No more Rolex this year?

[No SUBctitute]

I wandered into an AD this afternoon; I had been there once last year and don't know anyone there. They only had two large-size Rolex SS watches: roman blue dial fluted DJ41 on oyster, purple dial OP, and YM2. Pro models on display: PM Daytona.

Saleslady and then a man were nice to chat with. I asked salesman if he had anything on oysterflex I could see. He said I was in luck and went to the back. He came out with a yellow gold Daytona on oysterflex. He said it was only the third Daytona on OF they got this year. He said he had only received 3 Pepsis in 2019.

As I was trying on the Daytona, I asked about some marks on my Sub and he offered to clean it. He ultra-sounded it and said he thought marks were scratches. Ya, like the forum told me.

Salesman expressed that he was frustrated they didn't have pro models to sell to people. He said that some people did move from asking about the pro models to "well, what is available?" and would sometimes buy. He thought the situation would improve when economy went down. [Duh.]

He also said that the store had received all the watches they were allocated to receive this year and wouldn't receive anymore.

[Yellowfury]

Originally Posted by No SUBctitute

He also said that the store had received all the watches they were allocated to receive this year and wouldn't receive anymore.

Not the first time i've read a statement like this. however, it honestly seems strange to have no more allocations before the holidays. i guess it's a good thing for ADs that they aren't only in the business of selling rolexes.

[glamorama]

Seems to have been a large Rolex delivery sometimes in the last week, many incomings here on forum. My new Rolex also came in a bit early :) Kind of sad if that’s it for this year.. but sure it varies with region and AD.

[Podmornica]

I was told the same thing here in Europe. The SA told me they will have one more delivery in the mid November, but that they already can tell what is coming and of course no Submariner (at least not for me) ..

[daOnlyBG]

Originally Posted by No SUBctitute

He also said that the store had received all the watches they were allocated to receive this year and wouldn't receive anymore.

I doubt it. One AD told me the winter vacation for the Swiss workforce spans from mid December throughout January. I'm guessing your AD has another 3-4 shipments left.

[Ragnarok]

What the ad most likely meant was that no more allocation pieces (special orders) will be allowed to be placed until next year. The ad should still receive pieces just no special order pieces.


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[UK_]

AD told me in August they had already had their ‘allocation’ of DJs for the year.

One was allocated to a customer who wanted it for April though, so the AD called up
Rolex and changed the dial and bracelet to the one I wanted. Could not give him a delivery date, but said it would be before Christmas. In the end it took about 6 weeks.

AD also told me they are definitely getting less watches and demand is through the roof.

They order their watches on a monthly basis through an online portal. She ordered 42 watches last month, and Rolex came back and said he could have none of them.




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[jimcameron]

Originally Posted by No SUBctitute

He also said that the store had received all the watches they were allocated to receive this year and wouldn't receive anymore.

So you better buy one of these right now.........

[gunhose]

Why get all frustrated every day here someone goes on a rant. But grey or go used or go home !

[nick800]

I was told the same this week

[Brew]

I think the ADs say that so they don't have to put up with the lowing again.

[Harry-57]

A SA at an AD who I have never spoken to before said this when I visited two weeks ago, adding that with Rolex, you never knew for certain. The feeling was that all the Rolex watches they were going to get this year were already in.

However, the SA also had a few other things to say about Rolex, the supply situation and the market in general which I found to be highly suspect, some bordering on BS. So who knows for sure? I think some (many?) people make it up on the spot as a way of amusing themselves.

[Tavli3]

Was at my AD yesterday and their cases were half empty as usual which is probably the situation at most Ads. So I highly doubt Rolex is going to let the ADs go from now till end of Holiday season without any new inventory. Makes no sense for Rolex or ADs.
Can't sell what you don't have and last time I looked both entities were in the business of selling watches.

[HogwldFLTR]

Eh, poppy cock!!!

[watchmework]

We’re getting close to the holidays so that would make sense...get ready for the grey market prices to go even higher now.

[tkc324]

I have yet to step into an AD this year, but after hearing all these similar stories, looks like I am not missing much... thanks for sharing

[No SUBctitute]

Originally Posted by Ragnarok

What the ad most likely meant was that no more allocation pieces (special orders) will be allowed to be placed until next year. The ad should still receive pieces just no special order pieces.

That makes more sense.

Originally Posted by UK_

AD also told me they are definitely getting less watches and demand is through the roof.

