Sour AD Experience

[SS Oyster]

All,

Last week, I stopped into a mall in SoCal mall to run some errands, at which there was a Rolex AD (not my normal AD in Fashion Valley Mall). While I am very loyal to my normal AD, I stopped in just to view what they had at this other AD.

They had nearly nothing, but the SA asked me what I was looking for. I listed off a few SS models and some PM pieces, which she countered asking if I might be interested in a GMT 126715 (Everose Root Beer), which I asked, "why, do you have one?" She said she would make a call and let me know.

Monday early AM, I took a flight from LAX to Washington DC. Upon landing at IAD, just as I was hailing an Uber (raining, busy, noisy), my phone rang ... the SA was calling to say "I have your RG GMT!" I asked her to give me 30-45 mins to get to my hotel to call her back. She was ok with that.

Upon checking into my room, I called her back to discuss the watch. I asked her about their previous position (an offer from a year ago) where they offered to source a SS Daytona or BLRO if I were to purchase a full PM piece. She said they would, but it might be years since those pieces are so rare. Anywhere, I asked her if she could give me an hour to settle in and call my wife, who would have to drive to the mall, pay the balance of the watch and pick it up. She agreed.

I called my wife, talked about the watch purchase. As I was getting off the phone with my wife, a call came in from the SA, so I said bye to my wife and took the incoming call. The SA said, "Sorry, but the watch sold." Huh? I asked what she meant, saying she had given me time to speak to my wife, and during that time it sold? "Yes, sorry, but these are rare pieces and many others were waiting for that watch."

Luckily, it wasn't like this was one my grails(#1 WG GMT Master II Meteorite, #2 White dial Daytona SS), and I honestly felt that I would much rather spend my money at my normal AD to continue building my relationship. However, still not cool to tell someone they have time to think and discuss with spouse a nearly $40k (with CA tax) purchase.

So, I was a bit miffed, but just thought, "ok, this is a sign to stick with my AD, who will eventually come through". Then, it bothered me more, so I called the AD back to discuss with their manager. A very nice lady answered who said she was the GM. When I explained the situation, she acknowledged that they should have informed me that I had to decide right then on that first call or it could be sold and not grant me time to think about it. In the end, I'm keeping the name of the AD out of this because I do think that GM is going to train her SAs on what they cannot promise, which would then at least make the call to potential customers transparent, and not create anger and frustration when an offer is pulled.

What else I learned from this ...
1. PM pieces (at least in SoCal) are NOT being discounted at all.
2. SS to go with your PM piece is NOT guaranteed and may be years before fulfilled, which is a different story that last year.
3. I really don't think there are SS Daytonas sitting in AD safes, just waiting for a PM buyer to get them over the hump.
4. PM pieces are now becoming hot (with calling lists building).
5. This is now the fourth AD who has told me that SS volume will rise next year, starting first with DJ41 (not interesting to me), and then on to sports models.
6. Finally, multiple ADs have told me that the 116610 Submariner is likely going to be discontinued for the 126610 with the 3235 movement and GMT Master II case for Basel 2020.
6. a) Hulk (116610LV) not likely to be continued, which is why there are so few of them showing up anywhere ... they are just burning down limited stock and then they're gone! If this comes to reality, sealed LVs are going to be going UP UP UP ... maybe over $20k, who knows.
6. b) Smurf (116619) also not likely to be continued.

So, whomever is selling "Rolex Bubble has Burst" is full of beans! The Rolex heat is shifting (all to their plan I'm sure) from minimally existence SS sports models to PM sports references.