How does allocation work?

[April26]

Sorry if this has been asked before guys.

How does allocation of the professional models work? I know obviously it’s different process for every AD but what’s the most common?

They get there delivery, who decides who gets what? Do the sales associates get a say?

The ADs say they don’t know what they are getting and when, do you think this is true?

[Sprezzatura!,]

It’s not an exact science. But generally speaking, in any business, it pays to look after your best clients.

From a perspective buyers position; previous spend, some seriously horrendous brown-nosing, a willingness to buy a load of other items, or just sheer luck.

Or, a combination of any of those four.

Now wait for others to chime in - everyone will be an expert in this field.

[brucethemanlee]

$100k spent on other stuff will get you allocated quite easily

that's the simple answer

[Calatrava r]

On professional watches most ADs sell to previous customers or new customers if doing a bundle but nothing is set in stone and anybody can get one if they bond with the AD. I would think allocation decisions of super scarce watches are made by the top brass or owners and not SAs.

[fliegenwulf]

Well it was closely guarded secret , but seems they do follow the standard allocation formula.

[gerry100]

Originally Posted by fliegenwulf

Well it was closely guarded secret , but seems do follow the standard allocation formula.

Precisely!

[Sprezzatura!,]

Originally Posted by fliegenwulf

Well it was closely guarded secret , but seems do follow the standard allocation formula.

Some say that the answer is kept in the same place they keep the colonels secret herb and spice recipe.

[Chewbacca]

There’s a salty gent named Gunther in shipping who handles it.

[April26]

They say that before the watches come in they have been allocated to customers, how do they do this? Do they look through the database and see who has noted their interest in the watch? The AD I deal with I have never spoken to the manager only deal with the same SA and he has got hold of a couple pieces for me so the SA must have some say

[mullman]

I haven’t bought 100K through one AD, but certainly have spent more in 30+ years. I get regular texts of what they’ve received and if I wish to purchase. Also annually get asked what I’d like to buy, and I’ve never bought anything I didn’t want.


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[Cigars&Watches]

The AD's know pretty much what they are getting each year.. ie: if the AD gets 10 Daytonas a year then they should get 10 the following year just not exactly when they will be coming in but can have pretty good idea when they are due. SA get a say and have to qualify selling any professional SS models through a manager in this day.

[HideMyWalletPlease]

Before a hot piece is allocated RUSA looks through your LinkedIn and other social media, calls your employers HR department to verify employment, or evaluates your small businesses. Then RUSA dispatched a team of men in black suits to interview your past lovers. Then they consult with the Dalai Lama to evaluate your karma. All previous lives are considered. Then once a week the board members of Rolex vote. Then the results are received at the AD through a green and gold fax machine.

[huncho]

Originally Posted by HideMyWalletPlease

Before a hot piece is allocated RUSA looks through your LinkedIn and other social media, calls your employers HR department to verify employment, or evaluates your small businesses. Then RUSA dispatched a team of men in black suits to interview your past lovers. Then they consult with the Dalai Lama to evaluate your karma. All previous lives are considered. Then once a week the board members of Rolex vote. Then the results are received at the AD through a green and gold fax machine.

lol i know you're joking but i remember a thread here where a guy came into an AD and said that they googled him and read his linkedin to find out he's genuine and not a flipper

[Tavli3]

If you have ask you have no shot at one


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[FLGatorM5]

Originally Posted by April26

Sorry if this has been asked before guys.

How does allocation of the professional models work? I know obviously it’s different process for every AD but what’s the most common?

They get there delivery, who decides who gets what? Do the sales associates get a say?

The ADs say they don’t know what they are getting and when, do you think this is true?

I was told when I picked up my OP in 9/2019 that when a piece went “allocated” they could no longer order it and whatever they got was “random.“

No idea if there was any truth to that, but at the time I was still able to walk in, ask for a 39mm OP, and got it within about a month.

[Kyle3130]

I attribute getting my 124060 (with zero purchase history) to knowing my SA. We went to primary school together and I called her store the day Rolex released it. She vouched for me to the store manager that I was a genuine enthusiast (I was actually the one to inform her of the new releases of 2020) and received my watch 9 months later.

Bottom line, relationships are key.

