My Last Year Trying

[ciceroyeah]

Originally Posted by Atlas

Hello Dear Rolex Community,

Welp, here I am 12 years after first joining this group and it looks like I'm about to end my love affair with this brand.

I was in college when I first joined the group. I slowly learned everything there is to know about the brand while counting down the days to when I'd finally be able to put the money together and buy one after graduation.

I literally spent hours looking at all your wrist check photos and carefully staged beauty shots of all your timepieces. I would wait to see what photos Jocke would come back with every year from Baselworld. I've even been here to watch members grow older, wiser and some even move on from this life (RIP JJ). It's truly been a joy and a pleasure being a member of this forum.

Shortly after college, the difficulty in making such a pivotal purchase grew from a financial challenge into a mental one. In just a matter of a few years the process of purchasing a Sub went from finding one at an AD with relative ease to a gambit of pinning customer against customer and the most tragic part is that the game is completely manufactured. I've heard so many stories of people buying several pieces from their AD only to still be on a perpetual waitlist - it breaks my heart and brain. We all know the only bottlenecking of the supply is coming from the dealers and in doing so they've created a grey market that, out of principal, I don't want to take part of.

I know some of you will see this as me whining and it very well could be just that. A Rolex isn't something I NEED to have, but it felt like a rite (thanks Old Expat Beast) of passage for me. Unfortunately, I doesn't seem like I have that right to pass even though I have the money to pay (MSRP not grey)

In essence, this is it for me - my last year of trying. I remember commenting on a ceramic kermit mockup posted in this forum almost 10 years ago thinking, "that's the perfect watch - that's my first Rolex", and now here we are!! 12 years in the making and its here - the Cermit.

I will do everything in my power to get one AT RETAIL!! I will call every dealer on the planet (yes, even all the way in Dubai) and if I find one, I will use all of my travel points to fly to wherever I have to and make it mine, but in the case I don't - it's been a true pleasure reading your posts and looking at your wrists, that sounded weird, but you get it.

In essence, if the hour hand never touches the coronet then I'm simply not a member - just a spectator.

A :)

Good luck on your quest!

[Bruno007]

I have to apologize for the length of this post but I think OP might find my story useful.

I spoke to three local ADs in my area before I found the right one to establish a relationship with. One AD that gets a lot of wealthy local customers and tourists was basically not too concerned whether they got my business or not. They were really only interested in selling me what they had in stock and were not serious about putting me on their list unless I made a purchase. They only had DJs that I was not interested in and PM GMT and SUBs that I could not afford. Over all I did not feel valued or appreciated. They were not rude just not what I hoped for.

The next dealer was very nice and very interested in adding me as a customer but was very transparent about playing the AD list game. He asked what I wanted, which was a 126710 BLRO or a 116610LV. He said he was willing to put me at the bottom of those lists. However, he explained it would be years before I got one if ever without making a purchase. He even showed me his lists for each watch and they were legitimately long. He then showed me all the monthly allocations that he had received year to date. There were very few in demand SS sport models. He asked if there was anything else I would be interested in, to which I replied, I would also like a White Ceramic Daytona or a Sea Dweller 43. That's when he very transparently started the AD game. He said he could work with me and guarantee me a SD 43 from his 2021 allocation if I purchased a DJ 41 this year to establish our relationship. He was willing to put me ahead of some of his existing customers as a way of expanding his client base. He explained that he needed to constantly grow his customer base but that he had to do it on a case by case basis so as not to disadvantage his existing customers that have already purchased from him and are waiting their turn. He felt he could do it with his SD 43 list because it was shorter than the other two and he would not be delaying that list as much, because in addition to having less demand for that watch it was also easier for him to get additional allocations compared to the GMT or Hulk. I appreciated his honesty and transparency and almost bought a TT DJ41 Wimbledon on the spot. However, I did not want to make a purchase without visiting the last AD.

The last AD was also very nice. They explained that they had only received one 126710 BLRO or 16610LV in the last 6 months and they had long lists for both, but they were willing to add me to their list without making a purchase. However, he warned me that his list was very long for both and since they received so few it would take a long time before I had the opportunity to purchase one. Before I left he asked if there was anything else I might be interested in. He also had no SD43 or Daytona in stock so I inquired about a 116613LB Bluesey. He said he had just received one and let me try it on. He said he had a waiting list for that model too, but he was willing to sell it to me as a way of expanding his client base. Even though it was not the watch I was looking for at the time, it was on my list of watches to get some day. So after thinking about it for a few minutes, he even offered to sell it to me on an interest free payment plan. I really appreciated his honesty and I preferred this approach to new customer acquisition. Even though I made a purchase and established our relationship. My purchase was not a condition of getting on his list and I walked out with a sought after Sub with no prior purchase history.

