to buy a 116500LN or 126710 BLRO or in the next few months at MSRP from AD. Hopefully this will work again.

[rolexjackson]

Originally Posted by afmars

Pretty straight forward, actually.

- Demonstrate that you are already a long time customer of the brand
- Know what you want and have a narrative of why you want that piece
- Be likeable
- Don’t act entitled
- Followup regularly but without being annoying or pushy
- Be patient
- making a small purchase of something else will help speed up the process, and for some ADs may be a requirement.

Good luck.

This is exactly what you need to do! The demand is high so depending on which model you are after it might require lots of patience.


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[stevestil]

Originally Posted by afmars

Pretty straight forward, actually.

- Demonstrate that you are already a long time customer of the brand
- Know what you want and have a narrative of why you want that piece
- Be likeable
- Don’t act entitled
- Followup regularly but without being annoying or pushy
- Be patient
- making a small purchase of something else will help speed up the process, and for some ADs may be a requirement.

Good luck.

^^^^^^^^ this.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[dwaine99]

Originally Posted by afmars

Pretty straight forward, actually.

- Demonstrate that you are already a long time customer of the brand
- Know what you want and have a narrative of why you want that piece
- Be likeable
- Don’t act entitled
- Followup regularly but without being annoying or pushy
- Be patient
- making a small purchase of something else will help speed up the process, and for some ADs may be a requirement.

Good luck.

To the naysayers that say this is a waste of time for a couple of watches from your AD, spend that extra $8K for a 126610LN, $12K more for a Sub LV or $25K more for a 116500 for that instant gratification from your grey dealer. Why pay $10K for a Sub from an AD when your grey dealer will let you have one for $18K.... Go grey, it's simple!

[fixinbones]

Originally Posted by dwaine99

To the naysayers that say this is a waste of time for a couple of watches from your AD, spend that extra $8K for a 126610LN, $12K more for a Sub LV or $25K more for a 116500 for that instant gratification from your grey dealer. Why pay $10K for a Sub from an AD when your grey dealer will let you have one for $18K.... Go grey, it's simple!

That thinking works only up to a certain price point and this can vary by how much disposable income one has. I’d love to have a Platona at retail but going grey and paying $175-200k is just absurd

[jets]

If you have to ask then yes. Go grey.

[brandrea]

It’s a weird time to buy a Rolex from an AD. I’d pay your local AD a visit and have a chat to see if they are willing to sell you one.

[Calatrava r]

Visiting the Ad wearing your watch of ten years is a great start.

[RoscoPico]

Originally Posted by brandrea

It’s a weird time to buy a Rolex from an AD. I’d pay your local AD a visit and have a chat to see if they are willing to sell you one.

best answer

[Time Out]

My AD is only selling local. I am also thinking that there is only a select group of local buyers that are actually getting watches.. I, thankfully being one of them on the low end of the divvying but still getting pieces.

I only have a couple more references I would even consider at this point but it makes me feel for you guys who just want one nice piece to enjoy.

My advice. Express interest in a less hot piece like a Bluesy or base sub. Buy a little jewelry and make monthly attempts/contacts via phone or in person and eventually you'll succeed.

Asking for a LV Sub, GMT or Daytona right off the bat will get you nowhere 99% of the time.

[stockae92]

You have to play their game. Simple as that.

There are always exceptions. You will hear stories like people just do walk-in and walk out with a Daytona. But thats rare.

[Crashblue]

Be an A customer, someone who is not only after the hot pieces be someone who buys a lot of jewellery, much higher margin than on watches, be someone who buys a lot of watch brands which get heavily discounted on the grey market...

Where I live we are talking at least mid 6 figure ($,€...) purchase history over the last couple of years.

[Barada7]

It’s tough.

Go grey: pay too much, instant gratification, but a nagging feeling that you should’ve been patient.

AD: maybe you never get the watch, retail price is great, but a nagging feeling you should’ve been less patient and just went grey.

[mfserge]

The best thing you can do is walk into an AD with supreme confidence that you know all about Rolex and the secondary market values and express your disdain for flippers. You’ll walk out with the Rolex of your choice. Guaranteed.

[dwaine99]

Originally Posted by mfserge

The best thing you can do is walk into an AD with supreme confidence that you know all about Rolex and the secondary market values and express your disdain for flippers. You’ll walk out with the Rolex of your choice. Guaranteed.

We did this but had to wait two weeks for a Sub LV.

[RoscoPico]

Originally Posted by dwaine99

We did this but had to wait two weeks for a Sub LV.

if it were this easy, 100% guaranteed it isn't, we'd all have the watch of our dream every two weeks. I would suggest this is more like total rubbish.
I buy lottery tickets with these odds.

[dwaine99]

Originally Posted by RoscoPico

if it were this easy, 100% guaranteed it isn't, we'd all have the watch of our dream every two weeks. I would suggest this is more like total rubbish.
I buy lottery tickets with these odds.

Be ignorant and call it what you want...I didn't say it was guaranteed. I only shared my experience. Maybe you should just ignore it since you call it rubbish. First, I called at least 6 AD's and it didn't take long to realize that no one would sell me one over the phone. I did reach an SA that suggested I visit her store and establish a relationship. I did and made a $1200 purchase while there. It was a purchase I would have made whether I got a watch or not. Some call it "butter". My wife hit it off with the associate while the associate cleaned her YG Datejust. Associate was very positive and told us they get in several watches a week. I gave her three choices. Sub LV, Sub Date, Sub no date. SA said let's focus on your first choice. Less than two weeks later I get a call from associate and she offers me the LV. She told me when the LV arrived she told the manager she had a customer in mind for the watch. There is NO OFFICIAL WAIT LIST, just contact info on potential customers. I got the call, I got the watch in less than 14 days. Since my watch purchase, I made another $1200 purchase for my wife (upcoming birthday). More butter? Call it what you want. Happy wife, happy life. Today we visited the SA and I tried on a Daytona. When I walked in the store the SA said you've got a birthday coming up soon don't you! Well I'd say I've established a relationship!! I probably won't be offered the white dial Daytona but I'll take it if I get the offer. Go buy yourself a lotto ticket.

[beshannon]

Originally Posted by jkyrolex

Is secondary market the only way to buy a rolex? I currently own two rolexes but have not bought one over ten years. Maybe a newbie q here but how are people getting anything from ADs?

Yes, there are Rolex for sale everywhere. From AD's? I no longer waste my time with them for Rolex.

[khalifam]

DADVID SW DAVID SW DAVID SW

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[Luisrm02]

Originally Posted by khalifam

DADVID SW DAVID SW DAVID SW

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Modern date sub currently listed for 18k to 19.7k… feels extremely steep.

[Chris]

Originally Posted by jkyrolex

Is secondary market the only way to buy a rolex? I currently own two rolexes but have not bought one over ten years. Maybe a newbie q here but how are people getting anything from ADs?

Its not the only way but if you want it now. Yes

[Cigars&Watches]

Originally Posted by jkyrolex

Is secondary market the only way to buy a rolex? I currently own two rolexes but have not bought one over ten years. Maybe a newbie q here but how are people getting anything from ADs?

What reference are you looking at