Rolex AD and waiting list (UK)

[DPE]

Is this fair ? I thought when you put your name on a waiting list with a Rolex AD it meant you would be dealt with in turn. I went into my Rolex AD in Guildford, Surrey, UK. The AD is called Prestons. So almost 2 years ago I put my details on the list ready for a Daytona with a Black or White Face.

Today I called into the AD to ask where I am now on the waiting list ? The answer was this. "The Manager will decide on the list who she contacts. It is in No order of how long you have been on the list, she will decide".

If they expect Loyality, then they should also give it back. I was also going to buy a Tudor from them, not now.....

[Nairn1980]

Sadly not surprised.
ADs in the UK can "cherry pick" customers for Daytonas, and often that's the biggest spenders. I believe many "lists" are just s front.

[Robbyman]

Originally Posted by Nairn1980

Sadly not surprised.
ADs in the UK can "cherry pick" customers for Daytonas, and often that's the biggest spenders. I believe many "lists" are just s front.

Totally disagree, from my knowledge watches from this dealer have not really gone to big spenders because I can confirm I am not one of them.

[Nairn1980]

Originally Posted by Robbyman

Totally disagree, from my knowledge watches from this dealer have not really gone to big spenders because I can confirm I am not one of them.

Im not specifying an AD, Jeremy saying that if you think lists are run strictly as lists and that the next in line gets the DaytonaC, then I'd say you're wrong overall.

Many VIPs will jump lists.

I'm not saying this happens all the time but often.

[Ruud Van Driver]

Originally Posted by Nairn1980

Im not specifying an AD, Jeremy saying that if you think lists are run strictly as lists and that the next in line gets the DaytonaC, then I'd say you're wrong overall.

Many VIPs will jump lists.

I'm not saying this happens all the time but often.

This is about the size of it.

I jumped the list at home to get my D-Blue. I'm not even a VIP; it was my one and only purchase with them. The reason I was able to score mine was because I'm a personal friend of the supervisor, whom I've known for 30 years (and I've spent a shed load at her previous establishment).

I think some of it also boils down to the old adage; it's not what you know, it's who you know.

[oldsalt]

Originally Posted by Ruud Van Driver

This is about the size of it.

I jumped the list at home to get my D-Blue. I'm not even a VIP; it was my one and only purchase with them. The reason I was able to score mine was because I'm a personal friend of the supervisor, whom I've known for 30 years (and I've spent a shed load at her previous establishment).

I think some of it also boils down to the old adage; it's not what you know, it's who you know.

Yep - gotta agree with this....

cheers

[BadBoyR]

I think this is the case with most. WOS told me this straight to my face, they pick who to sell too.

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[aussiejoe]

Had a similar less than impressive experience yesterday in one of Sydney's leading AD.
Put my name on the list for a white dial Daytona last year in June.
Decided to pop in their yesterday to see how I have progressed, or at the least my name was on the list (another AD 'lost' my name).
The young salesmen kept his arms folded, refused to even check and simply stated I need to be patient, as it is a popular model.
Such poor customer service. I wasn't expecting such complete lack of customer service skills. If the do call one day, I will buy it; but certainly never walk into that establishment for any other reason. This wasn't an isolated experience in that store.


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[JR16]

I agree it is short-sighted for AD employees to take this tone with potential customers even if they have never bought from them before. They should be honest but inviting . With that said, I have no doubt that nearly every AD has more than one "list". It makes perfect sense for them to give priority to loyal customers. They should just be up front about it .


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[Rwatcher]

I have had a similar experience when asking for UK AD update for the white dial Daytona, pretty much laughed at by the new store manager and told there are more high profile customers due before me.

Great way to make customers feel appreciated when buying two watches. Have been on the list since launch.

[Keanuchan]

Originally Posted by Rwatcher

I have had a similar experience when asking for UK AD update for the white dial Daytona, pretty much laughed at by the new store manager and told there are more high profile customers due before me.

Great way to make customers feel appreciated when buying two watches. Have been on the list since launch.

similar when i was told by one of the ADs in Zurich.....

[DPE]

The waiting lists seem to be a bit of a joke. I think I will put my name on as many lists as possible. To be told the time on the list does not count and the Manager picks out a name.
The professional image of my local AD has gone out of the window !

