AD won’t sell watches in case because they are “on loan” from Rolex?

[pierson]

I walked into an AD, that I’ve never been to, to see a case of a bunch of Rolex watches. I assumed they were the display versions (non-working) but the lady told me these are fully working watches, but they can’t sell them because - “these are not our watches, they are on loan to us from Rolex.”

This make sense?!


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[kieselguhr]

So close yet so far?

[coogs08]

I've been to 5 ADs in different cities across the US over the last 2 weeks, and yes I have seen the same thing at all of them.

It is a bit funny, but at least customers can go in and try on/handle watches and talk with the sales associates (rather than staring at empty cases). Actually purchasing one is a totally different story, however...

[ArtNouveau]

Seems to be several versions of “exhibition” watches going around in the US. Bigger dealers get an array of non working ones. Some smaller dealers apparently getting loaners as suggested above. The small market AD near me says they are getting regular shipments but are required to keep 25 pieces in inventory. They don’t put them out in the case but will show what they on request.

[ronricks]

One AD near me has the working Exhibition Watches that they told me:
-they had to pay for
-will be able to sell them eventually
I Asked who wants to buy a watch that thousands of people have tried on/handled etc.? SA said "you have a point"

Another AD near me has non working exhibition models that they said are on loan from Rolex and will be returned eventually.

Seems to be many different scenarios for these across the board.

[rolexperfect]

Originally Posted by ArtNouveau

Seems to be several versions of “exhibition” watches going around in the US. Bigger dealers get an array of non working ones. Some smaller dealers apparently getting loaners as suggested above. The small market AD near me says they are getting regular shipments but are required to keep 25 pieces in inventory. They don’t put them out in the case but will show what they on request.

This is correct. At my AD, all pieces stay around 1-2 weeks on the window shop and then they’re gone. I was promised “come next next week to try it on” — yeah next week it wasn’t at the window shop anymore.


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[Grapenut]

Originally Posted by ronricks

I Asked who wants to buy a watch that thousands of people have tried on/handled etc.? SA said "you have a point"

How is that any different than pre-hype times when cases were full? Lots of folks trying on pieces without purchasing.

[evlhomer]

My AD told me there was no warranty on the exhibition models. True? False? No idea.

[macrowatch]

Originally Posted by Grapenut

How is that any different than pre-hype times when cases were full? Lots of folks trying on pieces without purchasing.

Because you would have them pull out a fresh one from the back or under the table drawer with new stickers or wait a few months for delivery straight from Rolex. Ah, those were the days!!!

[ronricks]

Originally Posted by Grapenut

How is that any different than pre-hype times when cases were full? Lots of folks trying on pieces without purchasing.

Because these have all the stickers removed for one.

[-dustin]

Originally Posted by pierson

“these are not our watches, they are on loan to us from Rolex.”

it's a line i've heard in other high-end retail, as well as a situation i've been in when working sales.

[brucethemanlee]

does it matter whether they're 1) non-working 2) working but on loan from Rolex 3) working but ADs own stock 4) warranty or no warranty?

At the end of the day they are all exhibition only watches and can't buy them.

[Slimpee]

Whatever the status, I’m glad my AD has some functional exhibition pieces otherwise, I don’t know when I’d get to try on a Daytona on OF, Skydweller, or the YM that really caught my attention.

The SA said that her president told her not to sell any of the pieces if she ever wanted to sell another Rolex.

[Nav01L]

It’s probably traffic based. Big ADs where the watches get fondled to the point where you can’t sell them as new get non working ones loaned to them, as they used to with the Basel dummies of new releases back in the day, smaller ADs with less traffic have to retain a certain portion of their allocation to populate their cases. Not sure they have to hand them out for viewing though. These watches are fully paid for by the AD, but as the AD is pretty much guaranteed to sell them after the holding period, vs a few years ago where a probably bigger portion of inventory would sit for way longer and you never knew if you’d be able to sell it at full price or would have to hand over to David SW at cut rates, the dealers still fare better than they used to.

[dpt.calvin]

My AD said...

[Glidelock]

Yawn!

[EEpro]

Ours are fake. I unscrewed the crown and the stem came out.

[Grapenut]

Originally Posted by ronricks

Because these have all the stickers removed for one.

If so, fair point on that. Haven't inspected the ones I have tried on that closely.

[WilsdorfNDavis]

"My AD said..." is almost as bad as "My car dealer said..."

[Laostuh]

Yeah, went to Hyde Park Jewelers about a month ago, they had display case about 15 different models, they were marked Exhibition Only but they were not at the standard 10:10 time like most exhibition models. I tried on a DD40 Baguette Dial and asked if I could buy it, was told unfortunately non are for sale "at the moment".

[1Daytona]

Dismal situation:

Watches on display only, some non-functioning.

No watches for sale.

Cannot order any of the display models.

Need to wait years to get one unless willing to pay double plus through grey market...