Visited another AD today..

[KFP55]

..looking at DJs for my wife. Asked to get a call for a BLRO or Daytona, told them I knew it would be awhile but am patient and maybe production would ramp up a bit and I’d get lucky one day.

20 minutes after I left, I got a call from the store.....first reaction was “wow, they have something for me!”.... but they called just to tell me these watches are “hot models, they can’t order them, and they don’t have a list”. Thought this was really strange...to have a separate sales agent call after I had a good conversation with the manager of the store. This is from the (by far) largest dealer in the Boston area, and they told me they have seen one BLRO in the last year and no Daytonas. Can’t be right..

Just venting as this felt like a strange “wtf” kind of experience...

[The Libertine]

Originally Posted by KFP55

..looking at DJs for my wife. Asked to get a call for a BLRO or Daytona, told them I knew it would be awhile but am patient and maybe production would ramp up a bit and I’d get lucky one day.

20 minutes after I left, I got a call from the store.....first reaction was “wow, they have something for me!”.... but they called just to tell me these watches are “hot models, they can’t order them, and they don’t have a list”. Thought this was really strange...to have a separate sales agent call after I had a good conversation with the manager of the store. This is from the (by far) largest dealer in the Boston area, and they told me they have seen one BLRO in the last year and no Daytonas. Can’t be right..

Just venting as this felt like a strange “wtf” kind of experience...

Was it Long’s?

[oldman2005]

Originally Posted by KFP55

... This is from the (by far) largest dealer in the Boston area, and they told me they have seen one BLRO in the last year and no Daytonas. Can’t be right..

...

I have talked to a few ADs and from my favourite AD which is one of the largest in the Area and they got 4 BLROs and a few Daytonas and 2 SS Sky Dwellers last year. Rolex is severely restricted the production of their SS sport watches to create an artificial hyper demand for these watches. With so few SS Sport watches produced a year, AD can never full fill any demand no matter how small it is.

This restriction doesn't apply to DJ/TT/PM so you can see seas of them at many AD and these watches are the bread, butter, and beacons of the AD/Rolex but not the SS sport watches.

[Fomenko]

i bought a Submariner last Tuesday after seeing a thread here about an AD with stock in Grand Rapids, MI. I called, verified it was available and drove there to get it. They had several other SS models (a Sub date, an Explorer, a Sea Dweller, and I saw a Daytona, but I'm not into them, cannot say which one). Sometimes you have to go the extra mile to get what you want... In my case was a three hours drive!

[904VT]

Originally Posted by KFP55

..looking at DJs for my wife. Asked to get a call for a BLRO or Daytona, told them I knew it would be awhile but am patient and maybe production would ramp up a bit and I’d get lucky one day.

20 minutes after I left, I got a call from the store.....first reaction was “wow, they have something for me!”.... but they called just to tell me these watches are “hot models, they can’t order them, and they don’t have a list”. Thought this was really strange...to have a separate sales agent call after I had a good conversation with the manager of the store. This is from the (by far) largest dealer in the Boston area, and they told me they have seen one BLRO in the last year and no Daytonas. Can’t be right..

Just venting as this felt like a strange “wtf” kind of experience...

100% not true. The largest dealer in any metropolitan area in the US has received certainly more than one Daytona C since 2016 and BLRO as well I'm sure. In fact the smallest dealers probably have still seen a few.

In fact your AD probably had one of each in the back. This is almost always the case. Stopped at an AD today to see a TT Daytona Blue dial and white dial Milgauss. I can guarantee you that neither of those two were sitting in their cases since they received like they said. ADs keep a decent supply of watches in the safes that they hold onto for so called "rainy days".

I'd let them know that it is certainly ok if they can't acquire one for you with your purchase history, but that it is highly suspect to believe they haven't received any Daytona Cs in the last year. I'd bet my collection that isn't true at all.

[KFP55]

Followed this visit up by stopping in to another dealer I have a purchase history with. Was met with “I bet you’re looking for a sub, gmt, DSSD etc etc”. Managed to tell me they have a customer who wants the same two watches as I and has spent $800k in the past 6 months - he’s not getting them so don’t even think about it. This process of trying to hand someone a platinum AMEX to buy a couple of watches is exhausting and annoying. Rolex can have someone else’s money....moving on...

[Ben.McDonald7]

I don't get why someone would spend 800K at the AD rather than just pay the mark up and get one from a gray market dealer. I mean if you have that kind of money then the markup wouldnt matter.

Sent from my VS996 using Tapatalk

[datejustrms]

Originally Posted by KFP55

..looking at DJs for my wife. Asked to get a call for a BLRO or Daytona, told them I knew it would be awhile but am patient and maybe production would ramp up a bit and I’d get lucky one day.

20 minutes after I left, I got a call from the store.....first reaction was “wow, they have something for me!”.... but they called just to tell me these watches are “hot models, they can’t order them, and they don’t have a list”. Thought this was really strange...to have a separate sales agent call after I had a good conversation with the manager of the store. This is from the (by far) largest dealer in the Boston area, and they told me they have seen one BLRO in the last year and no Daytonas. Can’t be right..

