What is good discount rate from AD?

[Ozzy12]

15-20% on everything for me except SS Daytona. Gold models more. DJ and ladies watches are usually not as easy of a mover for AD's; there isn't quite as much hype/passion behind them. If it were me, I'd shoot for 25-30 on the wife's and the 20-25 mark on your DJ. Regardless, do check out the FS section Lawrence and David I have both dealt with and they are great guys. Ps, Rolex USA changed their discount program a little for AD invoices so AD's are being a little stingier right now than say a year ago. It used to be if they paid their invoice within like 15 days they got what I think worked out to a 3% break on the invoice, and Rolex cancelled that program so now they are trying to make up the ground on the extra 3% that a lot of well bank-rolled Jewelers were leveraging to net more on each sale. Best of luck on your pursuit though, that is half the fun.

[Welshwatchman]

Just to mention that both models mentioned are ones I'd expect my AD to be very flexible as far as price is concerned.

Whether you are going to be able to obtain the sort of % figures being stated, I don't know.

All I can suggest is that you politely seek the best deal that's sensibly available. I'm sure there are plenty of dealers who are happy for your custom.

[rohardi]

My AD told me yesterday that they will no longer be discounting rolex anymore per rolexes restrictions. I'm not buying it.... Or anything from them for that mater if this holds true.

[valgolfs]

I paid $5200 OTD from local AD for 14060M early last year.

[brettpaul]

Slow moving here in Bahrain due to the 'troubles' so I just picked up a new Explorer for a 27.5% discount on retail....cash price.

In the West (UK, US, Canada) I think anything over 15% is good....better off checking with the sellers here on the forum IMHO though. Best of luck!

[caso.it]

Originally Posted by franklin

20 percent.

[krlyuzh]

When I was at AD (left there to start my own thing in early 2010) we wouldn't do anything over 10% on DJ's, "unpopular" Sports, nothing more than 15% on gold (sometimes 20 for ones that have been sitting for a bit) and no discount at all on steel Subs or Milgauss.

[hijo de la luna]

I got NO discount for my SubC and was told because they don't give discounts on Rolex under 10k.

Did I get ripped off? I paid 8k. I love the watch anyway but money saved is a good thing. He said he would give me 7% on anything over 10k, 12% over 20k.

Ho hum

[krlyuzh]

Originally Posted by hijo de la luna

I got NO discount for my SubC and was told because they don't give discounts on Rolex under 10k.

Did I get ripped off? I paid 8k. I love the watch anyway but money saved is a good thing. He said he would give me 7% on anything over 10k, 12% over 20k.

Ho hum

I guess each AD is different. We had specific models which weren't ever discounted, not based on value. I don't think you got ripped off on the SubC.

[hijo de la luna]

I am thinking about purchasing either a 2 tone black sub or all gold sub with black. what kind of discount could I be getting from other AD? I was only offered 7% for the 2 tone and 12% for the all gold

Originally Posted by krlyuzh

I guess each AD is different. We had specific models which weren't ever discounted, not based on value. I don't think you got ripped off on the SubC.

[btinl]

Originally Posted by hijo de la luna

I got NO discount for my SubC and was told because they don't give discounts on Rolex under 10k.

Did I get ripped off? I paid 8k. I love the watch anyway but money saved is a good thing. He said he would give me 7% on anything over 10k, 12% over 20k.

Ho hum

You should be able to get 10% off the SubC just outside of DE.

[Bangel]

I was offered 10% off a sub C.

[bmw550i]

From talking to two different AD's recently, here is what they are saying..

Rolex is reducing the number of AD's in the US to expand their Asian markets while maintaining their overall number of global AD's. This has resulted in several things. 1. AD's are required to keep significantly more stock now (they said 65+ pieces) 2. Rolex is being much more strict on discounting, asking AD's to provide receipts showing sales at full retail, and also to provide more detailed information for any out of state sales (told me I would need to provide that my primary residency was out of state, not just ship to a friend..).

