Trip to Italy- inventory update

[shapa]

Just got back from Italy. Stopped by Rolex ADs in Rome, Capri, and Milan. Nothing new to report. Dismal selection. Dealers not interested in talking to you the minute you ask for a sport model. Passed by the AD in Venice and didn't even bother walking in. In Milan, I noticed a lot of local Italians wearing Rolex watches- mainly Submariners on men and DJ on women.

[Nairn1980]

Originally Posted by shapa

Just got back from Italy. Stopped by Rolex ADs in Rome, Capri, and Milan. Nothing new to report. Dismal selection. Dealers not interested in talking to you the minute you ask for a sport model. Passed by the AD in Venice and didn't even bother walking in. In Milan, I noticed a lot of local Italians wearing Rolex watches- mainly Submariners on men and DJ on women.

No surprises

[Cesarmsi]

I had a very similar experience in Scotland.......

[ltmgeller]

Thanks for the heads up. It sucks that this is the norm.

[SpeakWithMichael]

No, my American friends. It doesn't suck that this is the norm.

Personally, I 100% agree with Rolex and/or AD's giving major preference to local buyers wherever local may be, and not just any and every tourist who is going to have his tax refunded and get a deal, flip it elsewhere or keep it on another continent, not add any long-term value to the local market, and deprive locals of the opportunity to build relationships with the AD's and own the watch they would like, repair it through them, buy other jewelry through them, etc. That may not endear you (or others) to me very much, but put yourself in my shoes. I'm not going to L.A. or NYC to go hunting and possibly get lucky on the models you're waiting for, right? You wouldn't love when I make that post saying I just returned from L.A. or NYC and got lucky with a Hulk on a whim, would you? You wouldn't. You'd be a good sport about it on the surface, but you wouldn't really be happy about it. Local business is better long-term for the brand and for its authorized dealers. You'd have to look beyond your own wants to see that.

It's perfectly clear that vacationing in Europe could become nearly a free trip for you if you happen to get lucky with the right Rolex watch, and so you devote part of your time trying to get a free trip by hunting for Rolexes. And hey, it's not a complete waste of time if you enjoy hunting. But for the locals that live where you're hunting, that sucks. Thank you for the tourism dollars and all, but, as a watch guy, I'm honestly never really thrilled about it.

At the same time, now that I have discovered how to get the watch you want even when everyone is crying "there's no stock!", it doesn't concern me personally too much. If I went to L.A. or NYC I would fully expect to obtain the same results you experience over here. Why wouldn't I? I'm no one to them. Just as you're no one here. You simply don't and couldn't have the relationship some of us locals have with these AD's. This is really becoming the most important part about Rolex, and I love that and think it's the right way. I believe it's good for me AND for the brand long term.

I'm picking up my Submariner in Madrid this Saturday. It's the nearest major metropolitan city to where I live and I am building a strong relationship with this particular AD. Every Spanish AD that I've talked to except one (a boutique, actually, who obviously focuses on Asian tourists) has always inquired as to where I live. It's crystal clear to me that customer location matters to AD's in Spain and likely AD's in Italy, France, Germany, etc also. If I were to live in Barcelona and I was traveling to Madrid to buy watches, I wouldn't be on the top of their list. Imagine how they feel about someone not even living on the same continent.

I was offered a SubC Date in one month because I built a relationship and I'm relatively local. My sales guy fought for me to have the allocation and the manager approved it. She approved it because she had dealt with me before and she knew me to be a nice guy who goes out of his way for them and has a passion for their products. The inventory is really only non-existent if you're just a fleeting passerby. How are you going to compete with dozens of people like me who massage that local relationship with them regularly? You're not, and that's what I work hard to do; make it completely unattractive for the AD to bypass me to give you the tourist a watch I'd want for myself. Even if you plan on buying two or three at one go on your vacation, I plan on buying more than that over the next year or two. And the AD knows that because he knows what's on my horizon. He knows about my family. We do nice things for one another. You should absolutely do the same with your local AD's.

So I'd say don't waste your future precious trip time hunting at the destination Rolex AD's and instead just enjoy the country, whatever country it may be, for what it has, because I suspect you'll continue to be frustrated by what appears to be the foreseeable future of the European AD strategy to build long-term relationships with locals rather then cater to the tourist they might see once in a blue moon, if that. I'd absolutely do the same in their shoes and I smile every time a foreigner posts about coming up completely dry in my country. I don't deserve to score a Rolex model in high demand when in L.A. for a few days, and I'm perfectly okay with that. I don't think it sucks. I think it's fair.

On another, more important note, how did you like Italy?

[brandrea]

I’m I. Italy right nor with the family and I’ve seen more Rolex than any other luxury watch. Mostly Amalfi and now in Tuscany. Hoping to see some more Panerai here

[greentimgreen]

Good info, thanks. Heading to fence, Italy, Switzerland and Germany in June/July so good to know that I shouldn’t get my hopes up!


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[shapa]

Originally Posted by SpeakWithMichael

No, my American friends. It doesn't suck that this is the norm.

