Empty Cases, Getting Crazy Out There

[Francist]

So I went to pickup 31mm TT today, AD said come early we just restock. Hit the AD as soon as shop was opened, they had 50 new watches. Only sports was TT daytona champagne, batgirl, sub no date, TT skyD. Still none of 2021 stuffs & not a single daydate.

Here’s the kicker, the only men’s watch unsold & available for display is a single TT DJ41. The rest have been sold before post / display. Next batch comes in 3 weeks, they have 200 displays for rolex and only 1/4 were filled (most are the really unpopular 28mm stuffs).

Unbelievable, they only have 1 men’s watch to sell for the next 3 weeks.

[Harry-57]

Unbelievable that they have one men's watch to sell in 3 weeks. Where did they slip up? I thought everything was sold in advance. Is the "bubble" finally deflating?

[Francist]

Originally Posted by Harry-57

Unbelievable that they have one men's watch to sell in 3 weeks. Where did they slip up? I thought everything was sold in advance. Is the "bubble" finally deflating?

SA must be slacking I guess.
Getting too complacent.

[Harry-57]

Yeah. Now they'll have to do some work.

[Rashid.bk]

This is seriously crazy. I went to my local AD who has a display for Rolex watches(sells jewelry also) that is for about 60 watches. They had out for sale on the floor one lady's 31mm Datejust two tone in a weird configuration and one Cellini Moonphase. The rest of the cases were all empty, blank place cushions. Looked like a store that was closing for business and had a blowout sale. All that was missing was the colorful signs claiming closing sales or whatever.
I don't know where this is going but this isn't a business model that can be sustained, Rolex is going somewhere with this, not sure where though.

[Harry-57]

Rolex don't have anywhere to go with this. Having gone past the point of selling everything they make to selling what they make multiple times over, they have a business model which prints money and their ADs are also raking it in.

[fskywalker]

Originally Posted by Francist

So I went to pickup 31mm TT today, AD said come early we just restock. Hit the AD as soon as shop was opened, they had 50 new watches. Only sports was TT daytona champagne, batgirl, sub no date, TT skyD. Still none of 2021 stuffs & not a single daydate.



Here’s the kicker, the only men’s watch unsold & available for display is a single TT DJ41. The rest have been sold before post / display. Next batch comes in 3 weeks, they have 200 displays for rolex and only 1/4 were filled (most are the really unpopular 28mm stuffs).



Unbelievable, they only have 1 men’s watch to sell for the next 3 weeks.

Sounds familiar




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[peterpl]

Been like this for over 12 months now.

Nothing nowhere.

[fooey]

Piss poor! Looks awful

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[Robine]

Now imagine these cases would be full with SS sports models, always.

[blada4life]

most of these 'empty' cases are really just smoke and mirrors. the truth is that most models are now 'hot' and sell at retail or over retail, including gold watches. ADs have simply decided that more of these watches are now either watches they will keep in the back to offer/bundle, or sell in the back door. No longer is it just SS sports models, but gold models, and OPs/datejusts. Just had a friend convince an AD (with basically empty displays), to sell him a Pepsi, which they apparently have hiding in the back. The condition? Well, he has to buy a $30k+ dog for retail from Vacheron or another brand at the same time. Makes no sense. Looks at resell prices, he may be better off just paying $10k over MSRP to a grey dealer. This is the new normal and unless you are a super super super VIP (who buys womens watches, or $60k+ pearlmasters), you will not be offered those other models, at least in large markets.

[ks58]

Originally Posted by Robine

Now imagine these cases would be full with SS sports models, always.

People wouldn’t want them if everything was so readily available. A brand can’t be exclusive if anyone off the street can buy the hottest item at retail.