I'm sure some AD's are more flexible than others and this is case by case and dependent on the relationship, but both AD's I spoke with said they were all under scrutiny now and would risk losing their AD status by discounting. What both of them offered was to include or heavily discount other non-rolex pieces in lieu of a discount. In my case it involved some 3/4 carat diamond earrings for the misses, which worked out just fine :)

Happy shopping!

[gmh1013]

Anything

[krlyuzh]

Originally Posted by hijo de la luna

I am thinking about purchasing either a 2 tone black sub or all gold sub with black. what kind of discount could I be getting from other AD? I was only offered 7% for the 2 tone and 12% for the all gold

I would expect 10% off of a two-tone sub and 15% off all gold. They are giving you 7 and 12 expecting that you will pay with credit card which costs them another 3-5%. Pay with cash and you will get a bit more.

[SILVERMX]

Well cant the ADs just charge you full price make out a receipt for that to show Rolex, then do a partial refund on another receipt for x amout of % discount that easy.

[rr-nyc]

Originally Posted by bmw550i

From talking to two different AD's recently, here is what they are saying..

Rolex is reducing the number of AD's in the US to expand their Asian markets while maintaining their overall number of global AD's. This has resulted in several things. 1. AD's are required to keep significantly more stock now (they said 65+ pieces) 2. Rolex is being much more strict on discounting, asking AD's to provide receipts showing sales at full retail, and also to provide more detailed information for any out of state sales (told me I would need to provide that my primary residency was out of state, not just ship to a friend..).

I'm sure some AD's are more flexible than others and this is case by case and dependent on the relationship, but both AD's I spoke with said they were all under scrutiny now and would risk losing their AD status by discounting. What both of them offered was to include or heavily discount other non-rolex pieces in lieu of a discount. In my case it involved some 3/4 carat diamond earrings for the misses, which worked out just fine :)

Happy shopping!

It sounds more like a something an AD would say to get out of negotiating. I really don't see how Rolex, or a Rolex rep, could even demand copies of receipts. Even if it happens, an AD can easily charge full price and give an instant rebate back to the customer in the same form of payment received. AD's love telling customers how they would love to do something but their hands are tied. Giving you a bigger discount on other items in the store are just add on sales.

[Sean.c]

a good discount would be 100 % ahah ;)

[S``]

Originally Posted by rr-nyc

It sounds more like a something an AD would say to get out of negotiating. I really don't see how Rolex, or a Rolex rep, could even demand copies of receipts. Even if it happens, an AD can easily charge full price and give an instant rebate back to the customer in the same form of payment received. AD's love telling customers how they would love to do something but their hands are tied. Giving you a bigger discount on other items in the store are just add on sales.

they use secret shoppers who will actually purchase the product and report back to HQ...

[changster]

Originally Posted by valgolfs

I paid $5200 OTD from local AD for 14060M early last year.

I recently purchased my 14060M and paid $5800 OTD from a local AD. I am happy with my purchase as most other AD's weren't willing to negotiate.

[rr-nyc]

Originally Posted by Szer

they use secret shoppers who will actually purchase the product and report back to HQ...

And do you have proof that they actually do this? How many watches a year do you think they purchase, at retail, just to make sure their AD's are compliant? And what does Rolex do with that watch after the AD starts the international warranty since they are unaware of which one's are sold to real customers.

There are a lot of premium brands that forbid non-manufacturer sanctioned discounts. I ran a company that sold high end business cases, pens and luggage. Tumi, Mont Blanc, and Hartman all have no-discount policies. The reps came in once a month to, among many other things, see if anything was being promoted on sale or discounted. The worst thing that typically happens is that you temporarily lose the advertising co-op money. Most of the time, you get a scathing letter from corporate. Multiple offenders can lose the line but that hurts the manufacturer more than the retailer so that happens less than people seem to think.

[S``]

Originally Posted by rr-nyc

And do you have proof that they actually do this? How many watches a year do you think they purchase, at retail, just to make sure their AD's are compliant? And what does Rolex do with that watch after the AD starts the international warranty since they are unaware of which one's are sold to real customers.