[dnuggett]

Seems to be something like this…

[ArtNouveau]

My dealer is a high volume Rolex only Boutique. They generally know how many of each model they will receive for the year and the approximate timeframes although not exactly. They keep real lists and these days when a shipment is received almost all of it has already been “allocated” to a customer, very little will make it to the case for a walk-in customer.
How you get on that list is the big question. Based on my experience it’s not all about spend, your general value as a repeat customer, longevity of relationship, and basic decency matters. Good luck cracking the code OP.

[russ86]

Its true that AD’s don't know what they are getting, but allocation depends on many factors such as spending history, relationship and etc

[teck21]

Originally Posted by ArtNouveau

My dealer is a high volume Rolex only Boutique. They generally know how many of each model they will receive for the year and the approximate timeframes although not exactly. They keep real lists and these days when a shipment is received almost all of it has already been “allocated” to a customer, very little will make it to the case for a walk-in customer.
How you get on that list is the big question. Based on my experience it’s not all about spend, your general value as a repeat customer, longevity of relationship, and basic decency matters. Good luck cracking the code OP.

Same exact experience as with mine.

In addition, not flipping watches seems a big deal to mine.

Perhaps it is lip service, perhaps not.

In situations like these, really the only way new walk ins can gain any traction is by asking ‘what have you got’ rather than ‘do you have popular reference X’.

Simply the times we’re in.


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[Gab27]

The presumable goal would be to use limited resources in a way that maximizes business value.

So most ADs would presumably use these limited items in a way that maximizes their return without excessive risk. That could include selling to a good long-time customer, selling to someone new who is buying a lot of other things, selling to someone they think they can built a future relationship with or who will bring them other customers, selling to someone over MSRP, or something else such as selling it to someone on the basis of benefitting reputation.

[Snerks]

Whatever will make the AD the most money in the long run.

There is no other allocation strategy.

[SkyJuice]

Originally Posted by Sprezzatura!,

It’s not an exact science. But generally speaking, in any business, it pays to look after your best clients.

From a perspective buyers position; previous spend, some seriously horrendous brown-nosing, a willingness to buy a load of other items, or just sheer luck.

Or, a combination of any of those four.

Now wait for others to chime in - everyone will be an expert in this field.

Well said and I agree.

[yst]

Depends where in UK and whether you asked one of the large chain groups.

[April26]

Originally Posted by yst

Depends where in UK and whether you asked one of the large chain groups.

The reason why I ask is because the AD has said my OH is a priority, whether this is true or not time will tell, so he has said how it works is they put note of interest on there database and then when the watch comes in they see who has ordered it, do you think this is true? We have a good relationship with the sales associate so does s/he put in a good word for us? They must get some say in it? The SA said 99% sure Pepsi or ss skydweller by Xmas

[Beto737]

Big wallet=allocate almost anything. Not such a big wallet? Best have good presentation and be “genuinely”nice to talk to.

[TunaTuna]

Originally Posted by April26

The reason why I ask is because the AD has said my OH is a priority, whether this is true or not time will tell, so he has said how it works is they put note of interest on there database and then when the watch comes in they see who has ordered it, do you think this is true? We have a good relationship with the sales associate so does s/he put in a good word for us? They must get some say in it? The SA said 99% sure Pepsi or ss skydweller by Xmas

If you are told you are getting a pepsi by xmas then you have nothing to worry about and the process doesn't matter. You are getting one of the next pepsi's that come in.

[MV Owner]

I personally think it's all about the money you spend and nothing else. I went into an AD about a month ago who claimed he could supply a Daytona if I purchased a £20K datejust for my wife in advance. This would make me an existing customer.

What a load of shite, that ain't happening. Im not going to pay and beg and AD for the privilege of them selling me a watch

[April26]

Originally Posted by MV Owner

I personally think it's all about the money you spend and nothing else. I went into an AD about a month ago who claimed he could supply a Daytona if I purchased a £20K datejust for my wife in advance. This would make me an existing customer.

What a load of shite, that ain't happening. Im not going to pay and beg and AD for the privilege of them selling me a watch

I rang and asked for a batgirl for my
Hubby and had one within 2 months and I hadn’t spent loads prior

[MV Owner]

I'm dead happy to hear that April.

Its contrary to what I have found, I have just found AD's that want to fleece. This includes Nationwide retailers and smaller retailers