UK Local AD: DaytonaC for VIP only?

[Andygmt2]

Hey All

So decided to pop into my local AD in the West Midlands Goldsmiths/Watches of Switzerland and enquired regarding to the DaytonaC & Pepsi GMT. Although I’m already on a waiting list (been 18months now and not sure how long further before one lands) thought I’d ask anyway and the answer I got was they are all specifically reserved for VIP clients only (and showed me 2 lists), with people who on avg spend c£120k - £200k per year. If someone who comes in and spends that kind of money automatically gets priority.

Not sure what you guys think, whether this is similar sort of situation in your areas whereby mostly reserved for top customers prioritized by spend amounts. Seems unfair to me.

[123Blueface]

Happening all over.

[Merkaholic]

Its unfortunate but this is the common trend. Recently i was told if i spent 60k on 2 PM i could get a pepsi in 6 months.

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[Pauln]

Well it doesn’t surprise me. If I spent over $200k at a business I’d expect some perks too.

[WJGESQ]

Originally Posted by Pauln

Well it doesn’t surprise me. If I spent over $200k at a business I’d expect some perks too.

Or you could have a very nice DB11 or even a super sweet Baron 58.

[klenboy]

Not surprising. I'm thinking at my AD the spend limit is a lot lower than that to get that timeline but this practice is quite common in more concentrated and affluent areas.

[Roger Lococco]

Walked in off the street to a Rolex boutique as a first time customer...


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[richard371]

Hope you bought a lotto ticket after.

Originally Posted by Roger Lococco

Walked in off the street to a Rolex boutique as a first time customer...


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[037]

Originally Posted by Andygmt2

Seems unfair to me.

Life isn't fair. That's why I found a new AD and couldn't be happier. Unfortunately that's not as easy to do in the UK as it is the US.

Originally Posted by Roger Lococco

Walked in off the street to a Rolex boutique as a first time customer...

Sad to not see it get worn.

[Roger Lococco]

Originally Posted by 037

Sad to not see it get worn.

That was a picture from the day I bought it :)




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[037]

Originally Posted by Roger Lococco

That was a picture from the day I bought it :)

Ahh, that's a relief.

[Andygmt2]

Originally Posted by Roger Lococco

Walked in off the street to a Rolex boutique as a first time customer...


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Very Nice indeed !! Where was this may I ask :)

[LittleGothamDragon]

Originally Posted by Andygmt2

....mostly reserved for top customers prioritized by spend amounts. Seems unfair to me.

why unfair? if you spent that kind of $$$$ wouldn't you want special vip access to those type of highly sought after watches?

This is happening all over the world.

[biscotti]

ADs have to look after their best customers. After all, they are trying to run a business.

[envuks]

You know, it’s refreshing to hear a story about an AD being 100% honest in their communication....

[TheFuture]

Basically thats the standard everywhere at all AD's but you become VIP at 100k. However I was told I have become VIP with my AD and I have only spent 40k this year with them also they gave me a credit line which may have helped that.

[askdanny]

I get what the OP is saying when he says it’s unfair. It’s unfair that Rolex is advertising a MSRP of $12,200 on its website without mentioning anything else — namely, that its official dealers will ask you to spend $200K on other watches to secure a spot on... a waiting list. There seems to be a disconnect between the Manufacture and what its official channels are doing.


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[Will1979]

For those saying this is fair (which I don’t disagree with in principle or theory), would your answer change if a large percentage of folks who spend more than $250k/year at ADs were in fact grey dealers, and this is how so many SS watches find their ways to their shelves?

[Largoshark]

Originally Posted by Will1979

For those saying this is fair (which I don’t disagree with in principle or theory), would your answer change if a large percentage of folks who spend more than $250k/year at ADs were in fact grey dealers, and this is how so many SS watches find their ways to their shelves?

I have no doubt that this is true in many cases.

[rominvicta]

Originally Posted by Will1979

For those saying this is fair (which I don’t disagree with in principle or theory), would your answer change if a large percentage of folks who spend more than $250k/year at ADs were in fact grey dealers, and this is how so many SS watches find their ways to their shelves?

