Rolex Orders in New Zealand advice please

[Avator]

Hi Everyone,

Since I was quite small I was interested in watches. When I left college at 18 I made it a goal of mine to buy my first Rolex watch for my 30th birthday to enjoy and appreciate and one day hand them down to my kids to hopefully appreciate. I knew there was a waiting list and when I was 25 I called the dealer for Rolex and asked to be put on the waiting list. There were two watches I really wanted, black Submariner with no date and the GMT masters with the black face and blue and red dial. I ordered both because the dealer said it would be unlikely both watches would arrive at the same time anyway.

I would go into the local dealer roughly every 3 months to show my interest was still there. I called up just before Christmas with my 30th Birthday coming up in a year to find out if there were any delays because of Covid 19 and if they knew anything. Talking to the dealer I found out my details were not on the system. I asked them to put my details back onto the system and which watches I was wanting to buy. The manager asked me to come into store for a chat, who also kindly makes you a Coffee. I was annoyed to hear even if your details are in the system it does not grantee you a watch.

Pretty much saying unless your one of the stores big spenders and have spent mega bucks in our store you are not going to receive a Rolex. They suggested to go to a trusted used dealers. If the dealer does have one of those watches your paying mega bucks to buy it, double or even triple the new retail price.

Is there anyone who can advice or suggestions to help me increase my chances of buying these two beautiful watches ?

[supernova]

That’s the norm these days for those 2 models globally. Same story with putting you on a “waitlist” as most ADs will just throw it in the bin if you don’t have a history.

Obviously there will be the odd super lucky one, but for most folks, this is they way.

Unfortunately your only path to acquiring either of these any time soon is to pay the grey dealer premium. The black Sub no date premium isn’t super crazy, maybe about 30 - 50% premium depending condition.


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[Paulie 50]

Originally Posted by Avator

Hi Everyone,

Since I was quite small I was interested in watches. When I left college at 18 I made it a goal of mine to buy my first Rolex watch for my 30th birthday to enjoy and appreciate and one day hand them down to my kids to hopefully appreciate. I knew there was a waiting list and when I was 25 I called the dealer for Rolex and asked to be put on the waiting list. There were two watches I really wanted, black Submariner with no date and the GMT masters with the black face and blue and red dial. I ordered both because the dealer said it would be unlikely both watches would arrive at the same time anyway.

I would go into the local dealer roughly every 3 months to show my interest was still there. I called up just before Christmas with my 30th Birthday coming up in a year to find out if there were any delays because of Covid 19 and if they knew anything. Talking to the dealer I found out my details were not on the system. I asked them to put my details back onto the system and which watches I was wanting to buy. The manager asked me to come into store for a chat, who also kindly makes you a Coffee. I was annoyed to hear even if your details are in the system it does not grantee you a watch.

Pretty much saying unless your one of the stores big spenders and have spent mega bucks in our store you are not going to receive a Rolex. They suggested to go to a trusted used dealers. If the dealer does have one of those watches your paying mega bucks to buy it, double or even triple the new retail price.

Is there anyone who can advice or suggestions to help me increase my chances of buying these two beautiful watches ?

Get rid of the headache, buy pre owned.

[GCFA]

To be honest, your chance to get these two watches from an AD is not very promising if not zero as you don’t have purchase history with them.


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[warren G.]

Yeah it's pretty bulls***. The GMT premium is pretty hefty, but the Submariner isn't as bad.

The buying a Rolex at AD experience isn't that special anyway. Now I'm finding out these days, most AD won't let you peel off your own damn stickers. Save yourself the headache, find yourself a trusted dealer, get yourself your favorite beverage, and have your s/o record a video of you opening the watch.

[Avator]

I realize there is a large market for people paying premium on second hand watches and I know of a few that have been stung with quality fakes. I spoke to the dealer today, according to the sales person they don't actually know what they will receive on there monthly orders. Its sort of a lucky dip.

[henrylee]

My advice during these times: “you got to pay to play~“

[teck21]

The closer you are to China.... the poorer your odds of getting a popular model without paying the premium, one way or another.

Your only real option is to simply buy from the resale market.


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[teck21]

Originally Posted by Avator

I spoke to the dealer today, according to the sales person they don't actually know what they will receive on there monthly orders. Its sort of a lucky dip.

Yes, but there’s little luck involved in how they decide who to sell the popular ones they receive to.

Would your city not have at least a few reputable second hand dealers?


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[supernova]

Originally Posted by teck21

The closer you are to China.... the poorer your odds of getting a popular model without paying the premium, one way or another.

Are you saying New Zealand is close to China?


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[teck21]

Originally Posted by supernova

Are you saying New Zealand is close to China?


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It’s a hell lot closer than Nashville. And it’s not like the world (pre-covid and post-covid) isn’t small enough already.

The Chinese dollar (or yuan) makes it presence felt everywhere.


