CONFIRMED news regarding the professional line

[GerardoG]

Originally Posted by Naples09

What does the 1000th reply win?

....dinner with Paul

[Naples09]

Originally Posted by GerardoG

....dinner with Paul

[rossi46]

Originally Posted by JacksonStone

The sad thing is just a year or so back, they upgraded the Rolex section to be a mini-boutique inside the store, and now it's going to waste.

That was a mandate by Rolex. They basically have forced ADs to create separate store-within-a-store sections for Rolex only, at the risk of taking away rights. I guess when you're the 800lb gorilla you can do that.

But then why come out and cut back production on the line that draws in the most fervent customers? There's going to be a lot of empty cases and that will not look good.

I can't imagine being an AD who spent serious money to upgrade their store, get the Rolex section all gussied up (and I've spoken to two different ADs who said it was a real investment), just to see it gutted of inventory. Doesn't make sense...

[JacksonStone]

Originally Posted by rossi46

That was a mandate by Rolex. They basically have forced ADs to create separate store-within-a-store sections for Rolex only, at the risk of taking away rights. I guess when you're the 800lb gorilla you can do that.

I know. It just adds insult to injury. I can only hope it's temporary. I try not to get too riled up about these kinds of things, but it's really a dick move if Rolex doesn't remedy this sooner rather than later.

[Art 1]

Originally Posted by rossi46

That was a mandate by Rolex. They basically have forced ADs to create separate store-within-a-store sections for Rolex only, at the risk of taking away rights. I guess when you're the 800lb gorilla you can do that.

But then why come out and cut back production on the line that draws in the most fervent customers? There's going to be a lot of empty cases and that will not look good.

I can't imagine being an AD who spent serious money to upgrade their store, get the Rolex section all gussied up (and I've spoken to two different ADs who said it was a real investment), just to see it gutted of inventory. Doesn't make sense...

I agree. Its rediculous. I really feel bad for the sales person who just trying to make a living. I feel like Rolex has really let them down. It really bothers me when I think about it.

[77T]

Originally Posted by rossi46

I can't imagine being an AD who spent serious money to upgrade their store, get the Rolex section all gussied up (and I've spoken to two different ADs who said it was a real investment), just to see it gutted of inventory. Doesn't make sense...

This is a good point - as much as we dislike the situation we aren’t financially hurt. But the AD’s are getting hammered by lower sales yet have the same fixed costs.


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[springbar]

I was in Las Vegas a few weeks ago. The Rolex store in the Wynn was wall-to-wall Datejusts with only a tiny handful of the so-called "professional" models. I thought there must have been a display case I'd missed.

The salesman said they just weren't getting any inventory, and that they were in short supply everywhere. Who knows.

[Smarties]

Originally Posted by 77T

This is a good point - as much as we dislike the situation we aren’t financially hurt. But the AD’s are getting hammered by lower sales yet have the same fixed costs.


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What I see from ADs to tackle this problem is to sell the watch to grey market dealers via backdoor or to customers directly at a hefty premium for sought-after models.

2 days ago a sales lady told me that I was on the first of the waiting list for a watch that I've been waiting since March 2017. They have the watch locked in their safe and her boss (her father) refuses to release the watch to customers in the queue!

[airchitect]

Being in manufacturing, regardless of whose running the show, cutting production of your hottest sellers when u already have waitlist is just idiotic because there’s definitely a tipping point where people will choose to take their money and shop elsewhere. I mean common yr long waits for a stainless watch? Wth!!!! Dear Rolex, instead of cutting production of the professional line models people want, shift production away from the least popular models that fill ADs cases. I mean how DJs do we really need???

[Jocke]

Originally Posted by GerardoG

....dinner with Paul

G he ask win, not what kind of punishment.

[Michael T]

Look at what Patek did, raising the price on two of their stainless sport watches the 5711 and the 5712 by approx 20% on March 1st. Strong analogies to the Stainless Daytona C and the Stainless SkyDweller, with long waits and the greys making the money, while alienating long-term clients. l have been on list for a Stainless Daytona C for seven months and would rather see MSRP better reflect the market.

[GerardoG]

Originally Posted by Jocke

G he ask win, not what kind of punishment.

