How do AD's get allocation

[pigcorn]

How do ADs get their Rolex allocations? I guess more specifically when it comes to the more rare watches like the Lv Sub, Daytona, GV Milgauss how does it work? Do they get 1 or 2 a year. Do they get none a year? Can they order one specifically or trade with another AD? Do they get deliveries each month?

Thanks this info helps when looking for the new more rare Rolex's

Ed

[sbakar]

I asked this question at RDV in Toronto earlier today.

For mundane Rolexes, they get in several per month. Shipping from Rolex is done in batches once a month. Rare ones, like the SS Daytona, are usually 1-2 per SIX months.

Of course, they can always special-order after a purchase has gone through and have one brought in stat (like a Sub/SD - the more common ones)!

SNB

[pigcorn]

Thanks. I have been asking my AD "if a new rare Rolex model xxxx" comes in let me know...but are you saying they could in fact special order one for me? I work with an AD that I know has no waiting list for something like the Milgauss GV so do you think I can say please order one for me? My AD makes it sound like it is luck of the draw on what they get when it comes to the rare models.

[rescue7]

According to my AD in Collingwood he receives a shipment once a month (usually end of month).
To coincide with his shipment he places an order of what inventory he sold, and depending on Rolex Canada's stock he gets what they have.
If by chance an item was not sent to him on his monthly order then he may receive that item on a seperate shipment in the middle of the month.

[rescue7]

Originally Posted by pigcorn

Thanks. I have been asking my AD "if a new rare Rolex model xxxx" comes in let me know...but are you saying they could in fact special order one for me? I work with an AD that I know has no waiting list for something like the Milgauss GV so do you think I can say please order one for me? My AD makes it sound like it is luck of the draw on what they get when it comes to the rare models.

My AD has NOT received a Milgauss GV yet.
I think with the rare models its hit or miss and eventually all AD's will get a rare watch sometime.
I've already asked him if a new Sub/SD/DS(Deep Sea) comes out too get me one. Remember I waited 2 weeks for a S/S white dial Daytona.

[sbakar]

On ALL the rare ones, they always say that they have no control over when one comes in. Thus, you can't special order a SS Daytona or a Milgauss GV. RDV in Toronto said that they USED TO have a waiting list, but they abolished it because it was getting ridiculous. Now, apparently, as soon as they get a rare one, it goes on display and first-come-first-serve applies. Of course, who knows, maybe a few correctly placed phone calls go out simultaneously, too

Over 'mundane' ones, the special order is fulfilled within a week or two.

Hope that helps...

SNB

[Trainer]

I have a relatively good realtionship with my small town AD. I've bought five Rolexes from him over an eight year period. He says That I'm tied for his Rolex sales by a single individual.

Last fall when I asked about a GMT IIc, he said he didn't know when he'd be getting one in. Appx. one month after I told him that I would be buying either a SD, or a GMT IIc, he had one of each in stock.

Go Figure.

Tempus Fugit,
Trainer

[rescue7]

Spoke to RDV a month ago and they said expect an minimum 1 year wait to get a S/S Daytona and it must be prepaid in advance.
Next time you go there ask them for one and see what they say.

[TZL]

I got a SS Daytona from an AD in Toronto....I put CDN 1000 down, they told me it could take 3-4 months.....they called me 4 weeks later, it was in......I don't know exactly how that works...but it was much faster than expected.

Originally Posted by rescue7

Spoke to RDV a month ago and they said expect an minimum 1 year wait to get a S/S Daytona and it must be prepaid in advance.
Next time you go there ask them for one and see what they say.

[sbakar]

Originally Posted by TZL

I got a SS Daytona from an AD in Toronto....I put CDN 1000 down, they told me it could take 3-4 months.....they called me 4 weeks later, it was in......I don't know exactly how that works...but it was much faster than expected.

Possibly luck, if they got one in pretty soon after you transacted??

SNB

[pigcorn]

Yeah many of us have had similar experiences of ordering and being told it would take a long time and then we got "the call" in a much shorter time.

I would think the AD has some discretion\say on the rare models for example if they were to get 4 LV Subs could they barter with Rolex Corp distributor and say how about 2 SS Daytonas instead if they knew they had valued customers wanting a Daytona for example, same for the Milgauss GV which is valued by collectors but somewhat unknown to the common public who may know to ask for a Daytona but don't realize or desire a more rare watch like the Milgauss GV..so it may be worth more for the AD to try to get the more popular "rare" watches if that makes sense.

[sbakar]

In Toronto and Vancouver, there is NO shortage of LV Subs...

SNB

[pigcorn]

Point is are the dealers really getting random deliveries of rare watches or if they see a waiting list build for one particular model can they "request" more of those if they are willing to trade\wait etc.

When I asked my AD for a Milguass GV they say sure if we randomly get one I will give you a call and I want to know if the AD can influence the delivery to try to get one or not

I want to know if my AD can be proactive or are their hands tied and need to be passive which is how my AD acts on the rare ones.

[sbakar]

From what I've heard, it is more a passive thing...case in point, why would they allow waiting lists of YEARS if they could get in more specimens?

SNB

[rescue7]

Problem is supply and demand for starters, Rolex only manufactures so many of each watch and my guess would be that not too many Daytona's are manufactered(was mentioned either here or on TZ). We will never find out because Rolex being a privately held company is not privy to that info.
Some AD's will also hold back for their top tier customers that buy several pieces a year, that would include the Gold versions of any model.

