Should I Go AD For First Rolex?

[Derwreck12]

Looking to pull the trigger on my first Rolex and I’m really wanting an Explorer II Polar Dial (216570)... I have tried (and tried and tried.... and TRIED) to source this from an AD within driving range. ZERO luck, so I’m thinking about just going Chrono24 or similar for a new/unworn one... my question for the forum is: Am I missing out on a special experience by NOT waiting until I can source one from a store that I could walk in to? When I bought my first “big boy watch”, I did it at the Omega boutique and it was awesome. They brought out a bottle of champagne and everything. Wonderful experience... Maybe I’m just SOL on this hunt? Thanks in advance!

[Snake Plissken]

The advantage of going to AD is being able to purchase at MSRP and building a relationship that allows you to acquire subsequent pieces at MSRP. IMO the "experience" is not a factor.

I don't think you should have to wait that long for an Explorer at one of your local ADs.

[MauiRolex]

I did AD by pure luck. They had something I wanted. Then went grey. Then AD. I’ll always buy AD when AD comes thru. Party because I like to support the local economy and I like my AD. But I have now bought two watches grey that were discontinued; so no choice. I have a happy enough collection now that for new references I don’t mind waiting for AD. If you really just want to get a tough to find reference and your AD can’t provide there is nothing wrong with going reputable grey. Like DavisSW to start.

[Derwreck12]

I have been in contact with twelve AD’s within a day’s drive for several months. Nada, haha...

[Morrisdog]

Originally Posted by Derwreck12

I have been in contact with twelve AD’s within a day’s drive for several months. Nada, haha...

In that case you might have to look elsewhere if you really want the watch ! Did any of those ADs offer some hope that they may come through!


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[No SUBctitute]

Originally Posted by Derwreck12

I have been in contact with twelve AD’s within a day’s drive for several months. Nada, haha...

A couple months? Be patient. The white dial 216570 is not highly sought after. Keep after the ADs and this will happen. You might even get a member on here who can put you in contact with an AD who will sell you one. IN fact, I will check with mine. I would definitely go AD with this one. You just need to be a little patient.

[MauiRolex]

PS - forget the champagne. Omega Brings you champagne because they know that if you went gray you would save 30 to 40% immediately on a brand new never worn watch. Rolex is a different story, discounts on grey are either nonexistent or quite the opposite, usually gray goes for a premium. Dealers know it. I once got a Rolex pen, otherwise I’m just happy to be able to buy an MSRP.

[eanzenberg]

Go AD unless you’re willing to drop 5 figures online.

[Derwreck12]

I will also add to this thread that, in my search, I came across two different AD’s in two different cities who put me on hold so they could “step off the floor” and then tried to sell me a different Rolex tool watch ABOVE retail because “... well sir, you’ve seen the market on these currently.” Shady business.

[mister_poom]

I went AD for my first Rolex. They were fantastic and went through with my choice.
If you willing to be patient and search for the watch, I suggest go AD. It will help you to at least have a history and starts of a relation with your AD. Might help in the future, who knows?

[buckwheat]

The AD is nothing special don’t believe the Hype.
They have plenty Excellent watch stores that also have Rolex.

[Ec2016]

Have you gone in person to meet and talk with any of the ADs? If you are only calling, then that might explain it. Take the time to get to know an AD, and they might actually remember you when they get one in stock.

[Robf52]

Originally Posted by Ec2016

Have you gone in person to meet and talk with any of the ADs? If you are only calling, then that might explain it. Take the time to get to know an AD, and they might actually remember you when they get one in stock.

Good advice.

[Harry-57]

Fantastic watch. My first Rolex. Less than 2 years ago I walked into my AD, enquired about a Polar, negotiated a discount and walked out with it. Since then I have seen one in their window. Since that went, the watch has been wait listed.

If you don't go AD you are not missing out. I have bought most of my watches from one AD but in two situations where I could not get a hot model, I went grey. It is important to select a good seller. Once you have done that you will get your watch. It's the watch that matters, not the Rolex branded comfy chair and the green carpets.

Both my grey purchases were slick, professional and painless. And they were quicker than waiting months, although obviously, they cost more.

[BillA]

If you cannot get from the AD, then you cannot get from the AD! Face reality.
We have some trusted resellers that will sell you the watch.
Sure your name will not be on the card, nor will you get a bottle of water that an AD will give you, but you will have the watch and every time you look at it, will put a smile on your face. Building a relationship is a lot of hype on this forum and other places. You are the AD’s best friend until you walk out the door.

[Marcjvr]

I went to an AD to buy my Explorer. They had one sitting in the case and I was the only one in the store. The experience was very underwhelming and the SA was so clueless I eventually walked out without the Explorer.

I bought it the next day from a TS here and that was a much better experience

Don’t waste your time with an AD unless they are your only/best choice

[Benzsiam]

Originally Posted by Marcjvr

I went to an AD to buy my Explorer. They had one sitting in the case and I was the only one in the store. The experience was very underwhelming and the SA was so clueless I eventually walked out without the Explorer.

I bought it the next day from a TS here and that was a much better experience

Don’t waste your time with an AD unless they are your only/best choice

What happened? You wanted to buy the Explorer and they had it, what went wrong?

[Marcjvr]

Originally Posted by Benzsiam

What happened? You wanted to buy the Explorer and they had it, what went wrong?

Was back in early 2018 and I was in the store looking at the Explorer and having a great chat with the owner. He offered me 5% off the Explorer without me even asking. I hadn’t made up my mind yet so I thanked him and said I would return 2 weeks later.

