POLL. Rolex, online sales.

[Speedbird-1]

If Rolex sold watches direct, via internet site, would you buy?
If not, why not?


Please, give your reasons for your choice......if you feel like it.


I would, definitely, if it meant getting the watch I want, when I wanted it.

[brandrea]

No. I want my Diet Coke

[makak]

In a blind second

[beshannon]

I need to touch and try on first, so this would be a resounding no from me.

[Double Barrel]

Not sure, as I love arguing for discounts in general. I don't like to pay retail prices in anything.

[GoingPlaces]

Not sure, I would still hunt for deals on PM's. SS sports, probably would.

[GTC]

Originally Posted by Spam16v

Is it going to ever happen? No.

Exactly. Polls this deep in the abstract provide what?

[Cesarmsi]

Well.... I have a mix feeling about this. Part of me will buy off their website like I pretty much do everything else. BUT!!! If it becomes "TOO" easy get the watch you want we may loose the trill of the HUNT! Finding and getting your hands on that hard to get watch has a level of enjoyment all by it self and being able to get it online whenever may take away from that.

Just my humble opinion......

[Dilemma]

Ten years ago my answer would have been a resounding no. Today, I’m not so sure. I think part of the exclusivity -or perhaps perceived exclusivity- is the brick and mortar experience. Which of course is ridiculous given the myriad online sales sites.

I vote; ‘I dunno’ with a ‘Beats me!’ for good measure.

[jsausley]

I'm going to vote no because I think online direct sales hurts a brand's value. I have no interest in buying a TAG or Omega that can be bought instantly online. Secondly if these watches are available online, it probably still means a gray market dealer will have them cheaper (just like Jomashop has Omegas far cheaper than Omega.com). So even with DTC it wouldn't be a good idea to buy from Rolex.com.

There are problems with the Rolex distribution process but DTC isn't the answer.

[Speedbird-1]

Originally Posted by GTC

Exactly. Polls this deep in the abstract provide what?

Thats a fairly shallow, abstract response, isn't it?

Why wouldn't Rolex set up a direct sales outlet?
We all know it will happen, eventually....don't we?


Believe those who are seeking the truth; doubt those who find it. ~André Gide

[tyler1980]

Originally Posted by Lt Virgil Hilts

If Rolex sold watches direct, via internet site, would you buy?
If not, why not?


Please, give your reasons for your choice......if you feel like it.


I would, definitely, if it meant getting the watch I want, when I wanted it.

i vote no because if its online only, there are no AD's. That also means you will never be able to try on a watch. Its the Amazon.com argument. Its successful in part because there are B&M stores for people to showroom in. Take that ability away and people might rethink a major purchase.

In the short term, yeah we have all tried on most watches. 10 years later and no new models to see first it gets to be a bit more pronounced of an issue.

Also its a luxury purchase, not a pair of underwear you are ordering. Online cheapens it.

[penguinrolex]

No
Because thus would simply make it easier for the Grey market to capture the supply of high demand models. Grey market prices would go up another 30%.
Think of how quickly Adele concerts sell out... And then the same tickets all go on sale for 2x to 10x

[Speedbird-1]

Originally Posted by penguinrolex

No
Because thus would simply make it easier for the Grey market to capture the supply of high demand models.

That, my friend, has already happened, hasn't it?

Almost £20,000 for a SS GMT ?????

Rolex could use the 'flagship' AD's as collection centres, thereby monitoring purchasers.
The 'touts' turning up with a wheelbarrow, to collect their bundles of 'watch coffins' could be shown the door.

or do this: I got tickets to Hamilton on the west end for next week at face value. Guess how i got them? They don't allow you to flip them. They don't issue a ticket and you have to bring your ID and Credit Card to the performance to be admitted. If it doesnt match, you cant get in. There is no way i could sell them on Ebay. (thanks to Tyler1980)

The queues on the night would be fun tho'.

[tyler1980]

Originally Posted by penguinrolex

No
Because thus would simply make it easier for the Grey market to capture the supply of high demand models. Grey market prices would go up another 30%.
Think of how quickly Adele concerts sell out... And then the same tickets all go on sale for 2x to 10x

exactly. People with more computer skills sit in their basement and game online ordering systems. If you think you have a real chance of a good seat at a popular concert then you would be wrong.


