Discussion with a AD

[beshannon]

Originally Posted by MonsterSS

funny, my AD flat out told me that one customer came in that was visiting from HK, he bought 6 rolex's and told the AD he was taking them back and would sell 4 of them, and the profits from that would pay for the remaining 2. So not only did my AD let it happen, they were bragging about it

Of course they did, they are in business to sell product. That is retail.

AD's that cannot compete, get stock or are clueless make up stories to cover their own shortcomings.

We need to revisit the thread about why we need AD's in the first place with this behavior.

[Devildog]

Originally Posted by AK797

All true. Standard stuff in UK which is a year ahead of the US, and will be global policy soon.

Originally Posted by brandrea

I agree with you Neil, times they are a changing.

x3

The responses to these threads are often hilarious (and sadly sometimes quite condescending, particularly from those who clearly must have missed the significant number of threads on here evidencing what is really happening)

I look forward to all the naysayers apologising to the OP in due course

[rexG]

Wow!! .....one watch model per customer for life?? Thats a great business plan....

[vipereaper30]

Kind of makes sense but it seems impossible to enforce. I'll believe it when I see it or hear from multiple ADs.

[samson66]

What happens if i buy a blue Datejust 41, then a month later decide I really preferred white? Am I not allowed to buy a second Datejust 41?

Also wanted to point out I wasn't trying to be condescending towards you. It's the AD's and some of the stuff they frequently throw around as "fact" the annoys me. I appreciate you relaying what you were told.

Originally Posted by tjfslaughter

One shot per model, in other words they are trying to stop guys from buying up all the SD43, Stainless Skydwellers, Stainless Daytona’s and flipping them.


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[SeaDweller50]

All makes perfect sense to me.

[WEST HAM ROLEX]

So you own a SD43

You then want to buy one for your son,,,,,but can't?

[MinMay]

I wish all Rolex value plummet so we can all move on with better things in life. Seriously. I do. It will stop all the flipping discussion

[Chiboy]

I hear BMW is going to do the same thing:

You can only buy one 3 series per lifetime. And they will blackball you if you show any brand loyalty!

[cdmorenot]

Actually, some Land Rover and and Merc dealerships at some point had us sign "No export agreements"

You buy a RR or a G Wag - Full Retail, load it in a container ship and ship to Middle East. Easy and legit way to make 10K a pop.

After the no-export the little side hustle came to a halt...

Rolex could end up doing the same thing with the threat of legal action but that would decimate even private sales...

I don't like where Rolex is going with all this crap.

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[RobearH]

So if an employer wants to buy the employees a Rolex for a good year...Rolex would turn away this business?

[Xelorpepsi]

They can't even enforce this kind of policy for very expensive cars such as the Porsche GT3 RS, so I don't this happening any time soon on "much cheaper" products. I may be wrong, but if this happens they will simply kill their own market. As much as I love their products, ultimately a Rolex watch is only a well engineered piece of steel not a Rolls Royce. If they do it, I will simply spend my money somewhere else.

[DeepCeasar]

Ive heard of the premium 25k to get the good stuff. London Jewelers is notorious for that. Its a way to weed out the flippers I guess

[MVP]

Originally Posted by tjfslaughter

I was at an AD over the weekend discussing the shortage. They pointed out a few things Rolex is doing to stop re-sellers.

1. A person can only purchase one model of watch (for instance one SD43, one sub, one Daytona, etc) in a lifetime. If they want to purchase another one a police report or insurance statement must be provided demonstrating that the watch was damaged or stolen.
2. Rolex is talking to certain dealers to identify habitual flippers and recommending banning sales to them.
3. They are tracking purchasers, not just the name on the warranty cards.

I am not sure if this applies to all dealers or just the large chains.

Does this all just make the gray market that much more desirable to enter into, and as a result people will figure out a different way to "beat" the system, and gray market prices will rise even higher?

[tbonesteak]

When this economic expansion concludes, does anyone really believe Rolex will be trying to limit the amount of watches purchased?

Such late cycle arrogance, it's laughable.

