Ad explained the stainless game to me.

[airchitect]

At this point, it’s time to buy everything that isn’t a Rolex at a discount, and return to Rolex (if u want) once the market stabilizes. None of these watches are any more special now than they were a year or two ago, so don’t let yourself be suckered... There are plenty of deals to be had on watches that are just as/more horologically significant. Go get a reverso, el primero, speedy pro, tank, navitimer, 50 fathoms, panerai anything, etc...

[cvo]

Just go in to an AD that you suspect of playing this game and ask to see a PM model, if they pull out SS models to hook a combo, just buy the SS model. They have already shown their hand.

[RTG]

Originally Posted by lecorsaire

The economy hasn’t changed that much from 2016 to the middle of 2017 to justify this scarcity. It’s not like people who couldn’t afford a Rolex before can now afford one. The rich are still rich and the poor are still poor.

American consumer confidence and economic outlook has risen dramatically since 2016. That has spurred a tremendous increase in luxury sales. American middle class is spending again....watch out world.

[Pauln]

Personally, I wouldn’t buy something I don’t want to get something I want. But obviously people do, otherwise the ADs wouldn’t do it. There are tons of lightly used or gray watches that I can spend my money on. Do I blame the ADs? No. It’s their business and they have decided that this is the best strategy for them to make the most revenue/profit. Isn’t that what all businesses do? That said, does it upset me as a consumer? Hell yeah.


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[rambo99]

Originally Posted by cvo

Just go in to an AD that you suspect of playing this game and ask to see a PM model, if they pull out SS models to hook a combo, just buy the SS model. They have already shown their hand.

i dont think you can buy the ss model then, it goes straight back to the safe.

[watchwatcher]

Originally Posted by Nairn1980

I kinda get this to be honest.

Their SS allocations are not enough to satisfy their good customers so essentially they’re not taking any new Steel sports customers on.

Also with flipping etc being an issue these days, they’re sticking to proven and trusted customers I’d imagine.

Not great but I understand their reasoning.

I’m sure she only refused to sell you a steel sports model. If you want a Datejust or similar (in stock), I’m sure she’d allow you to buy it. That then makes you a customer and you can get into steel sports that way....worth a try?

To some extent, I do too. I had a conversation the other day with a very honest staff member of an AD that said something similar...that they wanted to make sure their existing customer base was taken care of first.

We didn't get into specifics, but if something comes in that's "hot" or "desirable," then I'm sure they're going to check with their customers that have expressed interest in that watch before they put it out in the case and let just any guy walking in off the street have it. Heck, if that was my business, I would too.

Now as far as holding back steel watches for the purposes of bundling...I don't know. I will say, though, that they had a Rootbeer in the back that was 'spoken for.' (Can I just say if I was the guy that had spoken for it, it wouldn't still be sitting there. )

[EDL7]

American consumer confidence and economic outlook has risen dramatically since 2016.

No it hasn't..I'm in retail..and its probably worse now for the middle class than in a long time..only the rich are spending..
..we are making ends meet in high end sales..not the midrange sales anymore..which essentially disappeared in the last 12 months..

[seand442]

I stopped in an AD last week and had a pleasant conversation with the salesman/vp. He picked up pretty quickly that I knew what I was talking about, so there didn’t seem to be a whole lot of bs he was spewing. Said they have been getting a reasonable amount of SS professional, just that they are sold before they arrive. He referenced the conspiracy theories on various forums about why the SS are in short supply, but said the increased demand is the biggest thing. He took my name down for a SubC date and said there was one person ahead, but they have been getting them in regularly. Shook hands and he gave me a copy of the 18/19 catalog/coffee table book. Even with tax, no sense in paying what grays are asking.

[rambo99]

Originally Posted by seand442

I stopped in an AD last week and had a pleasant conversation with the salesman/vp. He picked up pretty quickly that I knew what I was talking about, so there didn’t seem to be a whole lot of bs he was spewing. Said they have been getting a reasonable amount of SS professional, just that they are sold before they arrive. He referenced the conspiracy theories on various forums about why the SS are in short supply, but said the increased demand is the biggest thing. He took my name down for a SubC date and said there was one person ahead, but they have been getting them in regularly. Shook hands and he gave me a copy of the 18/19 catalog/coffee table book. Even with tax, no sense in paying what grays are asking.

this is really not bad getting in a waitlist for a sub date with just 1 person ahead of you. do you have a previous relationship with the AD?

[DtownRRS]

When I picked up my ND Sub a while back my AD said straight up they get all the hard to get models in, nothing in any large number but they all come in. Never put up front always held in back. The owner decides who gets them. The sales people make their pitch for their customers and hope they come through for them.

