Discussion with a AD

[tjfslaughter]

I was at an AD over the weekend discussing the shortage. They pointed out a few things Rolex is doing to stop re-sellers.

1. A person can only purchase one model of watch (for instance one SD43, one sub, one Daytona, etc) in a lifetime. If they want to purchase another one a police report or insurance statement must be provided demonstrating that the watch was damaged or stolen.
2. Rolex is talking to certain dealers to identify habitual flippers and recommending banning sales to them.
3. They are tracking purchasers, not just the name on the warranty cards.

I am not sure if this applies to all dealers or just the large chains.

[WBA_Daytona]

I really think this AD had something to drink before this discussion took place.

[RHIII]

Originally Posted by andrei_sfirloaga

I really think this AD had something to drink before this discussion took place.

Somethings — plural. Lol


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[T01]

Originally Posted by andrei_sfirloaga

I really think this AD had something to drink before this discussion took place.

Couldn't agree more.

[RHIII]

I am not even going to comment.


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[zjd168]

impractical to enforce

[dba]

Originally Posted by zjd168

impractical to enforce

More like impossible to enforce.

[Zakalwe]

Variations of all three are happening in the U.K.

You may not take my word for it, there are other more venerable members of TRF who can vouch for it.

Make of that what you will.

[Thuilln]

OP : do you really believe all this crap?

[jstan9]

Originally Posted by thuilln

op : Do you really believe all this crap?

+1

[AK797]

All true. Standard stuff in UK which is a year ahead of the US, and will be global policy soon.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by AK797

All true. Standard stuff in UK which is a year ahead of the US, and will be global policy soon.

I agree with you Neil, times they are a changing.

[Devildog]

Originally Posted by AK797

All true. Standard stuff in UK which is a year ahead of the US, and will be global policy soon.

Originally Posted by brandrea

I agree with you Neil, times they are a changing.

x3

The responses to these threads are often hilarious (and sadly sometimes quite condescending, particularly from those who clearly must have missed the significant number of threads on here evidencing what is really happening)

I look forward to all the naysayers apologising to the OP in due course

[TeddyS]

Originally Posted by Devildog

x3



The responses to these threads are often hilarious (and sadly sometimes quite condescending, particularly from those who clearly must have missed the significant number of threads on here evidencing what is really happening)



I look forward to all the naysayers apologising to the OP in due course

X4. Couldn’t have put it better if I tried. I tip my hat to you Sir.


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[AK797]

Originally Posted by jonnyz1245

They are not controlling supply. The spike in demand from the booming global economy caught them off guard and they are were unable to meet demand. The swiss watch industry including Rolex were coming off 2 huge down years. 2017 caught them all by surprise.

Yes ofc demand has gone thru the roof to create this thing from QE, Crypto, Chinese Gift laws etc, but not so for Omega, Breitling etc so the key point remains, Rolex and PP will probably be immune to changes in the economy by and large, and how things were 2/3 years ago was just fine for Rolex so they are not fearful of going back there.

But they are more fearful of a fundamental future change in the watch industry that sees it shrink down to just a few household names and clearly Rolex will be the leading one so their position is secure. However Rolex still have a lot of pride and as I said they will fight the commoditisation of their hard won brand and product until the death, and so if they annoy flaky customers now, who are basically announcing themselves as flippers, they have not a care, they only want true buyers who will stay loyal to the brand in the difficult times ahead.

As for output, if the watch market shrinks Rolex might halve their output to 500,000 watches or less depending on how far it shrinks, so that means they can lose half their genuine, once every five years or a decade customers, so that is not really an issue, they don't need to keep 1 million happy, so brand protection now is the absolute priority.

[AK797]

Originally Posted by TeddyS

X4. Couldn’t have put it better if I tried. I tip my hat to you Sir.


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Americans, as ever, are always late to things, but they'll get there.

[tyler1980]

Originally Posted by Devildog

x3

The responses to these threads are often hilarious (and sadly sometimes quite condescending, particularly from those who clearly must have missed the significant number of threads on here evidencing what is really happening)

I look forward to all the naysayers apologising to the OP in due course

its a simple case of finding the example disputing it and then someone uses that to disprove the entire trend. It happens with the stickers too. They are getting removed almost all of the time then one guy says their AD left them on and then people say "see thats proof its not happening"

[avega357]

Originally Posted by AK797

All true. Standard stuff in UK which is a year ahead of the US, and will be global policy soon.

I believe it, but difficult to enforce, I have always been sure they track clients.

You want to know your customers , this is normal

[VicLeChic]

Only the CIA and/or NSA would be capable of such feat.
Good luck, Rolex

[WJGESQ]

Originally Posted by VicLeChic

Only the CIA and/or NSA would be capable of such feat.
Good luck, Rolex

At these prices Rolex probably have similar resources.

[cht]

Originally Posted by tjfslaughter

I was at an AD over the weekend discussing the shortage. They pointed out a few things Rolex is doing to stop re-sellers.

1. A person can only purchase one model of watch (for instance one SD43, one sub, one Daytona, etc) in a lifetime. If they want to purchase another one a police report or insurance statement must be provided demonstrating that the watch was damaged or stolen.
2. Rolex is talking to certain dealers to identify habitual flippers and recommending banning sales to them.
3. They are tracking purchasers, not just the name on the warranty cards.

I am not sure if this applies to all dealers or just the large chains.

1. So, you can't ever gift someone the same watch you have?

2. isn't that what grey market buyers do as a service to the AD that can't move MSRP 50 undesirable ugly models of a datejust?

3. They are in the business to sell, right???

[ap1]

Not buying this. Yet

[wytrader]

Did the AD mention whether Rolex was planning on chipping their watches to be able to catch the flippers and accuse them of breaking no law at all and simply buying something for less than it is worth and reselling it for its actual value?

[tudorbaja27]

Impractical. Ineffective. Rather dumb. So probably untrue.

[beshannon]

Someone could do an entire sitcom with these AD "comments"!

[rootbeer7]

money talks!!

[Jerodp716]

good lord.............................................. .........

[MoosicPa]

So according to this AD, if I am in Philly this week and buy a Submariner, and next week while on vacation in Rome I go into an AD and seek to buy another Submariner they have in stock, Rolex is going to somehow block this sale?

What if I buy a 116610 (Date Sub.) today and then want to buy a 114060 (N/D Sub) next week?

Seems silly and unenforceable.

[Nikrnic]

Only one of each. I doubt that.

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[mg18]

What if you wanted to buy a particular watch for 3 of your children, you have to get them all different models?