Difficulty in obtaining pieces from around the world

[Cigars&Watches]

Hello All,

Just wondering what the difficulty level is around the world in picking up a Rolex watch. I'm talking about the average consumer not someone who is already well established or a whale.

I don't remember reading a post devoted specially to this and I am curious to see the results.

I'll start: For the average consumer in Canada (GTA) I would say its probably 8 or 9 out of 10 difficulty wise.

Cheers

[Devildog]

UK - Average consumer is about 10/10 difficulty wise.

[S.Explorer]

Originally Posted by Devildog

UK - Average consumer is about 10/10 difficulty wise.

Yep, maybe even 11/10.

[Devildog]

Originally Posted by S.Explorer

Yep, maybe even 11/10.

Quite. Had there been a "less chance than a snowball in the depths of hell" I'd obviously have chosen that one ....

[omar10213245]

i live in within the surrounding area of a city here in the midwest United States, I'd have to say at least an 8-9 out of 10.

[brandrea]

I guess it depends on the refence and also on how you define “picking up”.

If by that you are referring to any Joe blow, being able to walk into a Rolex AD and leave with a professional reference it’s a 10 almost everywhere.

[Cigars&Watches]

Originally Posted by brandrea

I guess it depends on the refence and also on how you define “picking up”.

If by that you are referring to any Joe blow, being able to walk into a Rolex AD and leave with a professional reference it’s a 10 almost everywhere.

Not as a walk in but someone who pops in from time to time, communicates frequently... perhaps has a small history, likeable, all that stuff

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by Cigars&Watches

Not as a walk in but someone who pops in from time to time, communicates frequently... perhaps has a small history, likeable, all that stuff

Well then I’d say depending on the reference maybe an 9 on a professional reference and a 7 on something like a DJ or an OP.

[enjoythemusic]

Any Rolex model, your odds are very good.

[Mathematoxic]

Hopefully and I think things will change in the foreseeable future

[Cigars&Watches]

Originally Posted by Mathematoxic

Hopefully and I think things will change in the foreseeable future

Is it 10/10 in Singapore?

[Mathematoxic]

Originally Posted by Cigars&Watches

Is it 10/10 in Singapore?

Yup I guess it’s same everywhere. I guess ADs will continue saying no stock as long as they can.

[amh]

USA

- Whales: 1/10 ("Oh my gosh, I just got offered another GMT, what on earth shall I do with it? And I was just stopping by to chat!")
- Joe Nobody: 10/10

[Ensign]

Originally Posted by amh

USA

- Whales: 1/10 ("Oh my gosh, I just got offered another GMT, what on earth shall I do with it? And I was just stopping by to chat!")
- Joe Nobody: 10/10

Yeah, those super VIP posts are remarkable. “Yeah, I just stopped in to pick up my wife’s tennis bracelet and a little something for my gf, and my SA went in the back and offered me a Panda.”

[ArtNouveau]

I don’t think things have changed much in the US. I have visited five stores that sold Rolex outside my area in the last six weeks, two in Las Vegas, three in New York. I was treated courteously in all, maybe entering the store wearing a Rolex helps, but all that was present was exhibition models.
If and when I want something else I will return to my longtime AD back in my hometown, the local AD would be hard still to establish with.

[Cigars&Watches]

Originally Posted by ArtNouveau

I don’t think things have changed much in the US. I have visited five stores that sold Rolex outside my area in the last six weeks, two in Las Vegas, three in New York. I was treated courteously in all, maybe entering the store wearing a Rolex helps, but all that was present was exhibition models.
If and when I want something else I will return to my longtime AD back in my hometown, the local AD would be hard still to establish with.

The US seems easier depending on where you live, ie: Miami, NY, LA... My guess based on posts is 7/10?

[ArtNouveau]

Originally Posted by Cigars&Watches

The US seems easier depending on where you live, ie: Miami, NY, LA... My guess based on posts is 7/10?

No way. There will always be the odd one-off walk-in purchase or a short wait for a low demand piece, but most US AD’s still have massive backlogs to fulfill before adding new customers.