[Dirt]

Originally Posted by DPE

The waiting lists seem to be a bit of a joke. I think I will put my name on as many lists as possible. To be told the time on the list does not count and the Manager picks out a name.
The professional image of my local AD has gone out of the window !

This may well be the case with this particular vendor.
They are under no obligation to you what so ever, and they are also at the mercy of the mother ship which you need to respect.
Of course a little more respect for a potential customer would be very nice.
At least they were totally honest with you about the situation, and it should be viewed as the first step in the process of building a trusting and respectful relationship between you both.
Try to turn a negative into a positive.
In this case it will no doubt take time.

[zaydans]

I never understood this waiting list thing? How do you know there is actually a real list? Do they show it to you? I'm surprised anyone even waits 1,2,3 yrs for watch!!

[Lemieux66]

Originally Posted by zaydans

I never understood this waiting list thing? How do you know there is actually a real list? Do they show it to you? I'm surprised anyone even waits 1,2,3 yrs for watch!!

They do exist but I'm feeling increasingly fed up with the engineered rarity and hyping of particular models in recent years. Makes me want to give up on the rare pieces and stick to commonly available options like DJ, TT Subs and the like. After all, they're still just as nicely made!

[Dirt]

Originally Posted by zaydans

I never understood this waiting list thing? How do you know there is actually a real list? Do they show it to you? I'm surprised anyone even waits 1,2,3 yrs for watch!!

Lists do indeed exist.
That's how I came to purchase my first and second new Rolex watches.
Also it's how I came to get the call for my second last new Rolex watch(the D-blue).

It's how they're managed by the vendor which is the actual matter in question.
I understand clearly, there is a difference between how the list and the names on it were managed back when I got the first and second new ones back in 2001, and how it's done now with my prefered vendor. Without going into further details.

Assuming we are talking about Rolex AD's and Boutiques.
The major things to consider are as follows.
1, Money always talks.
2, A good and long standing relationship with the staff and or owner/s helps a lot.
3, Persistancy helps as long as one is not a pest and this feeds into point "2" above.
4, Trust is important, especially the kind of trust the vendor has in you that you aren't purchasing to simply flip a hard to get piece for a quick profit which can cause the vendor problems with the mother ship under some circumstances. See point "2" again.
5, Some good luck is helpfull.
But we also tend to make our own luck it's just that some of us have to work harder for it than others. And some people are just plain arssey.

Other more experienced members may wish to add to this list of considerations.

[oldsalt]

Originally Posted by Dirt

Lists do indeed exist.
That's how I came to purchase my first and second new Rolex watches.
Also it's how I came to get the call for my second last new Rolex watch(the D-blue).

It's how they're managed by the vendor which is the actual matter in question.
I understand clearly, there is a difference between how the list and the names on it were managed back when I got the first and second new ones back in 2001, and how it's done now with my prefered vendor. Without going into further details.

Assuming we are talking about Rolex AD's and Boutiques.
The major things to consider are as follows.
1, Money always talks.
2, A good and long standing relationship with the staff and or owner/s helps a lot.
3, Persistancy helps as long as one is not a pest and this feeds into point "2" above.
4, Trust is important, especially the kind of trust the vendor has in you that you aren't purchasing to simply flip a hard to get piece for a quick profit which can cause the vendor problems with the mother ship under some circumstances. See point "2" again.
5, Some good luck is helpfull.
But we also tend to make our own luck it's just that some of us have to work harder for it than others. And some people are just plain arssey.

Other more experienced members may wish to add to this list of considerations.

This certainly describes ME... just wandering in the the AD on Maui HI and bought my BLNR (which was just sitting in the display cabinet) then a year later I was back in that neck of the woods and they offered me 'first refusal" on the Daytona C... right place at the right time... we were nice to the staff - manners always help, doesn't matter if you're buying a Rolex or a coffee.. a smile and a few nice words go a long way.

good luck in your hunt for a Daytona C guys, it's with the wait....

cheers

[TickTockChuck]

Put your name on multiple AD "waiting lists" for a bit of insurance in case one plays games. This is providing you don't need to plunk down a deposit. Too bad the Daytona creates so much angst. There really is a surplus of watches worldwide as sales have dramatically slumped, but I guess not yet in the UK. Good luck. Cheers!

