Sour AD Experience

[Lucifer]

I think this happened at Bay Area??

[Muxi]

I think you may have dodged that one. Maybe it did not sing so much to you.

[djgallo]

Originally Posted by SS Oyster

All,

Last week, I stopped into a mall in SoCal mall to run some errands, at which there was a Rolex AD (not my normal AD in Fashion Valley Mall). While I am very loyal to my normal AD, I stopped in just to view what they had at this other AD.

They had nearly nothing, but the SA asked me what I was looking for. I listed off a few SS models and some PM pieces, which she countered asking if I might be interested in a GMT 126715 (Everose Root Beer), which I asked, "why, do you have one?" She said she would make a call and let me know.

Monday early AM, I took a flight from LAX to Washington DC. Upon landing at IAD, just as I was hailing an Uber (raining, busy, noisy), my phone rang ... the SA was calling to say "I have your RG GMT!" I asked her to give me 30-45 mins to get to my hotel to call her back. She was ok with that.

Upon checking into my room, I called her back to discuss the watch. I asked her about their previous position (an offer from a year ago) where they offered to source a SS Daytona or BLRO if I were to purchase a full PM piece. She said they would, but it might be years since those pieces are so rare. Anywhere, I asked her if she could give me an hour to settle in and call my wife, who would have to drive to the mall, pay the balance of the watch and pick it up. She agreed.

I called my wife, talked about the watch purchase. As I was getting off the phone with my wife, a call came in from the SA, so I said bye to my wife and took the incoming call. The SA said, "Sorry, but the watch sold." Huh? I asked what she meant, saying she had given me time to speak to my wife, and during that time it sold? "Yes, sorry, but these are rare pieces and many others were waiting for that watch."

Luckily, it wasn't like this was one my grails(#1 WG GMT Master II Meteorite, #2 White dial Daytona SS), and I honestly felt that I would much rather spend my money at my normal AD to continue building my relationship. However, still not cool to tell someone they have time to think and discuss with spouse a nearly $40k (with CA tax) purchase.

So, I was a bit miffed, but just thought, "ok, this is a sign to stick with my AD, who will eventually come through". Then, it bothered me more, so I called the AD back to discuss with their manager. A very nice lady answered who said she was the GM. When I explained the situation, she acknowledged that they should have informed me that I had to decide right then on that first call or it could be sold and not grant me time to think about it. In the end, I'm keeping the name of the AD out of this because I do think that GM is going to train her SAs on what they cannot promise, which would then at least make the call to potential customers transparent, and not create anger and frustration when an offer is pulled.

What else I learned from this ...
1. PM pieces (at least in SoCal) are NOT being discounted at all.
2. SS to go with your PM piece is NOT guaranteed and may be years before fulfilled, which is a different story that last year.
3. I really don't think there are SS Daytonas sitting in AD safes, just waiting for a PM buyer to get them over the hump.
4. PM pieces are now becoming hot (with calling lists building).
5. This is now the fourth AD who has told me that SS volume will rise next year, starting first with DJ41 (not interesting to me), and then on to sports models.
6. Finally, multiple ADs have told me that the 116610 Submariner is likely going to be discontinued for the 126610 with the 3235 movement and GMT Master II case for Basel 2020.
6. a) Hulk (116610LV) not likely to be continued, which is why there are so few of them showing up anywhere ... they are just burning down limited stock and then they're gone! If this comes to reality, sealed LVs are going to be going UP UP UP ... maybe over $20k, who knows.
6. b) Smurf (116619) also not likely to be continued.

So, whomever is selling "Rolex Bubble has Burst" is full of beans! The Rolex heat is shifting (all to their plan I'm sure) from minimally existence SS sports models to PM sports references.

Thanks for taking the time to share your experience with the AD...sorry to hear about the treatment...not surprised. I really don’t depend on AD’s anymore just because of stories like this.

[MTdweller]

Sorry to hear about your experience but thanks for sharing. Don’t give up on your grail watches and don’t settle for less. You never know when you might get the call!

[SS Oyster]

Originally Posted by mountainjogger

Sorry but I am confused. Did the sales person give you the hour and you did not get back to her within the time? Or did she cut the hour short when she called you back. If the latter, I agree that the AD needs to do better and instruct it's sales people to keep their word.



Would not matter if it was a watch or a pickup truck or a hamster. If a salesperson told me I had an hour to decide, I would expect them to keep their word.