[Aman08]

Midwest USA no spend history
Steel Sport 9-10/10
Datejust 7/10 if you are able to build relationship with AD and willing to wait 0-4 months

[padi56]

Rolex no longer sells watches to Joe public according to most on forum today unless you have a so called AD relationship and spent a zillion in the store. But somehow Rolex manages to still sell around 850000- 900000 watches each year. And most all grey dealers seem to have most all models to sell at crazy prices to those willing to pay, so do these special AD relationship customers then flip to the greys.

Myself been learning about the history of the RWC for well over 50 years,and wearing and enjoying wearing Rolex watches almost daily over those years.And all information supplied from my own 79 year old brain power, without the aid of loupes,nicknames, timegraphers, alignment points, protective film,AD relationship building, investment £$€ stuff, special cleaning cloths, phone apps, and the rest of todays Rolex watch toys.

[beshannon]

Originally Posted by Cigars&Watches

Just wondering what the difficulty level is around the world in picking up a Rolex watch.

Seems to me they are very easy to get, just look at the for sale section here.

Now try picking up a Gronefeld or a Journe.

[wilsonpepper]

It's so difficult, check these charts . . . before the replica "units" were not "countable" because the reps were so badly made, and you could easily walk into a store and buy a Rolex. Now, people are turning to "reps" to "see" if they even like the watch that they have been waiting months (years) for. The quality of reps has increased 1000 x over the past 5 years causing their sales to skyrocket.

SAD.

[jlovda]

Stopped in Bucherer's and Beyer on the Bahnhofstrasse in Zürich a week ago. Absolutely nothing. At Bucherer's, when you walk in the door they tell you they have no Rolexs' before you even tell them why you came. Beyer was friendlier and willing to talk but no watches either.

10/10

[Mathematoxic]

I wonder how long their current business model can last. It worked because of you know why. My impression of the past 2yrs is that all ADs progressively behaves and speaks the same lines over time.
My SA from an overseas AD that I purchased my first Rolex in 2019 told me afew months back :
His company’s General Manager was being made the scapegoat when Rolex caught them for back door selling. And their new GM is a corrupted person accepting bribes in exchange for watch allocations. However he did not mention that whether back door sales is still ongoing. This SA is leaving the AD soon and will be working in a different industry.
Kind of sad because he did offer me watches like Air king and blue dial flutted DJ during random visits.

[beshannon]

Originally Posted by Mathematoxic

I wonder how long their current business model can last.

They sell every watch they manufacture. They will be just fine

[SLWoodster]

Yup and people forget that they can always go back to discounting. LOL.

Originally Posted by beshannon

They sell every watch they manufacture. They will be just fine

[beshannon]

Originally Posted by SLWoodster

Yup and people forget that they can always go back to discounting. LOL.

They will never need to discount again.

The desperation on this forum is overwhelming. People worried they will alienate a dealer if they say or do something wrong, worried about putting themselves on too many fictional waiting lists, bringing gifts to businesses that take their money . . .

I am not sure how Rolex became the most feared and secretive entity on the planet but they have.

[medcoastsol]

USA LV is still a joke 10/10

[fskywalker]

Puerto Rico (Caribbean) has only one AD and has only exhibition pieces……..

Waiting lists are like this:







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[Rolexavidfan]

Times have changed:

Chicago 2017 - Both LV and BLNR in the counter. DJ all over the counter. SA encouraging me to buy on the spot.

Seattle 2018 - Only Sub ND just displayed in the counter. DJ still all over the counter. SA encouraging me to buy on the spot.

Beverly Hills 2018 - SkyDweller Black and White displayed in the window. DJ still all over the counter. SA encouraging me to buy.

Same Beverly Hills 2019 - Exp 2 Black displayed in the counter. DJ still all over the counter. SA encouraging to buy on the spot.

Same Beverly Hills 2022 - Most sports model displayed in the counter as exhibition pieces. Hardly any DJs in the counter. SA nice enough to let me try the sports models. SA mentioned they’re not selling to non local.


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