[playing4time]

Originally Posted by TickTockChuck

Put your name on multiple AD "waiting lists" for a bit of insurance in case one plays games. This is providing you don't need to plunk down a deposit. Too bad the Daytona creates so much angst. There really is a surplus of watches worldwide as sales have dramatically slumped, but I guess not yet in the UK. Good luck. Cheers!

Potentially a stupid question, but is there any downside on being on multiple AD lists? Do they all ultimately filter back to Rolex somehow and it’s then frowned upon by them, or is it just managed at the AD level?

[emtee]

Originally Posted by playing4time

Potentially a stupid question, but is there any downside on being on multiple AD lists? Do they all ultimately filter back to Rolex somehow and it’s then frowned upon by them, or is it just managed at the AD level?

Yes in the UK vast majority of AD’s are owned by WOS and they apparently don’t take kindly to people getting on multiple lists across their stores.

[Zakalwe]

Originally Posted by playing4time

Potentially a stupid question, but is there any downside on being on multiple AD lists? Do they all ultimately filter back to Rolex somehow and it’s then frowned upon by them, or is it just managed at the AD level?

First thing to note is that in most AD’s, there isn’t really a list in the sense of a chronologically ordered hierarchy of customers. The hierarchy is ordered, but in a different way.

I posted on this thread (about a year ago!) to the effect that WOS Group AD’s (WOS, Goldsmiths and Mappin & Webb) all have centralised “lists” - meaning that allocation of hot watches has to be approved above the level of the AD itself, though the AD manager has discretion too. If you were on multiple WOS Group lists they would know about it and possibly peg you as a flipper. Before I settled on one AD, I went to about a dozen AD’s, getting on “the list” for a BLNR. All of them but one were WOS group and 2.5 years later I have had zero contact from any of them except the one Aurum AD that got me the watch after a few months and an independent AD that contacted me as they were managing their list after the release of 126710BLNR.

So you’d be safe getting on one WOS Group list and various independent lists (Rolex doesn’t know about or care who gets the watches, aside from not wanting them to be flipped quickly for profit) though the problem there is most independents will prioritise local customers - indeed one AD I went to a while back (in Bournemouth) basically wouldn’t talk to me unless I could prove I lived in Dorset.

[playing4time]

Originally Posted by Zakalwe

First thing to note is that in most AD’s, there isn’t really a list in the sense of a chronologically ordered hierarchy of customers. The hierarchy is ordered, but in a different way.

I posted on this thread (about a year ago!) to the effect that WOS Group AD’s (WOS, Goldsmiths and Mappin & Webb) all have centralised “lists” - meaning that allocation of hot watches has to be approved above the level of the AD itself, though the AD manager has discretion too. If you were on multiple WOS Group lists they would know about it and possibly peg you as a flipper. Before I settled on one AD, I went to about a dozen AD’s, getting on “the list” for a BLNR. All of them but one were WOS group and 2.5 years later I have had zero contact from any of them except the one Aurum AD that got me the watch after a few months and an independent AD that contacted me as they were managing their list after the release of 126710BLNR.

So you’d be safe getting on one WOS Group list and various independent lists (Rolex doesn’t know about or care who gets the watches, aside from not wanting them to be flipped quickly for profit) though the problem there is most independents will prioritise local customers - indeed one AD I went to a while back (in Bournemouth) basically wouldn’t talk to me unless I could prove I lived in Dorset.

This is super helpful - thanks! So now I just need to hunt around ADs in London to find my desired piece!

[Zakalwe]

Originally Posted by playing4time

This is super helpful - thanks! So now I just need to hunt around ADs in London to find my desired piece!

No worries bud.

You decided on a Yachtmaster in the end? Which dial? You should be good for one of those before October.

[UK_]

Originally Posted by Zakalwe

First thing to note is that in most AD’s, there isn’t really a list in the sense of a chronologically ordered hierarchy of customers. The hierarchy is ordered, but in a different way.

