What do you think...

[NewEnthusiast]

I was in a British town today and stopped by the AD. They have just opened a pre-owned store across the road where they had brand new SS Sport Rolexes with tags and stickers. Is it just me or does it seem that an AD has a waiting list for SS Sports models but they are available in their pre-owned stores?

[t65tampa]

Haven't seen "preowned" watches with the protective stickers on them in Rolex ADs. I've seen lots of "stickered" like new watches at aftermarket resellers though. Kind of expect that though.

[Neil McCauley]

Originally Posted by NewEnthusiast

I was in a British town today and stopped by the AD. They have just opened a pre-owned store across the road where they had brand new SS Sport Rolexes with tags and stickers. Is it just me or does it seem that an AD has a waiting list for SS Sports models but they are available in their pre-owned stores?

AD's (in the UK at least) aren't technically allowed to sell Rolex pre-owned that are not through the Rolex CPO program any more.

Any stock that they did have previously now has to adhere to the CPO rules, i.e., it must be over 2 or 3 years old (I can't remember which), and sold under the Rolex banner.

If you suspect this AD is keeping new inventory behind instead of selling it to AD customers, then pumping up the price and sticking it up for sale in their pre-owned store, then I wouldn't expect them to be a Rolex AD for much longer lol

[NewEnthusiast]

Originally Posted by t65tampa

Haven't seen "preowned" watches with the protective stickers on them in Rolex ADs. I've seen lots of "stickered" like new watches at aftermarket resellers though. Kind of expect that though.

That's my point. The AD owns an aftermarket reseller that operates in a separate building which is displaying stickered like new SS Sports models.

To be fair, I haven't been in recently to ask about waiting lists as I'm not looking to buy but it just seemed strange.

[Neil McCauley]

The way the market's going, their preowned store won't be open for long anyway

[SunkenSub]

Originally Posted by NewEnthusiast

I was in a British town today and stopped by the AD. They have just opened a pre-owned store across the road where they had brand new SS Sport Rolexes with tags and stickers. Is it just me or does it seem that an AD has a waiting list for SS Sports models but they are available in their pre-owned stores?

Was the new store definitely owned by the AD directly? Were the watches in there less than 3 years old? I’m Intrigued by this, where exactly in the UK?

[NewEnthusiast]

Originally Posted by SunkenSub

Was the new store definitely owned by the AD directly? Were the watches in there less than 3 years old? I’m Intrigued by this, where exactly in the UK?

Yes on both counts I believe.

It could be that they are entirely legitimately buying up new, stickered watches from other sources to take advantage of the pre-owned bubble. It just seemed a bit odd as I was walking past.

[1William]

When you say stickered what do you mean specifically? The watches are new with everything the AD would have on them out of the coffin from Rolex or something else. Maybe the having another store off premises from the AD allows them to do this.