Should I ditch the AD?

[Hawk]

I've been working with my only AD for approximately 4 years with the same sales associate. Spend ~$160k across diamonds, ladies DJ, PM Daytona, and gold jewelry. Recently he missed two semi-important milestone opportunities with a "we haven't received any watches" with ample notice (2-4 months). In the past year the rep has also gaslit me on three occasions:

1. PM Daytonas are more hard to obtain than SS Panda (which I specified I wanted)
2. OPs are the scarcest Rolex models in the store
3. They don't carry extra watches "in the back" (this is the largest AD in a major US metro)

I have made clear that I'm not buying anymore diamonds for the wife or watches that aren't on my specific short list. I live 3 hours away so not in a position to drop in more than once per quarter. Does it make sense to just go grey at this point based on this context?

[Jackie Daytona]

I would vote to drop them if they don’t give you at least some consideration after that spend history. Granted maybe not 100% as I’m sure they have other customers, but saying nothing is ever available is a bit much.

[Yellowfury]

Yeah for that spend I would think they wouldn’t f with you. Then again there’s always a bigger fish.

[Odanrot]

I'd be communicating with the manager or owner after that kind of spend.

[Greenwich Mean Time]

I'd let them know in no uncertain terms how you feel, and if they don't step up and give you the consideration you deserve, dump them.

[rmlovett1]

I’m assuming…or hopefully the spending you’ve done with them has been on things you wanted? Would’ve bought anyway?

[WilsdorfNDavis]

Originally Posted by Odanrot

I'd be communicating with the manager or owner after that kind of spend.

I second this.

Go right to the owner/manager and explain the situation.

[Sephiroth]

Just sucks man. Might be time to move on from this AD

[Midlifegoals]

I support the 'go to the manager' narrative. If they can't make it right, then it's time to move.

[vipereaper30]

Definitely time for a talk with the boss and probably a new SA. Any more funny business and you should walk.

[7enderbender]

I still find it interesting that Rolex tolerates all this nonsense and doesn’t run their own stores with a proper order process.
I understand that at the moment they don’t have to worry since they just sell everything they produce. In the long run I think all this will hurt the brand.
I sometimes read stuff like this and I really question if I really want another Rolex or two (as the wish list stands). There are a bunch of watches I like that I can just go and get tomorrow, probably at a discount - without having to deal with arrogant shopkeepers or the side-eye for wearing”the crown”.

[2loaded]

4 years and only $160k? Time to step it up to get moved up the list.

[pandajoe]

Agree - with that spend history - it is time to talk to the manager and or owner

[Kiddodoc]

AD's these days are a joke. Even my AD, in which I have spent well over 250K on watches in the past few years, now does not want to sell me more. The manager helps me continue to get what I want but is under pressure to not sell to great clients and wants to sell to new clients.

[Hollie_Rollie]

160k is a nice chunk of change. I would drop the AD.


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[ltmgeller]

Have you tried another sales associate there?

[Watchman001]

I find it funny how in this context, no one is replying with the usual ´it’s just capitalism’ and ´ADs are private businesses and can do what they want’ we have seen so often and recently in other threads. Some serious hypocrisy there.

OP, I would be furious in your shoes, and I would talk to the owner, then report to Rolex and name and shame here if they don’t give you any satisfaction. This kind of crap needs to stop.

[Kevin of Larchmont]

Everybody wants to be loved. If you’re not feeling it look elsewhere.

[MikeyV]

I've said it before, and people gave me crap about it - but if I was looking for a Rolex and a dealer couldn't get it for me in a few months or jerked me off? - I'd go straight to DavidSW and pay the premium. Might go there directly to save the run-around.

YOLO!

[dnd2984]

Go to manager. I know of a SA at my AD that did something similar. Manager made it right since my buddy had adequate spend.

[Doood]

I would guess that spend history in 4 years puts you in a pretty high percentile. Talk to the boss before moving on.

[Mystro]

Move on and just buy grey. Life is too short.

[hutch300]

Depending on what you want and the markup, gray is the way. DavidSW will have it to you overnight. I would talk to the manager first though.

[Hawk]

Thank you everyone for the honest feedback. I will speak with the owner before dropping them entirely. I'm not sure if trying to work with a different sales associate would generate a better outcome given the leadership is who makes allocation decisions (evidently the owner is the decision maker).

I will name and shame if they don't provide some tangible improvement in 2024.

[2000-NJDEVILS]

To the OP -
Were you explicitly told that you had to buy non Rolex jewelry - in order to be allowed to purchase a Rolex or two at MSRP? And then you didn’t get what was expected (or implied)?
If so, that is called a fraudulent sales practice - and it is the last thing an AD wants as a reputation as Rolex has pulled many a dealer for that exact type of bait and switch…….

[GGGMT]

Yes


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[Hawk]

Originally Posted by 2000-NJDEVILS

To the OP -
Were you explicitly told that you had to buy non Rolex jewelry - in order to be allowed to purchase a Rolex or two at MSRP? And then you didn’t get what was expected (or implied)?
If so, that is called a fraudulent sales practice - and it is the last thing an AD wants as a reputation as Rolex has pulled many a dealer for that exact type of bait and switch…….

It was never blatantly communicated, but certainly implied. Even recently when I inquired for a OP for the wife his first response was "How about a diamond tennis necklace? ($43k)"

[matPORTS]

ADs are only going to get worse - because now they will have less & less steel professional models coming into inventory to dangle out there as carrots.

In 2024 - people need to stop letting the ADs gaslight them.

[Hollie_Rollie]

Originally Posted by matPORTS

ADs are only going to get worse - because now they will have less & less steel professional models coming into inventory to dangle out there as carrots.

In 2024 - people need to stop letting the ADs gaslight them.

Rolex is making less and less steel models?


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[S52]

Originally Posted by 2loaded

4 years and only $160k? Time to step it up to get moved up the list.

You mentioned large AD in a metro location. They probably have customers that drop more than your 4 year spend on a single visit. Thats who's getting the watches.

Same reason I don't even bother around here. Way too many big money whales.