[watchnut73]

Besides a higher demand, Rolex are reducing steel pieces even more going forward into the next two years.
So there will be even more posts like this I’m sure.

[JR16]

Strange days. My AD also gets in SS prof models regularly but does say they’ve received fewer than them than normal these past 2 years. And of course most never make the display case and are spoken for before they arrive. This has extended to certain PM and TT models as well (eg, rg ym, Chnr). Essentially it means that if you want one of the obtainable watches, you basically “order” it from an AD and then just wait. I guess it eliminates the impulse buyers. But for someone for whom a Rolex is a substantial sum of $ and even maybe a once in a life time purchase , it stinks that they are expected to commit (even if non-binding) to buying a watch he or she can’t even try on. If I was an AD, I would make a case to Rolex that they should be supplied with dummy watches (no movement) to have in display cases for customers to try on. Would keep the cases full and allow consumers to make an educated decision. Anyway just my 2 cents.


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[seand442]

Originally Posted by rambo99

this is really not bad getting in a waitlist for a sub date with just 1 person ahead of you. do you have a previous relationship with the AD?

Haven’t bought from them. I’ve stopped in a couple times and talked, but didn’t speak to the gentleman I did before.

[gastown604]

I was looking at Breguet 10Hz and the AD told me if I want to bundle that 10Hz with a Hulk or SD43, they will have to reduce my discount on the 10Hz by 10%.

10% on a Breguet 10Hz is like the premium on a Hulk. Not really saving a penny there...

[Fleetlord]

Originally Posted by JR16

Strange days. My AD also gets in SS prof models regularly but does say they’ve received fewer than them than normal these past 2 years. And of course most never make the display case and are spoken for before they arrive. This has extended to certain PM and TT models as well (eg, rg ym, Chnr). Essentially it means that if you want one of the obtainable watches, you basically “order” it from an AD and then just wait. I guess it eliminates the impulse buyers. But for someone for whom a Rolex is a substantial sum of $ and even maybe a once in a life time purchase , it stinks that they are expected to commit (even if non-binding) to buying a watch he or she can’t even try on. If I was an AD, I would make a case to Rolex that they should be supplied with dummy watches (no movement) to have in display cases for customers to try on. Would keep the cases full and allow consumers to make an educated decision. Anyway just my 2 cents.


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The "lists" = MORE SOLD Rolexes than when they where just in the case.

The Hulk is the best example of this.

Used to be a "meh", "I'll think about it"... reference when it was sitting in the case..

Now, that is not in case?

"Put me on the list for that awesome ROLEX" !!!

Instead of people coming by and seeing it in the case...now they are coming by to see when their's (that is on the list) will be in to BUY IT.

I have heard, even from a small AD, that they have SOLD 5x as many Hulks since they went on "allocation"...

[997.2]

Originally Posted by ronricks

No reason to pay msrp for a platinum DD to buy yet another watch at msrp. That is idiotic.

[rolexpatek363]

China is the new big market for Rolex.

[Vaxe]

Originally Posted by rolexpatek363

China is the new big market for Rolex.

No, for the China elite, it’s all about Richard Mille now.
Discrete luxury is the new trend.

[michael.michael]

Originally Posted by Jcy90

Nothing new here, and definitely something y’all are all well aware of. Just confirmation from the horses mouth lol. AD pretty much told me that yes there are limited allocations. More limited than ever before. And most AD’s like himself do not sell these watches as a stand alone purchase. They save it for people who are trying to make a large purchase at MSRP and close the sale by offering said potential client a difficult to source stainless piece at MSRP. So if a client walks in and wants to buy a platinum DD & starts negotiation for a discount, the AD will tell said person hey pay MSRP on thr platinum DD & I’ll pull this shiny DAYTONA, BLRO, BLNR, HULK, etc etc from my safe for you. AD also told me that he’s not getting anything interesting sports models for the remainder of 2018. And that he used to get a lot more of these models in the past. Pretty crazy right!

It's just a way for the ad to get the best profit out of the current situation. But still, it doesn't explain the shortage.

[michael.michael]

Originally Posted by ronricks

No reason to pay msrp for a platinum DD to buy yet another watch at msrp. That is idiotic.

I will be happy to do it if the ad give me at least 2 D500.

[AK797]

Originally Posted by Vaxe

No, for the China elite, it’s all about Richard Mille now.
Discrete luxury is the new trend.

Beyoncé and Jay Z used to first rap about Rollies, and then AP and Hublot, but in their latest Carter's track they name drop RM.