There are a lot of premium brands that forbid non-manufacturer sanctioned discounts. I ran a company that sold high end business cases, pens and luggage. Tumi, Mont Blanc, and Hartman all have no-discount policies. The reps came in once a month to, among many other things, see if anything was being promoted on sale or discounted. The worst thing that typically happens is that you temporarily lose the advertising co-op money. Most of the time, you get a scathing letter from corporate. Multiple offenders can lose the line but that hurts the manufacturer more than the retailer so that happens less than people seem to think.

Saw this article a years ago...

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine...8096566748.htm

but the concept of secret shoppers shouldn't be a surprise...

[rr-nyc]

Originally Posted by Szer

Saw this article a years ago...

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine...8096566748.htm

but the concept of secret shoppers shouldn't be a surprise...

I'm familiar with secret shoppers. They're used often in service industries. This is still different than what you stated. The secret shoppers did not buy the watch so unless the AD writes down the negotiated price, which I'm certain they would never do, it becomes a he said-she said issue.

There is no way a manufacturer, like Rolex, would pull their line for a reputable jeweler based on a hearsay conversation between a third party secret shopper and an AD

[krlyuzh]

You'd be surprised at what they do...

One time they pulled the line from one of stores just because we had a Patek displayed on the outside (you know those one-of display cases you see as you walk by a store) temporarily and Rolex rep came and shut down all 4 cases they had in that store.

As far as secret shoppers go, I know for a fact brands do this. How? I did it for a brand (not Rolex, but I don't want to say which). I heard a rumor a competitor was heavily discounting, I told the rep, he said prove it and I will do something about it. I went in as a "customer", bought the watch, walked out of the store, called the rep right away. Rep refunded me for the full purchase amount, made that store buy the watch back at that price and not allow to sell it as new and they got fined heavily as a "first offense". No more rumors after that. :)

[rr-nyc]

Originally Posted by krlyuzh

You'd be surprised at what they do...

One time they pulled the line from one of stores just because we had a Patek displayed on the outside (you know those one-of display cases you see as you walk by a store) temporarily and Rolex rep came and shut down all 4 cases they had in that store.

As far as secret shoppers go, I know for a fact brands do this. How? I did it for a brand (not Rolex, but I don't want to say which). I heard a rumor a competitor was heavily discounting, I told the rep, he said prove it and I will do something about it. I went in as a "customer", bought the watch, walked out of the store, called the rep right away. Rep refunded me for the full purchase amount, made that store buy the watch back at that price and not allow to sell it as new and they got fined heavily as a "first offense". No more rumors after that. :)

Well it's pretty hard to dispute anything you said since there are no details of the event.
What was your position at this store?
Rolex doesnt have consignment inventory (that i know of) so how does Rolex shut down 4 cases of inventory that is privately owned by the jeweler?
How did you go to a competitor and buy that watch without anybody recognizing you as the competitor?
How does a rep "make" an AD buy back the sold watch and resell it as used without being charged with coercion?
What "fine" is a manufacturer legally able to implement without getting their asses thrown in jail for extortion?

[rr-nyc]

Originally Posted by rr-nyc

Well it's pretty hard to dispute anything you said since there are no details of the event.
What was your position at this store?
Rolex doesnt have consignment inventory (that i know of) so how does Rolex shut down 4 cases of inventory that is privately owned by the jeweler?
How did you go to a competitor and buy that watch without anybody recognizing you as the competitor?
How does a rep "make" an AD buy back the sold watch and resell it as used without being charged with coercion?
What "fine" is a manufacturer legally able to implement without getting their asses thrown in jail for extortion?

The lack of response most likely means it didn't happen.

[airchitect]

My AD's do 10-15% if they feel like they have too....ie if they think you've shopped around. But I also have some who give nothing, period. They tell you its a privilege to have the opportunity to even buy a Rolex from them. Luckily, I have at least 7 or so ADs I can think of off top of my head, so theres some competition there.