[sbakar]

Originally Posted by rescue7

Problem is supply and demand for starters, Rolex only manufactures so many of each watch and my guess would be that not too many Daytona's are manufactered(was mentioned either here or on TZ). We will never find out because Rolex being a privately held company is not privy to that info.
Some AD's will also hold back for their top tier customers that buy several pieces a year, that would include the Gold versions of any model.

Sounds very plausible, but this SS Daytona shortage has been going on for YEARS, no? I mean, surely it is not just a lack of manufacturing capacity that is causing short supply? Perhaps they enjoy leaving a few models rare to enhance the exclusivity of certains models and, by extension, the brand?

SNB

[sleedawg]

Originally Posted by pigcorn

Point is are the dealers really getting random deliveries of rare watches or if they see a waiting list build for one particular model can they "request" more of those if they are willing to trade\wait etc.

When I asked my AD for a Milguass GV they say sure if we randomly get one I will give you a call and I want to know if the AD can influence the delivery to try to get one or not

I want to know if my AD can be proactive or are their hands tied and need to be passive which is how my AD acts on the rare ones.

I was told by several ADs and not the sales staff, the actual owners that they can call and request models but does not mean they will get them. The store can call Rolex corporate and they tell them if it's something they'll get immediately or need to wait for. In regards to SS Daytonas, Milguass, and other hard to get items... it really is luck of the draw. ADs know not to bother calling for those items. "They get what they get." A dealer who of course sells more watches and takes whatever they get in their allocation and sells them gets more of the desired hard to get items. This is how a lot of distribution channels work.

Oh yeah... to your question of how many does a dealer get. All depends in the AD's standing w. Rolex. Some will get a few a year of the rare models. Some will get shut out.

[sleedawg]

Originally Posted by pigcorn

I would think the AD has some discretion\say on the rare models for example if they were to get 4 LV Subs could they barter with Rolex Corp distributor and say how about 2 SS Daytonas instead if they knew they had valued customers wanting a Daytona for example, same for the Milgauss GV which is valued by collectors but somewhat unknown to the common public who may know to ask for a Daytona but don't realize or desire a more rare watch like the Milgauss GV..so it may be worth more for the AD to try to get the more popular "rare" watches if that makes sense.

Lastly, there's no dealer swapping like cars. And no negotiation on what Rolex sends. It's not like... I'll trade you 4 LV allocation for 1 SS Daytona. Wish this was the case. I've been waiting for a Milgauss GV for over a year. I'm #3 on the waitlist w. my AD. Passed on a black face Milgauss back in November because I wanted the GV. Now, I kind of regret that move. Oh well.

[DRKBC]

When I was in the business and we where an authorized dealer this is how it worked; there were different levels of dealers and each level was required to stock a certain selection of watches. Lower level dealers would have to stock a certain number of pieces representing the whole collection but would not be required to stock more than say a couple couple of gold Day dates, they wouldn't have to stock a gold sub, gmt etc. The higher level dealers would have to stock more variety in each of the categories and more gold, platinum, diamond dials models and so on. As a dealer, you were required to replace the missing pieces of the collection quarterly and really your only part of the process was to pick dials. You could of course stock more watches than your level required, that was OK, but you had to keep the minimum requirement of your category on hand at all times (regardless of your current cash flow position or the state of the market). As far as rare watches were concerned you always put them on your order but it was completely random. I would guess that "A" list dealers got more of the rare wathces just based on how many watches they received in a year. Could have changed but that was how it used to work.

[cmr]

Originally Posted by sbakar

Sounds very plausible, but this SS Daytona shortage has been going on for YEARS, no? I mean, surely it is not just a lack of manufacturing capacity that is causing short supply? Perhaps they enjoy leaving a few models rare to enhance the exclusivity of certains models and, by extension, the brand?

SNB

shortage? there is about 40 of them for sale right now on ebay. there is no shortage when it comes to the grey market. the ad's are back dooring them to the grey market. there is no other way for them to get that many to sell when i tried to get one at msrp for 3 years.

[dopeymuppet]

I think it purely depends on the area that you're in. I got my bi-colour Daytona straight away and they did have an SS in if my memory serves me correctly. I think it's a case of size and selling power as the larger of the two is an AD for several top brands (Panerai, Rolex, Patek, etc) and seem to be able to get what they want. To be honest, I think the pre-owned market is brilliant at the moment and you can get your hands on almost anything from a reputable source. This seems to be a more sensible option in my opinion considering the shocking waiting lists for some models. There's nothing more likely to make a watch sound more exclusive and make people want it more than having a huge waiting list!

[Gaijin]

ADs get thier allocation based upon thier sales numbers. My AD says they never know what is in thier shipment until they rifle throught it. It is an exciting day when the boxes arrive. Will thier be an LV? A SS Daytona? A Milgausse!? (My AD has yet to recieve one of those.)

They never even know if the Rolex that customers ordered will be in a particular shipment.

[dopeymuppet]

Christ I bet that's a fun box to open! Like one hell of a Christmas!

[Markg]

my AD told me in addition that IF he puts a customer name on a watch order, it gets allocated differently, and comes in sooner, than if it is a general order for stock.

twice we ordered what i thought were relatively hard to find watches, and they came in with a week or so.