They called me back after approximately 30 minutes into my hour to say it was sold.


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[locutus49]

Sorry to hear. If this was Ben Bridge, then the GM was Josephine, who has always been good to me. Although I'm still waiting for the meteorite Pepsi.

[Bigblu10]

Originally Posted by locutus49

Sorry to hear. If this was Ben Bridge, then the GM was Josephine, who has always been good to me. Although I'm still waiting for the meteorite Pepsi.

Did they give you any timeframe for that watch?

[SS Oyster]

Only BB with AD status in San Diego I know is in La Jolla, but this was not there.


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[Robtayham]

So, the SA offered you a watch, and you said give me up two hours to decide if I want to buy it. They waited for a while, and then ultimately sold it to someone else.

Did you pay any consideration for them to hold the watch? Or was it just a favor?

[thekman]

Sucks that you didn't get the watch however I have seen that watch in 3-4 ADs in and around Boston recently. Really not hard at all to get the RG GMT!

[Theoffice]

Sounds pretty entitled / sounds like you weren’t going to buy the watch ,
They did nothing wrong here, if you had said yes in the beginning they would have held it for you but you couldn’t decide,
This isn’t a rare watch lol

[muscledroid]

Sounds like the Fourtane boutique store in Fashion Valley. I expressed interest in a GMT to a SA a while back and just a few weeks ago I get a mass text saying they have a "very good selection in most Rolex collection time pieces." No idea what that means but it's probably a tactic to sell some DJ.

[SS Oyster]

Originally Posted by Robtayham

So, the SA offered you a watch, and you said give me up two hours to decide if I want to buy it. They waited for a while, and then ultimately sold it to someone else.

Did you pay any consideration for them to hold the watch? Or was it just a favor?

They asked me to consider, I asked for time. They could have been truthful and said take it now or I’ll sell to someone else. That is my point. I would have been fine with them being forthright, but don’t tell me I can take some time and then just sell it during that period.


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[SS Oyster]

Originally Posted by Theoffice

Sounds pretty entitled / sounds like you weren’t going to buy the watch ,
They did nothing wrong here, if you had said yes in the beginning they would have held it for you but you couldn’t decide,
This isn’t a rare watch lol

So telling me they would hold the watch for XX minutes while I call to clear it with the wife and then selling it during that time is not wrong?


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[SS Oyster]

Originally Posted by muscledroid

Sounds like the Fourtane boutique store in Fashion Valley. I expressed interest in a GMT to a SA a while back and just a few weeks ago I get a mass text saying they have a "very good selection in most Rolex collection time pieces." No idea what that means but it's probably a tactic to sell some DJ.

No it was not them.


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[brucethemanlee]

Bad form on part of the AD.

Even when I unexpectedly got the call for my 2nd Daytona (black dial) after four months, I told them i needed to think about it. I was expecting a call in 12-18 months not four. AD gave me until the end of the day (they called me at noon-ish) to decide - and this was for a black ceramic SS Daytona!

I decided in 10 mins LOL!! But I still wanted to think about it and not make a unexpected snap decision on the phone.

[Art 1]

Originally Posted by Theoffice

Sounds pretty entitled / sounds like you weren’t going to buy the watch ,
They did nothing wrong here, if you had said yes in the beginning they would have held it for you but you couldn’t decide,
This isn’t a rare watch lol

I agree. Not so much about the entitled part as I don't know the OP. But me, as a business man for a long long time do not blame the AD. When you have a customer ready to pull out the card on what must be a $40,000 watch, a huge commission and mark up for the store, you take the card. It's not an every day thing someone is ready to make a purchase like that.

[Robtayham]

Originally Posted by SS Oyster

They asked me to consider, I asked for time. They could have been truthful and said take it now or I’ll sell to someone else. That is my point. I would have been fine with them being forthright, but don’t tell me I can take some time and then just sell it during that period.


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Got it.

I hate these types of arrangements with a business. If consideration isn’t given, then they can pull it back and sell it to someone else. It’s awful customer service, but they can, and will, do it. Because of this, there’s always the possibility for a misunderstanding. And it always works against the customer (in this case you).

Honestly, when you didn’t jump on it and say ‘sold’, she probably thought ‘he’s not interested, and went to the next person’. That doesn’t make it right. But, she knew there were other buyers who would immediately buy it.

