AD vs Grey

[Raza_actual]

Originally Posted by RolexNorth

I too am starting to think that grey market is the way to go if you really want that hard to get stainless steel sports model.

For instance, there's a grey market dealer in my city that has the ceramic Daytona with white dial. He's asking $27,000 CAD for it and he'll sell it cash-all-in. If by going to a Rolex AD I would have to buy $100,000 in PM Rolex watches FIRST before he'd even give me a sniff of the Daytona, I may as well go to the grey market dealer and pay the $27,000 CAD for it and save the other $77,000 CAD for something else.

Then after doing this, I would call the nearest Rolex headquarters aftersales department and tell them which Rolex AD gave me the hard time, and that I turned to a grey market dealer and gave them my money instead.

I think this would send a strong message to Rolex SA.

At that price, there are better options. I can’t imagine why anyone would consider paying that much money for a Daytona.

[SamLovesWatches]

I'm still waiting for that Awesome AD Experience everyone keeps bragging about. I'm starting to get the sense that these are guys who have been buying Rolexes from the same place for decades and probably knows their AD's children and ex-wives by name. For the rest of us just getting into the hobby, we're basically SOL and have to contend with snooty and "I'm doing YOU a favor" salesmen. The older sales people, I've noticed, are either so jaded or scared of Rolex (or someone/something) that they are treating new buyers like how the OP mentioned. "Buy or get out!" I've encountered them myself and ended up buying my first Rolex from a grey because they were the only one that had it. I previously bought a pre-own DJ for my dad from a trusted jeweler. Now I'm looking for a brand new sports model and I'm pretty sure after my last trip to the AD, I'll be going back to the same grey. I'm now willing to pay a few more to get what I want, when I want it, and without all the BS.

For the guys who have been at this for decades, try to remember, you had to work for those relationships back then. These days, given the current climate, new guys like me don't even HAVE that option.

[JParm]

AD's mean nothing to me - they're strictly there so that I have a place to try on the watches. Everything I purchase is from the pre-owned market or via trusted sellers; no need to play this BS game of "if, then" statements.

You can say it's harsh that I use them as only a dress rehearsal, but hey, if they can treat customers like crap, I can do the same to them. It's my money in the end and I'll use it as I please, which is to say more savings on the back-end by not going down the AD route.

[abozz]

I think the only solution to end the corruption of the AD is that the registration or list to buy a Rolex SS is made via internet indicating the country and city of residence and you are indicated there the date where your piece will arrive to pick up. Take off power to ADs managers.

[Ballzzz]

Originally Posted by [email protected]

AD's mean nothing to me - they're strictly there so that I have a place to try on the watches. Everything I purchase is from the pre-owned market or via trusted sellers; no need to play this BS game of "if, then" statements.

You can say it's harsh that I use them as only a dress rehearsal, but hey, if they can treat customers like crap, I can do the same to them. It's my money in the end and I'll use it as I please, which is to say more savings on the back-end by not going down the AD route.

For hard to come by SS models the greys are more expensive, not sure where you can save unless pre-owned?

[blind2]

The AD's offer me nothing over a trusted re-seller.
They remind me of the mortgage brokers who will tell you how they are going to "service" your mortgage. right.
At the end of the day it is like any other commodity item sold in the free-market.
I've bought from both AD and Grey based on my needs at the time.
Matters little.

[gleek]

Originally Posted by blind2

The AD's offer me nothing over a trusted re-seller.
... ...I've bought from both AD and Grey based on my needs at the time.
Matters little.

I agree with this quote.