New Purchase from AD London

[MisterDave]

Hi all,

This is my first post, so apologies if I'm in the incorrect thread.

I wanted to share my experience (and frustration) of purchasing a Rolex from an AD in London without prior history. This is really for those who are in a similar position that I was.

Over the past 12 months I have been trying to purchase a Rolex Explorer 1 or Blue DJ 36mm from an AD in London. I dropped into to every AD in town, a couple of whom seemed promising, Harrods Fine Watches and Bucherer Selfridges especially. Weirdly, these 2 stores told me that they would not put me on the waitlist and that I should contact them via WhatsApp instead. However, when I did they would seldom respond. I ended up losing 6 months of my search on these guys as they gave me the smooth chat and made it seem like it they would be fairly straight forward watches to obtain. Which it wasn't.

Bucherer, Geneva who I spoke with on email and phone were super friendly and I was due to visit them in Jan 2022 to try my luck there.

Watches of Switzerland, Regent Street had nothing to try on and not overly helpful staff.

Mappin & Webb, Bond Street were really friendly and had most models to try on.

One Saturday morning I popped into a store in Covent Garden that I hadn't tried yet and spoke to the sales assistant. She was friendly and we small talked about Covid and watches and what I was interested in. After about 15 minutes she told me she had one available and asked if I was interested. A stupid question. Naturally I was, so I proceeded with the purchase.

So after nearly a year of searching, phones calls, emails and trips to ADs, my purchase came down to pure chance and luck. I was able to purchase the blue 36mm Datejust fluted on Oyster Bracelet from a London AD for retail and am over the moon with it.

Essentially the advice I would offer to those who are getting frustrated, as I was (so much so I even wrote a letter to Rolex) is to just keep trying. I had registered interest for a VC Overseas as I was getting pretty annoyed with the whole "experience" of buying a high-end watch in 2021. But due to persistence, some small talk with the AD's and a bit of luck/timing you never know.

[S7gpt]

similar experience here and also in UK. Tried to purchase a YM37 for my wife, told no chance and need to go on a 2 year waiting list etc at a number of AD's.

Then tried an exhibition piece on at Goldsmiths who after a while said "we have one in the back if you want to purchase now" - of course she bought it !

[jaySL350]

Welcome to the forum and congrats on your new DJ,,,,

[russellg]

I have a gut feeling Rolex made more watches available at AD's just before Christmas. Not sure if this was because of the fact that AD's has a lot of inventory to shift.

[S.Explorer]

Congrats, it is frustrating that the UK ADs do not seem to have much supply for new customers yet you see many unworn watches at non ADs. Most of the incoming threads are US based.

[teck21]

The magic that is Rolex. Worth every penny.

Grats.

One customer that feels this way is worth 10 that walk away.

Terrible strategy indeed, this whole unavailability thing.

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[1William]

Welcome to the Forum. Congratulations on a great watch.

[Urosfan]

Welcome and congrats


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[Benzsiam]

Congrats on your great timepiece!

Nowadays we need good luck to have a chance to get Rolex at MSRP.

Happy to hear a good news like this.

[Little machines]

Congratulations on your time piece and welcome to the forum!

[DoricSpiker]

That is a bit of luck. That store is a Bucherer store, as is Selfridges who paid lip service to you.
Congrats on a classic model.
Agree with the comment that a few more have landed before Xmas.


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[Avs Fan]

Congratulations!

[2loaded]

The thrill of the hunt. Congrats and Welcome to the forum.

[skipstar]

Welcome and congratulations!

[m j b]

Great first post, needs pictures...


Congrats on the shiny new watch!

[JayHantz]

Welcome to the forums, OP - and great story! Sometimes the hunt really does pay off, and I think you got an amazing DJ combination. I really enjoy the 36mm and think it is is a classic! Congratulations and Happy New Year!

[Harry-57]

Congratulations. A really nice watch.

Hopefully your advice to keep looking will encourage some. It's not common but not impossible to bump into one, as you have discovered.

[Jack T]

Great story, congratulations on your new watch, one that you wanted and didn’t have to settle. Hope you enjoy it for many years.

[vh2k]

Originally Posted by S.Explorer

Congrats, it is frustrating that the UK ADs do not seem to have much supply for new customers yet you see many unworn watches at non ADs. Most of the incoming threads are US based.

Logical. Industry shipments to UK are flat over the last two years. Shipments to the US are up 26% since 2019. And the US market is app. 2.3X the size of the UK market.

[Mini2]

Originally Posted by S7gpt

similar experience here and also in UK. Tried to purchase a YM37 for my wife, told no chance and need to go on a 2 year waiting list etc at a number of AD's.

Then tried an exhibition piece on at Goldsmiths who after a while said "we have one in the back if you want to purchase now" - of course she bought it !

The mysterious stock

[Jackie Daytona]

Congratulations! We need pictures to admire it.

[Bxtek]

Originally Posted by MisterDave

Hi all,

This is my first post, so apologies if I'm in the incorrect thread.

I wanted to share my experience (and frustration) of purchasing a Rolex from an AD in London without prior history. This is really for those who are in a similar position that I was.

Over the past 12 months I have been trying to purchase a Rolex Explorer 1 or Blue DJ 36mm from an AD in London. I dropped into to every AD in town, a couple of whom seemed promising, Harrods Fine Watches and Bucherer Selfridges especially. Weirdly, these 2 stores told me that they would not put me on the waitlist and that I should contact them via WhatsApp instead. However, when I did they would seldom respond. I ended up losing 6 months of my search on these guys as they gave me the smooth chat and made it seem like it they would be fairly straight forward watches to obtain. Which it wasn't.