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[supernova]

Originally Posted by teck21

It’s a hell lot closer than Nashville. And it’s not like the world (pre-covid and post-covid) isn’t small enough already.

The Chinese dollar (or yuan) makes it presence felt everywhere.


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Actually it isn’t that much closer than Nashville, sure even London and US west coast is closer to China than NewZealand!

Sorry OP for the digress


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[996marty]

Originally Posted by Paulie 50

Get rid of the headache, buy pre owned.

Definitely this approach would be my suggestion

[John McM]

Originally Posted by Avator

Hi Everyone,

Since I was quite small I was interested in watches. When I left college at 18 I made it a goal of mine to buy my first Rolex watch for my 30th birthday to enjoy and appreciate and one day hand them down to my kids to hopefully appreciate. I knew there was a waiting list and when I was 25 I called the dealer for Rolex and asked to be put on the waiting list. There were two watches I really wanted, black Submariner with no date and the GMT masters with the black face and blue and red dial. I ordered both because the dealer said it would be unlikely both watches would arrive at the same time anyway.

I would go into the local dealer roughly every 3 months to show my interest was still there. I called up just before Christmas with my 30th Birthday coming up in a year to find out if there were any delays because of Covid 19 and if they knew anything. Talking to the dealer I found out my details were not on the system. I asked them to put my details back onto the system and which watches I was wanting to buy. The manager asked me to come into store for a chat, who also kindly makes you a Coffee. I was annoyed to hear even if your details are in the system it does not grantee you a watch.

Pretty much saying unless your one of the stores big spenders and have spent mega bucks in our store you are not going to receive a Rolex. They suggested to go to a trusted used dealers. If the dealer does have one of those watches your paying mega bucks to buy it, double or even triple the new retail price.

Is there anyone who can advice or suggestions to help me increase my chances of buying these two beautiful watches ?

I live in Auckland and was in the same boat. The AD was pleasant to talk to and gave the same answer. I took their suggestion and went to a local aftermarket dealer. Sorted. However, now I realise that NZ watches are priced off international sites I will go to David SW for my next watch, a GMT Master II. I want unworn with the box and all papers. The NZ listed price is NZD 15,050. The US purchase price of USD 20,875 equates to NZD 34,250 landed with GST paid. Sometimes you just have to accept that the market is telling you the truth. You have zero chance of picking this watch up for the list price off an AD.

[Avator]

I am not aware of any used Rolex dealers in New Zealand asides from a shop called About Time in Auckland. I was thinking if you were to order the watch from a dealer from the likes of Beverly hills down Rodeo drive. Would you have a better chance than a small country ?

[BillA]

OP
I see you are a new member, so welcome to the forum.
If you had searched this matter you would have seen what others are experiencing who have no history with an AD. Good luck.

[Avator]

Thanks Bill. I am just studying the forums now

[jamestucker]

Originally Posted by Avator

Hi Everyone,

Since I was quite small I was interested in watches. When I left college at 18 I made it a goal of mine to buy my first Rolex watch for my 30th birthday to enjoy and appreciate and one day hand them down to my kids to hopefully appreciate. I knew there was a waiting list and when I was 25 I called the dealer for Rolex and asked to be put on the waiting list. There were two watches I really wanted, black Submariner with no date and the GMT masters with the black face and blue and red dial. I ordered both because the dealer said it would be unlikely both watches would arrive at the same time anyway.

I would go into the local dealer roughly every 3 months to show my interest was still there. I called up just before Christmas with my 30th Birthday coming up in a year to find out if there were any delays because of Covid 19 and if they knew anything. Talking to the dealer I found out my details were not on the system. I asked them to put my details back onto the system and which watches I was wanting to buy. The manager asked me to come into store for a chat, who also kindly makes you a Coffee. I was annoyed to hear even if your details are in the system it does not grantee you a watch.

Pretty much saying unless your one of the stores big spenders and have spent mega bucks in our store you are not going to receive a Rolex. They suggested to go to a trusted used dealers. If the dealer does have one of those watches your paying mega bucks to buy it, double or even triple the new retail price.

Is there anyone who can advice or suggestions to help me increase my chances of buying these two beautiful watches ?

Welcome to the forum.

You have described a very common scenario with Rolex waiting lists. It happened to me twice. On both occasions it was with Watches of Switzerland group branches. They said they would add my name and later I found out my name was not on their list.

[georgekart]

There's a chance you will get a Submariner before your 30th. The GMT, not so much.

[Avator]

Well least I know New Zealand is not the only country having this problem. Well hopefully the Sub turns up before my 30th but if not, not allot I can do. I am trying to keep in good talking terms with the store manger and hope things work out.

