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Old 29 March 2022, 07:43 AM   #1
hellofromthebay
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AD Allocations - When do ADs find out?

My AD informed me that they are waiting to learn of their allocations for the year. The timing is unclear.

Does anyone know when ADs typically learn of their allocations? I'm guessing some time after the new release are announced?
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Old 29 March 2022, 07:46 AM   #2
2nastie
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Every AD I know says a box arrives and what they get is what they get.

Honestly, not sure if there are "allocations"...

Every AD I talk to seems to say they get a mystery box haha!
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Old 29 March 2022, 07:49 AM   #3
whiskyrolex
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Originally Posted by 2nastie View Post
Every AD I know says a box arrives and what they get is what they get.

Honestly, not sure if there are "allocations"...

Every AD I talk to seems to say they get a mystery box haha!
From what I hear they generally know how many GMTs, Daytonas etc they will receive for the year just no clarity on when they will arrive or what will be in each shipment. Obviously doesn't apply to new models.
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Old 29 March 2022, 07:58 AM   #4
Santiago32
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My AD said it's changed for 2022 and Rolex is being more transparent. AD now knows exactly what & when they are getting for the year. Take with a grain of salt ofc.
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Old 29 March 2022, 08:40 AM   #5
Cigars&Watches
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Originally Posted by whiskyrolex View Post
From what I hear they generally know how many GMTs, Daytonas etc they will receive for the year just no clarity on when they will arrive or what will be in each shipment. Obviously doesn't apply to new models.
This. Pretty much the same as the year before, perhaps a little more since they increase production slightly per year.. now and again they get surprise/extra pieces..
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Old 29 March 2022, 08:41 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hellofromthebay View Post
My AD informed me that they are waiting to learn of their allocations for the year. The timing is unclear.

Does anyone know when ADs typically learn of their allocations? I'm guessing some time after the new release are announced?
During Baselworld times, the ADs who travel to the show would discuss w/ their region’s designated rep about their upcoming yearly allocation. (Request more pieces of XYZ, etc).

I’d imagine the process is still somewhat the same and most should know after W&W finishes.
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Old 29 March 2022, 09:25 AM   #7
wilsonpepper
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Originally Posted by hellofromthebay
"My AD informed me that they are waiting to learn of their allocations for the year. The timing is unclear."

My AD in Arizona told me the same thing in January.
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Old 29 March 2022, 09:29 AM   #8
Milibrk@
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personally, I'm sure the ADs know ahead of time what big pieces/unicorns are coming for every shipment. This is just my own speculation from my own experience of requesting every unicorn so far.
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Old 29 March 2022, 10:01 AM   #9
Cauhauna
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When i acquired my TT Daytona, my AD Told me they had one two tone Daytona allocation left for the year (This was last year).

He took my deposit, and my watch showed up in about a month. I had never heard of such a thing, but that's the way it happened.
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Old 29 March 2022, 11:45 PM   #10
Tricolore66
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I understand they know approximately how many watches total, and the general mix of SS and PM, but not specific models or any regular schedule. They know how they end up for the year but not how they get there.
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Old 29 March 2022, 11:48 PM   #11
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I understand they know approximately how many watches total, and the general mix of SS and PM, but not specific models or any regular schedule. They know how they end up for the year but not how they get there.
Exactly what my AD tells me. They know how many PM vs TT vs SS ahead of time and they generally know how many units they will get in a year but they do not know when they will arrive.
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Old 29 March 2022, 11:59 PM   #12
seosub
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I've had this convo before with an owner of a boutique AD just out of curiosity. He seemed to know approximately how many of each in demand model they get per year.

This was 2-3 years ago - don't know how things have changed.
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Old 30 March 2022, 12:59 AM   #13
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Do keep in mind that we have members here from all around the world, I would not believe for a second that things are exactly the same everywhere.
I only know from experience how RolexUSA works. My SA and AD manager, high volume Rolex only Boutique, say they are told at the beginning of the year how many watches and which models they will receive for the year but not necessarily when. It’s usually fairly consistent as in they will get x number of Subs, x number of Daytonas, etc on a monthly basis.
The new releases mid year are not included in that beginning of year plan. For example, they got their first BLRO in June of 2018 after its March reveal. They didn’t know exactly how many they would get until the end of the year but it turned out to be two per month. I got their 12th one received in December of that year.
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Old 30 March 2022, 01:26 AM   #14
WatchGuy1966
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Rolex in the States has a new ordering system as of March 1.

They can place orders every two weeks.

Ask your AD about it.

They can specifically order one hard-to-get model, yet that won't change their allocations. This should make it a little more predictable to fulfill hard-to-get (but not impossible) pieces such as BLRO, LV, etc.

For instance, Most ADs will get 1,2, or 3 Meteorite Dial watches per year. Some will get 2 and some will get 1 - based on a myriad of factors such as store size, volume, and mix (boutique vs jewelry store w/ a Rolex counter). My AD gets 2.

I don't know if this means 3 each DD, Daytona, GMT, or 3 total across the board.
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Old 30 March 2022, 01:52 AM   #15
Dhiren
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This is how the distribution system work’s for Rolex as told to me by my contact,and as understood by me.

Rolex SA doesn’t sell directly to the various Dealers in a country. They sell only to their Regional Offices based in that country. The Rolex RO (Regional office) receives the watches after clearing customs .

Rolex SA allocates watches to their Regional Offices in a particular country depending on the production schedule which is planned nearly a year in advance.

The allocation to each dealer in the region or country is dependent on what
what the Regional office decides and allocates to it’s dealers.

This allocation is dependent on what the past 3 months off take has been by that particular Dealer.

The RO decided what watch goes to which dealer based on history of his purchases as well as his pending allocations if any

The dealer can choose what he wants to buy from the allocated lot depending on his demographic’s and demand

The dealer can ‘request or Order ‘‘ certain specific high end pieces which will be allocated to him in the next cycle if available in production .

This Request for Allocation is compiled and sent to Rolex SA by Rolex Regional Office.

It is not a guarantee that all watches allocated will be sent to the dealer in the first cycle of ordering as there is always a spill over.

My understanding of the process


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Old 30 March 2022, 01:56 AM   #16
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More "my AD said...."

Hilarious. You guys are like 7th graders...
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Old 30 March 2022, 01:57 AM   #17
Bizcut1
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dhiren View Post
This is how the distribution system work’s for Rolex as told to me by my contact,and as understood by me.

Rolex SA doesn’t sell directly to the various Dealers in a country. They sell only to their Regional Offices based in that country. The Rolex RO (Regional office) receives the watches after clearing customs .

Rolex SA allocates watches to their Regional Offices in a particular country depending on the production schedule which is planned nearly a year in advance.

The allocation to each dealer in the region or country is dependent on what
what the Regional office decides and allocates to it’s dealers.

This allocation is dependent on what the past 3 months off take has been by that particular Dealer.

The RO decided what watch goes to which dealer based on history of his purchases as well as his pending allocations if any

The dealer can choose what he wants to buy from the allocated lot depending on his demographic’s and demand

The dealer can ‘request or Order ‘‘ certain specific high end pieces which will be allocated to him in the next cycle if available in production .

This Request for Allocation is compiled and sent to Rolex SA by Rolex Regional Office.

It is not a guarantee that all watches allocated will be sent to the dealer in the first cycle of ordering as there is always a spill over.

My understanding of the process


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This is total fantasy.
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Old 30 March 2022, 02:22 AM   #18
Dhiren
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This is total fantasy.

Why Sir ? Please do educate me


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