Unless we talk about multibrand AD i do not see how it would be possible to spend with Rolex over 200 000 bucks per annum in a couple of consecutive years. So OP is right, perhaps in many cases we talk of grey dealers spending such amounts.

[Sunly]

Originally Posted by Will1979

For those saying this is fair (which I don’t disagree with in principle or theory), would your answer change if a large percentage of folks who spend more than $250k/year at ADs were in fact grey dealers, and this is how so many SS watches find their ways to their shelves?

I was about to say...

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[rominvicta]

Otherwise it is quite fair. If one has customer spending such an amount, it is pretty much normal once such a customer asks for a Daytona 500 his wish to be prioratised compared to someone who did not spend anything or bought just a SS Sub three years ago for example. Otherwise AD will lose its valuable customer. At the end of the day being an AD has a single purpose - profit making, and without customers spending that much they won’t make their living just with 20 Daytona 500, right?

[Stevec14]

Originally Posted by rominvicta

Otherwise it is quite fair. If one has customer spending such an amount, it is pretty much normal once such a customer asks for a Daytona 500 his wish to be prioratised compared to someone who did not spend anything or bought just a SS Sub three years ago for example. Otherwise AD will lose its valuable customer. At the end of the day being an AD has a single purpose - profit making, and without customers spending that much they won’t make their living just with 20 Daytona 500, right?

Agreed. It doesn’t help the likes of me, but I get it.


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[Token74]

Nothing wrong with this, it’s not unfair, it’s how the luxury goods market has always worked.


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[2001jesper]

If you need to spend 200k at your local AD on watches that you don’t want, then the grey price would appear like the bargain of the century

[cajerseyboy]

At this point its better to go grey. Don't get sucked into spending lots of cash to get one at MSRP only to look back and think....why didn't I just pay 20k for a DaytonaC from one of the trusted sellers on TRF...Now I have 10 watches I didn't want just to get the one I did at MSRP.... One way you pay 200k to get it... the other way you pay 20k.

[rootbeer7]

If I was the AD I’d also want to look after my top clients, rightly or wrongly. It is what it is. Alternatively, you can pay a Grey now for the amount you will have to pay when you finally reach the top of the list. All you’re doing is cutting out the wait time.

[el-heffe]

The AD in my home town is exactly the same why. It's exactly why I drive about 1.5 hours out of my way to deal with a different AD. I've since bought 3 watches from the out of town AD and will likely never buy another from the in-town AD. Vote with your money.

[SC11]

Originally Posted by el-heffe

The AD in my home town is exactly the same why. It's exactly why I drive about 1.5 hours out of my way to deal with a different AD. I've since bought 3 watches from the out of town AD and will likely never buy another from the in-town AD. Vote with your money.

But then say this out of town AD gets a model you want and so does a guy who lives just down the road from them who has zero purchase history.

Who do you expect them to sell to?

Rolls reversed and he may come to your in-town AD!

It’s business at the end of the day and any good business will look after its loyal clients.


Take my AD I’ve spent a fair penny with them and have had most of the tops models but could you imagine if I called them the day after Basel and said I like this or that model for them to turn around and say sorry Mr C we have had around a hundred calls mainly from people we don’t even know but they have been placed on the list so you are now number 101 on that list!

Wait lists are dynamic and they always have been, only in light of the recent high demand its become more well documented.

[el-heffe]

Originally Posted by SC11

But then say this out of town AD gets a model you want and so does a guy who lives just down the road from them who has zero purchase history.

Who do you expect them to sell to?

Rolls reversed and he may come to your in-town AD!

Out of town AD honors the waiting list regardless. Now that I have a good purchase history, a tiny bit of me wishes that it wasn't the case. On the other hand, MANY of the people who are on the waiting list either don't have the money laying around (months or sometimes a year later) or loose interest for something else, the day they get the call.

In town AD, gives priority to purchase history (which I understand) but it's also a catch-22 as far as getting started if you only want Rolex.