AD IS the problem

[psm11]

Originally Posted by Token74

I wonder what percentage of people that complain about having to build up a history/relationship before getting the watch they really want, would have had the history/relationship if they hadn’t gone grey when it was cheaper to do so back in the day,

I appreciate the frustration of people new to the game, and even more so those people that did buy from ADs when it was cheaper to go grey and still can’t get the watch they want now, but come on, the greys were doing great business back then so where are all the people that were shopping there?

I was told i was crazy for paying a premium to buy from a Rolex AD back in the day, when i could have saved myself a couple of grand. I probably overpaid by about £4k in total on two watches that i could have got cheaper at a grey dealer. But that same AD has since sorted me out with three Daytonas and a Pepsi among others, so arguably it’s worked out well for me in the long term.


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I would have loved to have started the relationship 10-15 years ago when you could walk in and buy a RO or ROC same day (even possibly get a discount), but was in high school/college at that time and had no money. I would have gladly paid more at the AD/Boutique at that time than save on the grey market just to have the full experience (like I have done with Panerai and Omega in the past).

Really wish they'd just stop the games. If AP could care less about letting new folks in then just say that existing customers are the focus. Don't waste good peoples' time who genuinely love the brand and are collectors when they inquire about a royal oak with comments like "well, anything is possible."

[911AP]

Originally Posted by Token74

I wonder what percentage of people that complain about having to build up a history/relationship before getting the watch they really want, would have had the history/relationship if they hadn’t gone grey when it was cheaper to do so back in the day,

I appreciate the frustration of people new to the game, and even more so those people that did buy from ADs when it was cheaper to go grey and still can’t get the watch they want now, but come on, the greys were doing great business back then so where are all the people that were shopping there?

I was told i was crazy for paying a premium to buy from a Rolex AD back in the day, when i could have saved myself a couple of grand. I probably overpaid by about £4k in total on two watches that i could have got cheaper at a grey dealer. But that same AD has since sorted me out with three Daytonas and a Pepsi among others, so arguably it’s worked out well for me in the long term.


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For Rolex that was fine. For AP you didn't save a couple thousand you saved many thousands. AP was selling for 30% off at authorized dealers forget even grey dealers. No one bought from a boutique really unless it was boutique only editions.

[VogelPhoenix]

Originally Posted by psm11

I would have loved to have started the relationship 10-15 years ago when you could walk in and buy a RO or ROC same day (even possibly get a discount)

In late 2018 I could have walked out the Frankfurt boutique (on my first visit) with a choice of black or grey 15400 or a 26331. 15500 still was available with a little effort in 2019, as was the ROC. I recall a Brick sitting for months and months in one of the boutiques until late 2020, as were numerous other ROOs.

Really wish they'd just stop the games. If AP could care less about letting new folks in then just say that existing customers are the focus.

I don't think there is anything AP can do to make people happy who happen to discover their love of one specific model range at the moment of maximum demand in the history of the company.

If they take you at your word as collector and "lover of the brand", trying to steer you to models that are less oversubscribed seems to be the proper thing to do. It's fine not to like those suggestions, but hard to see what APs motivation would be to let "new folks" jump the long line of people who enquired about the same set of watches long before, and have years of history with AP.

[tropicwatches]

I think you summarized the problem exactly

[psm11]

Originally Posted by VogelPhoenix

In late 2018 I could have walked out the Frankfurt boutique (on my first visit) with a choice of black or grey 15400 or a 26331. 15500 still was available with a little effort in 2019, as was the ROC. I recall a Brick sitting for months and months in one of the boutiques until late 2020, as were numerous other ROOs.



I don't think there is anything AP can do to make people happy who happen to discover their love of one specific model range at the moment of maximum demand in the history of the company.

If they take you at your word as collector and "lover of the brand", trying to steer you to models that are less oversubscribed seems to be the proper thing to do. It's fine not to like those suggestions, but hard to see what APs motivation would be to let "new folks" jump the long line of people who enquired about the same set of watches long before, and have years of history with AP.