I got tickets to Hamilton on the west end for next week at face value and it was actually pretty easy. Guess how i got them? They don't allow you to flip them. They don't issue a ticket and you have to bring your ID and Credit Card to the performance to be admitted. If it doesnt match, you cant get in. There is no way i could sell them on Ebay. Thus you actually have to want to show up and its not impossible to get tickets. Otherwise people with no intention of going would buy them all and most people have no interest in going. Kind of like Daytonas.

AD's try something similar with holding warranty cards to make resale more difficult and people throw a fit.

[beshannon]

Originally Posted by Lt Virgil Hilts

Why wouldn't Rolex set up a direct sales outlet?
We all know it will happen, eventually....don't we?

Why?

Rolex sells luxury not watches.

Can you sell the luxury experience online?

[joli160]

Yes, I would. Not very font of AD sales tactics. Don’t care for freebies either.

[tyler1980]

Originally Posted by beshannon

Why?

Rolex sells luxury not watches.

Can you sell the luxury experience online?

+1

The fact that luxury groups do it (reichmont) doesnt mean Rolex will. They have different models and different interests to look out for. Public companies try to sell as much as possible and increase share prices for external shareholders. It often leads to long term damage to get short term results. They also make their watches in general readily available as they want to sell as many as possible. Scarcity doesnt exist to them and online is a vehicle to squeeze out a few more sales

[T01]

I would yes, but I value the AD relationship. There's something to be said about brick and mortar.

[Cru Jones]

What would people post about if they could get the watches they want, when they want them. ;-)

[FirstF80InSpace]

I would absolutely buy online. I would be more than happy to put down a deposit for a Daytona and wait my turn rather than play the spend $200K to get at the top of an AD list game.

[CRM114]

Originally Posted by tyler1980

i vote no because if its online only, there are no AD's. That also means you will never be able to try on a watch. Its the Amazon.com argument. Its successful in part because there are B&M stores for people to showroom in. Take that ability away and people might rethink a major purchase.

In the short term, yeah we have all tried on most watches. 10 years later and no new models to see first it gets to be a bit more pronounced of an issue.

Also its a luxury purchase, not a pair of underwear you are ordering. Online cheapens it.

They could have Rolex "try-on" Kiosks located in shopping malls near the Foot Lockers, just down from the Sunglass Hut and mobile phone protector kiosks.

[tyler1980]

Originally Posted by Cru Jones

What would people post about if they could get the watches they want, when they want them. ;-)

...all the places its not safe to wear them

[tyler1980]

Originally Posted by CRM114

They could have Rolex "try-on" Kiosks located in shopping malls near the Foot Lockers, just down from the Sunglass Hut and mobile phone protector kiosks.

that has luxury written all over it. Swatch has a kiosk at a mall i go to frequently as well

[tottallyoff]

the delivery may be a little problematic since so many packages are 'lost'.....

[Cru Jones]

Originally Posted by tyler1980

...all the places its not safe to wear them

[FirstF80InSpace]

Originally Posted by tottallyoff

the delivery may be a little problematic since so many packages are 'lost'.....

Would be no different than buying from DavidSW. I imagine they would ship them FedEx high value insured or something equivalent.

[Mephist]

Rolex should absolutly sell every Rolex online from their website. Cut out the middle man (AD's) and get full control over supply and demand and no more supplying the gray dealers. However I doubt they will do it because too many people like the "AD experience"

Also would be much better if you could just add yourself to the Rolex wait list directly on their site and wean your number comes up they send you the Daytona or what ever watch you put yourself on the list for. In 15 years I think this will be reality. Maybe they keep a few AD's around the world that they own themselves just so people can try out the different watches before buying.

[Bigblu10]

If we didn't have AD's, that would be one less thing to complain about on TRF!

[Raku]

How about this:
You order your watch on the Rolex web site but they won't deliver it, you pick it up from a boutique.
Aren't you still getting that luxury treatment this way?