Personally, I 100% agree with Rolex and/or AD's giving major preference to local buyers wherever local may be, and not just any and every tourist who is going to have his tax refunded and get a deal, flip it elsewhere or keep it on another continent, not add any long-term value to the local market, and deprive locals of the opportunity to build relationships with the AD's and own the watch they would like, repair it through them, buy other jewelry through them, etc. That may not endear you (or others) to me very much, but put yourself in my shoes. I'm not going to L.A. or NYC to go hunting and possibly get lucky on the models you're waiting for, right? You wouldn't love when I make that post saying I just returned from L.A. or NYC and got lucky with a Hulk on a whim, would you? You wouldn't. You'd be a good sport about it on the surface, but you wouldn't really be happy about it. Local business is better long-term for the brand and for its authorized dealers. You'd have to look beyond your own wants to see that.

It's perfectly clear that vacationing in Europe could become nearly a free trip for you if you happen to get lucky with the right Rolex watch, and so you devote part of your time trying to get a free trip by hunting for Rolexes. And hey, it's not a complete waste of time if you enjoy hunting. But for the locals that live where you're hunting, that sucks. Thank you for the tourism dollars and all, but, as a watch guy, I'm honestly never really thrilled about it.

At the same time, now that I have discovered how to get the watch you want even when everyone is crying "there's no stock!", it doesn't concern me personally too much. If I went to L.A. or NYC I would fully expect to obtain the same results you experience over here. Why wouldn't I? I'm no one to them. Just as you're no one here. You simply don't and couldn't have the relationship some of us locals have with these AD's. This is really becoming the most important part about Rolex, and I love that and think it's the right way. I believe it's good for me AND for the brand long term.

I'm picking up my Submariner in Madrid this Saturday. It's the nearest major metropolitan city to where I live and I am building a strong relationship with this particular AD. Every Spanish AD that I've talked to except one (a boutique, actually, who obviously focuses on Asian tourists) has always inquired as to where I live. It's crystal clear to me that customer location matters to AD's in Spain and likely AD's in Italy, France, Germany, etc also. If I were to live in Barcelona and I was traveling to Madrid to buy watches, I wouldn't be on the top of their list. Imagine how they feel about someone not even living on the same continent.

I was offered a SubC Date in one month because I built a relationship and I'm relatively local. My sales guy fought for me to have the allocation and the manager approved it. She approved it because she had dealt with me before and she knew me to be a nice guy who goes out of his way for them and has a passion for their products. The inventory is really only non-existent if you're just a fleeting passerby. How are you going to compete with dozens of people like me who massage that local relationship with them regularly? You're not, and that's what I work hard to do; make it completely unattractive for the AD to bypass me to give you the tourist a watch I'd want for myself. Even if you plan on buying two or three at one go on your vacation, I plan on buying more than that over the next year or two. And the AD knows that because he knows what's on my horizon. He knows about my family. We do nice things for one another. You should absolutely do the same with your local AD's.

So I'd say don't waste your future precious trip time hunting at the destination Rolex AD's and instead just enjoy the country, whatever country it may be, for what it has, because I suspect you'll continue to be frustrated by what appears to be the foreseeable future of the European AD strategy to build long-term relationships with locals rather then cater to the tourist they might see once in a blue moon, if that. I'd absolutely do the same in their shoes and I smile every time a foreigner posts about coming up completely dry in my country. I don't deserve to score a Rolex model in high demand when in L.A. for a few days, and I'm perfectly okay with that. I don't think it sucks. I think it's fair.

On another, more important note, how did you like Italy?

Italy was beautiful. Just as nice as Spain.
Thank you for your comment. Good insight as to how locals feel when tourists come through town. But for the majority of us Rolex enthusiasts, it's not about finding a watch to flip, to pay for our vacation. Most of us on TRF are passionate about owning these watches as pieces to enjoy. I don't think most people specifically take a trip to Europe to hunt for a watch and screw local buyers. Best of luck.

[cdmorenot]

Originally Posted by greentimgreen

Good info, thanks. Heading to fence, Italy, Switzerland and Germany in June/July so good to know that I shouldn’t get my hopes up!


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Don’t ...

Madrid, Barcelona, Marseille, Monte Carlo, Florence, Rome, Stuttgart and Paris last month.

Nothing.

Plenty of stuff at greys in Pisa.




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[SpeakWithMichael]

Originally Posted by shapa

Italy was beautiful. Just as nice as Spain.
Thank you for your comment. Good insight as to how locals feel when tourists come through town. But for the majority of us Rolex enthusiasts, it's not about finding a watch to flip, to pay for our vacation. Most of us on TRF are passionate about owning these watches as pieces to enjoy. I don't think most people specifically take a trip to Europe to hunt for a watch and screw local buyers. Best of luck.

Glad you enjoyed Italy. It's hard not to.

[greentimgreen]

[QUOTE=cdmorenot;9695105]Don’t ...

Madrid, Barcelona, Marseille, Monte Carlo, Florence, Rome, Stuttgart and Paris last month.

Nothing.

Plenty of stuff at greys in Pisa.