Visited Rolex Boutique at the Wynn Las Vegas - Reporting in

[envuks]

As the title says, I recently visited the Rolex boutique at the Wynn in Las Vegas…

Display model inventory was heavy. Just about all the SS pieces on display except the white SS Daytona. All Daytonas were the outgoing models. The clerk stated they had not seen any of the new model Daytonas yet when I asked.

I didn’t see any 2023 releases on display.

They had many many watches in the boutique which surprised me.

I do have to admit, the store experience made me feel moderate hatred for the brand. Store staff were all dressed in nice suits, not talkative, and made me feel as if I didn’t belong in the store.

I was dressed in jeans, sneakers, a sweater hoodie, and a baseball cap. Wearing my 116500 on oysterflex which I didn’t reveal from under my sleeve as the opportunity didn’t present itself. I do have a mullet, so perhaps that was a factor in my treatment.

When I asked questions, I was met with short answers, and the clerks walked away from me as I wandered through the store. I was thinking about saying “you guys want to show me some watches or do you just prefer standing around?” But decided it just wasn’t worth it.

I have been on a two week road trip from Oregon to Colorado wearing my Daytona daily as it should be. Done a bunch of camping and outdoor activities. Things that to me embody the (old) Rolex brand.

In contrast, the Watches of Switzerland store next door (which also operates the Rolex boutique) had staff that were talkative and followed me around the store as I browsed chatting (as I’m used to in watch stores). That’s a nice store.

Nothing new here, but figured that’s I’d share.

And PS, off topic: after visiting the stores I turned $200 into $3377 on a craps table in less than 45 minutes. My friends were joking that maybe now the people at the Rolex store would talk to me. The table was laughing at that. Fun times.


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[watchmainspring]

What was for sale?


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[envuks]

Originally Posted by watchmainspring

What was for sale?


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What it seemed like is if you were trying on the display pieces, you likely had a chance to talk yourself into buying any of them.

Someone seemed to be possibly buying a BLNR trying to talk themselves into something else. I overheard “let’s get you this first then we can talk about when we might be able to get you….” I didn’t hear what the other model was.

Another person was in the process of purchasing a PM daytona while I was there.


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[996marty]

Good to see that they had a selection for sale what is bad is the attitude in how they go about their business

[CalSRQ1]

Local AD - Florida- has nearly all current SS models in the case for display only (not Daytona)… but none for sale.

[PBJ1925]

Thx for the report, and glad to hear you're up at the tables! Bellusso at the Grand Canal Shoppes next door also offers a nice experience for alternative brands as well.

[GGGMT]

Vegas Daytona Mullet Oregon Colo — all super cool stuff in my book! Enjoy the trip!


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[rushca01]

How you were treated was how I was treated in Maui a couple weeks ago. I was wearing my DeepSea JC. Commented on a 37 mm dual tone yachmaster for my wife and was met with snide comment. Whatever.

[KatGirl]

I really hate when we are judged by how we are dressed. I remember a similar experience, years ago, while car shopping, with my daughter. I was dressed in jeans and a tee shirt, and she was dressed like a typical 17 year old. We wandered around the showroom floor, for about 10 minutes. There were salesmen, doing nothing, and we were totally ignored. Maybe they didn’t notice that I pulled up in a brand new Trans Am? Anyway, we left, and went elsewhere.

Kat


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[FlexArmstrong]

Las Vegas Rolex boutiques are awful. There was a woman last time I went that wouldn't give any assistance at all and basically wanted me out of the store. Meanwhile, all the other watch stores with Rolex (and much better brands) would let me try on whatever I wanted and were super nice. I even got to try on a master ultra thin tourbillon.
Basically, what I've come to realize is don't even bother giving a Rolex boutique your time as their salespeople are generally useless. She also didn't know the difference between professional and classic as she was calling the sky dweller a professional model.

[0nly5iv3Digits]

ADs will 100% sell display models to walk-in customers with no purchase history. Has been happening a lot to people in my area lately. Seems the market sentiment really is in the toilet.

Barring Rolex boutiques, mom and pop ADs are fetching whatever business they can it looks like. Hope it continues!! :D

[envuks]

Thinking a bit more about this reading replies…. I’m thinking that Rolex must direct WOS to mandate their Rolex boutique staff behave this way.

The staff in the WOS next door were normal and nice. The staff in the Rolex store not so much. Both owned by the same company.

Curious…


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[George H.]

Cool! Never have been to that Rolex store before.

[MSL997]

Whenever you or anyone else reading goes into an AD get sleeve up on the arm of your Rolex and sleeve down on the other arm. Be seen and be obvious, that way youre hitting slap shots at the AD instead of them at you.

One needs to set the tone immediately upon entry who is in control and the AD can better weed out the tire kickers.

Besides when you wear Daytona youre no longer told how hard the market is, you are the market.

