The only wat to beat the grey dealers.....

[koronet-kid]

I have been pondering this for some time, the lack of steel professional models seems to be worse than ever. The only logical explanation, and I believe it has been mentioned by someone else, is tha Rolex are stock piling these models, if this is the case then it would follow that they will flood market.

This will mean many grey dealers will loose a lot of money, as they have paid over the odds, this is in reality the only thing Rolex can do to change the situation we are now in, kind of odd we are in the place we are now, and to think they switched to random serial numbers so consumers couldn’t work out how long a store had had a watch!

I hope I am right it seems odd to show bourchres and all manner of advertising for products that are not available.

Regards

Sean

[rootbeer7]

Originally Posted by koronet-kid

I have been pondering this for some time, the lack of steel professional models seems to be worse than ever. The only logical explanation, and I believe it has been mentioned by someone else, is tha Rolex are stock piling these models, if this is the case then it would follow that they will flood market.

This will mean many grey dealers will loose a lot of money, as they have paid over the odds, this is in reality the only thing Rolex can do to change the situation we are now in, kind of odd we are in the place we are now, and to think they switched to random serial numbers so consumers couldn’t work out how long a store had had a watch!

I hope I am right it seems odd to show bourchres and all manner of advertising for products that are not available.

Regards

Sean

No stockpiling. Every Grey in London seems to have all the hard to get pieces. They’re out there and in fact they seem to help Rolex raise their RRP annually.

[Vivalas]

Is this you hoping that everyone will sell and prices will fall?

The only thing I’d imagine Rolex is stockpiling is wads of money :-)

[clb521]

There is no stockpiling. Just high demand.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

[123Blueface]

Quite simple to me.

Reduced supply by Rolex, this is factual based on complaints by many ADs.
Creates less stock at AD.
AD forced to sell more TT and PM, which are not the main in demand references.
Grey buys some of those TT and PM along with first dibs at any hot SS.
Greys get most of SS, hence they all have them and sell at inflated pricing.

How that is going to get fixed, when an AD needs to survive but is forced to buy less in demand references that consume their disposable cash, beats the heck out of me. As an AD, I would find some high volume greys to work with as well.

[MTBer]

I don't see Rolex ever flooding the market just to hurt the grey market because it would come at a significant long term cost to the brand- diminished resale value, brand perception/exclusivity, etc.

[joli160]

Rolex and grey dealers have a symbiotic relation ship

[BDGator]

Those with one or multiple Rolexes - maybe stop buying the next ones to add to collection. That’ll take out a lot of demand.

[JR16]

Originally Posted by clb521

There is no stockpiling. Just high demand.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

Agree, this is the simple and most logical explanation- same global supply, incr demand. Supply may be redistributed to other parts of world, exacerbating the imbalance in North America, Europe, and Australia.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[watchwatcher]

Actually, I don't believe this is the only logical explanation. Sorry.

[JP(Canada)]

An insider can probably clear this up, but my understanding is that an AD has 30 day terms for product they bring in from Rolex. That is partly what fueled the back door deals to the grey market. Limiting the supply, may help ADs turn their inventory more times.

The thought may have been that this would dry up the grey market, but perhaps the grey dealers are paying 'above' msrp for popular models and also selling well above that now, simply due to the supply and demand situation that has been created.

I don't think it's sustainable. I do believe we're looking at model changes, as well as price hikes in the next quarter.

But, who knows. Just a theory, but likely flawed.

[Brew]

Keep pondering . . . .

[Rashid.bk]

Pondering is good, like thinking but more reflective.

[Fleetlord]

No.

[het5385]

Rolex produces X amount of pieces per year. Demand is Y. They don’t invest and ramp up production to meet demand. They are the epitome of a conservative business philosophy. And why not? Look what they do. We all wait on pins and needles to fork over $10k for a watch.

[stylinleems]

I visited my AD yesterday and placed my deposit for the 126710BLRO, my associate told me that Rolex last month sent them 22 (yes 22!) watches, mostly professional models (Subs, GMT LN, BLNRs etc. No SkyDs, or Daytonas) mainly SS. She stated that they were able to catch up on the standing orders that have been waiting.

However, this month (first shipment) they received 8 watches mainly ladies models. She also told me Rolex sends what they want, they order x amount of watches, but sometimes Rolex just sends what they feel or sometimes never sends whats on their list (orders). The clients she has are getting frustrated as we've been waiting so long for the watches we have ordered, placed a deposit for or paid outright, but they have no time frame or cannot promise when these watches will be received.

Raffi used to have SS models in their showcase for clients to try on, I visited today and most of them were sold, as they told me there was no point in having them sit in the case if Rolex is not going to send them the watches. Rolex is holding back the watches and distributes them when they want/feel like it.

