AD IS the problem

[mph476]

had an appointment with an AD the other day to discuss the possibility of getting a watch. I'll cut to the chase. If AP wants to minimize the likelihood of people flipping, then their sales team should not maintain the attitude that you should be lucky to get anything and be open to everything. If you're dropping 30k plus on a watch it should be acceptable to have a preference in this world. That doesn't make you too picky. If the answer is no then the answer is no. But its literally stupid to tell people to buy something they don't want and then get upset that people are flipping them. Just my 2 cents

[psm11]

Originally Posted by mph476

had an appointment with an AD the other day to discuss the possibility of getting a watch. I'll cut to the chase. If AP wants to minimize the likelihood of people flipping, then their sales team should not maintain the attitude that you should be lucky to get anything and be open to everything. If you're dropping 30k plus on a watch it should be acceptable to have a preference in this world. That doesn't make you too picky. If the answer is no then the answer is no. But its literally stupid to tell people to buy something they don't want and then get upset that people are flipping them. Just my 2 cents

Do they blacklist for selling "non-hot" models (i.e., CODEs)? They have only offered me CODEs as my first piece and, if I could get a grey dealer to agree to buy it (for little to no loss), I would consider buying the CODE for the purchase history. I just can't stomach shelling out $50k for a watch I have no desire to own just for the chance to maybe get the ROC I want.

[DonLee]

Originally Posted by psm11

Do they blacklist for selling "non-hot" models (i.e., CODEs)? They have only offered me CODEs as my first piece and, if I could get a grey dealer to agree to buy it (for little to no loss), I would consider buying the CODE for the purchase history. I just can't stomach shelling out $50k for a watch I have no desire to own just for the chance to maybe get the ROC I want.

Instantly selling your Code puts pressure of price drop for Codes, also something that they don’t want. Cuz once a Code starts to gain value, speculators won’t mind buying Codes. That’s how the game works. So they won’t be happy if you insta sell a watch you buy from them, no matter which

[psm11]

Originally Posted by DonLee

Instantly selling your Code puts pressure of price drop for Codes, also something that they don’t want. Cuz once a Code starts to gain value, speculators won’t mind buying Codes. That’s how the game works. So they won’t be happy if you insta sell a watch you buy from them, no matter which

Thanks for the reply. Is there a "safe" time after buying where you could see it w/o pissing them off (e.g., 6 months, 1 year, etc.)?

[DrTig]

Originally Posted by psm11

Thanks for the reply. Is there a "safe" time after buying where you could see it w/o pissing them off (e.g., 6 months, 1 year, etc.)?

Realistically, I'd say 5 years

[RolexADreal]

Originally Posted by psm11

Do they blacklist for selling "non-hot" models (i.e., CODEs)? They have only offered me CODEs as my first piece and, if I could get a grey dealer to agree to buy it (for little to no loss), I would consider buying the CODE for the purchase history. I just can't stomach shelling out $50k for a watch I have no desire to own just for the chance to maybe get the ROC I want.

a friend did it, took a loss of 8k euro, and AP people went mad at him... so it's a no go option!

[huncho]

they want to give it to loyal customers, not really rocket science here. if they gave anyone a royal oak 99% of people would flip them because most don't care for watches enough to not walk out the door and make double or triple your money. if they were cool with people flipping codes then the market would be full of them and devalue the brand, although i don''t think they care or track people that are flipping codes

[dauster]

Originally Posted by huncho

they want to give it to loyal customers, not really rocket science here. if they gave anyone a royal oak 99% of people would flip them because most don't care for watches enough to not walk out the door and make double or triple your money. if they were cool with people flipping codes then the market would be full of them and devalue the brand, although i don''t think they care or track people that are flipping codes

pretty sure they track anyone easily (unsure if they care) because of the warranty registration. I am guessing that it will not result in a great relationship start if you instantly flip your code.

frankly I don't think I will ever be able to get anywhere with AP over the short term since I am not that interested in the stuff thats available. I have RO chrono and a ROO 42mm. dont want a code and can't get anywhere near a PC/ any ceramic piece or skeleton. that pretty means it's over for me with AP even though they helped me out and gave me a chrono last year

[VogelPhoenix]

Originally Posted by huncho

they want to give it to loyal customers, not really rocket science here

Yeah, the notion that buying an entry-level code (that one doesn't even like) will somehow put one into the driver's seat for a 50th anniversary RO/ROC is a bit optimistic.

