Now I understand AD frustration

[FL23833]

I say this in a cheeky manner but I get the aggravation dealing with them now!

I don't have a dealings with Rolex ADs and I'm looking to start one. I've found 3 ADs who sell everything I want and I went to the 1st today in Kitchener Ontario because I was in the area with the family. Locals can probably guess the AD.

I walked in and introduced myself and politely said I want to start a relationship with an AD and this is what I'm after. If you don't want to sell these to me then I can try the dealers in Toronto. I even printed a an itemized list of the things I want to buy in order and went through it with the lady because I figured that would be easier for her to digest.

1. I would come back with my cousin to surprise her for her 50th and let her go on a $3k shopping spree.

2. Put me on the list for 1 of the following I don't care which one. No date Sub, date Sub, oyster blue black GMT.

3. Speedy 3861.

4. White SS Daytona if the first 3 were enough to get me 1. I like Daytonas (who doesn't) but I don't actually care if I get 1 or not it's worth a shot. If I am lucky enough to ever get 1 I'll probably replace the Speedy.

The lady flat out said their list is full (2+ years) and they're not taking any new names for SS Rolex models and that was basically the end of it! Part of me expected as much but I'm surprised that an AD could look at my list (quick math puts the first 3 items above $20k) and turn away my business. I'm expecting the same from Toronto area ADs but I'll go for it anyways wish me luck!

[rambo99]

next time you tell the sales lady $50k of shopping spree instead of $3k, you may stand a chance.

[Rrpdc]

3k spending spree will not cut it for that wish list. Maybe 3 years ago but not now.

[dannyp]

Originally Posted by FL23833

If you don't want to sell these to me then I can try the dealers in Toronto.

This may well have rubbed her the wrong way.

[Snerks]

3k is never going get you an ~5k-8k+ gift of sub or BLNR. Neither is a single speedy purchase. Let alone the 20k+ gift of a SS Daytona.

The fact of the matter is, you have to incentivize the AD to sell you a SS Rolex. It has to be smart for them, financially. Of the 3k shopping spree, how much is the AD really profiting? What about with the purchase of the speedy?

If the AD sells you the Sub or BLNR or SS Daytona how much are you profiting?

[superpop]

Bro, you are out of your depth. These AD's see customers that spend tens of thousands of dollars per year for several years and some that spend hundreds of thousands of dollars per year. The 3K is nice but it is not going to get you 2-3 hot models. Your list probably also raised all kinds of red flags around flipping as these are the most popular watches for flippers to buy. Her response was code for go jump off a cliff. I would not approach the other AD's in your area with this list. Rather I would just walk in and let them know you are looking to start a long term relationship with one AD. Tell them you are looking for one of the watches on your list and that you might also want to buy some jewelry. You might get lucky and end up with a new watch and probably some jewelry that is worth about 25% of what you spend on it.

[FL23833]

That's ridiculous $3k isn't enough to let you spend $9k on a watch!

[JLM3]

3k isn't getting you a sub and the 3861 is another watch that people want... like said above maybe a 50k shopping spree

[TheDapperYank]

Oh boy there's a lot to digest here. If I were an AD and you just walked in and rattled off a list of demands to me I probably would have told you no as well.

It's like the opening scene of 300 where you just busted into Sparta demanding that they join your empire and pay tribute so you got kicked down a well, lol

[Snerks]

Originally Posted by FL23833

That's ridiculous $3k isn't enough to let you spend $9k on a watch!

that "9k" watch is worth almost 20k my man

It's not ridiculous that you spending 3k on jewelery does not give you a free $5k+. Oh how nice it would be if every time I spent 3k I got 3k worth + 5k in profit.

[IBDOC]

So… you thought that $3K random spend and a 2021 novelty Speedmaster would get you a Sub/GMT and a SS Daytona? Would that make sense if you were an AD? This would be something akin to basically handing the customer $25K of profit and here someone wants to spend Speedy+$3K money to get that. As the previous poster indicated, $50K would be closer to what would be a spend that can actually entice the AD to jump into a relationship with ya.

[brucethemanlee]

spending spree of $3k will get you know where

even if the list wasn't closed, you probably needed $10k of spending spree just to get on iist for subs and GMTs

And your spending of subs and GMTs probably wouldn't have counted too much towards spending history for the daytona - because they can sell subs and GMTs with a 2 second phone call.

Speedy may have bought you some history but not that much.

Unfortunately $20k is nothing. Try $100k

[Ona]

Originally Posted by TheDapperYank

Oh boy there's a lot to digest here. If I were an AD and you just walked in and rattled off a list of demands to me I probably would have told you no as well.

It's like the opening scene of 300 where you just busted into Sparta demanding that they join your empire and pay tribute so you got kicked down a well, lol

Lol...

The similarity drawn between this situation and the movie "300" is funny but true. It's just too straightforward and I understand the AD's response.

[zion_rasta]

Spend $200k so you can get that $9k watch that you can profit $5k and now you are

-$204,000 in the hole.

Just pay grey and move on.

[brucethemanlee]

Originally Posted by FL23833

That's ridiculous $3k isn't enough to let you spend $9k on a watch!

why is it ridiculous?

