Waiting fatigue

[imsayingthough]

at first i was frustrated just like you, now i just tell the AD what im interested in and wait it out, no point in driving myself crazy and just save up for other brand watches.

[vh2k]

Originally Posted by poker

I just could not bring myself to pay exorbitant prices/markup to buy from the grey dealers.

Agreed, I'm reluctant to pay $20K for a $13K watch too. That being said, if I really wanted the Daytona, I could buy it today. It is widely available. I don't consider it a "must-have" at that price.

Am I tired of waiting? No! I assume I am NEVER going to get it at list price.

Once you accept that realization, you'll find plenty of other (even better) watches you can enjoy. Zenith, Omega, Tag, Tudor, whatever, etc. You can even buy three or four watches for the price of one Daytona. Or buy nothing at all and enjoy what you have.

[Al1969]

Unfortunately OP, this is the current state of buying a SS Rolex.

[brucethemanlee]

Originally Posted by poker

Daytona since 2016 or 2017
Jubilee since 2018

Its all about $$$$$$$$$$

Have you purchased anything from your AD since 2016?

Have you given you AD any incentive to sell those watches to you?

If not.... i think your waiting fatigue will become chronic and permanent.

The AD will for sure be giving the Daytona or BLRO/BLNR to people who continually spend $$$$$$$$ annually because repeat business keeps the lights on. Why would any business give to one time buyer?

If it was your business .... ask yourself what would you do?

Its really quite simple:
Spend $$$$$$$$$$
Or go grey
Or go to another brand

[djyolky]

I've turned 80% of my attention to Panerai.

Sent from my SM-G925V using Tapatalk

[ctm126]

I'm in the same boat as you. Been trying for several years now to add a SS Daytona to my collection. I'm also constantly moving for work which makes it difficult to establish a long-term relationship with an AD.

I've pretty much given up on getting a SS Daytona at retail, and will probably end up paying grey prices or potentially going for a WG oysterflex or AP 38mm ROC. The latter two seem like hot pieces as well but at least the waitlists seem much more concrete than the waitlists for SS Rolexes at the moment.

[brandrea]

It’s a frequent complaint here on the forum OP.

Your options:

1. Continue to wait it out.
2. Go gray.
3. Explore other brands.

I’m lucky in that my AD likes the enthusiast and doesn’t sell all the watches to the biggest spenders

[Calatrava r]

Originally Posted by Maxy

I want to add a point about AD silly games.

Imagine you are an AD and you have business to run. You get 5 Daytonas and you have 500 customers. What would you do? Just hand over the 5 Daytonas to first 5 random users who enter the store (which they do every minute and ask for Daytona) and close your shop in 1 year with no other sales?

Folks are too oblivious to the real market!

Exactly, OP has not bought a watch since 2011. There are VIPs who buy watches and whatever else all the time. If they cannot get the hard to get stuff, they will simply move to another AD who will supply them with what they want. Its all about ADs maximizing profits to their stores by keeping their VIP clients.
There is no upside to selling a hard to get watch to some random customer from the AD prospective.

[TswaneNguni]

We all wait .

[Rashid.bk]

Originally Posted by poker

I have been a fan of Rolex long before I could afford one.

I finally managed to acquire the GMT II in 2011. However, my attempts and checks to buy the DaytonaC and GMT Jubilee have not been successful.

Initially, I was hopeful, and hopeful but after so many years, I am not longer optimistic and getting tired of waiting.

I just could not bring myself to pay exhorbitant prices/markup to buy from the grey dealers.

I am just wondering if someone else out there (in here) who feel the same way as I do.

Nah, it’s just a watch. Life offers so much more than watches. If it must be a watch, then Rolex isn’t the only brand.

[usnwfu]

I second the notion that hey it's just a watch... we'll be fine.

But yeah I got sick of waiting and I'm not about to pretend to be friends with someone or 'beg' someone to sell me a luxury item around 10-20k.

I basically have bought 2 AP SS in that time (Their Boutiques/AP houses are wonderful) and they don't play games... they straight up tell you no or yes. They sold me 2 SS pieces with no purchase history.

I'm gearing up to buy a Patek soon (non sports) ... this could have easily been a Day-Date but Rolex lost me with their games.

[Pw92676]

Personally I am content waiting to a certain extent.

If a deposit has been placed and waiting for production of the piece, im good with the wait. In my limited experience this ranges from 2 mo to 4 years. I’m current on month 4 of a wait, anticipating 3-4 more months.

For most watches, I can’t see myself waiting more than a year. A year goes by quick given other things pieces in the collection. After a year, either I’d lose interest or go grey.

Just my thoughts.

[Hollie_Rollie]

Originally Posted by usnwfu

I second the notion that hey it's just a watch... we'll be fine.

But yeah I got sick of waiting and I'm not about to pretend to be friends with someone or 'beg' someone to sell me a luxury item around 10-20k.