I agree with you and suggestions are fine. What I have a problem with is making buying a CODE a requirement to get the piece you want but not being upfront/clear on that. If AP is going to require newcomers to buy a CODE or two to get in line for a Royal Oak just be upfront about that and let people decide if that is worth their time and money. Instead all they do is offer vague advice. One visit I am told to be patient and that AP doesn't want you to buy watches you don't want. Other visit I am basically told I need to buy a CODE to show I am serious about the relationship.

[VogelPhoenix]

Originally Posted by psm11

I agree with you and suggestions are fine. What I have a problem with is making buying a CODE a requirement to get the piece you want but not being upfront/clear on that. If AP is going to require newcomers to buy a CODE or two to get in line for a Royal Oak just be upfront about that and let people decide if that is worth their time and money. Instead all they do is offer vague advice. One visit I am told to be patient and that AP doesn't want you to buy watches you don't want. Other visit I am basically told I need to buy a CODE to show I am serious about the relationship.

My understanding is that for ALS there are very specific packages or bundles required for access to the not-too-long list of hot models they offer, with little regard for prior spend/relationships. I prefer the more vague but less transactional AP approach (among other considerations because I can afford to wait, but not to pay up at market rates).

[psm11]

Originally Posted by VogelPhoenix

My understanding is that for ALS there are very specific packages or bundles required for access to the not-too-long list of hot models they offer, with little regard for prior spend/relationships. I prefer the more vague but less transactional AP approach (among other considerations because I can afford to wait, but not to pay up at market rates).

I can afford to wait as well. Just wish they'd be more upfront as to if that is a waste of everyone's time if I am not going to first buy a CODE.

[SSCosmo]

Originally Posted by psm11

I agree with you and suggestions are fine. What I have a problem with is making buying a CODE a requirement to get the piece you want but not being upfront/clear on that. If AP is going to require newcomers to buy a CODE or two to get in line for a Royal Oak just be upfront about that and let people decide if that is worth their time and money. Instead all they do is offer vague advice. One visit I am told to be patient and that AP doesn't want you to buy watches you don't want. Other visit I am basically told I need to buy a CODE to show I am serious about the relationship.

OP, I think everyone understands your frustration, but your situation is no different than the thousands of other people who want to get their first Royal Oak over the past two years. I think the boutique is actually being upfront with you. They are not going to tell everyone coming through their doors that it’s impossible to get a RO right now because that would seem rude to many people. It’s also not necessarily true as we see incomings from first time AP owners on this forum quite often. It is also true that buying one or more Codes helps, not necessarily because it helps them move the codes or because they want to bundle, but because it is one way AP knows someone truly likes the brand and a way for you to differentiate yourself from the thousands of people who come into boutiques asking just for a RO.

Understand that there are plenty of genuine AP enthusiasts who like and are willing to buy and wear all of the AP lines, include the code, offshore, and others. I know because I’m one of them and I know many others like me. AP can’t make enough watches to even sell to people like us, so it shouldn’t be surprising that it’s hard for someone who only wants a RO to get one from a boutique.

The reality is that anyone who wants an AP these days needs to be patient, make an effort to establish a relationship with their nearest boutique and show they (a) truly like the brand and (2) are not likely to flip the watch. Yes, it sucks to have to make such an effort for the “privilege” for buying an expensive luxury item, but this is what happens when demand far exceeds supply. You either play along, go grey, or enjoy other watches and come back when demand is not so crazy.


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[TunaTuna]

AP wants new customers that can buy multiple expensive pieces. That's why you must prove yourself now. Most people who buy luxury watches can scrape up 25k to buy a 15500st, especially when its worth 3-4 times that. That's not who AP wants, they want a new customer that can buy a couple codes and a normal ROO before they buy the 15500st. Then can spend even more after that