Stocks in the back of AD

[Nekonihiki]

I've found some photos of stock Rolex watches believed to be taken at a Japanese AD. In Japan, there is no waiting list so you have to keep visiting an AD until you're lucky enough to find the model you want. (Showcases are always empty so they go to the back to check the availability. Some people believe they select customers, some believe it's just luck.)

White tags have to be removed in Japan by the AD so I don't think these photos were taken at a grey. Based on the model and price of the Hulk (1,177,000yen), these photos were taken in 2022.

Does any of you see a pic of Rolex stored like this way? I'm curious if these photos are real.

[Nekonihiki]

Sorry, not Hulk but Starbucks

[bay_area_kid]

Better pics here: https://mobile.twitter.com/x_file51/...52141836939264

[bay_area_kid]

Looks like each Rolex in a coffin case are labeled with a date. My guess is that the date signifies when that Rolex can be allocated.

[Ensign]

What’s up with the boxes with the blue paper covering the windows?

[bay_area_kid]

Could be some off-catalog Rolex model.

Those are very rare and showing them in the pic will make it much easier for Rolex to track which AD the pick came from.

[danicasi2002]

This must be how they are being shipped to the AD instead of being in the presentation box.

[Watchesnguitars]

Originally Posted by danicasi2002

This must be how they are being shipped to the AD instead of being in the presentation box.

Most definitely.. Have had a couple of the watches I've bought brought out in these...

[2loaded]

Originally Posted by danicasi2002

This must be how they are being shipped to the AD instead of being in the presentation box.

Presentation boxes are shipped separately. All watches come in the coffin (now cardboard)

[DDPS]

And not a single Milgauss in sight.

[minute_man]

Originally Posted by DDPS

And not a single Milgauss in sight.

116400GV 1st picture, center (1/23)

[WatchMySix]

When I was in the UAE they were bringing watches out to me that were boxed like that.


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[Auric Goldfinger]

Yes, that’s how they’re sent to the AD from Rolex corporate.

They used to be in the hard plastic shells but switched over to the cardboard/paper to be more eco friendly.

[amh]

I believe it. There's a certain watch club where people sell high-end watches. It's not uncommon to show a bunch of watches in coffins while posting combined sale of two BNIB GMTs.

- ADs still have massive leverage with any Rolex model, particularly SS sports
- Greys still have 50%-100% profit margin on the hottest SS models

Not holding my breath for "the call" from an AD, there are still plenty of people spending the necessary 50k to build a faux relationship with their SA If that ever stops then prices will return to normal.

[dauster]

Originally Posted by Auric Goldfinger

Yes, that’s how they’re sent to the AD from Rolex corporate.

They used to be in the hard plastic shells but switched over to the cardboard/paper to be more eco friendly.

The last one I bought in December was still in the plastic box I saw it for sure. Could this be an UAE/ Asia thing with cardboxes ?


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[Auric Goldfinger]

Originally Posted by dauster

The last one I bought in December was still in the plastic box I saw it for sure. Could this be an UAE/ Asia thing with cardboxes ?


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No, these are in use worldwide and has been nearly a year since the change over. See thread below from last summer when it was becoming widely noticeable.

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=862656

Did you buy from an AD? There is a lot of those replica plastic "coffins" for sale online that may secondary dealers purchase to hold watches.

The cardboard box style is the new design and is similar to how Patek delivers their watches to ADs.

[dauster]

Originally Posted by Auric Goldfinger

No, these are in use worldwide and has been nearly a year since the change over. See thread below from last summer when it was becoming widely noticeable.

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=862656

Did you buy from an AD? There is a lot of those replica plastic "coffins" for sale online that may secondary dealers purchase to hold watches.

The cardboard box style is the new design and is similar to how Patek delivers their watches to ADs.

Yes bought from AD - very curious !! Doesn’t matter I guess


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[dauster]

Originally Posted by dauster

Yes bought from AD - very curious !! Doesn’t matter I guess


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Now that I looked thru the pics of the old thread I am honestly not sure what I saw - iam like a confused witness in court lol


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[TickTockChuck]

Originally Posted by Auric Goldfinger

No, these are in use worldwide and has been nearly a year since the change over. See thread below from last summer when it was becoming widely noticeable.

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=862656

Did you buy from an AD? There is a lot of those replica plastic "coffins" for sale online that may secondary dealers purchase to hold watches.

The cardboard box style is the new design and is similar to how Patek delivers their watches to ADs.

Wow, those look pretty cheap for something so expensive. Clear plastic is recyclable. I liked the little coffins, plus they were crush resistant. I would have thought PP used hand made wooden boxes...ha! Quite a contrast to the over the top display cases in the AD's. Cheers!

[dannyp]

Originally Posted by TickTockChuck

Wow, those look pretty cheap for something so expensive. Clear plastic is recyclable. I liked the little coffins, plus they were crush resistant. I would have thought PP used hand made wooden boxes...ha! Quite a contrast to the over the top display cases in the AD's. Cheers!