All of this is to say is your best chance at getting what you want is by visiting your local ADs within driving distance and spending some time speaking with them about your goals. You also need to understand that they do in fact have a bunch of folks that want the same thing as you and they have to have a way to differentiate you from everyone that asked for one before you. Adding you as a new customer is a legitimate way for them to make an exception if you can convince them that your are looking to establish a long term relationship for future purchases and repairs and not just a one and done sale. It just does not make sense to sell you something that they can sell a drop of the hat to many of their existing customers without a good reason, like gaining a new long term customer. Hope this helps and good luck with your search.

[Burlington]

In essence, you’re going to have to go grey for that one.

[Atlas]

I really appreciate the outpour of benevolence and advice. I have done what a lot of you have suggested and I’ll continue until she’s mine. I will have that watch.

[Plebs]

Originally Posted by Atlas

I really appreciate the outpour of benevolence and advice. I have done what a lot of you have suggested and I’ll continue until she’s mine. I will have that watch.

I would stop calling tbh. I would instead walk in to your local AD and introduce yourself, let them know your goals etc. you have been wanting a Sub date for some time now and saving for graduation is a big deal. The right AD will help you with this. With some luck I think you will be ok. Go in throughout the year look at other pieces, chat wjth them. You never know you may grow fond of other pieces also, and in meantime make great friends with your SA. Calling around for these pieces won’t help and you could just be a flipper tbh. Cheers and hope to see your incoming thread when you grad.


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[Spartacus]

Originally Posted by GradyPhilpott

My advice generally to those who are young is to never give up on your dreams.

If this isn't the right time, even though you might have the money, that doesn't mean that the time won't be right at a later time.

I'm not just speaking of watches here. I'm talking about life.

[Aberdein]

The way I see it is if you are not flipping watches and are buying to keep then the sure way to get what you want is to buy on the grey market. Yes you will pay more but after a few months and years you will forget the excess you paid to get your dream watch and you will have had your watch and enjoyed for all that time as opposed to waiting on a fictional AD wait list.
Yes its not not right and it may not seem fair that others are given preference to you but who said life is fair.
Buy grey, get what you want and move on...

[1William]

This is a situation of the OP's making. Market factors are market factors and he will not be getting this watch from an AD any time soon. For those who are trying to establish a relationship with an AD, all that is good, but what makes you different from many others who are trying to do the same. It is about money not the watch. If it was a grail then I would figure out how to get one. I would pay the fair market price and then I would wear and enjoy my watch. For most who say it is about the watch it really is about the money that can be made should you decide to sell or trade. At what point do people accept the current situation for what it is. It does not mean you like it, but does the whining and complaining ever stop?

[DC116710LN]

I hope you're able to find what you're looking for

[htc8p]

You can bide your time when prices have normalized. Go to Hong Kong and shop away


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[Meg007]

Good afternoon from the UK. This is my first post. I got the Rolex bug back in 1997. I purchased a explorer 2 black dial. I paid £1920. I still own the watch today and is my pride and joy. I remember walking in to my local Goldsmiths and buying it out of window. Flash forward to mid pandemic 2020 and surfing you tube and finding this group I got the rolex bug back. Sent three emails out looking for a hulk/pepsi (yes I know.... What was I doing) however got two emails back from two Ads. One local and one about 60 mins away. Both independents. Really polite and really keen to offer me a watch. I ended up purchasing the air-king which I know people love or hate. I happen to think it's a proper cool watch and again alittle different. I had the money saved up to buy it so did with lock down in full swing in the uk and not taking the summer hols. I made the trip yesterday afternoon to my Ad in person and went on the list for the new cermit/LV. My Ad said yes you are on the list. I didn't ask how long but the fact I am on it, I believe that some time down the line I will have the chance to own the new sub. My friend I hope you get the chance on the first post at the chance of owning one soon. Best wishes

[wilmero]

My first Rolex was purchased 2 days ago from a seller Ponucar350 here on this Forum. Ihave owned a watch since I was a kid with a Mickey Mouse watch, then a Casio gold calculator watch. I hit my 20's and bought my first gold seiko "around $150". Most every watch person's goal is to hit a Rolex. I moved up to Bulova, then finally started saving my money and not going out when friends invited me. Bought a 1962 Impala when I hit 40yrs old for $10,000 on my credit card, paid it off. Saved more money by not going out and impulse buying. With my wife's permission of course...I bought a yellow gold/stainless datejust 16233 circa 1988 from a seller here for $5,000. I know it is an entry level watch but I'm in love with it. Since I was 13yrs old in 1988 and I wanted a Rolex back then, thats the one I bought, so it's kind of like "I finally got it, from 1988"

Hold on to your dreams bro, it will happen. Don't quit, even if you have to shelve your dream for a bit due to life circumstances.