Ask yourself: if she had called to tell you she has your ultimate holy grail watch, would you have wanted up to two hours to think about it. Probably not. She knew that and that’s why she moved on.

But, as I said, that doesn’t make it right.

[Try__An__Hit]

Guess is no time to take time

[Bigblu10]

Originally Posted by SS Oyster

They asked me to consider, I asked for time. They could have been truthful and said take it now or I’ll sell to someone else. That is my point. I would have been fine with them being forthright, but don’t tell me I can take some time and then just sell it during that period.


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I said it before and say it again. It is a SELLERS market. All is fair in love and war, AND the Rolex watch game!

[mountainjogger]

Originally Posted by SS Oyster

They called me back after approximately 30 minutes into my hour to say it was sold.


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Well, that was pretty poor on their behalf.

[travisb]

Poor practice but hey, you've got your D-Blue Mark. Life is good and many ADs are not.

[Tricolore66]

This sums it up. You could have let them run your credit card on the first phone call. I’m sure there are multiple sales reps at the store with buyers who wanted that piece, and they’re not going to hold it for someone who doesn’t appear to have a sense of urgency.

Originally Posted by absoluteczech

I mean I somewhat understand their position. They have a watch they want to sell. They called you, but 3x you said you needed time to get back to them. They probably said, heck I can sell it NOW 100% to another person vs someone else that's already told me 3x they needed time. They probably sensed hesitation.

It's like selling a car. 1st person with cash get its. I dont wait around for others and their stories. Too many people have excuses (not saying OP you had one, but that's just life).

[upsidedownbelt]

Originally Posted by SS Oyster

Only BB with AD status in San Diego I know is in La Jolla, but this was not there.


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There is Royal Maui in Escondido.

[Ravager135]

My summary of the situation was that you lost a calculated gamble. At the same time, the AD didn't win any points with you. I guess I don't blame them for selling, nor you for being a little irked by the way the situation was handled. I'm more surprised that they unloaded that particular reference that quickly.

All of that said, I'm not sure I trust any AD about what pieces are going to be discontinued until they literally cannot order them any longer. When this happens it's typically in the late winter/spring prior to Basel. I think it's very safe conjecture that Rolex will upgrade the Submariner movement and very subtly change the case shape as they did with the GMT-Master II, but I do not believe they will remove the LV option from the stainless steel lineup. Again, I do not know anything special. I am just looking at history as a guide to what Rolex does.

[Ksporty]

Unfortunately, there really are no 'rules' one can expect AD's to behave under in this current marketplace. Some are better than others, but they fall all over the spectrum in terms of service, ethics, communication, etc.. Personal experiences, word-of-mouth, TRF, can help provide some clarity, but the one thing I think you have to do every time is pull the trigger on a purchase immediately if an AD offers you a model you want. It’s unfortunate, but If you’re unsure, need some more time to ponder/secure funds, are out of town, etc., you risk losing that piece.

[Watchflair]

That stinks - given the fact that she ended the conversation ok with you speaking with your wife who would have to go and pay and pick up the watch they should have honored that - they could easily have put the other buyer on ice for an hour.

[Chiboy]

1) OP did nothing wrong. If AD couldn't grant the time to decide, they should have said that and OP could decide if he was ready to pull the trigger. What AD did was just wrong.

2) I think OP dodged a bullet. Sounds like a not-that-hard watch to source, and a not-that-great AD. And he has a great AD with whom he would rather do the business and further establish himself. Plus, it didn't sound like a watch that made OP's heart pound, and $40k is a lot for a watch that isn't at the top of the list, IMO. It will work out best in the long run to buy from OP's preferred AD.

[calh22a]

Poor form on the AD for not honoring the time frame they offered you, but at the same time, you said you have no relationship with this AD. Maybe they were worried you were a tire kicker and couldn’t pass up on a guanranteed sale

[dtwer]

OP you might have inadvertently given the sales woman the vibe that you were deploying the "wife card!" lol.

Still I think the sales woman definitely needs more training; shouldn't have ended the call empty handed. Need to be ready to close the sales any chance she gets.

She should have said something like: "I understand and I talk to my husband about everything, but let me say this..I really can't guarantee how long this watch will last in the case. So let's get you going right away; how about I take your credit card payment over the phone right now so that by the time your wife arrives she can just enjoy a glass of champagne on the house, pick up the watch, and be on her way in no time?"