[DJ2020]

I was by my AD last weekend. Nothing in the case. I asked him about it and he told me that they have about 10 in the vault. They don't put the only watches they have on display to avoid unnecessary handling. But if someone's interested, then they will present that particular model to a customer they think is willing to buy. They had a GMT, SUB, Sub date and 41DJ'S in stock. All received last week.
Interesting concept I think. Non serious buyers may just look at the empty case and leave. He told me if the feel the prospective buyer is not wanting the piece for them selves, then they play the "this piece is spoken for" card. But he also said, despite the internet rumors, that sales have slowed. Last year they were begging for new watches. Not so much anymore.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by fskywalker

Sounds familiar




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I’ll take that flower vase please

[garyk]

Visited my AD in April, all cases, clock, signage and anything to do with Rolex was gone. Even though I knew it in advance, it was still kind of shocking. I was there in 2000 ordering my YG Paul Newman dial Daytona and now it’s a blank space with generic cases filled with “Estate watches” (used)...

[S.Explorer]

Not a good look at all, looks like either the AD or Rolex is closing down.

[Nikrnic]

Just seems funny that Rolex recently (within the last 2 yrs) required ADs to re do and upgrade their Rolex display areas..

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[Ichiran]

Originally Posted by brandrea

I’ll take that flower vase please

You have to buy that mirror beside it to get the vase.

[Francist]

Originally Posted by fskywalker

Sounds familiar




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Holy cow that’s even sadder than my AD!
Jeebus! What’s the point of opening the store i guess?!?!
They can save money on electricity & whatnot

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by Ichiran

You have to buy that mirror beside it to get the vase.

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[Master_Grogu]

Originally Posted by fskywalker

Sounds familiar




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Oh wow that’s sad.

[Chester01]

Originally Posted by Francist

So I went to pickup 31mm TT today, AD said come early we just restock. Hit the AD as soon as shop was opened, they had 50 new watches. Only sports was TT daytona champagne, batgirl, sub no date, TT skyD. Still none of 2021 stuffs & not a single daydate.

Here’s the kicker, the only men’s watch unsold & available for display is a single TT DJ41. The rest have been sold before post / display. Next batch comes in 3 weeks, they have 200 displays for rolex and only 1/4 were filled (most are the really unpopular 28mm stuffs).

Unbelievable, they only have 1 men’s watch to sell for the next 3 weeks.

Lol. Their case is that empty because 12 just went to the gray down the street. How do you think the gray gets their watches my friend. Not from Rolex lol. All gray comes from the AD. So instead of 900k Rolex spread across say 1000 AD in the world, they are spread across 1000AD and 10000 gray. That means empty cases.

[oxblood]

At this point, not-for-sale display models might make more sense than completely empty cases. At least people could try them on and plan their next purchase.

[Marcjvr]

Originally Posted by ks58

People wouldn’t want them if everything was so readily available. A brand can’t be exclusive if anyone off the street can buy the hottest item at retail.

Well all the people here on TRF still wanted and bought them in the days when cases were stacked…

[Brny11]

My AD (smaller, less known) just sold their last watch. Case is 100% empty. Watches go directly from their buyer to the customer for most part and even pms sell relatively quickly. Supposedly… and if so, Insane.

[travisb]

I don't even bother going into the ADs anymore.
I just text or call and go in just to pick up once delivered.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by travisb

I don't even bother going into the ADs anymore.
I just text or call and go in just to pick up once delivered.

It’s kind of strange isn’t it? It’s something I used to look forward to doing every so often, but now I’m the same ... just call or text with what I’m interested in and go pick it up. I guess this pandemic didn’t help. We are still in a lock down here

[Dr Process]

They should really have dummy models in the cases.

[fooey]

Originally Posted by brandrea

I’ll take that flower vase please

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[travisb]

Originally Posted by brandrea

It’s kind of strange isn’t it? It’s something I used to look forward to doing every so often, but now I’m the same ... just call or text with what I’m interested in and go pick it up. I guess this pandemic didn’t help. We are still in a lock down here

Same for me buddy. I used to look forward to those weekend shopping trips.