[Boaters]

If so it would sure be good for the bank account ... lol

[tjfslaughter]

Originally Posted by MVP

Does this all just make the gray market that much more desirable to enter into, and as a result people will figure out a different way to "beat" the system, and gray market prices will rise even higher?

Who knows but is it reasonable for one person to purchase 4-5 SS Daytona's in one year from an AD?

[T01]

Originally Posted by andrei_sfirloaga

I really think this AD had something to drink before this discussion took place.

Couldn't agree more.

[hambone1983]

gotta have watch control. Universal background checks

[Yobber76]

The only part of this thread that might make any sense to me is that Rolex may start developing a data base for their customers, based on warranty card, so that if an AD wants to order a restricted item, Rolex would know if it was an established Rolex customer or a new Rolex customer, and manage shipments to the AD's based on that.
This would suggest that this current plan of theirs will be the long-term marketing/production plan. It seems far-fetched to me.

[jonnyz1245]

Originally Posted by tbonesteak

When this economic expansion concludes, does anyone really believe Rolex will be trying to limit the amount of watches purchased?

Such late cycle arrogance, it's laughable.

Exactly.

I wrote a lengthy reply but read yours and that pretty much sums it up in a nutshell. All the rest is noise. And for the people who think this hasn't happened before, it has. In 2006, the same games were being played by AD's. Maybe not everywhere but I know of many who did the "you must buy 20K to be considered for a SS Daytona, you must engrave the Daytona, you can only buy one Sub from our AD etc etc. 3 Years later, SS Daytonas were sitting in windows and greys had them less than MSRP.

[EDL7]

I heard that Rolex will only sell you a new watch from 2019 on...but.. w/o the movement..stating..you have to wear it for 2 years..then bring it back to the same AD..and show them a significant # of wear marks and scratches..then they will put the movement in there for you..but it's only guaranteed for 3 years..
You get to choose what time you want the watch hands to read though..for the 1st 2 years..lol...
If you don't do this..and there are no wear marks..they are obligated to take the watch back forever..but to their credit..they give you a free Rolex hat in recompense...

[alex_moreno111]

Rolex could care less who the watch is sold to. The AD on the other hand needs leverage to get repeat customers. Makes no sense to sell a watch and never see the customer again.

[Bavariandoc]

its quite impossible to police this without punishing loyal customers.

Rolex is indirect creator of gray market due to short supply of particular models. sellers are just taking advantage of opportunity

[jonnyz1245]

Originally Posted by alex_moreno111

Rolex could care less who the watch is sold to. The AD on the other hand needs leverage to get repeat customers. Makes no sense to sell a watch and never see the customer again.

Spot on and people who think differently are fooling themselves big time. Rolex is in the business to sell watches. You want to buy 20 of them? Please, go right ahead.

[TimeToWatch]

Any lawyers in here? This sounds illegal to me.

[oldman2005]

I remember reading a post from an UK guy on this TRF who was trying to buy a 2nd Daytona, the AD ok'ed the sale but a higher up distributor shot it down as he already bought one. So maybe this practice is no joke and has been going in UK. With the new wide spread Rolex scarcity marketing, I'm not surprised this rationing is spreading to the US.

Taking a step back, I have seen food rationing taking place elsewhere in the world, I'm just glad that I will do perfectly OK without a Rolex and many of you will to...

[tjfslaughter]

Originally Posted by TimeToWatch

Any lawyers in here? This sounds illegal to me.

Rolex cannot legally enforce this but they can reduce watches sent to specific dealers. I have seen this in other industries.


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[beshannon]

Originally Posted by vipereaper30

Kind of makes sense but it seems impossible to enforce. I'll believe it when I see it or hear from ROLEX SA in Geneva.

FTFY

[DeepCeasar]

ADs are probably bombarded with emails, dms, walk ins and calls from all over the world. Its probably not the easiest thing to determine who gets what, who is a flipper, who is a new client who will be a good long term customer. Making people pay a set dollar amount on other items to get a steel premium watch is not the solution.