Interesting. As that's contrary to other information posted here that Rolex is delivering the same amount and its just greater demand that is affecting availability.

Originally Posted by jimcameron

So you better buy one of these right now.........

Credit card in hand and on way! I should give the SA a tip for allowing me to buy a PM piece and a purple oyster perpetual.

Originally Posted by Harry-57

The feeling was that all the Rolex watches they were going to get this year were already in.

That does seem to happen sometimes weeks before the holidays.

Originally Posted by Tavli3

Was at my AD yesterday and their cases were half empty as usual which is probably the situation at most Ads. So I highly doubt Rolex is going to let the ADs go from now till end of Holiday season without any new inventory. Makes no sense for Rolex or ADs.
Can't sell what you don't have and last time I looked both entities were in the business of selling watches.

What you say is perfectly logical. However, Rolex doesn't seem to act according to our definition of logic.

Originally Posted by HogwldFLTR

Eh, poppy cock!!!

This is also strong possibility!

Originally Posted by watchmework

We’re getting close to the holidays so that would make sense...get ready for the grey market prices to go even higher now.

Its like Christmas bonuses for our favorite TSs!

[904VT]

Don’t worry the rest of the watches are in the back in the safe waiting for big holiday spenders. They may have received all their allocation watches, but I can guarantee they haven’t sold all their allocation watches. Market feeding the market here.

[Jona]

My AD has decided to sell vintage pieces. They told me the owner has "connections" to get these. They had a good selection of SS 4 and 5 digit models. I didn't get any prices as they were quite busy during their watch fair. But I am sure they are at "market." I guess it's a good way for the AD to gain revenue since there are few SS modern Rolexes to sell.

[Calatrava r]

Every AD I know says the same. Allocation is done this year.

[Ghost410]

This is utterly ridiculous. Rolex should increase their supply in order to come closer to meeting demand. They can dial back production when the recession hits.

[Calatrava r]

Originally Posted by Ragnarok

What the ad most likely meant was that no more allocation pieces (special orders) will be allowed to be placed until next year. The ad should still receive pieces just no special order pieces.


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Actually that is backwards. There is no impact on the SS sports. They will deliver as they do, unannounced and, if at all. It is the allocation to the AD of the total of all the other pieces that is now known and capped. The allocation process is changing so ADs will know earlier in the year how many watches they will get for the entire year. You can still order anything non sports if its available but it counts against your remaining allocation number. Once you hit that your done for the year.

This is nothing new Rolex cases have been super empty every holiday season since 2017. If the scarcity is real and demand is through the roof, this is the fairest way to allocate the products worldwide. All dealers should be on equal footing with other dealers who have the same space and presentation levels, market share and historical sales volumes.

[K12123]

I remember an SA talk about them stopping production for a holiday period, I just don't remember if that's in the winter or summer time. Isn't there a standard European holiday closure?

[Bigblu10]

So Rolex is done allocating watches for the rest of the year and it is only the end of October? Wow, that won't bode well for the holiday shopping season. I guess for the last two months of 2019 we will just have a bunch of b**ching threads about the fact NOBODY can buy a new Rolex anywhere, period. Something tells me the TS here will still have brand new watches for sale, we will see.

[klenboy]

The truth is they have them and it's up to them whether they will sell one to you or not.

[JohnGT3RS]

My AD told me a couple days ago that he had a shipment coming next weekend. I SHOULD have a watch in it.

[squatchy]

This is not unusual. Rolex stopped shipping in November last year. They will continue to ship into December this year, but not all ADs will receive a shipment in Dec.
And yes, for allocated models where AD's receive 8 or less/year, they have likely seen the last of that model for 2019.

[woof]

Well..... did you buy the YG oysterflex?

[Roddypeepa]

I’ve not seen a single SS sports model in cabinet since January and that was the black deep sea. Last August 2018 they had air king, black explorer ii. So in 14 months I’ve seen 3 sports models in windows. It’s an absolute joke really and it’s no wonder people are starting to buy Omega s an alternative. Bad time to buy a moonwatch for example. Prices creeping up, not to Daytona levels obviously but even they aren’t the value proposition they once were. Weird times. My AD yesterday in Southampton had only a few TT DJ, none in steel, a couple of OP, a few date 34 and loads of lady datejusts. No day date, no pro at all, no steel man watches at all. Crazy.


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