You spend $3k. but expect them to sell you a $9k (say GMT) watch that already has a built in profit of $8k

they'd rather sell to customers who spend $3k per month

[doboy007]

Nobody likes this but it is what it is. Only if you started several years earlier.

[envuks]

This is not surprising. All of your spend less the $3k and speedy are hot rolex.

My feedback is that you went in too aggressive. Should have asked for 1 rolex to stand any chance. Still probably would have met the same answer, but the $3k and the speedy might get you a sub. Not sure


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[inadeje]

For 3k they’ll maybe remember your name. For 30k you’ll get on the list for anything TT. For 50k you’ll get on a sub/exp/exp II SS list with a wait time of anything from months to a year. 100k a GMT batman or pepsi. After getting all those over several years having spent over 150k you may get a Daytona.

Welcome to the new reality of Rolex.

This isn’t sarcasm, it’s actually me. As in, I have spent well over three times that amount on watches and jewelry over many years with the same AD. Like me there are literally 10s of clients at a given AD, and there are lots of ADs with more people just like me. Do the math. Add to this the restricted supplies each AD gets, and you’ll understand who gets those few watches that arrive. It’s me (and people like me) who get the call from the AD, not the other way around. I am not calling them. They know what I want, my wish list is known. Sometimes something arrives that wasn’t on my list, but I get offered it anyway, I’m guessing it’s because they’re trying to keep me happy during dry periods in which none of those pieces I seek are available. Sometimes I say yes and sometimes I say no, since I simply don’t want the piece and would never wear it. On a few occasions I’ve helped “real” genuine collector TRF members to get pieces that I didn’t want but could get easily (at retail, no markup). The flip side is that even watches I want sometimes take a while, while others I wasn’t particularly interested in emerge. I’m not trying to belittle nor boast, rather I would just like to clarify how these AD relationships really work for those who really spend the money while fomenting a real relationship over an extended term. I have direct whatsapp numbers for my AD sales people in several countries. I say hi now and again and just chat about day to day stuff. If I get a piece from another AD somewhere, I send the other ADs the photo and kindly request they remove me from the list for the piece I just got. They say “congrats” but they also subliminally understand that I’m a straight shooter and have no interest in flipping. Like who asks to me “removed” from a list? Well, its real buyers who do, people like me, and its people like me who are getting the watches.

[prescience6631]

I think the issue OP missed when evaluating the $20k list and potential revenue to the AD is that the 3 watches ($20k spend) they are asking for can be sold almost instantly to any of the AD's clients. $20k spend on watches that sell on the secondary market for $50k+ is not a business relationship builder from the AD's perspective.

Like someone else wrote, I would ask to be put on the list for 1 of those watches (not the Daytona, because 0 chance at no buy-history Daytona) and explain how excited you would be etc. Just my $0.02.

[Snerks]

Originally Posted by doboy007

Nobody likes this but it is what it is. Only if you started several years earlier.

If he started several years earlier, he wouldn't be trying to profit off the AD by buying retail rolexes.

[FL23833]

You guys make great points! I'm not arguing with any of you but would like to clarify that I wasn't rude in any manner when I said I'd try the Toronto ADs I explained that I lived far away and my list wasn't a set of demands it was just to help visualize what I'm in the market for. If $3k isn't enough to start a relationship that's ridiculous! I see now why so many go grey but I refuse to do that. Maybe that shopping spree and a Speedy from elsewhere are all that's in the cards for me.

[scurfa]

Subs, GMT’s and Daytona’s are now ultra high demand models and unfortunately you need to put your money where your mouth is and spend, you have to have a previous Rolex purchase to be considered.


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[prnceofpersia23]

The response you got is the response I'd expect you to get from an AD. Take a look through the forum and do some research, you will be enlightened.

Originally Posted by doboy007

Nobody likes this but it is what it is. Only if you started several years earlier.

+1

[WestCoastS]

Lots of higher rollers in Toronto I would not hold your breath. Situation is similar to here in Vancouver. Keep trying though not all sales associates are like that

[YGRLX]

They won’t even look at the. 3k shopping does nothing and buying a sub or Batman would not help at all with a Daytona. No room for new clientele unfortunately.

[np2016]

A 3k purchase at an AD won't even get you a free drink let alone a highly desired timepiece.

[YGRLX]

They know it’s a one time 3k spend. The want a perpetual 3k jewellery spend

[vh2k]

Originally Posted by dannyp

This may well have rubbed her the wrong way.

Indeed… that’s a textbook example of how NOT to start a relationship. That’s telling the AD you want only the hot flippable models and you won’t be loyal and consolidate all your business with one AD. And you don’t even live in the area.

This is why ADs are frustrated and getting tired of Rolex Customer Games!

[Wahlberg]

Originally Posted by FL23833

I even printed a an itemized list

Now I've read it all.

This hobby has gone to shit. Bringing an itemized list, like you're doing grocery shopping.

[vh2k]

Originally Posted by FL23833

You guys make great points! I'm not arguing with any of you but would like to clarify that I wasn't rude in any manner when I said I'd try the Toronto ADs I explained that I lived far away and my list wasn't a set of demands it was just to help visualize what I'm in the market for.

Sealed your fate here. Rolex wants ADs to support customers in the AD’s local market — not poach business potential from other ADs. Less competition means more perceived scarcity.