[Yobber76]

I have to say that I find it odd that there are DJ's everywhere in abundance, and no SS professional models much of anywhere. As I read different threads on this forum, it sounds like traditionally SS Subs and a variety of metals and sizes of DJs have always been the major sellers for Rolex. I realize there is a world market for Rolex, and those markets shift based on currency, strength of economies, recession periods by country, etc., but it does seem odd that the trend could have changed so much that Rolex literally had virtually no SS professional models for certain (and traditionally large) markets in the 4th qtr of 2017, while having DJs of every size and color coming out of many AD's ears. I read how Rolex is a marketing genius, I don't read that this has typically happened in the past, I just think it has to be a planned strategy by Rolex.
I don't know what the strategy is, but I'd have to believe it would have to include a price increase, perhaps a substantial one. It might include some model changes, or new models, new materials, new movements, any or all of the above.
I think there will be changes in the professional models, that supply has been strategically culled to make room and demand for the changes whatever they might be. And while this might not be typical business strategy, the fact that this thread is nearing 1000 posts and seems to have gone viral, as well as people buying any SS Sub as soon as they get wind of it, doesn't make it seem like to bad a strategy, depending on what follows in the next few months. Rolex has created a fever, and the only thing that will cure it is supply. If that supply is different from previously available in terms of model changes, it creates an "I want it first" effect, if it's the same as 2017 product it creates a "it's finally in, now I can buy it" effect. It could be brilliant, if nothing else, it has caused a sensation.

[77T]

We can only speculate on reasons Rolex has missed the opportunity to stimulate, forecast and fulfill demand. This “miss” could be planned or just an anomaly.

I suggest we do not attribute to treachery that which can be explained by error.


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[LightOnAHill]

here come the wooden models!!! lol

[RastabanStar]

$8,550 to $9,250

$700
8.2% increase

[DoctorA]

Originally Posted by RastabanStar

$8,550 to $9,250

$700
8.2% increase

Nope!! Still for $8550!!

[DmXmD]

Originally Posted by RastabanStar

$8,550 to $9,250

$700
8.2% increase

Is that Canadian dollars? Checked the Rolex page 5 minutes ago and no change in price.

[JacksonStone]

Still showing $8550 US, via my PC.

[Tysonoxide]

$9750 here. I'm in Canada

[JacksonStone]

Originally Posted by Tysonoxide

$9750 here. I'm in Canada

Is that an increase, or what is has been?

[Dougiebaby]

Originally Posted by jph4387

Was just at BOTH AD's here in Charlotte, NC which is not a small market. Between the two there was one Explorer 1 and one Explorer II polar. Both said they have not received a single steel sports watch since Christmas.

Hey Fellow Charlottean!

Actually, this is incorrect. Finks received a No Date Sub right after Christmas. How do I know, I own it. I took my parents to Maggiano's for their anniversary and popped into Finks SouthPark to see the new Breitling Superocean Heritage II. What I saw was a no date SubC.

But, you are correct ... NOW, there are no more in Charlotte (including Windsor).

Here's a video I made of my new SubC in 4K:

https://youtu.be/R2ZwBG_2zIo

[JacksonStone]

Originally Posted by Dougiebaby

Hey Fellow Charlottean!

Actually, this is incorrect. Finks received a No Date Sub right after Christmas. How do I know, I own it. I took my parents to Maggiano's for their anniversary and popped into Finks SouthPark to see the new Breitling Superocean Heritage II. What I saw was a no date SubC.

But, you are correct ... NOW, there are no more in Charlotte (including Windsor).

Here's a video I made of my new SubC in 4K:

https://youtu.be/R2ZwBG_2zIo

Congrats on the pick-up. Looks great!

[jph4387]

Originally Posted by Dougiebaby

Hey Fellow Charlottean!

Actually, this is incorrect. Finks received a No Date Sub right after Christmas. How do I know, I own it. I took my parents to Maggiano's for their anniversary and popped into Finks SouthPark to see the new Breitling Superocean Heritage II. What I saw was a no date SubC.

But, you are correct ... NOW, there are no more in Charlotte (including Windsor).

Here's a video I made of my new SubC in 4K:

https://youtu.be/R2ZwBG_2zIo

Those liars! Haha, your watch looks great.

[piratepress]

Originally Posted by DmXmD

Is that Canadian dollars? Checked the Rolex page 5 minutes ago and no change in price.

Mexico. There's a thread here about it.

[JacksonStone]

Originally Posted by piratepress

Mexico. There's a thread here about it.

Link?

[GerardoG]

Originally Posted by JacksonStone

Link?

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=584500

[JacksonStone]

Originally Posted by GerardoG

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=584500

Oh, I see. Thanks.

[GerardoG]

Originally Posted by JacksonStone

Oh, I see. Thanks.

[AK797]

Originally Posted by airchitect

Being in manufacturing, regardless of whose running the show, cutting production of your hottest sellers when u already have waitlist is just idiotic because there’s definitely a tipping point where people will choose to take their money and shop elsewhere. I mean common yr long waits for a stainless watch? Wth!!!! Dear Rolex, instead of cutting production of the professional line models people want, shift production away from the least popular models that fill ADs cases. I mean how DJs do we really need???

Would we all be rocket scientists if we moved to Switzerland? Maybe that's why they invented the cuckoo clock over here?