[huncho]

Originally Posted by VogelPhoenix

Yeah, the notion that buying an entry-level code (that one doesn't even like) will somehow put one into the driver's seat for a 50th anniversary RO/ROC is a bit optimistic.

i was mostly referring to just getting a non blue 15500 or maybe an roc in the past year, but yeah otherwise i feel for people who are new customers and want to get these watches because it's near impossible today. the model did make a lot of sense when things started to get crazy but now it feels like overkill because you have to spend such ridiculous amounts on stuff you don't want just to get an opportunity. AP really have priced themselves out of most normal consumers that used to cross shop rolex but i guess that's what they want

[psm11]

Originally Posted by huncho

they want to give it to loyal customers, not really rocket science here. if they gave anyone a royal oak 99% of people would flip them because most don't care for watches enough to not walk out the door and make double or triple your money. if they were cool with people flipping codes then the market would be full of them and devalue the brand, although i don''t think they care or track people that are flipping codes

Yes, I want to be a loyal customer but the message I am getting from them is that buying a CODE = starting the "relationship." I don't have an extra $50k laying around for watches that are being pushed on me that I don't want. On top of that, the second I segue into the RO or ROC line with the SA it's like I just killed their dog (cold, negative, etc). I keep hearing they don't want people buying watches they don't want just to try to get a RO, yet I am only offered CODEs I never expressed any interest in. There has to be a better system/vetting process that doesn't require you to spend $50k to prove you are not a flipper and are deserving of a RO.

[HMHM]

Originally Posted by psm11

Yes, I want to be a loyal customer but the message I am getting from them is that buying a CODE = starting the "relationship." I don't have an extra $50k laying around for watches that are being pushed on me that I don't want. On top of that, the second I segue into the RO or ROC line with the SA it's like I just killed their dog (cold, negative, etc). I keep hearing they don't want people buying watches they don't want just to try to get a RO, yet I am only offered CODEs I never expressed any interest in. There has to be a better system/vetting process that doesn't require you to spend $50k to prove you are not a flipper and are deserving of a RO.

Even people with purchase history have to buy CODEs before being considered for the latest releases nowadays.

[psm11]

Originally Posted by HMHM

Even people with purchase history have to buy CODEs before being considered for the latest releases nowadays.

Yes, and I am seeing on forums that it require MULTIPLE CODEs. Insane that I am even entertaining going grey for 4x the retail but in the end I think it's the cheaper option.

[huncho]

Originally Posted by psm11

Yes, and I am seeing on forums that it require MULTIPLE CODEs. Insane that I am even entertaining going grey for 4x the retail but in the end I think it's the cheaper option.

yeah i hear you. guessing you want a blue dial? honestly i wouldn't even attempt to get one from an AD. you can push your luck with the others but there's just no chance you can get a blue one

nvm, just realized grey and black are going in the 80s. actual chaos

[VogelPhoenix]

Originally Posted by psm11

Yes, and I am seeing on forums that it require MULTIPLE CODEs. Insane that I am even entertaining going grey for 4x the retail but in the end I think it's the cheaper option.

That doesn't quite compute (at least not across all their clients), unless the CODE fraction has ramped up dramatically from the 5% and 10% of total production in the first years.

[HMHM]

I think the CODE with the nylon strap has potential but I just want the buckle to be the same as the ones on the Aquanaut or the OF Daytona. If AP is reading this, make it happen!

[Watchandhoop]

I got the new 43 offshore by simply calling them. In fact I lived in Europe when I made them a call and only called the boutique once. I got a call 4 months later. I hopefully started relationship with them now as I am over Rolex.

[seadubs]

if you dont know you are getting a 50th piece already - you probably are not going to get one

[Knoxx]

Just my opinion

A. Buy a code or non popular models get into waitlist for your RO/ ROC. How long? nobody knows. Once you get your desirable RO/ROC, you can sell your code for 30-50% loss
or
B. Go to gray, pay premium and get your desirable watch that day

the choice is yours

[HMHM]

Originally Posted by Knoxx

Just my opinion

A. Buy a code or non popular models get into waitlist for your RO/ ROC. How long? nobody knows. Once you get your desirable RO/ROC, you can sell your code for 30-50% loss
or
B. Go to gray, pay premium and get your desirable watch that day

the choice is yours

That’s a nice way of putting it. But buying grey is not the solution to the problem though. In fact it only contributes to the problem itself. Over the last 2 years I’ve seen so many “watch dealers” appear out of nowhere who couldn’t even get the model of the watch they are selling correct. And all of them somehow manage to get stocks for sought after models.
At this point, I’ve resigned to not owning certain pieces if I can’t get it from the AD/Boutiques. There’s no point throwing hard earned money to people who don’t even know what they are selling. I’m pretty sure some of them don’t even know if they had gotten a counterfeit product and just go on social media screaming PANDA DAYTONA, PEPSI, ROYAL OAK, NAUTILUS.

[michaelodonnell123]

Originally Posted by HMHM

...
At this point, I’ve resigned to not owning certain pieces if I can’t get it from the AD/Boutiques. There’s no point throwing hard earned money to people who don’t even know what they are selling...

It doesn't matter whether or not they know what they are selling. What is important is that you know what you are buying.

[DonLee]

Originally Posted by Knoxx

Just my opinion

A. Buy a code or non popular models get into waitlist for your RO/ ROC. How long? nobody knows. Once you get your desirable RO/ROC, you can sell your code for 30-50% loss
or
B. Go to gray, pay premium and get your desirable watch that day

the choice is yours

I have another theory about grey market.