I posted on this thread (about a year ago!) to the effect that WOS Group AD’s (WOS, Goldsmiths and Mappin & Webb) all have centralised “lists” - meaning that allocation of hot watches has to be approved above the level of the AD itself, though the AD manager has discretion too. If you were on multiple WOS Group lists they would know about it and possibly peg you as a flipper. Before I settled on one AD, I went to about a dozen AD’s, getting on “the list” for a BLNR. All of them but one were WOS group and 2.5 years later I have had zero contact from any of them except the one Aurum AD that got me the watch after a few months and an independent AD that contacted me as they were managing their list after the release of 126710BLNR.

So you’d be safe getting on one WOS Group list and various independent lists (Rolex doesn’t know about or care who gets the watches, aside from not wanting them to be flipped quickly for profit) though the problem there is most independents will prioritise local customers - indeed one AD I went to a while back (in Bournemouth) basically wouldn’t talk to me unless I could prove I lived in Dorset.

This is absolutely spot on


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[makrxx]

Originally Posted by Zakalwe

First thing to note is that in most AD’s, there isn’t really a list in the sense of a chronologically ordered hierarchy of customers. The hierarchy is ordered, but in a different way.

I posted on this thread (about a year ago!) to the effect that WOS Group AD’s (WOS, Goldsmiths and Mappin & Webb) all have centralised “lists” - meaning that allocation of hot watches has to be approved above the level of the AD itself, though the AD manager has discretion too. If you were on multiple WOS Group lists they would know about it and possibly peg you as a flipper. Before I settled on one AD, I went to about a dozen AD’s, getting on “the list” for a BLNR. All of them but one were WOS group and 2.5 years later I have had zero contact from any of them except the one Aurum AD that got me the watch after a few months and an independent AD that contacted me as they were managing their list after the release of 126710BLNR.

So you’d be safe getting on one WOS Group list and various independent lists (Rolex doesn’t know about or care who gets the watches, aside from not wanting them to be flipped quickly for profit) though the problem there is most independents will prioritise local customers - indeed one AD I went to a while back (in Bournemouth) basically wouldn’t talk to me unless I could prove I lived in Dorset.

That's interesting. At WoS, I was told after the pieces come in the shipment, the store manager will decide which staff in the store gets it. And each staff will then have their own share of clients to take care of.

[Zakalwe]

Originally Posted by makrxx

That's interesting. At WoS, I was told after the pieces come in the shipment, the store manager will decide which staff in the store gets it. And each staff will then have their own share of clients to take care of.

I’ve been told similar; that staff “go in to bat” for their clients and petition the manager for the sale and that there’s a roughly equitable rotation amongst the staff.

I understand the name is then “approved” from above (I didn’t intend to imply no decision is made locally) but that for the most sought after pieces e.g. D500, BLRO etc. head office will often simply supply the manager with a name and tell them that is who is getting the next piece.

[zaydans]

Haha, I did actually put myself on a"list" recently in the U.K. for an SD43. I think I am 31 in line!! That being said I only did that because I happen to be in there buying another model!!

[Steve36Efc]

Originally Posted by zaydans

Haha, I did actually put myself on a"list" recently in the U.K. for an SD43. I think I am 31 in line!! That being said I only did that because I happen to be in there buying another model!!

I did something similar when I picked up my LVC in April last year but with a slightly better outcome.
Aware of the hype around the Ceramic Daytona I simply said to the AD put me on the list for one then never gave it a second thought. Fast forward to the 30th March this year I received a nice call out of the blue......... I'm not a big customer with this AD the Daytona was my second purchase.

[Bluewaveaudio]

Why don't you ship them in from the USA? I know a couple stores discounting them to try and move them

[Nairn1980]

Originally Posted by Bluewaveaudio

Why don't you ship them in from the USA? I know a couple stores discounting them to try and move them

If you know a couple of ADs with DaytonaC in stock at RRP who are further "discounting them to try and move them" then Rolex need to know about this. This is absolute craziness. To be fair they shouldn't still be ADs if they can't sell a DaytonaC without discounting.

If you can get an idea of their "discounted prices" please let me know. However as USA members constantly forget, the exchange rate alone makes USA watches more expensive - add VAT on entering the UK and the price shoots up to way above U.K. RRP.

However please let me know their discounted prices.