Just venting as this felt like a strange “wtf” kind of experience...

Did you purchase the DJ for your wife?

[Xerxes77]

Originally Posted by Ben.McDonald7

I don't get why someone would spend 800K at the AD rather than just pay the mark up and get one from a gray market dealer. I mean if you have that kind of money then the markup wouldnt matter.

Sent from my VS996 using Tapatalk

Agree

[904VT]

Originally Posted by Ben.McDonald7

I don't get why someone would spend 800K at the AD rather than just pay the mark up and get one from a gray market dealer. I mean if you have that kind of money then the markup wouldnt matter.

Sent from my VS996 using Tapatalk

Very true. And if you spend that kind of money at an AD you tell them they better get you a SS BLRO or you will have to take your business to an AD that will. I'm all for being nice, but at that money level you get whatever you want.

[KFP55]

Originally Posted by datejustrms

Did you purchase the DJ for your wife?

Nope, she wants to be surprised, so was planning to to purchase at an AD that might be willing to build a relationship, but based on this experience, going gray and saving $3k seems like the only logical move

[904VT]

Originally Posted by KFP55

Nope, she wants to be surprised, so was planning to to purchase at an AD that might be willing to build a relationship, but based on this experience, going gray and saving $3k seems like the only logical move

It's worth checking out another AD. Especially a family owned business or one outside of a major city. There are still many very good ADs. I'm personally not a fan of any national chains or any Rolex ADs that also, sell Patek (unless you're the one buying the Pateks lol) bc Patek dealers certainly play the scarcity game as well. Just my preference.

[Brian7708]

Originally Posted by KFP55

Followed this visit up by stopping in to another dealer I have a purchase history with. Was met with “I bet you’re looking for a sub, gmt, DSSD etc etc”. Managed to tell me they have a customer who wants the same two watches as I and has spent $800k in the past 6 months - he’s not getting them so don’t even think about it. This process of trying to hand someone a platinum AMEX to buy a couple of watches is exhausting and annoying. Rolex can have someone else’s money....moving on...

Agreed as well. I wanted a ss sport model from my Atlanta AD. I spent a lot of money accumulating a spending history buying diamonds with my AD while making my wife happy during the recent SS shortage. After a year, I went in and asked for a SS sub or a GMT (this went down last Friday- and they had my number for the last year). I got nothing. Not even a wait list offer, just shrugged shoulders. I didn’t spend 800k, but it sure wasn’t peanuts. I know they bundle for the BLRO. It’s not a secret. I asked about my chances for a Daytona. “I’ve had my best client on the waiting list three years.” It was the end of the line for me. If the “best client” can’t get one, then neither can I. The next day I went grey and I went all out. I bought a white dial Daytona and I’m quite happy.

My lesson for others: research the AD on TRF before you spend any money with them. If you can’t find a good one, save yourself the time and expense and go grey. Let my mistake be your gain. Then again, I have my Daytona now so I’m happy.

[Geo444]

Originally Posted by KFP55

..looking at DJs for my wife. Asked to get a call for a BLRO or Daytona, told them I knew it would be awhile but am patient and maybe production would ramp up a bit and I’d get lucky one day.



20 minutes after I left, I got a call from the store.....first reaction was “wow, they have something for me!”.... but they called just to tell me these watches are “hot models, they can’t order them, and they don’t have a list”. Thought this was really strange...to have a separate sales agent call after I had a good conversation with the manager of the store. This is from the (by far) largest dealer in the Boston area, and they told me they have seen one BLRO in the last year and no Daytonas. Can’t be right..



Just venting as this felt like a strange “wtf” kind of experience...

Was it Longs on Summer Street or Tourneau Copley. You should try Springer's in Portsmouth NH. I have dealt with them in the past and they have been extremely helpful and I believe them to be honest.

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[CEITS]

Originally Posted by KFP55

..looking at DJs for my wife. Asked to get a call for a BLRO or Daytona, told them I knew it would be awhile but am patient and maybe production would ramp up a bit and I’d get lucky one day.

20 minutes after I left, I got a call from the store.....first reaction was “wow, they have something for me!”.... but they called just to tell me these watches are “hot models, they can’t order them, and they don’t have a list”. Thought this was really strange...to have a separate sales agent call after I had a good conversation with the manager of the store. This is from the (by far) largest dealer in the Boston area, and they told me they have seen one BLRO in the last year and no Daytonas. Can’t be right..

Just venting as this felt like a strange “wtf” kind of experience...

IMO it's a joke for ROLEX and AD's to make selling like this. I mean most used ROLEXES sell below asking price unless they are near mint. If it was art I would understand but the price point for these watches are not going to be millions per piece like art.

The marketing is great since a lot of people get more obsessed with acquiring one and will spend a shitload at an AD to get "their" list.