Never know whats going on with Rolex ... I guess we're all in the same boat

[D O C]

Why do you want to beat the grey dealers? They're the ones with the watches we want.

[123Blueface]

Originally Posted by D O C

Why do you want to beat the grey dealers? They're the ones with the watches we want.

[77T]

I don’t get your premise - why harm anyone engaged in a fair open market?

I like my AD, but have made many great acquaintances with trusted TRF Sellers over the years. Why do you want to harm them?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[K.ip]

Originally Posted by 77T

I don’t get your premise - why harm anyone engaged in a fair open market?

I like my AD, but have made many great acquaintances with trusted TRF Sellers over the years. Why do you want to harm them?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

X100
It’s simple supply and demand. Demand is high ergo prices are high

[GB-man]

I don’t think it’s prudent to flood the market for a luxury product.

[rice721]

The only reason why greys are able to charge close to 20k for ss is because there are currently people out there willing to pay this premium.

Once they’ve exhausted these buyers the price will adjust to meet demand.

Holding out is your best course of action. Doubt Rolex is artificially limiting supply, premiums charged by greys have no monetary impact on Rolex’s bottom line.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[el-heffe]

As long as people will pay 2x retail, we'll have this problem.

[Rocket_Man]

I was on a trip this weekend and visited an AD. I jokingly asked to buy the Daytona she has in the safe. She mentioned they get 2 a year and have a 25 person wait list. It was worse with PP. But of course they make afar fewer watches a year. They had a lot of various Datejusts and said she can get any DJ I wanted in around 10 weeks. She only had a YMII and an Air King. That was about it for sport models. Pretty sad stock.

[ttomczak]

Stockpiling, this is almost laughable. Rolex produces approximately a million watches a year, what has happened is more markets have opened up and production hasn’t changed so there is still only X to go around. The math is simple. When you look at AP or PP who produced less than a 100k each, is it hard to understand why they are impossible to find or sell for 60% over retail? Rolex isn’t stockpiled, just sent all over In smaller numbers to more places...

[subtona]

It is a plausible theory and I agree that the new serial numbers would make this possible without the downside of dated, letter first serial numbers would have had.

I don’t know marketing as many seem to have a knowledge of here but there are numerous comments on both sides some will say grey dealers are helping the AD and some will say that Rolex would prefer to eliminate them? I don’t know what is correct, all just speculation unless Rolex shows us the business plan?

For me, I know that grey dealers have been much easier to deal with than the AD and the grey always has what I am looking for.


Side note,
Yesterday, I walked into an AD and the salesperson bum rushed me at the door insisting to help me, cutting to the chase I asked if there was a Pepsi available, she said no with a constipated look on her face and quickly followed with “can I interest you in something else’s? I was 4 feet into the store, and had the salesperson standing toe to toe with me trying to sell me anything, i never even made it to the Rolex case...it was so uncomfortable I turned and walked out.


I’ll take the grey dealer please.

[AK797]

Originally Posted by subtona

It is a plausible theory and I agree that the new serial numbers would make this possible without the downside of dated, letter first serial numbers would have had.

I don’t know marketing as many seem to have a knowledge of here but there are numerous comments on both sides some will say grey dealers are helping the AD and some will say that Rolex would prefer to eliminate them? I don’t know what is correct, all just speculation unless Rolex shows us the business plan?

For me, I know that grey dealers have been much easier to deal with than the AD and the grey always has what I am looking for.


Side note,
Yesterday, I walked into an AD and the salesperson bum rushed me at the door insisting to help me, cutting to the chase I asked if there was a Pepsi available, she said no with a constipated look on her face and quickly followed with “can I interest you in something else’s? I was 4 feet into the store, and had the salesperson standing toe to toe with me trying to sell me anything, i never even made it to the Rolex case...it was so uncomfortable I turned and walked out.


I’ll take the grey dealer please.

It's just the flippers Rolex want to eliminate, greys serve a useful purpose in getting rid of DJs and TTs etc, and until they too are flying off the shelves they are not a primary concern.

[scooba]

I had the good fortune to have dinner with two Gents from Rolex last week , They aren't stock pilling watches , The demand with the weak pound and vat claim back is also a problem with tourists buying lots of pieces . Most reputable independents have good stock of Professional models they just don't put them out on display as they are for local repeat clients , People they know who have a decent working relationship with the store who trade back watches and upgrade watches . This is my understanding from a UK perspective .

The weak pound has exasperated the problem in the UK

[m j b]

Originally Posted by koronet-kid

... seems odd to show bourchres

Must be one of those French words, n'est-ce pas?

[beshannon]

Originally Posted by koronet-kid

The only wat to beat the grey dealers.....

Why?