[georgew]

Originally Posted by MSL997

Whenever you or anyone else reading goes into an AD get sleeve up on the arm of your Rolex and sleeve down on the other arm. Be seen and be obvious, that way youre hitting slap shots at the AD instead of them at you.

One needs to set the tone immediately upon entry who is in control and the AD can better weed out the tire kickers.

Besides when you wear Daytona youre no longer told how hard the market is, you are the market.

my early fall re-visit to my AD went exactly like this. My 116520 daytona was recognized immediately as I approached the display case. SA (new to me as long time SA retired) got chatty quickly as did a female SA who walked by ("nice daytona"). And yes, hadn't been to this AD in a while and wearing the daytona was deliberate.

[sheldonsmith]

Originally Posted by MSL997

Whenever you or anyone else reading goes into an AD get sleeve up on the arm of your Rolex and sleeve down on the other arm. Be seen and be obvious, that way youre hitting slap shots at the AD instead of them at you.

One needs to set the tone immediately upon entry who is in control and the AD can better weed out the tire kickers.

Besides when you wear Daytona youre no longer told how hard the market is, you are the market.

Well said and good advice.

How potential clients are treated is where gray dealers have a leg up; anyone who walks through the door is a potential client at a gray dealer whereas in a Rolex Boutique the sales people calculate commission potential on dress/looks alone.

[DAC2]

I ALWAYS wear a DD when I go into Rolex. If they see what you have then they respond accordingly. Pity you didnt let them see your Daytona. If I had not been wearing my 36mm platinum DD.... I dont think i would have been able to secure the 40mm platinum that I got. I know it's a dumb game but..... thats the way it is these days.

[1William]

Interesting story from the OP. I always just take my visits for what they are, a fun fact finding journey. Sometimes the facts are that a store is not what I expected. Bad service I correct on the spot with a SA or GM. My experience is in tourist locations the volume of customers in luxury stores is always high and staff, at times, appear to be less than friendly. That is just an excuse but one that seems to permeate the luxury goods world.

[CFR]

Originally Posted by envuks

I’m thinking that Rolex must direct WOS to mandate their Rolex boutique staff behave this way.

I and others often experience this same thing at a (non-WOS) Rolex boutique -- one that you've probably visited yourself, given your location. The door is always locked (understandable for security reasons), but often the guard is told to not let people in. They make you wait outside on the street, or they tell you come back later (unless you have an appointment), even though the inside, which you can see through the window, isn't crowded at all.

This is puzzling and offputting to me, especially as a customer of that store (which of course the guard wouldn't know). I was told by a manager at a another watch boutique (a brand that's much higher-end than Rolex) that Rolex has some sort of "personalized client experience" policy in which they don't want people wandering around the boutique on their own. He said Rolex wants every client who walks into the boutique to be accompanied by an SA, so that if no SAs are available to greet you and work with you, they won't let you in (or there may be the occasional celebrity inside, which happens from time to time in Rolex boutiques in major cities even though there's a private room for that).

If this "personal sales experience" sounds bizarre or offputting to you -- the idea that you can't just walk into a largely empty boutique and look around -- you're not alone.

[Oystersteel92]

Originally Posted by envuks

And PS, off topic: after visiting the stores I turned $200 into $3377 on a craps table in less than 45 minutes. My friends were joking that maybe now the people at the Rolex store would talk to me. The table was laughing at that. Fun times.


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That's how it used to be. Anyone from anywhere could hit a jackpot or a big table win in Vegas and decide a Rolex was the perfect souvenir of the occasion and AD's treated people accordingly. Sadly those days are gone.

[offrdmania]

The Rolex sales staff who work on commission need to listen to this story.
I used to work in the automotive industry and would service many rural, small mom and pop auto dealerships. I always remember a story told by one of the owners about when he observed judging a book by its cover firsthand while sweeping the floors.
An old farmer pulled up to the dealership in an old beat-up pickup truck, in his overalls, scuffed and scraped cowboy boots and smelling of manure. He walked into the showroom and started looking at the brand-new Cadillac Deville sitting on the showroom floor. The head salesman walked over and introduced himself and after a short conversation, the old farmer asked for a test drive. The salesman hawed and hummed and suggested that they go out back and look at the used car lot for something more suited for the old farmer. The farmer still insisted on taking the Cadillac for a test drive and after some back and forth, the young rookie salesman who watched this whole interaction stepped in with the keys and the head salesman passed off the old guy to the kid and told him the old man was wasting everyone's time and would only smell up the car but not buy anything.
When the rookie salesman and the farmer returned to the dealership, the old farmer told the kid that he would take the Cadillac. The old farmer pulled out a wad of cash from his overalls and paid for the car in full.
It turns out that the farmer was one of the largest cattle ranchers in the area, who just happened to be at the cattle ranch that day because a new calf was being born. Not wanting to get his good cloths dirty, he wore his ranch cloths and drove the ranch truck into town to take a look at a new car for himself and his wife.
The moral of the story is, never judge a book by its cover because that old dirty farmer came back to that dealership every single year to buy a brand-new Cadillac and would only purchase it with cash from the rookie kid salesman and no one else.