[subprimero]

Due to your close proximity to other states you might be able to get a discount from an AD as well as save on the sales tax.

[ArtNouveau]

Originally Posted by 904VT

100% not true. The largest dealer in any metropolitan area in the US has received certainly more than one Daytona C since 2016 and BLRO as well I'm sure. In fact the smallest dealers probably have still seen a few.

Yep. RolexUSA has been closing a bunch of dealers this year, underperforming is probably one criteria. If they’re doing well as this big city dealer surely is of course they’re getting allocation models.

[Rocket_Man]

I haven't bought much from my local AD. I'm not a big spender like others on TRF. But the last time I was there the sales guy tells me that they are no longer taking names for mailing lists. That it will be first come first serve. Not sure if I believe that or not. I suspect they have promised years worth of allocation already for Daytonas. If $800K in 6 months doesn't get you a hot watch I'll never get one unless I go trusted seller. This is the market that AD's and Rolex have made.

[904VT]

Originally Posted by ArtNouveau

Yep. RolexUSA has been closing a bunch of dealers this year, underperforming is probably one criteria. If they’re doing well as this big city dealer surely is of course they’re getting allocation models.

You're right, the large dealers are getting them without a doubt. Small dealers, I'd be highly surprised if they weren't getting some as well still. I was just at one today with a few harder to acquire SS Professional models that are supposedly not anywhere. I passed since they weren't exactly what i was looking for, but they are certainly out there some of these models, ADs just have their guards up. That may be a good thing

[thekman]

OP, do you mind sharing the names of those ADs? To spare your fellow Bostonians even going there?

[Fleetlord]

Would you rather them not called you?

[Andad]

[Nairn1980]

Originally Posted by Fleetlord

Would you rather them not called you?

Exactly, and at least they were honest and said he wasn’t getting the watches.

VIPs get most of these high demand pieces and I can understand why.
Also leaving without buying the Datejust wouldn’t have helped

[jimcameron]

Buy her a Cartier. It's a nicer watch.
https://www.cartier.com/en-us/collec...ch.mobile.html

[Petekal6]

Originally Posted by Geo444

Was it Longs on Summer Street or Tourneau Copley. You should try Springer's in Portsmouth NH. I have dealt with them in the past and they have been extremely helpful and I believe them to be honest.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

Springer’s has never been helpful to me.

My first interaction they told me I had to pay 50% for a deposit and they would try to order the watch (Hulk). Waiting time would be about a year. I asked what would happen if they received a watch in the meantime, “that would go to one of our frequent customers.” I then asked how they would know if it was the watch that I ordered vs a normal shipment. “You would have to wait.” It felt completely arbitrary, so I gave up with them.


The second time I inquired about a Daytona they flat out told me I wouldn’t be able to get that model, ever. They prioritize their VIP customers, if you don’t have a purchase history there it’s not worth it.

[Bozack90]

With largest dealer I figure you're talking Longs, I talked to someone else who knows the owner there and a few months ago they had only gotten three or so, and two of which were taken by the ownership for themselves, or so I was told.

I just got my BLRO from another bigger dealer who has a smaller presence in Boston with two locations, I have only bought a few things from the past none of which are massively expensive (a datejust for my wife and some earrings), they don't carry a lot of watch brands but the ones they do are nice (Patek, Rolex, Tudor...etc)

I worked with the store manager on every purchase and reached out to have my name put on their list as soon as the watch was announced.

Took a year but the manager told me I was high on the list and eventually I got the call, he said they had hundreds of folks still waiting.

I really like the place I shop at, I know I could maybe save tax up in New Hampshire with Saywers or Springers but the service I have gotten from my place has been really good and everyone in the store is very nice to deal with.

[SkyJuice]

Originally Posted by Ben.McDonald7

I don't get why someone would spend 800K at the AD rather than just pay the mark up and get one from a gray market dealer. I mean if you have that kind of money then the markup wouldnt matter.

Sent from my VS996 using Tapatalk

AD must have meant 800k rupee?

[Goldnlivin]

Originally Posted by SkyJuice

AD must have meant 800k rupee?

I agree, anyone spending 800k at an AD needs a new hobby or perhaps a better investment vehicle

[Dr Watches]

Originally Posted by Bozack90

... a few months ago they had only gotten three or so, and two of which were taken by the ownership for themselves, or so I was told.

I guess that's one way to say "sold to some gray dealer out the back door".

[csaltphoto]

Originally Posted by NSuri

I agree, anyone spending 800k at an AD needs a new hobby or perhaps a better investment vehicle

They probably aren't spending it on Rolexes. And the people who are spending that kind of money probably get whatever watch they want, from an AD. Might have to wait a week or two, maybe not. They are not price surfing on Chrono24 though or even really aware of price to be honest. They just want what they want.

I remember reading some article about a VC guy who had gone on a biz trip and decided the watch he was wearing made the wrong impression. He gave his credit card to one of his minions and instructed him to go buy a SS Rolex, gave him sizing information. He had the watch in an hour.