2 weeks later I had made my decision to get it so called the store up to see if they still had it. They said they no longer had it but their store up north 30 mins away had one in stock. So I took the drive to the north store and a very eager SA rushed up to help me.

She said she was a Rolex expert and would be happy to answer all my questions and help me with my purchase. I asked about the 5% discount I was offered in the other store so she said “hmmm let me check with my manager”. She walked over to the manager who was sitting playing on her phone and came straight back and said sorry we can’t do discount on any SS models. Not even on the OP39s she said.

The manager carried on playing on her phone and never once looked up or even came over. Very different from 2 weeks ago in the flagship store where the owner was very personable and was happy to offer 5%. That irked me a little but not the end of the world as I wasn’t going to let 5% get in the way of me getting my watch.

So then I asked about the EasyLink and if she could show me how it worked. She had no idea what I was talking about. So when I explained that it can give a 5mm extension to the bracelet she still had no idea and eventually she got a little annoyed and said “look, you need special tools to adjust the bracelet but we have those and I can do it for you” lol. She also called the Explorer the Submariner a few times which was pretty funny.

At that point I was over the whole experience and said let me take a look around and think about it. I pulled up a TS on my phone to see if they had an Explorer and one did for $1000 less than MSRP.

I thanked her again for her time and bid her farewell. She then immediately offered me an OP39 at 5% discount. Which earlier she said she could not. I said no thanks and went home and wired the TS the money the next day

It wasn’t a horrendous experience at the AD. Just a very unimpressive one that turned me off a little. Which I am glad happened in hindsight as I saved a bunch going Grey

[sp3ak]

I went AD for my DJ36 simply because I'm not educated enough on making a purchase for an item likely purely online. I felt paying a bit "extra" was worth it to me and I intend on keeping this for a very long time.

Perhaps further down my career of luxury watch ownership I will go 3rd party but it just made me feel better about the whole thing by going AD.

Unfortunately my AD experience was so-so and I may not be back to that exact one but still feel it was a better path for a first time Rolex buyer.

[PA Zu]

Did any of the non-shady ADs you talked to give you a sense of how long they thought it would be to find you your watch? I am also looking for my first (SD43) and I was certain I'd have to go grey based on what I read online about wait times for almost everything. Then two ADs this week gave me reassurances that "it won't be long" if I wanted to be put on their list. Different references and the Explorer might be harder to come by, but at least they gave me hope enough to wait it out. But if I was getting nowhere with ADs, then I'd just go grey.

[buckwheat]

Rolex watches drop in price like a Mercedes Benz the day you leave the AD.
Plenty outlets to buy a 2-3 year old Rolex at a drastic savings.
Remember the AD is putting 20% on the price. Then the normal drop in value. Why take that hit?
Buy smart

[mykii]

Originally Posted by buckwheat

Rolex watches drop in price like a Mercedes Benz the day you leave the AD.
Plenty outlets to buy a 2-3 year old Rolex at a drastic savings.
Remember the AD is putting 20% on the price. Then the normal drop in value. Why take that hit?
Buy smart

???????

[superpop]

Originally Posted by buckwheat

Rolex watches drop in price like a Mercedes Benz the day you leave the AD.
Plenty outlets to buy a 2-3 year old Rolex at a drastic savings.
Remember the AD is putting 20% on the price. Then the normal drop in value. Why take that hit?
Buy smart

Winner of the most naive quote of the year. I only wish my two Merc's depreciated like my Rolex watches.

[Fleetlord]

Originally Posted by buckwheat

Rolex watches drop in price like a Mercedes Benz the day you leave the AD.
Plenty outlets to buy a 2-3 year old Rolex at a drastic savings.
Remember the AD is putting 20% on the price. Then the normal drop in value. Why take that hit?
Buy smart

Huh?

[1William]

Do some research on TRF and look to our Trusted Sellers. Several have websites and have the watch you want listed. Prices, depending on new or pre-owned will vary but remember you will get no discounts at AD's and you will pay taxes. Figure out what the number is at msrp and tax and you have a base to see what deal you can get. DavidSW has several listed on his site and is great to deal with. Look at them, pick up the phone and call and ask every question you can think of. Should you decide to buy from him, pay and have the watch by 1030 the next day. The AD experience is not worth the associated issues that go with it. It is about the watch. Good luck and let us know what you find.

[mykii]

If you can't get one from the ADs, go grey. Some people want to make a big hoorah about it, but it isn't a big deal. The market price is the market price. If you want the watch, and aren't going to flip it, then you're paying what its worth.

[GoingPlaces]

If you plan on starting a collection and purchasing more watches a relationship is nice. Otherwise buy from one of the trusted sellers here on TRF.

[jburson250]

One of our trusted sellers, Chase, is in Nashville:

https://www.rolexforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=62

Here's a 216570 from his site:

https://www.nashvillewatch.com/produ...9-box-papers-2

Contact info:

https://www.nashvillewatch.com/contact

Good hunting!

[dardeca]

I see you're in Nashville. There is a TRF trusted seller (grey dealer) that is in Nashville...

https://www.rolexforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=62

I'd reach out to him for your Polar. Good luck.

[Burlington]

There is no experience.

It’s like buying milk at the supermarket, just a watch.

Buy from someone who wants to sell it to you and pick up some bubbles on the way home to enjoy with your significant other whilst enjoying your watch.