Go for watches that don't perform as well on the grey market. I love a Lange, I love many different Patek watches. Many of them are listed much lower than retail price.

[Richtw]

Flipping is a relatively easy solution for AP solve register the watch to a persons account, refuse service/ warranty (or charge a huge amount for it) work if the watch comes back to AP via any other route than the original registered owner. This is maybe why I think they are removing the AD network and only working directly (in the UK anyway)?

The bigger issue is as most have highlighted is I don't want to buy a watch I don't want to access one I do want. At the point I access the watch I do want I will likely sell the watch I didn't want i.e. the Code which then sort of defeats the whole object. This said I quite like the Code Chrono and you can't buy that either!!

[squall1]

Originally Posted by Richtw

This said I quite like the Code Chrono and you can't buy that either!!

Funny you should mention that. A grey I follow posted the purple Chrono which I actually like and was curious so I asked and they were selling at a couple thousand above retail. Yes, small sample size, but I think the worm has started to turn on the Code line.

[aldyrifqi]

I got 2 RO and 1 ROC without the need to buy code in less than 6 months.
I met 3 different SA. 2 pushed me to buy code to open a relationship, but my current SA not, she just list what I want and give me a surprise

[V25V]

Originally Posted by mph476

had an appointment with an AD the other day to discuss the possibility of getting a watch. I'll cut to the chase. If AP wants to minimize the likelihood of people flipping, then their sales team should not maintain the attitude that you should be lucky to get anything and be open to everything. If you're dropping 30k plus on a watch it should be acceptable to have a preference in this world. That doesn't make you too picky. If the answer is no then the answer is no. But its literally stupid to tell people to buy something they don't want and then get upset that people are flipping them. Just my 2 cents

Welcome to 2018.

[gretch6364]

Might just buy a watch for the wife to start the relationship and continue hoping Chopard releases a 39MM Alpine Eagle with the LUC micro rotor movement at 8MM thick while I wait the next 5 to 10 years for a ROC.

[Token74]

I wonder what percentage of people that complain about having to build up a history/relationship before getting the watch they really want, would have had the history/relationship if they hadn’t gone grey when it was cheaper to do so back in the day,

I appreciate the frustration of people new to the game, and even more so those people that did buy from ADs when it was cheaper to go grey and still can’t get the watch they want now, but come on, the greys were doing great business back then so where are all the people that were shopping there?

I was told i was crazy for paying a premium to buy from a Rolex AD back in the day, when i could have saved myself a couple of grand. I probably overpaid by about £4k in total on two watches that i could have got cheaper at a grey dealer. But that same AD has since sorted me out with three Daytonas and a Pepsi among others, so arguably it’s worked out well for me in the long term.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[psm11]

Originally Posted by Token74

I wonder what percentage of people that complain about having to build up a history/relationship before getting the watch they really want, would have had the history/relationship if they hadn’t gone grey when it was cheaper to do so back in the day,

I appreciate the frustration of people new to the game, and even more so those people that did buy from ADs when it was cheaper to go grey and still can’t get the watch they want now, but come on, the greys were doing great business back then so where are all the people that were shopping there?

I was told i was crazy for paying a premium to buy from a Rolex AD back in the day, when i could have saved myself a couple of grand. I probably overpaid by about £4k in total on two watches that i could have got cheaper at a grey dealer. But that same AD has since sorted me out with three Daytonas and a Pepsi among others, so arguably it’s worked out well for me in the long term.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I would have loved to have started the relationship 10-15 years ago when you could walk in and buy a RO or ROC same day (even possibly get a discount), but was in high school/college at that time and had no money. I would have gladly paid more at the AD/Boutique at that time than save on the grey market just to have the full experience (like I have done with Panerai and Omega in the past).

Really wish they'd just stop the games. If AP could care less about letting new folks in then just say that existing customers are the focus. Don't waste good peoples' time who genuinely love the brand and are collectors when they inquire about a royal oak with comments like "well, anything is possible."

[VogelPhoenix]

Originally Posted by psm11

I would have loved to have started the relationship 10-15 years ago when you could walk in and buy a RO or ROC same day (even possibly get a discount)

In late 2018 I could have walked out the Frankfurt boutique (on my first visit) with a choice of black or grey 15400 or a 26331. 15500 still was available with a little effort in 2019, as was the ROC. I recall a Brick sitting for months and months in one of the boutiques until late 2020, as were numerous other ROOs.

Really wish they'd just stop the games. If AP could care less about letting new folks in then just say that existing customers are the focus.

I don't think there is anything AP can do to make people happy who happen to discover their love of one specific model range at the moment of maximum demand in the history of the company.

If they take you at your word as collector and "lover of the brand", trying to steer you to models that are less oversubscribed seems to be the proper thing to do. It's fine not to like those suggestions, but hard to see what APs motivation would be to let "new folks" jump the long line of people who enquired about the same set of watches long before, and have years of history with AP.