Seeking Advice: Frustration and Disappointment with my Authorized Dealer

[bluestreak]

Originally Posted by train-time

I find this amazing. The more the brand and the ADs restrict one's ability to fork out insane amounts for money to get a Stainless Steel run of the mill timepiece, the more they go insane trying to figure out ways to get it, and the next one, and the next one..... At some point it's time to just tell them where they can stick it and save your money for the important things in life.

That’s totally your choice. You can certainly choose not to participate. Which is the whole point of my posts.
But the idea that giving preferential treatment to certain customers is somehow unique to Rolex or the watch world is not based in any type of reality.

[Funkeruski]

Go buy the damn watch on the grey market.

[GGGMT]

Originally Posted by Funkeruski

Go buy the damn watch on the grey market.

This! It always amazes me that people will be on a waiting list for like three years, then get screwed over, then the sales associate leaves, then the watch is discontinued, etc. etc., rather than just going to buy the watch BNIB from David SW for a few grand +


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[rg9390]

Originally Posted by KatGirl

What surprises me about your story is that your SA admitted that allocation is about the amount you previously spent, at your AD. Also, the amount you did spend should put you at VVIP status, in my book.

Kat


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Having picked up the Daytona, and some other 'slightly harder to get' models, kind of reset the spending, and a 'new' journey begins...

[KatGirl]

Originally Posted by rg9390

Having picked up the Daytona, and some other 'slightly harder to get' models, kind of reset the spending, and a 'new' journey begins...

Sounds like you have a watch for every mood…

Kat


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[BobbyB]

Greetings, forum! I wanted to provide an update on my situation. I had a conversation with the store manager and shared my experience with him. He acknowledged that my encounter was entirely unacceptable, aligning with the sentiments expressed by some members here. Consequently, he released the watch to me today. I sincerely appreciate everyone’s input. Thank you and everyone have a safe 4th of July!






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[codecow]

I’m glad they realized how outrageous the situation was. Good job OP!

[puma1552]

Excellent, glad you got your watch.

The disappointing part of it is that it just goes to show that they just sit on these watches in the safe.

[sski]

Happy for the positive outcome! Wear in good health; good you spoke to the manager. As they say, 'don't ask, don't get!'

[Dr.Stu]

Congrats & thanks for the follow-up OP! So many times we never get to hear how things turn out! Wear it in good health!

[MSL997]

Who is above the store manager, if regional manager or owner print out your OP and send to them. HIT HARD, dont p***y down. Tip toeing around gets you nowhere but being the squeaky wheel gets you everything. I am a business owner and the persons who are the most pain in the ass get serviced first just so the heat is off me. I've been in the exact same situation since 2020, they feed me some sport models but I am after Daytonas so I understand the years wait.

[karleone]

Originally Posted by BobbyB

Greetings, forum! I wanted to provide an update on my situation. I had a conversation with the store manager and shared my experience with him. He acknowledged that my encounter was entirely unacceptable, aligning with the sentiments expressed by some members here. Consequently, he released the watch to me today. I sincerely appreciate everyone’s input. Thank you and everyone have a safe 4th of July!






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Well done and congrats!

[Rolex1982]

Congratulations, wear it in good health!

[Harry-57]

Congratulations. It's a great watch.

[travisb]

Glad it finally worked out. Congratulations and enjoy your BLNR!

[Etschell]

shocker they had one in stock. amazing. see. this is why you can't believe the sell that "we don't have any".

[1William]

Congratulations. All games. They could have delivered this watch at anytime they chose too. I know money is an issue but this is an example of why I use our Trusted Sellers so much.

[PT_91]

Originally Posted by Etschell

shocker they had one in stock. amazing. see. this is why you can't believe the sell that "we don't have any".

This

[Gwai]

Originally Posted by Etschell

shocker they had one in stock. amazing. see. this is why you can't believe the sell that "we don't have any".

Oh, sure. Back in the day when I was, uh, tight with my AD's people they showed me everything they had, which was pretty much everything, because they knew I wouldn't whine when I could look & touch but didn't qualify to buy.
Cheers
Marc

[dannyp]

Originally Posted by 1William

Congratulations. All games. They could have delivered this watch at anytime they chose too. I know money is an issue but this is an example of why I use our Trusted Sellers so much.

This is why I'm back to my theory of "allocation within allocation" structure: AD receives its allocation from Rolex, at which point each SA receives their "allocation" (perhaps rotating schedule of getting "desirable" pieces to sell), at which point they each choose the customer to sell to.

In the OP's case, the manager was upfront the first time: just bought something, can't allocate yet.

When OP's new SA kept hoping "soon" it's possible that she was waiting for her own "allocation" of a BLNR to sell, as I don't think she ever said "we don't have one" during the exchanges.

When presented with a potentially embarrassing situation, manager did the right thing: intervene and make an exception to typical "allocation within allocation" system to preserve a customer relationship. Sounds like a good exercise in balancing long vs. short games.

[alphadweller]

Congrats, OP. All is well that ends well. Your complaint paid off, well done.

[omar10213245]

Originally Posted by 77T

116500 (at the time that happened)
Daytona SS with black dial.


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ah ok, got it. thanks

[Goupax]

Congratulations but I don't think it's worth going through all this headache for your next watch, especially in this downturn market. Bet save yourself all that trouble next time and go grey instead, this relationship stuff is just a waste of time and full of uncertainty.

[buffetwarren]

Go to as many ADs as possible in your city and put your name down. One will come through.

[matPORTS]

My most recent AD experience...

Went in with a buddy over the weekend for a browse at the "exhibition emporium" and to try on some pieces. I also have a previous purchase history with this AD (multi-brand IWC) and have expressed interest in Rolex models in the past without actually ever receiving a call (have since just purchased my interested pieces via the grey market and got somewhat lucky with another AD being able to pair an Air King up with another other-brand purchase).

Their Rolex store is standalone. One thing I will compliment them on is, for the first time in about three years, they were actually very welcoming of us into the store. Whereas in the past few years it's been "do you have an appointment, sorry we don't actually have anything to sell you today". Basically - times are now getting desperate (they can no longer move the less desirable pieces in the range as easy as they did during the height of the pandemic).

As fate would have it - I got to try on one of the 2023 releases (won't reveal exactly which). Have tried on previous iterations of the same line in the past and they never sang to me. But this did and the SA could see how in love I was with the piece. My buddy also said to me that he never saw me like that before (we have been into many ADs together for try on hauls in the past). EOI put down by me for this piece.

Fast forward - my buddy and I went for a beer, as he was in two minds about a couple of pieces he tried on. But eventually he decided to go back on his own before closing time and put an EOI down as well.

The SA got speaking with him and asked - if we were to offer your friend an "alternative version" of the watch in the range, do you think he would take it?

After spending a good afternoon, falling in love (unexpectedly) with the piece, thinking there might have been some hope of getting a call (not expecting straight away but within some sort of reasonable timeframe), I don't expect to receive any call. They are just looking at us as a potential way of moving other less desirable pieces.

So, the moral of the story here:

1. The ADs and their SAs are not your friend !

2. Don't be coerced into buying stuff you don't want or alternatives - buy only the pieces you want (right down to the exact configuration) !

Before I visited the AD on the weekend, I have had my eye on another grey market piece at a good deal. Which brings me to:

3. Don't lose focus on what it is you want and hope to achieve in terms of your collecting goals. The ADs will find a way to screw and deviate you off the right path if they can, and more importantly, if you let them.

[CFR]

Congrats, Bobby! Mission accomplished!