I basically have bought 2 AP SS in that time (Their Boutiques/AP houses are wonderful) and they don't play games... they straight up tell you no or yes. They sold me 2 SS pieces with no purchase history.

I'm gearing up to buy a Patek soon (non sports) ... this could have easily been a Day-Date but Rolex lost me with their games.

I would say that if you’re buying APs and Looking to get a Patek next, you’re in a different league. Rolex and AP/Patek aren’t comparable

[R_Rated]

Originally Posted by ctm126

I'm in the same boat as you. Been trying for several years now to add a SS Daytona to my collection. I'm also constantly moving for work which makes it difficult to establish a long-term relationship with an AD.

I've pretty much given up on getting a SS Daytona at retail, and will probably end up paying grey prices or potentially going for a WG oysterflex or AP 38mm ROC. The latter two seem like hot pieces as well but at least the waitlists seem much more concrete than the waitlists for SS Rolexes at the moment.

For 20-25K there are much more interesting chronograph watches available than a Daytona.

Here are a few(some are significantly less):
GP Laureato
Plenty from JLC.
Blaincpain
Vacheron
Glashutte
AP
Breguet

[Nairn1980]

Originally Posted by Maxy

I want to add a point about AD silly games.

Imagine you are an AD and you have business to run. You get 5 Daytonas and you have 500 customers. What would you do? Just hand over the 5 Daytonas to first 5 random users who enter the store (which they do every minute and ask for Daytona) and close your shop in 1 year with no other sales?

Folks are too oblivious to the real market!

Spot on

[Rori]

Originally Posted by poker

Located in Dubai. Used to be easy to get a lot of Rolex models including popular ones except for Daytona SS. GMTs and Subs including Hulk are easy to get.

Unfortunately by the time Jubilee SS was launched, the 'good and easy' days were over. I submitted my name to the AD shortly after the Jubilee was launched and with regular follow ups. They always say, VVIP customers will get the first right of refusal.

Dubai has become a hub for Rolex shoppers.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Rado63]

Originally Posted by kbutler1

Just cruise the posts here, every day there is 1+ new posts about people being upset they can't buy their luxury item.

Couple options: go grey (sounds like you don't), enjoy the hunt and be patient, or move to another brand that is more accessible.

Not sure what else can be done, just how it is and has been for a while.

This is just about the nicest, straitforward answer to the question. If you look at kbutler1 signature, very nice three watch collection EXPII polar, Sub No Date, and Speedy. So many nice watches out there it doesn't always have to be GMT's and Daytonas.

[Polarexplorerii]

Originally Posted by travisb

Many are in the same situation as you.

just like me

[usnwfu]

Originally Posted by Hollie_Rollie

I would say that if you’re buying APs and Looking to get a Patek next, you’re in a different league. Rolex and AP/Patek aren’t comparable

Not necessarily true... AP RO Chrono and ROO is comparable to a PM Daytona in WG or on Oysterflex. I'm in the minority where PM doesn't make a difference to me, it's more about movement, case, finishing of the watch. I do have a few daily wearers such pre-owned IWC and Speedy hesalite.

As for a 40-50k Patek... a Platinum Day-Date/Platona/PM full bracelet is comparable to me. But again, I'll probably never know.

I don't mind waiting, I am lucky to have the funds but not at the level where I can drop 50k and not feel it. It's just that I don't like the fake waiting lists, I rather them just tell me to my face "Yeah it's only for VVVIP". I've had some luck in the Caribbean where the Rolex AD said ... 2 PM buys and I'll get u any SS.

[Harry-57]

As long as I am confident that I really am on some kind of allocation list and not just being kept on hold, I am happy to wait. In situations where I am confident that I can't get on a list that will actually produce a result, I either forget about it or go grey if I really really want it.

I understand your POV. I think there are many people in the same situation. I believe I will be waiting years for my next Rolex. Maybe in time I'll become fed up, or go off the idea of owning it. Not yet.

[Napoleon]

If it was easy, you wouldn’t want it.

[Vinnee]

Been seeing lot of this lately

[mrbungle]

Originally Posted by Sandpit

Dubai here also and I definitely feel your pain.

I ordered a Sub Date 18 months ago and was told, at the time, it would take max 6 months. I then ordered a blue DJ41 in February this year and was told 3 months - still waiting.

The frustration is the lack of communication or clarity from the big AD here.

Meanwhile, the local greys and classifieds are flooded with overpriced pieces being flipped.

I’m diverting my attention to try and get something over in the UK instead. They’re useless here and have zero interest.

Have you noticed Dubizzle comes alive every so often with 4 or 5 Hulks all at the same time?!

I've also noticed some collections for sale recently, maybe a factor of Covid.

I'm on the wait list for a Sub also sametime have visited a Grey for a Pepsi, experience in there about 1% better that the ADs, only because they had 1 in stock !