Rolex has always been a master of efficiency. Someone figured out that those cardboard boxes (which can fold flat) are not only cheaper and more environmentally friendly, they are cheaper to ship and take less space to store.

We also don’t know what outer shipping box Rolex uses to ship between factory and distributor (and from distributor to dealer - though maybe someone has seen the latter). Could well be that a harder coffin case was no longer needed…

These are all considerations for the logistics department.

[Gebbeth]

Originally Posted by Auric Goldfinger

No, these are in use worldwide and has been nearly a year since the change over. See thread below from last summer when it was becoming widely noticeable.

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=862656

Did you buy from an AD? There is a lot of those replica plastic "coffins" for sale online that may secondary dealers purchase to hold watches.

The cardboard box style is the new design and is similar to how Patek delivers their watches to ADs.

Or the AD has been hanging onto some watches for more than a year. After all, who knows where the grey market will be headed.

[SLWoodster]

Photos are real.

That’s how they are stored now. Used to be plastic coffins. I have a couple of these paper boxes.

Not sure thr exact system in japan. But no way they don’t have any lists. Otherwise what is a rep for? They can stick it in a vending machine and call it a day.

I do notice that almost everywhere i go, they will want to hear about the exact model i am looking for before they pull it from the back.

Originally Posted by Nekonihiki

I've found some photos of stock Rolex watches believed to be taken at a Japanese AD. In Japan, there is no waiting list so you have to keep visiting an AD until you're lucky enough to find the model you want. (Showcases are always empty so they go to the back to check the availability. Some people believe they select customers, some believe it's just luck.)

White tags have to be removed in Japan by the AD so I don't think these photos were taken at a grey. Based on the model and price of the Hulk (1,177,000yen), these photos were taken in 2022.

Does any of you see a pic of Rolex stored like this way? I'm curious if these photos are real.

[Nekonihiki]

Originally Posted by SLWoodster

Photos are real.

That’s how they are stored now. Used to be plastic coffins. I have a couple of these paper boxes.

Not sure thr exact system in japan. But no way they don’t have any lists. Otherwise what is a rep for? They can stick it in a vending machine and call it a day.

I do notice that almost everywhere i go, they will want to hear about the exact model i am looking for before they pull it from the back.

There are no lists for Hamilton. What is a rep for?

[Travis29]

That’s how they are shipped to the AD. My recent purchases were brought out like that. Papers and box are seperate.

[Nairn1980]

Originally Posted by Travis29

That’s how they are shipped to the AD. My recent purchases were brought out like that. Papers and box are seperate.

Box is separate, but papers (now a card) are inside each little box with the watches.

[4rnold]

When I ask my AD owner, wich is a family based shop with a very long tradition and a really nice person who is genuinely kind and honest as far as I can tell.

He allways says that the have to wait to get pieces from Rolex, and that he is annoyed with the fact that they can't help their customers sooner. And they do some effort for their long time based customers. That I know.

So it strikes me as strange that everyone here says they have a lot of stock in the back.

I wonder who speaks the truth

[Devildog]

Originally Posted by 4rnold

When I ask my AD owner, wich is a family based shop with a very long tradition and a really nice person who is genuinely kind and honest as far as I can tell.

He allways says that the have to wait to get pieces from Rolex, and that he is annoyed with the fact that they can't help their customers sooner. And they do some effort for their long time based customers. That I know.

So it strikes me as strange that everyone here says they have a lot of stock in the back.

I wonder who speaks the truth

There are watches in the back. But they are all pre allocated. They are not surplus stock or being held to artificially create demand.

[amh]

Originally Posted by 4rnold

When I ask my AD owner, wich is a family based shop with a very long tradition and a really nice person who is genuinely kind and honest as far as I can tell.

He allways says that the have to wait to get pieces from Rolex, and that he is annoyed with the fact that they can't help their customers sooner. And they do some effort for their long time based customers. That I know.

So it strikes me as strange that everyone here says they have a lot of stock in the back.

I wonder who speaks the truth

Does this AD sell marked up jewelry, Tudor, Omega, GS? Do they push those other items when someone asks about a Rolex or do they simply say "Please be patient" ? Most around here will make clear that spending $20k on a diamond necklace will catapult you onto the faux list. Some of the nicer ADs are zero hassle. (No SS Rolex available, ladies models are available immediately.)

[4rnold]

Originally Posted by amh

Does this AD sell marked up jewelry, Tudor, Omega, GS? Do they push those other items when someone asks about a Rolex or do they simply say "Please be patient" ? Most around here will make clear that spending $20k on a diamond necklace will catapult you onto the faux list. Some of the nicer ADs are zero hassle. (No SS Rolex available, ladies models are available immediately.)

They have Tudor Cartier, and Breguet also I believe.
And Jewelry. They don't push it in any way whatsoever.

I bought jewelry from them but not really much compared to what a Rolex watch is worth

[JRell]

I spy a red OP in there…