Daytona Issues - Options?

[Versus]

Long time lurker. Mostly check it out every couple of days or so, and greatly appreciate the wisdom and good spirit of this forum.

However, I do have one general query ...

I read more and more stories from people such as Blue Bull who with respect to purchasing a Rolex Daytona - "Bought mine last week ~ MSRP,no deposit,one week waiting period". And other very complementary remarks from other posters about their ADs. And if you can't get a watch from an AD- you only need go to a place like Alan Furman for a reasonable deal.

As a resident of Melbourne, Australia, I'm absolutely amazed by the lack of quality watch places in a city of over 4 million people. You can't seemingly get a Daytona for love nor money.

Per example. Just this afternoon I strolled into 1 of 2 ADs in Melbourne (mid CBD, Collins St). I was window shopping the Rollies and then put the question to the assistant as to whether she had an SS Daytona. Of course, she claimed she had not. We then discussed how the store now had a philosophy of no waiting list for the Daytona because it just got too ridiculous. Out of curiosity, I asked the list price in Australia - $11,500 apparently - I then indicated that I would pay a lot more than that just to get one right now. She responded - how much would you pay? I then said $15,000. She then appeared to consider and then she would need to speak with someone out the back. After an apparently lengthy conferral, she came back and said unfortunately they don't have one. Obviously the amount was not sufficient.

What in blazes are they looking for in terms of price? Are there any reasonable options in Oz for someone who wants to get one properly? Or can one only get it via the net or grey market, second hand? Even grey market second hand is a very limited crap shoot. Missed out by 5 minutes 2 times.

In short. I am tremendously envious of the people who can walk into a dealer and just pay list price. Still, I honestly just don't see how that's possible unless you have bought half a dozen timepieces from them previously.