Bucherer, Geneva who I spoke with on email and phone were super friendly and I was due to visit them in Jan 2022 to try my luck there.

Watches of Switzerland, Regent Street had nothing to try on and not overly helpful staff.

Mappin & Webb, Bond Street were really friendly and had most models to try on.

One Saturday morning I popped into a store in Covent Garden that I hadn't tried yet and spoke to the sales assistant. She was friendly and we small talked about Covid and watches and what I was interested in. After about 15 minutes she told me she had one available and asked if I was interested. A stupid question. Naturally I was, so I proceeded with the purchase.

So after nearly a year of searching, phones calls, emails and trips to ADs, my purchase came down to pure chance and luck. I was able to purchase the blue 36mm Datejust fluted on Oyster Bracelet from a London AD for retail and am over the moon with it.

Essentially the advice I would offer to those who are getting frustrated, as I was (so much so I even wrote a letter to Rolex) is to just keep trying. I had registered interest for a VC Overseas as I was getting pretty annoyed with the whole "experience" of buying a high-end watch in 2021. But due to persistence, some small talk with the AD's and a bit of luck/timing you never know.

Thank you for posting and for sharing your story. I am in the USA, but your journey sounds almost exactly like mine! I've been visiting all my local AD's in my area trying to find a GMT with no buying history. Been doing this for nearly 2 years now.

Some are friendly and give you hope that they might be able to make your dream come true, and some are more blatant and unfriendly. I got the feeling from a couple of them that they just want you to get the hell out of their store, with abrupt quick answers to your questions with a bit of an attitude. Other stores are great and let me try on a few of their exhibition pieces, also answering questions about different models that I had. Even offered snacks and drinks too in some.

I'm a little beat down mentally on ever being able to find a watch, but your story gives me hope! Yes, I agree that a lot of it is luck and timing, and I'm hoping to hit it right one of these days. I guess I'll just keep playing this "lottery" so to speak and hope for the best. Lol!

Congrats on your blue dial DJ! You can never go wrong with that beautiful blue sunburst dial! What a way to close out the year. Enjoy and best of luck on getting your Explorer I in 2022!

[Rick_Nashville]

Huge congrats. I am a big fan of the blue-dial Datejust, both 36 and 41 models. It's an all-around fantastic piece. Works perfectly in casual or formal scenarios. Hope it brings you much watch-wearing enjoyment!

[WatchesNBlondes]

Perseverance works not only in life but in obtaining a watch as well. Great story and thanks for sharing. I know it can be different in the UK versus US, but it's hard everywhere.

[Cigars&Watches]

Thanks for sharing. Congrats on the new purchase

[TimepieceRPP]

Congrats indeed. I am also very frustrated about the ADs in London and no where to go.
DJ36 Blue is gorgeous. I got it too and it just sat in the display window.
For the AD you mentioned the reviews are mixed and I just passed by often as some reviews were horrible and put me off. Perhaps I may try it next time.
Happy New Year. Tomorrow will be another prices. Lol

[Beto737]

Congratulations OP, wonderful story and outcome!

I’m a true believer that it helps to be presentable, personable, polite, and persistent.

[Robf52]

Welcome aboard! Hoping 2022 is a good year.

[mykii]

Congrats - always awesome to hear success stories. Just remember, while Rolex is an awesome watch, it also is not "high-end". But hopefully this is a gateway into that world for you ;). Keep on the VC if you're keen.

Congrats again OP.

[Lewi777]

Originally Posted by MisterDave

Hi all,

This is my first post, so apologies if I'm in the incorrect thread.

I wanted to share my experience (and frustration) of purchasing a Rolex from an AD in London without prior history. This is really for those who are in a similar position that I was.

Over the past 12 months I have been trying to purchase a Rolex Explorer 1 or Blue DJ 36mm from an AD in London. I dropped into to every AD in town, a couple of whom seemed promising, Harrods Fine Watches and Bucherer Selfridges especially. Weirdly, these 2 stores told me that they would not put me on the waitlist and that I should contact them via WhatsApp instead. However, when I did they would seldom respond. I ended up losing 6 months of my search on these guys as they gave me the smooth chat and made it seem like it they would be fairly straight forward watches to obtain. Which it wasn't.

Bucherer, Geneva who I spoke with on email and phone were super friendly and I was due to visit them in Jan 2022 to try my luck there.

Watches of Switzerland, Regent Street had nothing to try on and not overly helpful staff.

Mappin & Webb, Bond Street were really friendly and had most models to try on.

One Saturday morning I popped into a store in Covent Garden that I hadn't tried yet and spoke to the sales assistant. She was friendly and we small talked about Covid and watches and what I was interested in. After about 15 minutes she told me she had one available and asked if I was interested. A stupid question. Naturally I was, so I proceeded with the purchase.

So after nearly a year of searching, phones calls, emails and trips to ADs, my purchase came down to pure chance and luck. I was able to purchase the blue 36mm Datejust fluted on Oyster Bracelet from a London AD for retail and am over the moon with it.

Essentially the advice I would offer to those who are getting frustrated, as I was (so much so I even wrote a letter to Rolex) is to just keep trying. I had registered interest for a VC Overseas as I was getting pretty annoyed with the whole "experience" of buying a high-end watch in 2021. But due to persistence, some small talk with the AD's and a bit of luck/timing you never know.

No way! I visited all those stores a couple of weeks back was told there was nothing available.

I even thought of writing a letter to Rolex also :)