[amh]

'Friendly' rating:
- Ben Bridge or other AD chains [Most friendly, but no stock due to very high traffic]
- Local ADs [Fake friendly, plenty of stock in the safe]
- Boutique [Not friendly, paid to make you feel unwelcome. All models available]

[Afterglow]

Once you realize that Rolex is not the end all be all, and that there are many fine and even superior brands out there, you can stop playing these nauseatingly bizarre AD games. It's really laughable. Rolling up one's sleeve to show who is the boss? Looking for respect and attention from an underpaid and overworked sales clerk who sees tire kickers all day long?

The days of great service, family owned ADs, tool watches purchased for accomplishments, are GONE and are not coming back. The brand has become everything I despise about the hobby. Posted as I glance down at my SS Blancpain Fifty Fathoms with its' stunning bezel, insane lume, 5 day power reserve and perfect timekeeping.

Go ahead...beg for a Submariner and let us know how it goes. Or feel slighted that the AD sales clerk doesn't recognize you for the person of great importance you are. Enjoy the Kool-Aid.

[Grandsport]

I was there about a year ago while my wife was attending a medical conference. Had me waiting behind a velvet rope to get in the door. After a minute or two, told the "doorman" to fuck off and walked away. More people should do this. I bet attitudes would start to change pretty quickly. Unfortunately, a good percentage of people don't have the dignity or self respect to do this and allow themselves to be treated this way. Just my .02 for what its worth.

[envuks]

Originally Posted by Afterglow

Go ahead...beg for a Submariner and let us know how it goes. Or feel slighted that the AD sales clerk doesn't recognize you for the person of great importance you are. Enjoy the Kool-Aid.

I don’t want any of these things… I just want someone to say “hi, how’s your day going? Thanks for coming in. How can I help?”

Im not dying to buy and I understand the environment. I just want to be treated kindly and like a normal human being when I stop in any store.

I’ve been on a 2 week road trip and stopped in countless gas stations with better service than this boutique.

It’s possible to say to people “I’m sorry we cannot sell you a watch at this moment” and still be kind and engaging to people.

<end rant>


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[envuks]

Originally Posted by GGGMT

Vegas Daytona Mullet Oregon Colo — all super cool stuff in my book! Enjoy the trip!


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Thank you! The road trip has been amazing. Oregon coast down rt 101, California coast down rt 1, over to Yosemite, sequoia, on to Vegas, through Utah, and now Colorado. I fly home tomorrow.

A friend purchased a peace van in Seattle, which is a Mercedes metris van that’s custom converted into a pop-up camper like and old school VW vanagon.

We hit Cape lookout, Redwoods, Yosemite, kings canyon, sequoia, Zions, Bryce Canyon, Arches…. I hope I’m not forgetting one. So many sights in between as well.

What an experience! It’s been so much fun


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[OcdRob]

Rolex really needs to come out with a structured ordering system for customers through their AD’s. Im sure many people, myself included, dont mind waiting a reasonable amount of time for something they want. However waiting endlessly with no time frame of when you will receive your watch is not how I like to reward myself with my hard earned money. Since this craziness has begun I have bought one single Rolex, and that was for my wife. Amazingly enough that watch actually showed up in two months. I still love Rolex watches but I do not like the Rolex brand anymore.

[Afterglow]

Originally Posted by OcdRob

Rolex really needs to come out with a structured ordering system for customers through their AD’s. Im sure many people, myself included, dont mind waiting a reasonable amount of time for something they want. However waiting endlessly with no time frame of when you will receive your watch is not how I like to reward myself with my hard earned money. Since this craziness has begun I have bought one single Rolex, and that was for my wife. Amazingly enough that watch actually showed up in two months. I still love Rolex watches but I do not like the Rolex brand anymore.

I agree 100%. Add in the "buy some jewlery and we can get you what you want" garbage and you are correct. It has tarnished the brand in many an eye.

[Number3]

[QUOTE=Afterglow;13047675]Looking for respect and attention from an underpaid and overworked sales clerk who sees tire kickers all day long?[/0QUOTE]

They sure as hell ain’t overworked!

[GGGMT]

Originally Posted by envuks

Thank you! The road trip has been amazing. Oregon coast down rt 101, California coast down rt 1, over to Yosemite, sequoia, on to Vegas, through Utah, and now Colorado. I fly home tomorrow.

A friend purchased a peace van in Seattle, which is a Mercedes metris van that’s custom converted into a pop-up camper like and old school VW vanagon.

We hit Cape lookout, Redwoods, Yosemite, kings canyon, sequoia, Zions, Bryce Canyon, Arches…. I hope I’m not forgetting one. So many sights in between as well.

What an experience! It’s been so much fun


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This story just gets better. This may be the first time in history that a Daytona has been on a peace van road trip!


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