[Dirt]

A bit of advise from the West Islands.
Going with a reputable grey dealer or two that is widely known on this forum is going to be the best bet in the short term. Possibly even in the long run

After that it's possible to leverage off the ownership of your watch by servicing it at the RSC and going through your local dealer to put you on the map a bit more(as it were)

[Avator]

Thanks for the advice.

[Avator]

John McM, I just saw your post. Do you know if there are any used dealers in New Zealand asides from what you find on Trade me ?

[Nairn1980]

Originally Posted by Avator

Well least I know New Zealand is not the only country having this problem. Well hopefully the Sub turns up before my 30th but if not, not allot I can do. I am trying to keep in good talking terms with the store manger and hope things work out.

The fact your details weren’t on the system speaks volumes.

Most ADs now only sell these pieces (especially Pepsi) to well established clients with strong spend history. Even a black sub will have dozens of waiting people per delivered watch.

You have to put yourself in the AD shoes and ask yourself why the AD should sell to you vs someone else?

Spend history really puts you ahead so consider whether you want to start spending money eg a window model to start with and work upwards, or bite the bullet, go grey and get the one watch you want now.

Yes you hear of the people getting steel subs etc with little or no history, but in the grand scheme of things it’s not all that common.

[John McM]

Originally Posted by Avator

John McM, I just saw your post. Do you know if there are any used dealers in New Zealand asides from what you find on Trade me ?

The only one I know of is About Time. They appear to have good sources for watches albeit their watches are fully priced in accordance with the International market. If you are like me, you will take a while to come to terms with the market reality. When you do, you will realise that accepting the aftermarket will give you a watch without waiting for something that will never come from an AD.

[tna23]

Unfortunately OP, your only realistic option is to buy from the grey market. I have a friend who bought a Patek from Partridge Jewellers in Queen St and despite this cannot get his hands on a steel GMT from their Rolex store.

Another option is to consider another brand. There are other much better watchmakers than Rolex, which can be had for less than you'd be paying in the grey market.

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[Vivalas]

I understand your pain and frustration. The problem is though that all AD’s have 50 or 100 people for every watch. They can’t supply everyone so who they do supply is existing customers with previous spending history. Be prepared to either wait indefinitely, buy things you don’t want to start your relation, or go grey.

[LyingFlat]

OP, unless you have a very strong purchase history with either Partridge Jewellers or The Hour Glass you won't be getting a Sub or GMT. Your best option is to buy from the grey market.

The market in NZ is very, very strong - even without international travellers. I managed to obtain a difficult piece from Partridge in August. They received about 30 watches that month and about 20 of them were sold before they hit the shelves....

[Chinballs]

Originally Posted by Avator

Is there anyone who can advice or suggestions to help me increase my chances of buying these two beautiful watches ?

Hey mate, I'm across the ditch and its the same story. The majority of times when an AD says they put you on the list it is BS. If you had of actually gone in to the store originally and told your story you might have been put on the actual list. Even then, your chances were still really slim. Any monkey can smash the buttons on a phone, it takes some effort to actually go in person. As others have said, you need to spend to get on the list and even then there are people dropping a lot more money than you ever will who will jump ahead of you.

Realistically your chance of ever getting a Pepsi is 0% unless you drop many tens of thousands of dollars on other stuff. You have a slightly better chance of getting a Sub for a milestone birthday but now its only a year away, that ship has almost certainly sailed.

If you can afford it, go grey market. It will be expensive, especially for the Pepsi but the Sub won't be as painful. If you can't afford the grey premium I'd look at other brands. I am "on a list" for a no date Sub for my 40th in about 18 months but I know it probably isn't going to happen so I've looked at other stuff. I bought an Omega Seamaster 300m a couple of weeks ago and it is an amazing quality watch that is almost half the price of the Sub.

Even though my Rolex AD only sells Rolex and my purchase won't grease the wheels with them it still had an affect when I dropped in to see them. I went from being pond scum not worth talking to to a potential customer as they could see I had a few cents to rub together. If I don't get a Sub I already have my eye on a Blancpain Fifty Fathoms or another Omega. Something like a Planet Ocean or Aqua Terra.

There are lots of great options at the price (or less) than you'd pay for a Sub. If you are hung up on the Rolex name its not much good but you have to really be honest about why you want a Rolex. Do you just want it because its the only luxury watch brand you know or do you want it for the design, history, movement etc etc.

Good luck mate.

[John McM]

Originally Posted by LyingFlat

OP, unless you have a very strong purchase history with either Partridge Jewellers or The Hour Glass you won't be getting a Sub or GMT. Your best option is to buy from the grey market.

The market in NZ is very, very strong - even without international travellers. I managed to obtain a difficult piece from Partridge in August. They received about 30 watches that month and about 20 of them were sold before they hit the shelves....

I bought a near new grey market 114060, then fell out of love with it. It sold the day it went back on the market. I agree the market is very strong, not helped by Australian buyers actively looking for watches in NZ.